A keyboard, Cheap to hack up for future soundlab use

Fenris

Hi all

I see some of you guys have gutted existing electronic keyboards to use with soundlabs amongst other things. So balancing gutting a perfectly servicable keyboard against it's new life as a single bus type. What units do you guys recommend to use (with a view to installing the sound lab within the case of the keyboard.

regards

Fenris

Zodiak · Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 3:07 pm Post subject:

To be honest is it worth the effort? Confused

What are you going to use for contacts? The ones with it will probably be silicon "bubbles" and built into a PCB so to use them you will have to butcher that too.

Fitting mechanical contacts is another option but without proper mounting points its going to be fun getting all the keys to trigger evenly.

Still if that's you bag then good luck and let us know how you get on Very Happy

Me I build nearly all my own kit but for this I just use a Home brew midi interface and plug it into what ever is handy Smile

Fenris · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 2:49 am Post subject:

Contacts wise I have seen a revamped keyboard on here that has thin 'steel' wires that extend from the back of the keys themselves and interface with the bus strip which seems to be made up of the usual resistor chain and 'steel' loops that the key wires nestle within.

So maybe I should look for a 'broken' system? I am no musician, though I have played the stylaphone as a young un Very Happy

the guitar to a point where you could actually recognise what the tune was, penny whistle and the euphonium for a year as a teen. I'm just a novice, musically, out to build something with my own hands that I can 'play' with and have fun. I don't think Rick Wakeman has anything to worry about Very Happy

So what keyboards would have the above mentioned 'switching' system?

regards

Fenris

RF · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 5:09 am Post subject:

The keyboard I used came from an old Casio - bubble contacts and all. Sorry, I don't recall the model # - but I'll look around and see if I still have the guts for it - maybe there is a model number there. I think it was a CT-'something'

Yes, it's a bit of pain to do, but not all that bad. Honestly, I didn't even think about it being difficult - it's what I had to work with
It works pretty well. I got 4 octaves and full size keys with decent action.

Zodiak · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 5:28 am Post subject:

RF · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 6:12 am Post subject:

I used the bubble contacts.

Pulled all the matrix diodes, jumpered the grounds of the sections together, soldered a wire from each contact (where the diodes used to be) and ran those to the resistor chain.

bruce

Fenris · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 7:18 am Post subject:

Hi all

Sounds like interesting stuff and very doable at that. I remember getting a free keyboard with my ZX128 (the amstrad version) the keyboard had full size keys, I can't remember how many......20-30 perhaps?? and it had a ribbon cable to attach it to the ZX. all the controls where software based no knobs or switches on the keyboard and the software enabled changing the sound from drums, violin, harp, organ, etc etc etc. It was a cheap keyboard but it did feel nice I remember....... Don't you just wish you had held onto somethings at times!

regards

Fenris

diablojoy · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:20 am Post subject:

try buying any old yamaha or cheap hammond 70's home organs on ebay
the keyboards are all pretty much all old contact switches perfect for rays design and you can get them very cheap and quite often for free no one wants them they also usually include a peddle board 3 kybrds for nix is good value by anyones standards
and they work great just make sure they are local and you will need to pick up so a van is required but definately great value

Fenris · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:40 am Post subject:

Hi Diablojoy

Yep I'm eying up Hammonds on ebay and bontempi Very Happy

regards

Fenris