ReinardSynth#14: Korg 01W Pro repair - output, LCD Contrast, Keybed, switches, sample ROM adventures

This time I rejuvenated a Korg 01/w pro by giving it a nice LED backlit LCD, a new felt to make the keybed less clacktiyclack , replace some key, replace all front panel switches (almost standard operation with my repairs...) and some other small bits and pieces to make it like new. Especially the contrast range caused some head scratching, but I think I nailed that one as well.
Display used: www.buydisplay...
Switches used: www.mouser.at/...
Looking for spare parts? I might have something... check out my eBay listings here: www.ebay.de/sc...
Incidental music: Me and my Yamaha Montage (c) 2023
Tools used:
- Steinberg UR22mkII + Audio technica 2020 for voiceover
- Sony ZV-E10 as video camera
- Manfrotto Magic Arm
- Editing: iMovie (Easy bits) + Davinci Resolve (difficult bits)

[@astorina]

Impressive mastery and professionalism, nice from you to share !

[@salmanquereshi515]

Hi Reinard, and thanks a lot for making such an informative video. I am also upgrading/reparing my Korg 01 W FD. I have bought the ROM chips as mine is ROM 28 also bought a replacement USB drive to replace the floppy drive. I have bought a new backlight rather than replace the whole display. I also plan to fix the plastic screen infront of the the display by applying hydrogen peroxide as it is yellowing and I want it to go back to being clear. I want to know where to source the felt that you have used. I would also love it if you can tell me what grease to use on the keybed. Thanks a million!😃

[@richardsmith4992]

Hi - I don't think the plastic cover in front of the screen is yellowed due to sun+time, I think it is just a yellow tint. It is a terrible thing for Korg to do - should have been clear plastic, not smoky yellow!!

[@cameronn6183]

Fantastic work. Huge thanks for the part numbers! Will be using this as a reference to fix up my own 01/W.

[@ShallRemainUnknown]

2MB of the base 6MB PCM is 8-bit depth.

[@rudypena74]

I want to upgrade or replace exactly what you did in your video ..

[@jonpaulhollingsworth4732]

oh dear this doesn't look to simple, need to do a similar job on my 01w. thanks for this uploadnsuper helpful. that's a great job you did

[@richardsmith4992]

Hi - where you have replaced the screen and added a 2200K resistor to the pins on it, is there an easier way to get the right contrast (roughly level 4) by changing that value, instead of messing with the mainboard adding resistors? I'm about to do this in the next week or so! Cheers.

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

I notice you grounded your person. So I guess GLM (Grounded Lives Matter)

[@rreterrete]

Can I ask you about my 01/Wf issue? Thanks

[@TheCrashxtreme]

Hi Reinard, can you please tell me where to get the replacement felt and grease for the keybed? I have been scouring the web but cannot find the right one. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks a lot!

[@reinardsynth6581]

Ask a local yamaha Instruments dealer for part nr. VQ175900 it is the same felt as used in the Morif for which yamaha should still be able to supply replacement felts

[@leonardomuentes2898]

I have a korg 01wproX, the A flat key has no sound from the middle forward, sometimes it sounds, other times it doesn't, do you have any idea what the fault could be?

[@reinardsynth6581]

Intermittently working key is a clear indication of dirty key contact: clean the rubber dome contacts and circuit board contacts underneath the offending keys with pure alcohol (see my “top 8 synth faults” video -top 2 entry at the end) for details on how to do that)

[@resofactor]

God-like skeeelz yo

[@gsoametty]

HI I need a motherboard for my Korg 01W FD by any chance do you have a working one to sell me? and do you ship to mexico? the card is the klm-1528. Thank you

[@danielschneider2440]

Very rare keyboard 01/W PRO This display was top

[@aurelienenoult6240]

Great job ! What resistor should have been used in the display(instead of changing cms resistor on the main board)? Thank you.

[@reinardsynth6581]

about 450 Ohm according to my calculations, living the SMDs resistors (R149 and R147) on the main board untouched.

[@aurelienenoult6240]

@@reinardsynth6581 thank you so much for your helpful answer !

[@aurelienenoult6240]

@@reinardsynth6581 il works very well. Thank you again !

[@ChompoMusicPedroPablo]

Master when a fault persists indicating battery low on a korg 01w despite having replaced a new battery. Which ram memory should be replaced?

[@marciodias.a]

thanks for the video, Could you tell me the compatible rate of the LCD display for the Korg 01/WFD? Thanks in advance

[@reinardsynth6581]

compatible rate? you mean price? about $25-28 plus shipping, see buydisplay link…

[@apinevekun5009]

Thanks to you, I was able to successfully install the latest LCD display on my 01/wFD. As advised, the two resistors were regular resistors, not SMD, so there was no problem. This allows us to take advantage of contrast. thank you. I also referred to the power supply board.

[@ignaciozamorano6525]

Hi, did you follow the steps in the video? I changed it and it only gives me a blue glow.

[@JagiChan]

Fantastic. Perfect.👏

[@rreterrete]

Nice video!

[@ignaciozamorano6525]

Hello, I just replaced the display on my Korg 01/WFD but when I turn it on the Korg logo appears and then the screen stays blue and there is no image. The keyboard works fine but there is no image.

[@reinardsynth6581]

Contrast… would check that. Contrast voltage should be around -6/-7 Volt. Which display exactly did you use?

[@ignaciozamorano6525]

@@reinardsynth6581 The screen was bought on Aliexpress, but it is the same one in the video, I checked the contrast but it only dims the light, I also clarify that I installed the screen before watching this video, so I will follow the steps you indicate, and I wanted to know if you have any recommendations? or following the steps in the video could it work?

[@SriharshaaPrabhakar]

Ultimate

[@carlosarredondo3]

Just bought user O1/Wfd, needs similar work. Are you in the USA?

[@reinardsynth6581]

nope, Austria…

[@IsraelCastillo-t6l]

​@@reinardsynth6581En México cómo puedo conseguir un display para mi KORG 01/W. Te agradezco de antemano. God Bless You

[@reinardsynth6581]

@@IsraelCastillo-t6l www.buydisplay.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=24064

[@IsraelCastillo-t6l]

@@reinardsynth6581 Muchas gracias.

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

@@reinardsynth6581 You march in and annex KORG

[@mohammadawwad6598]

Pleez out put ac v from transformar

[@reinardsynth6581]

@@mohammadawwad6598 ehh…. what?

[@danafiorucci83]

Does the value change to the resistors apply if you have replaced the display with an OLED? The contrast seems to make no difference since I replaced the display

[@reinardsynth6581]

OLED displays do not have contrast voltage inputs; only LCD displays have. Have not seen 240x64 OLED displays, don’t think they exist. Different LCD make and models have slightly different contrast voltage ranges so it depends… values given here work for the BuyDisplay 240x64 LCD displays…

[@dav1dbone]

On the 01W, is it normal for the ram ICs 18-22 to be warm to the touch, also the audio stage ICs 43-46 and surrounding area are even hotter?

[@reinardsynth6581]

RAM ICs warm to the touch: is ok, are heavily used… audio stage: hmmm… perhaps double check the PSU output on ripple and voltage… also: do you hear strange noise on the audio outputs?

[@dav1dbone]

@@reinardsynth6581 Thanks, power supply voltages all good, not checked for ripple but planning on doing that. It's actually stuck on boot screen, was just a quick look on the FLir, work in progress🙂

[@reinardsynth6581]

Quick Q: have you replaced the LCD display with a new one?

[@dav1dbone]

@@reinardsynth6581 no, I'm sure it's ok because occasionally on switch on the welcome screen appears, however it never goes past that, screen is clear and back light reasonable. I'm going to recap the c94,95 etc and change the fusible resistors since they're discoloured. The caps leaked around that part so I'll tidy that area up with mek.