Akai MPK Mini Bad Key Fix

I bought this little MIDI controller off Reverb for like $10 plus shipping because it was listed as not working. I figured for $10 it was worth playing around with. When I got it, the lowest C key on the keyboard was the only key that didnt work.
www.pcbway.com/ Get 5 boards in about a week for $22!
Please help support this channel at NO COST TO YOU. If you shop on Amazon, please use this link: amzn.to/3706t6c
I will get a small commission and it costs you nothing.
Learnelectronics Merchandise:
Yes!! I now have merch: teespring.com/stores/learnele... Electronics themed T-Shirts!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEY YOU ABOUT TO POST SOMETHING STUPID:
Yes, I know my hands are large/fat. It's because of a heart condition I suffer from called Congestive Heart Failure. Here's a link to some information about CHF: cle.clinic/2TdS2Ux
One of the symptoms is that it causes fluid retention, mostly in the hands, feet/ankles, and face..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amazon Store:
If you are shopping for electronic components, test gear or consumables please consider visiting my Amazon shop @ amazon.com/shop/learnelectronics
Please check out www.patreon.com/learnelectronics and pledge a dollar if you can. It will go a long way to keeping the channel alive. It costs a bit of money to buy all the items and produce these videos. Your help is appreciated.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donation:
Or....if you'd like to send a one-time donation you can use this link: paypal.me/learnelectronics
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gear I use:
DMM: Owon B33+ - amzn.to/3qQgH20
Power Supply: Matrix 3206 - amzn.to/37C0fL9
Portable O'scope: YEAPOOK ADS1013D - amzn.to/2ZG4G3x
Bench O'Scope:Hantek DSO2D15
- amzn.to/3ir307N
Soldering Station - KSGER T12 - amzn.to/2NuNdby
Multimeter leads: Probemaster - amzn.to/2ZJ0BLK

[@Rob_III]

@11:04 I don't want to whine but I wouldn't call that fixed. The key clearly works only half the time and needs to be pressed harder than the other keys. I'm sure with 5 more minutes of some TLC it would be fixed better. Nevertheless enjoyed the video and please keep making more! I always enjoy your channel!

[@georgiosrigas8094]

Thank you very much! I have 2 keys with this problem, looking forward to open it and fix it.

[@stewartcohen7683]

Thanks for posting this! I have a 10 year old version that had over 6 dead keys. Even though I have copper tape, I bought some conductive paint and coated all the pads. I figured once I started, I should just make the whole thing work right for a few years! But I was ready to toss it, so great tip.

[@learnelectronics]

Glad I could help.

[@donhiscock6933]

Grate video Paul and I never would never thought to use Aluminum foil tape to fix the key would have just cleaned the contacts grate fix.

[@learnelectronics]

Thanks

[@englishrupe01]

Nice one, Paul. Hadn't thought of using that.....cool!

[@electronic7979]

Nice repair video 👍

[@kaferere]

If you'd examined the strip of grey contacts, you would have probably found a split in the "concertina" part of some of them. That's what normally happens when you have intermittent keys. You have to remove the strip and look at it up close while opening each "concertina". That's where the split always happens and people don't see it because it's in the creases. The contact strips are very available and don't cost much.

[@cucumber1389]

Lucky find honestly, good thing it was a fixable problem. A while back I went dumpster diving and found a whole Yamaha keyboard, and it was fully working, and someone just threw it away. The only problem is that it's a little bit soft, and I couldn't find the replacement part to fix the amplifier so I'll just make a secondary amplifier. A little while later I also found another smaller unbranded keyboard and after a bit of cleaning and fixing, the problem was that once you press multiple notes at once to play a chord, the sound isn't what its supposed to be. I'll probably sell that one for cheap somewhere

[@ralphj4012]

You can sometimes clean these rubber contacts with IPA (using a cotton bud and drying quickly afterwards), this works most of the time with TV and satellite box remote controls. Bare conductive paint is an alternative (if the IPA doesn't work).

[@anticlocktower]

I used Indian pale ale and my controller is drunk

[@CDE.Hacker]

Maybe check the arm under the key. It may have warped up.

[@melplishka5978]

Good score.

[@greggsvintageworkshop8974]

Great job fixing it! Now play with it awhile, then sell it and make some money for supplies! It's worth more now that it's fixed!

[@bwc1976]

I'm both happy and sad to see this. Happy because mine has the same problem, but sad to see it was more complicated than just blowing dust out of the inside.

[@jj74qformerlyjailbreak3]

I’m building a synth from old keyboard parts. I’ve been checking out reverb. I have an MS-20 and Yamaha PG 550. Those aren’t for parts. But would love to find one of each for parts. Love this one Paul.

[@jj74qformerlyjailbreak3]

Do you want to re-sell it now?

[@learnelectronics]

No

[@jj74qformerlyjailbreak3]

@@learnelectronics have fun with it.

[@bblod4896]

Good repair job. Paul's Akai service center is now open for business.

[@learnelectronics]

No, not for me

[@samlechiq8173]

Doglee 😂. I really hate doing these things but I have to fix my midi keyboard. Don’t you think it would’ve been a better idea to use some glue so that the tin foil doesn’t come loose? It seemed to work but not very well. What would you have done differently? Just curious.

[@Steven-zo6uz]

where did U get this tape? Not finding one that looks like yours

[@bloodhound8000]

I'm looking to get some 3d printing prototypes from pcbway and my cad programs are terribly outdated. What cad program do use or recommend? When I ordered , I'll tell pcbway you sent me. Thanks.

[@learnelectronics]

easyeda.com/

[@Chupacabramusic]

Good show sir

[@ourworld215]

perfect timing have my keyboard apart and tried pencil was frustrated turn to watch a video and out of the corner of my eye I see yours, on my table with in hands reach is foil tape and yea!

[@learnelectronics]

Right on

[@sokoloft3]

Nice. Good to know. I'll have to check that site. Granted its not an 88 key keyboard with weighted keys but this would be better than my tablet I was learning piano on. Granted I think thats meant for synth type stuff but it'd get me by until I could splurge on a big keyboard.

[@learnelectronics]

Keep in mind, it doesn't make any sound on it's own. You need a DAW and a VSTi plug in instrument.

[@SoundChemist]

i have a black key dont work, where does the black key touch on chip board to clean?

[@mikedelia7535]

The funniest phenomenon is people in KZbin videos either editing out the part I need to see or having it happen off screen 3:33 what did you pry to get it off the usb lol

[@midernia6455]

How name material 6.05 please

[@moebiusfan9545]

Interesting vid. You know, after all this time, Doggly should be assisting you more. At least doing some soldering.

[@YOUNGSIMS24]

HOW MUCH FOR A JOB LIKE THIS?

[@Bob-tu9jq]

5:25 😂 so cute

[@jussikuusela7345]

I have no dead keys on mine... my problem is that the keys (at least on MK2) are unbelievably flimsily built, and break off at the backbone very easily.

[@michaelpadovani9566]

My dad wants to give me a keyboard and although i would love to play, no room to store it!

[@larslevinberget9558]

Put it up against the wall!

[@bblod4896]

Perhaps order a jar of the pad renewer.

[@borayurt66]

There is a thing called conductive paint.

[@trixonx]

**heavy breathing**

[@weerobot]

Cool..

[@tomshaa391]

I think it's not the better solution. You loose dynamic key.

[@Bob-tu9jq]

you can even play chords...oh man

[@t1d100]

Well... I am disappointed. Yes, you made it work. Is the repair robust? Will it last? No. IIUC, you are a true EE and professional KZbinr, not just some hobbyist sharing his/her travels up the learning curve. I respect you and your channel. Otherwise, I would not be bothering to speak up. You can do better. I know you can. So, please do. As far as the repair goes, a plastic shim on top of the pad would likely drive the graphite pad down on the contacts and restore operations. Care would be needed to secure it permanently. Cleaning the pads and contacts of all the keys would also be typical maintenance, while you had the unit disassembled.

[@binaryglitch64]

I'm goona be disappointed if this is a serious video released on April Fools...

[@binaryglitch64]

it was...