Korg DW8000, Mono/Poly, MS-20...

Hi all! 

I own a DW-8000, which I recently bought on eBay.
Unfortunately few keys of the keyboard seem not respond.
Sometimes, pressing harder (or faster?), they work. It just on few keys.
This is actually quite random, so I do not know yet whether with is due to a missing voice (is that possible?), or it's a problem in few key contacts.

Do you know how I could better check this, and how I can clean the keys of the keyboard?

Thanks!
Cheers,
Marco

the way to resolve key or voice on this model is to put the  
oscillators in the mono mode by pressing the "unison" switch.
then each time you press a key, you should hear all voices at once.  
then try each key one at a time: any that dont play have faulty key  
contacts.
earlier models had an ongoing problem with faulty keycontacts, they  
KORG  subsequently reissuewed a keybed with gold plated contacts,
if you have the older one you have a projeact ahead of you. you have  
to service each key switch with a contact enhancing product.
Please note spraying any chemical spray at random into the key  
contact area you are courting disaster, ie  use WD40 will ruin it  
good. we use a
product made by CAIG  that is a pen wipe- works okay...the best fix  
is try to find a keybed with the gold contacts and be done with it.
if it is a voice out, return it to the poly mode then play a  
chromatic scale, a dead voice will show up as every 8th note is dead,  
regarding of course
dead keys.
On Oct 24, 2010, at 2:21 PM, Ballini wrote:

> Hi all!
>
> I own a DW-8000, which I recently bought on eBay.
> Unfortunately few keys of the keyboard seem not respond.
> Sometimes, pressing harder (or faster?), they work. It just on few  
> keys.
> This is actually quite random, so I do not know yet whether with is  
> due to a missing voice (is that possible?), or it's a problem in  
> few key contacts.
>
> Do you know how I could better check this, and how I can clean the  
> keys of the keyboard?
>
> Thanks!
> Cheers,
> Marco
> s/
>

Bull City Sound & Electronics
1001 Broad St.
Durham, NC 27705
phone: (919) 286-1991
fax: (919) 416-9631
www.bullcitysound.com

I checked it in unison mode: it really seems that it's (mostly) always 
the same keys that show the problem (they don't make any sound).
However, the same keys, sometimes also work.
Maybe it's just they need some cleaning...
I'll try to open it up and see what I can do.

Thanks for your suggestions!
Best,
Marco

Keep us posted. 

--- On Sun, 10/24/10, Marco Ballini <marcoballins@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Marco Ballini <marcoballins@...>
Subject: Re: [DW8000] keyboard problems
To: DW8000@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, October 24, 2010, 6:21 PM







 



  


    
      
      
      I checked it in unison mode: it really seems that it's (mostly) always 

the same keys that show the problem (they don't make any sound).

However, the same keys, sometimes also work.

Maybe it's just they need some cleaning...

I'll try to open it up and see what I can do.



Thanks for your suggestions!

Best,

Marco

Marco,

I'm not sure how keys are assigned in software, but try this with keys that seem to be OK:
With a long sustain turned ON, play eight notes (say a 2 octave minor seventh chord/arppagiation) one by one so that you can hear when the first note is reassigned.  It should be obvious when the notes are reassigned because the first note played should be reassigned to the last note played.  I think this will tell you if there's a voice out.

If that sounds OK, you'll probably need to repair the keyboard.

Remove the cover and flip it over.  The power supply wires are VERY short, so be careful not to strain them.  

If my memory serves me correctly - To get at the key contacts for cleaning, you'll need a small flat blade screwdriver to unhook and remove each key's spring.

Then a bit of finesse and dareing to first push the key forward toward the front of the unit, then lift the key at the back pivot point.  It took me quite a while to figure out the exact method because they snap in tightly and I was not sure if I would break a key trying something wrong.

If I recall, then you can get at the silicone rubber keypads.  Please read the following for a step by step to cleaning the contacts from a known "good guy" in synths:
http://www.oldcrows.net/~oldcrow/synth/korg/polysix/keyclean2.html

I haven't used his technique, so I can't vouch for its effectiveness.

Do keep us posted.

--- In DW8000@yahoogroups.com, Eric Hall <jester_123@...> wrote:

>
> Keep us posted. 
> 
> --- On Sun, 10/24/10, Marco Ballini <marcoballins@...> wrote:
> 
> From: Marco Ballini <marcoballins@...>
> Subject: Re: [DW8000] keyboard problems
> To: DW8000@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Sunday, October 24, 2010, 6:21 PM
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Â 
> 
> 
> 
>   
> 
> 
>     
>       
>       
>       I checked it in unison mode: it really seems that it's (mostly) always 
> 
> the same keys that show the problem (they don't make any sound).
> 
> However, the same keys, sometimes also work.
> 
> Maybe it's just they need some cleaning...
> 
> I'll try to open it up and see what I can do.
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks for your suggestions!
> 
> Best,
> 
> Marco
>