M-Audio Keystation Pro-88 Repair Part 1 of 2

[teazalamode]

wow. i have this exact same problem! with the exact same key! middle d. i'm worried about disassembling it..but you give me hope! it's so frustrating. such an important key!

[RealScottsdaleLiving]

@teazalamode Not too difficult, just keep track of the screws and you'll be fine.

[geraldladera]

hello, I had a keystation 88es, the usb port it`s not working properly, I `ve connected and it seems to start "on" ok, but it doesn`t transmitt any midi data... I `ve installed a "midi-to-usb" interface and its working in that way, but, the usb not, only brings elec. power...how can I fixed?????? please!

[RealScottsdaleLiving]

@geraldladera Not sure. I had to rip mine apart just to fix a little piece of rubber.

[kyoutojun]

Hi..Can I know how to remove my m-audio 61es keys??

[RealScottsdaleLiving]

@kyoutojun I'd love to help you with that, but I only have the Pro-88.

[sikamariusik]

Man I am so glad that I found this video, I have the exact same problem on my keystation but I didn't open it to do the repair, but now I know exactly what to do. And assuming that I what to buy some rubber contact strips for future repairs where can I buy them from?

Thanks a lot

[1976Pianoman]

VERY interesting to learn by your video that this is the same exact contact/rubber boot design that Roland used in the RD series and in the Rhodes/Roland MK-80. Those orange rubber pads are identical to the grey ones in my piano that have worn out and have caused the keys to not sound. I have been told by numerous pro keyboard repair shops that Roland no longer makes these rubber pads and therefore my piano cannot be fixed. I'm going to check with M-Audio and see if I can order these! :)

[RealScottsdaleLiving]

@1976Pianoman If you happen to come across them, post your source here so we can order some replacements. I'm sure it will happen again at some point.

[OhioGrovers]

Thanks for the great video! This confirmed the problem with a used KSP88 I spotted at my local Music-Go-Round before I even bought it. I registered the board online with Avid and got an ASC (Avid Support Code). Next I contacted Avid support via email and ordered 10 of the bubble contact strips (they were only $1 each) so I could replace them all and have a couple spares. They even threw in 5 replacement keys for some that were scratched up. I put in the new contacts and she's good as new.

[JuLew1031]

Bad choice, you probably would have gotten away with some permetex or rubber sealent

[DarrylBradyMusic]

Most likely I have the same problem with this key....thanks a lot for sharing, now I know how to fix this thing myself!

[GeorgeP40]

Anyone replace keys on this keyboard yet? Where did you get the keys? Thanks

[fshome]

Does anybody have problems, not with the orange bubble contacts, but with the contacts on the green circuit board, with which the bubble contacts make contact.

I have one key that doesn't sound. I have verified that the orange bubble contacts are okay, because I have switch the block of bubble contacts with another section. I have cleaned the circuit board contacts a number of times but to no avail.

[candelpoet]

i also have defective buble pads but i can not find were to order them. m-audio has not called back for over a week now!!!!!!! any ideas? candelpoet@yahoo.com

[thirteenrays]

@candelpoet

If you're having trouble ordering from M-Audio try Syntaur. Just google "bubble contacts syntaur". Good luck!!!

[DRakomol]

to anyone who has this problem:!!!

it might be just dust!

try cleaning it then see if it worked.

if not..THEN get new pieces/take it to a professional.

[DRakomol]

had this problem with a PSR E413

you gave me the idea to open it and see whats inside and i found out that theres more dust in there than in my whole town lol

i wiped the whole orange thing (mine was grey) and underneath it where the green thing is and now it works perfectly.

took me less time than watching the video XD

thank you very very much!

[UccideteviColGas]

what is the name of orange plastic..??

[thirteenrays]

@UccideteviColGas

They're called "bubble contacts".

[flujotech]

Had a similar problem with a PCR-80. After cleaning didn't work (actually messed up more keys - total repair noob here) I got in contact with Roland/Edirol and got some replacement pads. It was as good as new after that.

[CDSuperRadical]

Anywone know eher to get knobs for this keyboard?

[PimpinBassie2]

The pads you're pressing are called bubble contacts. They replaced contact springs, used in earlier keyboards.

[DragonJackM]

Anyone know where to get the replacement for that key contact? I am staying at UK.

[terran236]

Ok so Just opened the oxygen 88 last night, for anyone that cares or is going to buy an oxygen, to open it just flip it over and take off the smaller screws, (not the 2 center fat ones). There is about 18 all around the keyboard. Its easier to open than the keysation, its just one whole piece and you can flip it out wards to expose the keys.

[scott93257]

How do you use the Transport Controls with Cubase SX 3? I love my controller and I have had it a little over two years now...No problems with it at all..But anyway, some info on the transport controls would be GREATLY appreciated...

have a great day

[scott93257]

Very cool..Thanks for the info and posting this video... I am a Keystation owner as well...Question:

[evryoneTV]

extremely helpful thankyou

[terran236]

Btw did you try ordering parts from M-audio? I think they sell individual parts via repair center.

[terran236]

AWESOME ive been desperately looking for info on the Keybed of a keystation pro since I am having problems with my Oxygen 88(2 months old) and I know it uses the same keybed. Thumbs up to you sir. You have been more help than the mods at the actual M audio site. Now i just need to know what screws to remove.

[critta63]

My Pro-88 had the identical problem (even the same middle D key). Im trying speaker glue in the hole first. If that doesnt work, I'll do the same and swap with a high register key pad. Thanks for posting!

[gavincurtis]

Fill the backside of the cavity with silicone rubber to support the failed rubber disk support . After it cures, It will work like new forever as it keeps its relative position.

Sorry I am talking too much here. But nice keyboards go to landfills because of otherwise easy repairs as seen here.

[gavincurtis]

Almost everything new with a keyboard, keypad or other tactile interface uses these "black round disks" as a switch. If the button feels rubbery, then it most likely has a black round disk underneath.

It's not a magnet. It is silicone rubber filled with conductive black carbon granules. Same carbon granules that made carbon microphones work in the vacuum tube era.

Magic of that little pad? Harder you press, lower the resistance as the carbon granules are crowded together!

[gavincurtis]

Conductive carbon impregneted silicone rubber! Yamaha CS-80 used this concept for its aftertouch technology late 70's. Worked great most of the time.

Your TV remote controls, almost all musical keyboards, and video game systems use this technology today.

Stuck button aside, to repair non-responsive buttons you clean them with denatured alcochol. Wal-Mart has 70-90% rubbing alcohol for 2 dollars. Use a Q tip and clean every black pad.

All silicone buttons will return to new!!!!!

[firehandszarb]

couldnt you fix the offending pad with some silicone glue or something (to hold the magnet in place?)

[firehandszarb]

@firehandszarb btw I found this video watch?v=gJarAWE-Uyo. I own an keystation pro myself. although its a cheapie there are not that many keyboards out there that would work for me as well as the keystation pro. If my keybed gets too bad, I hope to replace it with a fatar tp/40 as it seems that m-auidio has the better electronics (easy to program and can send a wide variety of CCs and other messages, set up splits and layers etc) while fatar has the best keybed.

[gavincurtis]

@firehandszarb The black disk part is actually a conductive carbon rubber pad. Repair is simple as cleaning with rubbing alcohol and will work like new again. Staying stuck down is a molding defect or a softdrink spill getting underneath the pad.

[djcutlet]

Thanks for the video! I just tried this out and come up with another solution. I took off the offending keys, and they both had identical problems to the one in your video; the rubber was popping up in one of the holes, and the key was either sending a velocity of 0 or 127. Instead of taking all the keys off and replacing the piece of rubber, I just jammed a little ball of paper in the offending holes and Voila!, the keys work again.

[gillmcc]

Great Video!

Quick Question, have you thought about repairing the defective pad using neoprene glue? It;s the glue you get in a watersports store for fixing wetsuits etc. when it cures it cures like rubber rather than like a normal glue which cures like a hard plastic. Just a thought!

[p3x416]

@gillmcc That's a fantastic idea.