Keyboard Mechanical Design

[DuncanK at kochind.com]

Okay - different question, related topic...

I have an old Paia digital keyboard (the kind with the DB-25
connector)...  Is there an easy way to yank out the old CMOS circuitry,
and build something quick and easy to turn the thing into a cheap and
simple MIDI controller?
 ----------
From: Charlie T
To: Mike Nichols; synth-diy at horus.sara.nl
Subject: Re: Keyboard Mechanical Design
Date: Monday, August 25, 1997 3:31PM

Mike,

You might consider buying a MIDI keyboard (you can get a used low-end
one
for next to nothing, or pop some money, and get one with velocity &
aftertouch sensitivity, modulation controls, etc.) and either design or
buy
a MIDI - to - CV converter.  PAiA, among others, offers a kit for MIDI -
to
 - CV.

I'm building my own system, and doing it this way because:

1.  I already own MIDI keyboards
2.  CV keyboards, in my experience, don't offer the options MIDI
keyboards
do
3.  By using a MIDI  / CV converter, you can also use your modules with
alternate MIDI controllers, MIDI hardware/software, etc.  For instance,
my
modules will be controllable by ANY of my MIDI keyboards, my computer
running music software, MIDI drum pads, and my Zendrum (alternate MIDI
controller).

I feel that this a much more versatile design than locking yourself into
one keyboard.  I'm sure you will get many different opinions about this
approach, but there's my two cents worth!!

Best of luck,
Charlie T
Really Live Music
charliet at flash.net
Visit our web site   http://www.flash.net/~charliet

 ----------
> From: Mike Nichols <mrn8395 at unix.tamu.edu>
> To: synth-diy at horus.sara.nl
> Subject: Keyboard Mechanical Design
> Date: Monday, August 25, 1997 2:04 AM
>
> Hello,
>
> I am a musician/EE graduate interested in developing my own
synthesizer
> equipment.  I've been reading up on analog and digital synthesis, and
I
> have no problem envisioning the electronic aspect of building my own
> keyboard, but I'm at a loss as to what to do about the physical
keyboard
> (i.e., the keys) itself.  Can you buy a mechanical keyboard, like you
can
> with computer keyboards or touch tone telephone keypads?  If so, who
> would carry these?  If not, then how do people generally build them
(what

> kind of switches should be used, what mechanical parts are necessary,
what
> materials should be used, etc...)
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Mike Nichols
> mrn8395 at unix.tamu.edu
>