Hi guys. Just got a brand new digitone 2 and noticed some defects on it. I was wondering if anyone here has received elektron boxes with scratches on the casing? Same with the knobs (I don’t mind that as much as the casing having marks on it).
Also weirdly the protective screen film seemed peeled all tattered up and as if it had been peeled off on the corner already, and there was a fingerprint on the display the moment I took the film off.
Also, the knobs make a scratchy sound, they are all like that. They’re very smooth and easy to turn, but it’s not like my other takt boxes where they turn silently, I can feel the abrasiveness as I turn it as if they didn’t put any lubrication paste, is that normal? I’m guessing they are using a new type of pot?
So with all that in mind, is there a chance I got sold a refurb? Any way to check?
Just from an outside perspective, this looks like it was half peeled and then placed back. Was this purchased from elektron directly? Was the fingerprint on top (the outside) or inside the bezel? Assuming it was on top by the way it looks.
Basically, the screen bezels get the plastic film during manufacturing and there is also a film on the back which protects the adhesive. The top film that we usually call a screen protector doesn’t come off until the customer removes it, so if it’s on the inside it could have happened during assembly, I guess.
Any fingerprint on the outside happened because the screen protector was removed.
As far as the knobs go, yours look particularly close to the faceplate like they were pushed down hard or something with enough weight was set on top of them which over time caused them to sink to the lowest possible point. It should be easy to tug a little on the knob caps for the encoders (just using your fingertips) and relieve some of the pressure, they’re not on the shaft so tightly that you won’t be able to move them.
If possible, just pull the knob caps up a bit, then push them back down until almost touching the deck but not quite, hopefully that will get rid of the scratchiness. you could put a business card or something thin like that under them as a spacer if you want, so that when you push them down, they all go to the same height.
I don’t see anything that looks like “damage” per say, but there’s a bit of a fingernail impression on this C encoder which means it’s either time to cut your nails, or someone probably had their hands on this after it left assembly.
If the knobs make a scratchy sound, it can be that the shafts wear against an edge of the panel holes. This can happen if the panel is misaligned. Try loosen the panel screws and check if the scratchy sound goes away. Try pushing the panel lightly in different directions and see if that helps.
Thanks for the detailed reply, it was exactly like this right out of the box
I bought it from a local store in my country, it’s not even on their website yet but when I asked them when it’s coming they said they could order one. They are in fact an official elektron listed distributor, but who knows where they actually ordered it from. I did see that they ordered a bunch of new boxes though today, there were a bunch in delivery bags in the store so it’s possible that it came like this from elektron’s factory.
Edit: So the fingerprint was definitely on the outside. However the box didn’t have any dust on it which I would expect had it been used. So I’m really not sure what to make of it.
Thanks for the tips, not a bad idea. I’ll give it a try. My syntakt knobs are really quite bad so gonna try it on that. The Digitakt knobs are thankfully pretty smooth, so far
The face panel screws have zero impact on the knob placement. Encoder knobs are attached to the upper PCB and the upper PCB is screwed onto metal posts which you can’t see. The metal posts are attached to the back of the face panel so to do what that person is suggesting, you would need to open the entire unit, carefully lift the face panel with everything attached, then use a different size hex driver to loosen the rear PCB screws, and finally then adjust the positioning. However, if you do that, it will also change the alignment of the buttons.
Here you’re able to see the screws on the rear of the PCB (first generation), I circled two of them in blue. Just be prepared for this complication if you decide to go that route.
I recommend only doing that if it really needs to be done, first make sure that the knob caps are not too tight against the deck if you intend to keep this unit, that’s the simplest thing you can start by trying.
If your trig buttons on the syntakt also get stuck or feel like they’re rubbing, then this might correct that issue but although a fairly simple process, it’s at your own risk that you do this.
Thanks, probably won’t end up doing this but this is useful to know. My syntakt has a few knobs that don’t turn very well and I wonder if this would fix the issue
For your ST, I would completely remove the knob cap of one of the encoders that has a bit of difficulty turning (easy to remove, easy to replace) and shine your phone light or another bright light inside to look at the encoder shaft. If you see any hair, or string wrapped around, or any kind of lint or fuzz, I’d first try to clean those things off and check for improvement.
It’s very difficult for the panel to get so misaligned that the edge of the encoder shaft is touching, much easier to get a button which is rubbing due to the square shape of the button cutouts.
If you don’t see anything like string or fuzz, just put the encoder cap back on partially and turn it to see if it feels less rough and if it does, then do the same that I recommended with this unit which is make sure the knob doesn’t bottom out against the face panel.
You can use a little bit of deoxit fader lube on an encoder to make it a bit smoother feeling, but I would resist doing that if possible as the encoders you put it on may have a bit looser feel afterword.
Don’t try using contact cleaner on the encoders, that’s a bad idea. I’m not assuming you will but just saying it so that it doesn’t come up in the future.
When you take off an encoder knob, you’ll notice the encoder shaft has one flat side, it’s called a D shaft because of the shape. You want to look at the knob hole before you put it back on so that the flat side of the hole lines up with the flat part on the shaft.
Thanks so much for the detailed tips
Will check the knobs for hairs and such, really hoping that’s what it is, I’m usually quite gentle with them so I doubt they got bent.
Yep, no problem. Let me know how it works out for you, hopefully this is all simple to resolve.
I might contact the store that sold you the DN II and ask them if they accidentally sent you a B stock unit to see what they say.
Even if no dust, Elektron wouldn’t peel the screen film, that much you can be sure of, but removing the screen protector is not technically damage bc it’s just there to prevent damage. It’s still unappealing though.
I would do it politely with the assumption that it was a mistake, maybe they’ll hook you up with a little discount.
There’s basically zero chance the encoder caps are touching the surface as they all (bar one) have enough elevation to be pressed and rotated.
Imho you are looking for issues, as we all would if we had any suspicion and possibly over-noticing. Which store was this bought from, do they have a vague policy to sell returns or shop display as new? Some retailers might not be as transparent on such ‘details’
Do not put any chemicals in it or tinker with it, ask the store if it was opened prior to your receipt and consider your options from there
Was the box sealed shut with the shiny Elektron sticker?
Just take it back to the store and get it replaced with a new one. Not sure what consumer rights you have in your country but surely if someone accidentally sells you a damaged device as new you can return it for replacement.
Well it just seems very clear. The plastic was peeled off previously and there was a fingerprint underneath; new Elektrons do not come this way. My guess is that is was returned due to the knobs.
Looks sloppy to me, got two boxes in the past with malfunctioning LEDs - puts me off paying the high price for their gear now. Deffo QC issues in the factory, ruined my Xmas last year.
So I was about to keep this digitone, I don’t think it’s b stock. But then I noticed another possible issue with it. Whenever I turn any volume knobs on my scarlet interface the audio from the DN2 crackles and distorts, this only happens with the digitone, I tested my other two elektron boxes with the same interface and it doesn’t happen with them. I also tried a different power cord and it still does it so the issue is with the digitone and not with the audio interface or the power brick. Anyone know what might be causing that and if it’s something serious to warrant returning the thing?
Unless your interface was somehow sending MIDI data from its volume controls to the DN2 (highly unlikely) then I don’t see how this could indicate an issue with your DN2. Unless I’m missing something.
