Synthesiser problem - some keys no sound

Miss Informed · 22-01-2012 11:09pm #1

So I took the synth (Kurzweil K2000) out of the attic last week and have just gotten around to setting it up. All working except for five keys that are producing no sound at all. One of them sounds after holding it down hard for a few seconds.

Any advice?

Malice · 23-01-2012 8:57am

Moved to Music Production.

TroutMask · 23-01-2012 1:40pm

there is a rubber/synthetic rubber contact pad strip that runs underneath the keys. Some of the switching elements on this have probably gone bad. It will need to be replaced.

madtheory · 23-01-2012 1:41pm

Probably dust in the rubber contacts under the keys. Takes a lot to get at it on most keyboards, but after that all it needs is some air blown at it. Don't use a hoover.

Nice synth.

TroutMask · 23-01-2012 5:38pm

madtheory wrote: »

Probably dust in the rubber contacts under the keys. Takes a lot to get at it on most keyboards, but after that all it needs is some air blown at it. Don't use a hoover.

Nice synth.

Rejuvenation procedures such as the one described above can be successful. However, for long-term stability, replacement is recommended.

madtheory · 24-01-2012 9:14am

I think dust is a more likely culprit than wear in this case, given that it has been in storage. The implication is that it was fine prior to storage.

TroutMask · 24-01-2012 9:30am

sometimes there can be oxidation of the contact footprints and this can cause dead keys/mis-triggers. A visual inspection should reveal the issue. If you're disassembling the unit for dusting, you might as well:
1) examine the synth-rubber contacter strip for signs of perishing, tears;
2) clean the rubber contact elements with distilled water;
3) clean the PCB switch elements with IPA;
4) treat the PCB elements with a deoxidising cleaner/contact treatment (e.g., Caig);
4) *most importantly* do not let solvents/sprays/oil-based cleaners near the rubber strips!

If this fails to resolve the issue, check that the PCB elements are, in fact, switching. If they are, then replace the rubber strips and it should work. If not, you'll need to employ signal tracing methods to troubleshoot the problem back down the circuit.

Synthesiser problem - some keys no sound

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