Procedure from start to finish

A repair request applies per device. If repair turns out not to be possible, I will let you know – for example, if the device has already been tampered with by someone unqualified, or if essential parts or firmware are no longer available. Repairs are carried out in order of receipt; the waiting time depends on how busy I am and on the complexity of the work.

Duration

First review within three to six weeks of receipt. The total duration cannot be predicted in advance.

Costs

Without research, no indication. For complex assignments, a quote first. Rates

Report

A detailed report with all findings at both check-in and check-out. Examples

Insurance

You insure your instrument yourself. Liability is limited to the invoice amount, max. €1000.

Step 1

Submit a repair request

The first step is to register your device online via the form. Only after your registration has been processed will we schedule a drop-off appointment. Please keep in mind that there is usually a waiting period before the device can actually be brought in.

As soon as the device arrives at the workshop, an initial inspection is carried out. If it involves a complex repair, you will receive a quote with a proposed repair plan. If it is a simple repair, the device goes straight onto the waiting list for execution.

Do you want to have a Eurorack module repaired?

Quick diagnosis for professionals

Are you a dedicated musician, booked solid for the coming months, and can you really only miss your instrument for a few days? Then please contact us by phone. We can often find a solution that keeps you without the instrument for as short a time as possible. (Subject to availability.)

Step 2

Research and inventory

I check the device step by step: first a visual inspection, then functional tests and measurements. In doing so, I look at the electronics, mechanical parts, and any modifications or previous repairs. I note down everything I find, including the (possible) cause of faults and wear. If the defect is simple in nature, a brief examination is sufficient. If it concerns a relatively straightforward intervention, I carry it out right away.

Quote and approval

If there is a complex defect, an extensive investigation will follow after your approval. Based on that, you will receive a clear overview of the findings, possible solutions, costs, and expected turnaround time.

Step 3

Repair work and testing phase

After the repair, an extensive testing phase follows. I let the instrument run for a long time in an endurance test, so it becomes clear whether it remains stable under heat and load. During this period I check the power supply, calibrations, modulation and control signals, and the operation of mechanical parts such as keys or sliders. The repaired section is tested extra intensively, so that small instabilities or recurring faults come to light. This takes some time, but it prevents you from having the same problems again after a short while.

Step 4

Calibration and adjustment

After a successful repair, a round of adjusting, tuning and calibrating follows where needed. This means precisely setting voltages, filters, oscillators and other critical components, so that the instrument sounds optimal again and stays stable. This is precision work that ensures the device not only functions, but can also be used reliably for making music, both in the studio and on stage.

Step 5

Pickup and payment

Once all tests have been completed successfully, you will receive a final report with the findings and the work performed. This report also contains a link to schedule a pick-up appointment right away; this is always possible at short notice. You will receive the invoice in a separate email, and it must be paid in advance or at pick-up. In the rare event that new defects do occur during the testing phase, I will return to step 1 to investigate again and inform you about the next steps.

For shipping your device, you can find all the info here.

What I don’t fix

I focus exclusively on electronic music equipment, with a certain degree of specialization. The following categories fall outside my area of work:

Turntables or other devices with drive mechanisms (such as tape decks)
Electronic organs or pianos
Keyboards
Guitar, hi-fi or PA amplifiers
Speakers and PA equipment
Microphones

Subject to reservation:

Samplers
Controllers
Mixing panels

For Behringer or Pioneer equipment, too, it’s best to get in touch first.

What you can come to us for

Alesis, Akai, Allen & Heath, API (Automated Processes, Inc.), Arturia, Casio, Clavia (Nord), Dave Smith Instruments (DSI), Doepfer, E-mu, Elektron, Ensoniq, Focusrite, Jomox, Kawai, Korg, Kurzweil, M-Audio, Moog, Motu, Novation, Oberheim, Quasimidi, Roland, Sequential Circuits, Synton, Urei, Vermona, Waldorf, Yamaha, and Xone, and undoubtedly others I’m forgetting.

In the field of Eurorack: Antumbra, 4MS, Expert Sleepers, Erica Synths, Flight of Harmony, Folktek, Hexinverter Electronique, Music From Outer Space, 1010, Acidlab, Noise Engineering, Mutable Instruments, Westlicht, ST-Modular, Pittsburgh, the list goes on. There are so many designers in Euroland these days. Don’t see the brand on the list? No problem, anything Eurorack is welcome!

Open Source Discount

15% discount on the workshop costs for every instrument, effect, or module that is part of an Open Source project with public schematics and/or firmware. (Parts excluded.)

Warranty

I give a 90-day warranty on replaced parts. That period starts on the invoice date, unless you pick up the device earlier or have it shipped earlier — in that case, the date of pickup or shipment applies.

The following are excluded from the warranty:

cleaning work
(repaired) damage caused by moisture, water damage, overvoltage (incorrect voltages) or lightning strikes
fall or transport damage
DIY projects that needed to be repaired

Finally: you are responsible for making a proper backup of any data (such as presets or sequences). I cannot guarantee that data will be preserved. Do you have any special requests regarding this? Please let me know. For securing data, I charge a minimum of € 30,25 (€ 25,00 excl. btw). Success can never be 100% guaranteed, but of course I will do my best.

Liability

Human Error Synth Repair is not liable for:

indirect damage, such as lost income or missed performances;
damage caused by hidden defects;
loss of settings or data.

Liability is always limited to the invoiced amount. If your instrument is still in the research phase (that is, before a quote or invoice has been drawn up), the maximum amount of damages is always limited to €1000.

Please note: as the customer, you are yourself responsible for insuring your instrument, both during shipping and during the inspection and repair work.

Read all the details in the general terms and conditions.