PC Engine Duo Audio Issue

chapsy · 08/01/2014, 01:48 PM

Hey everybody,

Thanks for having me. I'm a newbie here so please bear with me.

I recently came into ownership of a PC Engine Duo after wanting a TurboDuo for a while now (I'm big into the Ys series, so being able to play the old originals was a big to-do for me). The unit I bought had the caps and laser replaced, but unfortunately had a bad trace on the motherboard that needed fixed.

I sent it back to the guy I got it from and got it repaired, and everything works now except for one small issue...

I popped in Dracula X (the only game I have for it at the moment) right away when I got the unit back and everything loaded OK, except the movie that plays after starting the game went black right near the end and to my knowledge, froze.

I shut down the unit and powered it back on, started the game and loaded my file, and the prologue level with Death harassing you loaded no problem.

No problem except for none of his voice clips played.

There was also no sound for when I defeated the first boss, and for when Richter dies either. Other CD Audio (such as levels and the opening movie), and ADPCM Audio work no problem. Just voice clips aren't playing.

I'm guessing something isn't loading right here? Laser problem maybe? Levels load fine and none of the audio stutters or breaks, so I don't think the pots are out of adjustment.

My disc is also super clean too. maybe a few very, very faint scratches on the back surface.

Any clues as to what might be going on here? I'll try loading up the game again and see if the problem repeats itself.

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

chapsy · 08/01/2014, 01:54 PM

...I just realized I posted this in the wrong forum.

Sorry about that!

NecroPhile · 08/01/2014, 02:06 PM

Are you sure the ADPCM is working properly? I think the voices are ADPCM, but what do I know? One of the repair guys'll come along and give some advice soon, so I'll settle for saying "welcome aboard!"

chapsy · 08/01/2014, 02:20 PM

Quote from: guestAre you sure the ADPCM is working properly? I think the voices are ADPCM, but what do I know? One of the repair guys'll come along and give some advice soon, so I'll settle for saying "welcome aboard!"

Are they? I'm not too sure. I'm not an audio guru so I'm not too savvy on which is which. I always thought voice clips were compressed CD Audio/WAV files or something on older games. I'm pretty sure I'm wrong on that one though.

The ADPCM that plays leading up to a boss fight works just fine, so I'm at a bit of a loss here.

*Edit - Overlooked this, but the sound FX that play when entering your name don't play either. I'm guessing an APDCM issue then?*

*Edit 2 - Just tested out a burnt copy of Gate of Thunder. No sounds effects during gameplay (explosions, etc. Lasers from your ship work though)*

*Edit 3 - Just got in contact with the guy I bought the unit from. According to him he tested the unit out on 10 HuCards and a few CD's he had before shipping it back, including his own copy of Rondo of Blood. "Everything worked fine" was what he said when I asked him about these issues.

Thanks for the welcome!

Ravij · 08/03/2014, 03:14 PM

Put an audio CD in and test that with the built in CD player.

Do this after the machine has been off for a while and the caps are drained. (Or unplug the PSU and flick the Green switch to drain any remaining charge - EDIT I just tested, this still doesn't fully drain them, so try the test from cold)

The issue I have on mine is the caps take 5+ mins to charge up, and until then no Red Book (CD-Audio). After 5 mins it all seems fine. Depending on how bad the caps are it may take longer to get audio or you never do or it's too quiet.

Some people report the opposite - audio works for a while, then fades.

I'm still trying to sort the issue out on mine. I have do a partial cap change, but obviously it is another cap(s)

chapsy · 08/03/2014, 04:27 PM

Thanks for the suggestion, but the unit is all packed up and ready to be sent back to the guy I got it from for further repairs.

The guy has stated that if he cannot repair it he will offer me another duo or upgrade me to a duo-r.

I've even included my copy of Rondo of Blood for him to test out so he can rule out my games being the issue.

This is really annoying, but at least it's not costing me anything aside from time.

ClodBusted · 08/03/2014, 05:24 PM

I had similar problems concerning spoken voices and some sound effects with my Duo. A full cap replacement was the solution.

chapsy · 08/09/2014, 07:12 PM

Quote from: guestI had similar problems concerning spoken voices and some sound effects with my Duo. A full cap replacement was the solution.

Which would be very odd since the owner that I spoke to at the con stated that both the caps and laser had been recently replaced, and he also stated it again when I was describing the initial problem to him.

Not exactly happy with this purchase so far. Although it's great that the owner is going to such lengths to get things fixed one way or another, there have been multiple issues with this whole deal that have just soured it for me.

It's a lot to go into, but I'll just say communication is a big point that I'm not happy with so far. I'm also not happy that the blame is being pinned on everything but the console I got from them, even after I've sent it back a second time for continued problems.

I just wanna play some legit PC-E man...

chapsy · 08/10/2014, 11:25 AM

So, I just got word back from the shop at around Midnight last night. I guess they went straight to work without stopping to get my machine diagnosed. Looks like it was pretty evident right away that the drive gear for the CD unit was busted and the laser was out of alignment.

They're saying that when they got it that the Duo would freeze whenever it tried to access CD Audio. I guess the box must have been tossed around by the USPS pretty good the first time they sent it back to me and it was just barely working. I noticed the box was crinkled in one corner when I got it, but there was so much bubble wrap in the box and everything was packaged so well I didn't think about it at all. They have a spare gear, will be re-aligning the laser, and sending it back Monday (with insurance).

Anyhow, looks like (hopefully) this problem will be solved.

Keith Courage · 08/11/2014, 01:21 AM

Lucky for you that part is on the lens so if you replace the lens problem solved.

chapsy · 08/11/2014, 01:29 PM

Well, I THOUGHT the problem was fixed...but I guess I was getting ahead of myself.

Seems the repair guy found a crack in the board, probably due to further mishandling during shipping. I wasn't provided a picture of it, but given the problems I've had with this console I wouldn't doubt it at all. My only options were to put some extra money towards a Duo-R that I don't know the condition of, or get a refund.

I chose to get a refund and my game will be getting shipped back to me today or tomorrow.

So...Looks like I'm in the market for a Duo or Duo-R.