Some keys on my Arturia Keylab essentials 49 mk3 don't work!!!

Discussion in 'Instruments' started by ImBadAtMusic, Jan 10, 2025.

  1. Dan Fuerth

    Dan Fuerth Kapellmeister

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    I am almost 100%positive that the contact pads were installed and the top keyboard shell is pushing them off center thus missing the contact switch pad underneath.

    I would open up that keyboard and touch those contact pads to see if you get a signal touch.

    Almost all the new keyboard controllers are using soft rubber contacts that also act as a spring thus they are so cheap that they don't even have a spring on those momentary buttons anymore ( Hello window buttons on newer GM vehicles LOL).

    Imagine the Linndrum when it came out if it had the behringer buttons that look like they won't last a week of heavy usage!!!
    This is going to happen to the Behringer drum machine since they are using soft contact rubber pads that are not hard centered on a solid mount like the old LinnDrum machine with the heavy duty button pads that are still working after 30+ years.

    With the move away from higher quality lead soldering, away from harder ABS plastics all these instruments are now just toys compared to the 1980's electronics and plastics.
     
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  2. shinjiya

    shinjiya Platinum Record

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    Waste of time and money if you paid for something brand new that isn't working. If it's past warranty, then sure, fixing is the way to go. I have a whole workshop for servicing anything with components and I would still not open it if I can send it back for a new one.
     
  3. clone

    clone Audiosexual

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    if making sure the Midi Control Center is up-to-date, doing a Factory Reset, and flashing the firmware; it's something physically wrong inside the controller.
     
  4. Garamondo Furbish

    Garamondo Furbish Audiosexual

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    yes you are right, I should disregard everything I've seen and learned to be "sensitive"...

    ha..............
     
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  5. Radio

    Radio Audiosexual

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    No, you can do something, I'm proud of you, an independent doer. You are also able to help other people with their problems. In the neighborhood they say, ask Garamondo Furbish, he'll fix it. Please note that my sentences are serious and not humorous.
     
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  6. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Moderator Staff Member

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    i read a lot of reports that it did break after a shorter time, which was annoying, while other compared did hold a lot longer.
     
  7. saccamano

    saccamano Audiosexual

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    Very true. I actually called one of these corps "tech support" lines to piss and moan at 'em. They flat out admitted most of their stuff was made to last less than two years before failure. Rule of thumb being a buyer in a world of corporate capitalists - if cheap is the way you want to go then go with something that you have long researched to be up to the task of lasting a while.
     
  8. Moogerfooger

    Moogerfooger Audiosexual

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    Arturia uses Fatar for thier keybed supplier. Every Fatar equipped keyboarded I've ever owned has suffered the same fate as yours... Tear it down if its not a ribbon cable problem & clean the carbon contacts with isopropanol alcohol. If your keyboard has rubber carbon embedded contacts DO NOT use alcohol.
     
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  9. Magic Max

    Magic Max Platinum Record

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    I bought an Arturia Keylab a few years ago. I was unboxing and carefully pulling the plastic protective coating off they keys and the middle C was higher than the rest. Being new, I took it back and a replacement was delivered. I was extremely cautious this time removing the plastic and it was okay. I used it for about a year and then one day I noticed one key was raised higher than the rest. It was the middle C again.
     
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  10. Garamondo Furbish

    Garamondo Furbish Audiosexual

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    look at firewire devices now effectively obsolete, still working, but not supported in latest o/s. That is the fate of all computer peripherals, which all low end (no 5 pin midi interface) are. old printers become obsolete, because no driver support. So too audio interfaces.

    Your low to middle tier arturia (and all the other brands as well) will be obsoleted before they fail to function properly (suffer mechanical or electrical breakdown). Midi 2.0/2.1 will obsolete some gear, as will Midi 3.1 and Windows 18.

    Its just the way the music hardware eco-system is structured. I'm sure cults or communities of artists and musician will arise that support and run old hardware and operating systems to continue exploring and using software and hardware for older operating systems and hardware. At that point it becomes economically viable to buy 2 or 3 of every device you like and use, and keep the ones you don't use around for spare parts or replacement units.

    The nice part is people will start hacking them when they become obsolete and adding circuits and capabilities. There is plenty of room inside a 61 key arturia keyboard to add a single board computer, or even a laptop motherboard and build an essentially stand alone synth, for instance, from a midi controller.
     
  11. Xearox

    Xearox Ultrasonic

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    Hi
    to all owners of a ARTURIA KEYLAB MKII/MKIII 25<88 Keys
    Due to a cup of coffee that ended up in my MKII-61, I naturally had to dismantle it.
    As I have also worked in the electrical engineering sector in the past,
    I had no inhibitions about tackling this.

    However, I should also mention beforehand that I was plagued by a few problems with this controller.
    Cuttoff/Reso/LFO Knobs - constant jumps in value (all Firmware Updates)
    1st/3rd/4th and 9th Fader, many Contact Problems and loss of assignment.
    Pad 1/2/5/6 loss of assignment during operation.
    Sometimes some Keys of the Keyboard didn`t work, after a restart, sometimes weeks of no problems?
    Sometimes a small tap anywhere on the housing was enough to send meaningless midi information?
    Lots of strange behavior and then nothing at all for days on end ???

    After opening the device, however, I realized a few/many things! :wow::wow::wow:
    Ribbon cable badly kinked during assembly (keyboard connection to main board).
    Exactly "37" F**** soldered joints that showed cracks and probably had no contact depending on temperature or stress.
    Solder savings measures that cannot be put into words at all !!!!
    The cheapest supermarket device is better soldered and assembled.
    I measured the ribbon cable, replaced it and protected it directly with fabric tape (thankx to A****)
    16 PIN I think, it's been a while ...
    All 37 solder connections renewed and a few more to be on the safe side, didn't look so good.
    All plugs that could possibly slip out been fixed by tape.
    All knobs and fader potentiometers cleaned.
    Since then everything works fine and even strong vibrations no longer send midi data.
    I have really "NEVER" found such poor electrical workmanship in a device costing over €20.
    My boss would have to hang me on my sweetheart's on a flagpole and wait to see what would snap first.
    My vocal chords or my sweetheart's bag.
    A little tip, dismantle the part and rework everything that doesn't look really trustworthy.
    Happy owners of a Polybrute can only pray that the same production line does not assemble the part as the KeyLabs.

    This is not meant to be badmouthing arturia, but please check your quality assurance!!!
    :wtf::beg::beg::beg::beg::crazy::crazy::knock:
     
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