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.

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@...> 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
>
>
>
>
>
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>  
>
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> I checked it in unison mode: it really seems that it's (mostly) always
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> 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.
>
>
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> Thanks for your suggestions!
>
> Best,
>
> Marco
>