Prevent the screen from OLED burn-in

Elektron Gear Syntakt
#1

Hello

I owned a Octatrack Mk. II. It was brand new. After few 2 or 3 weeks, the OLED screen started to burn-in :frowning:

I have just purchased a Syntakt. I would avoid the OLED screen to burn-in as fast as Octatrak screen did.

How can I do ?

I have dimmed the OLED, but I do not know if it will help.

  • The screen turn off after 60 minutes. Is there a way to reduce te delay to 10, 15, 20 minutes.
  • Is there a key combo that allot to turn off the screen whie Syntakt on but is not used ?
  • Is there a(some) screen(s) that display a minium of information (most of the sceen surface is black) and can be activated ?

Thank you.

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#2

My 15+ years old monomachine doesnā€™t have any screen burn.
I find it very sad to see these changes on design.

Sorry, but to answer your questions: thereā€™s nothing you can do except change the screen when it gets burned.

#3

Yes, 60 mn is a bit ridiculous.
I had not answer from Elektron in that concern.

Power off if you donā€™t use it.
But yes, if you use ST without the screen, as audio monitor / soundcard, expanderā€¦ability to turn of the screenā€¦

:thinking: Change the system ?

Change screen is not the easiest, if spare parts exist !

My OT MKI screen is ok, but Iā€™m not confident with buttons. I had to glue 2 of them. At least they can be replaced by another type of buttons in the endā€¦

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#4

You sure you have screen burn-in and youā€™re not just seeing the subtle ghosting/contrast bands you get like in this image?

Screenshot_20221224-003823
Screenshot_20221224-003823969Ɨ388 73.7 KB

Main reason I ask is that 2 weeks isnā€™t very longā€¦

1 Like
#5

Hello natehorn

Yes, I confirm it was not ghosting but burn-in.
Because, when I activated the Diagnostic Mode and displayed the full blank screen, I could see the track level graphics and other graphics of the Octatrack main screen.

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#6

I have a feeling that digi boxes have a different screen or a different way of driving/powering it.
Seen a handful of OT A4 and Rytm with burn ins, but i cant remember seeing any digis with burn in.

My DN was originally a floor model for a few years, and ive been using it quite often since, no burn in.
So unless there is a defect, your ST should be fine.
If want to be extra cautious - turn off while not in use, set brightness to low. (still very bright)

#7

How long did you have the Octatrack for? Do you still have it now?

There can be image retention on OLEDā€™s that is temporary and will fade in time (even if slowly), rather than permanently burned in. Permanent burn-in shouldnā€™t happen even if a screen is static for two weeks solid, unless the panel is faulty in some way. Someone tested the OLED Nintendo Switch for example and it took 3600 hours of a static image for burn-in to become noticeable.

I do wish manufacturers would just use decent IPS displays though as temporary image retention will certainly become burn-in over long periods when the screens are displaying the same or similar imagery all the time, which is inevitable with synth menus systems.

#8

Hello Mumdad

No, I do not own the Octatrack anymore.
I sold it when I saw that the OLED screen was deteriorating and Octatrack was ā€œlosing value ($)ā€ because of this defect. Itā€™s a shame because I loved him very much.

I really donā€™t understand why Elektron uses such poor quality screens and refuses to implement effective screensavers.

#9

I have sent a email to Elektron at ā€œfeature-request@elektron.seā€ and ask for an ā€œoff screen delayā€ parameter (5, 10, 15, 20 minutes, ā€¦) in the setup menu.
I do not know if someone reads emails sent to feature-request@elektron.seā€¦ :roll_eyes:

1 Like