Music, DJ, VO Production

DIY HOW TO Restore dead controller keys! Clean contacts
by PJ Ramos aka Ixiz / Wataris Machine / Wyre
(old repost fit for my blog)
Its been discussed in the Electronica Manila yahoogroups forum the issue regarding dead keys on your controller. Personally I have an Edirol PCRA30 and it has around 6 dead keys of 32 keys, which is now rendered to be useless.

I just had the “bahala na” attitude and decided to have the balls and do the fixing myself. In theory if keys are dead, according to the forums its a contact cleaning issue. So here goes. I am no expert. Feel free to write in your suggestions for a better way to do it.

By opening your unit you void all warranties. The procedure you are about to partake is no expert opinion and based only on experience. I wont be liable  any malfunctions on your unit.

1) Make sure you have prepared your cleaning materials and tools needed. Prepare the following cleaning materials. Dry no himolmol cotton cloth. Brush. Blower. RUBBER ERASER. PAPER CLIP. Magnetized Screwdriver. Mark the dead keys on your controller

Check the screw openings, just enough to open and detach the cover from your controller to reach the keys. I noticed in my Edirol, i need not open all screws, just the corner screws to detach the cover to reach the keys. Open and detach cover.

Clean the surrounding area of dust, use brush and blower. Be careful not to touch the greases. There are areas which are greased particularly on the keys. Form the PAPER CLIP such that it has a functional hook on the end. Unhook the keys. Detach the keys. Make sure to mark and remember where you pulled it from.

2)Clean circuit board of dusts and grime. Do it slowly. Make sure you dont touch the grease. Clean the board using a rubber eraser. Do not put any liquid agents. Rub gently on the contacts on the board. then Clean eraser and repeat procedure.

 

3) Clean the surrounding area of dust, use brush and blower. Be careful not to touch the greases. There are areas which are greased particularly on the keys. Form the PAPER CLIP such that it has a functional hook on the end. Unhook the keys. Detach the keys. Make sure to mark and remember where you pulled it from.

4) After cleaning the circuit board contacts, proceed to clean the rubber key contacts with the rubber eraser. Be sure to extra careful, the rubber key contacts are thin rubber and be careful it may tear. After cleaning the contacts place them back with the aid of the paper clip. be sure to place them back carefully depressing, be wary of tearing the rubber. Place back the keys and Hook the springs back. Place back screws. Test your unit. Your dead keys should hopefully now be working. If not, its beyond cleaning and may be due to board circuit