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Guelph_Guy 26 March 2016

Okay, just a re-cap, I had picked up a used big ben .. that the narrow lock light became intermittent, it was a cold solder joint on the board .. once re-flowed good to go ...

So I'm making some changes in the home studio, I had purchased a Yamaha KX8, weighted 88 key keyboard that supported USB and midi. As I was fully midi enabled, I just plugged it in and off I went ..

okay a year later and I'm moving the keyboard over to studio B ... This time decided to run it via usb.. downloaded the usb/midi drivers and tried to install them no go ( computer could not recognize the device ...)

I was totally stymied as to why this would not go, tried different usb cables, different ports, I could plug the USB in turn on the keyboard, a usb device was found but unrecognized.. was all the computer would spit back. it didn't make any sense at all ... even tried another computer no luck ...

So what the heck, I took off the 30 screws off the bottom of the KX8 .. removed the board that the usb was attached to and flipped it over .. low and behold, the soldered pins were dull and dark ... Reflowed the pins and powered it up, computer found the keyboard on the first shot ... I'm smiling ... But I seem to be one that keeps getting product with bad soldering on the component boards ! ... This is about the 5th time this year I've been in the belly of some electronic gizmo reflowing solder .

Anyhow, the KX-8 is now running along great in Ableton 9.6 .. now to get the novation push controller pad installed and the novation impulse controller keyboard installed as well and I'll be good to go ..

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Comments

Guelph_Guy Sat, 03/26/2016 - 07:43

Actually, that's a good point Sean , being able to repair and diagnose problems does make gear service cheaper ..
(if you know what you're doing). You could make a "bigger mess" if you're not good at it ...

It's also allowed me to pick up gear pretty reasonably priced ...( the big ben was a good example).

I've not bought anything off ebay that "needs fixin". But Boswell said it best ... I picked up another Keyboard a while back , Roland A50 master Controller ... got it cheap ( backlight was not working) ... Called a shop to see if I could get the whole display module ... not gonna happen 400.00 US ... I managed to remove the backlight and ordered one from china ...

$12.00 including shipping had it in like 5 days. While I was waiting I cleaned up the Keyboard Bed ...
Seems every body will sell you an assembly (whole display unit) but not the part ....

Guelph_Guy Sun, 03/27/2016 - 14:18

JayTerrance, post: 437363, member: 49019 wrote: I wish I was that handy. I'm the guy who pays $120 in round-trip shipping to send in my Bricasti only to have them tell me it is just fine. Then realize that my Totalmix software had switched off the outs/sends to it.

Ouch! that smarts in the pocketbook .... I do a fair chunk of computer work ... mainly corporate and it never fails to amaze me what doesn't get checked , but oversights happen ... I've been caught on that too ..

DonnyThompson Mon, 03/28/2016 - 00:13

Guelph_Guy, post: 437362, member: 47293 wrote: being able to repair and diagnose problems does make gear service cheaper ..

You Betcher A-- , err, I mean "backside", it does. LOL

I used to be pretty good at making those solder repairs myself, but, my eyes aren't what they used to be, and, neither are my hands for that matter, either.
It sucks to know what the problem is and not be able to fix it.

I think it's pretty safe to say that a career in neurosurgery is probably not anywhere in my future from here on out.

FWIW
-donny,
AKA "Dr. Shakey". ;)

Guelph_Guy Mon, 03/28/2016 - 02:01

DonnyThompson, post: 437418, member: 46114 wrote: You Betcher A-- , err, I mean "backside", it does. LOL

I used to be pretty good at making those solder repairs myself, but, my eyes aren't what they used to be, and, neither are my hands for that matter, either.
It sucks to know what the problem is and not be able to fix it.

I think it's pretty safe to say that a career in neurosurgery is probably not anywhere in my future from here on out.

FWIW
-donny,
AKA "Dr. Shakey". ;)

Gosh Donny , LOL , I was going cross eyed trying to see if I bridged the traces by accident LOL ...

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