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)

[@cameronn6183]

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

[@astorina]

Impressive mastery and professionalism, nice from you to share !

[@ArseneLupin_tw]

I also own a 01/w Pro X and am currently facing the same issues. Some of the tact switches are broken, the screen's backlight isn't working, and the original LCD panel has issues as well. Since I want to fix it myself, I've been searching online for repair information. I'm really glad I found your video-it was very professional and clearly explained. In the whole video, I think the hardest part would be recalibrating the contrast voltage, which is beyond what I can DIY... I found that there are pre-made LED backlight LCD panels available online. I'm wondering if I would also need to follow the same steps as you did, like modifying the power supply to provide 5V. I'll keep looking into it. Wow! You even have the original floppy disks! That's amazing! Lastly, thank you so much for the video! It has given me more confidence to repair my 01/w!

[@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!

[@rudypena74]

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

[@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!!

[@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

[@SriharshaaPrabhakar]

Ultimate

[@resofactor]

God-like skeeelz yo

[@danielschneider2440]

Very rare keyboard 01/W PRO This display was top

[@happyfox711]

Wow great job w. all the switches. I took the lazy method of isopropanoling the crap out of the old ones.. (w.o. even opening it😂) It worked out surprisingly well. Got to tilt the flow around just right... Have to really get in there one sunny day for the backlight and to swap the floppy for an emulator. Got any favourite usb drive for these? 01/Wfd

[@radocool1]

Hello Reinhard! Thank you for this informative video. What is the ideal value for R_LCD if I don’t want to change the original values of the opamp resistors? Your help is greatly appreciated.

[@reinardsynth6581]

@@radocool1 450ohms, according to my calculations…

[@radocool1]

@ Thank you very much! I’m about to service my old 01\WFD and I’m going to upgrade it with the same screen you used in the video.

[@radocool1]

I finished the resto-mod and I really like the results. I didn’t have a 450 ohm resistor on hand, so I put a 470R instead. With this value there’s no noticeable change in contrast from level 5 to 8, but it doesn’t matter since I quite like it when set to 1. Thank you again, Reinard!

[@teclas101official5]

Hello, i need help with a korg 01/w pro, but it no longer powers on, it was working, until i forgot to power it off and thats when it stopped turning on

[@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 !

[@ShallRemainUnknown]

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

[@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?

[@Salman_Quereshi]

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

[@lestat666666666]

Hi Mr Reinard , can you show me wich voltages you have on transformer secondary side, primary is 120 V , but on the schematics someone forgot to add secondary side notation Blue, blue ,Red, black, red wires is unknown voltages, Could you help me with that, please?

[@reinardsynth6581]

Sorry, can’t help with that: do not have a 01/w in my posession anymore

[@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.

[@ghoulian]

I see you used an ultrasonic cleaner for the black plastic pieces! Is it possible to clean the keytops in there as well, or would that damage the keys?

[@reinardsynth6581]

I normally do not clean the keys of the keybed using an ultrasound cleaner: it would remove the (silicone) Grease from the insides. I “hand clean” them with househild soap

[@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)

[@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?

[@TheWestofScotland]

is ESD not an issue in regard to the maintenance of the OW1?

[@reinardsynth6581]

@@TheWestofScotland not really, but I am always careful not to build up a charge (rubbing dry socked feet on laminate floor…) and in case of handling PCBs discharge myself/ wear ESD bracelet

[@TheWestofScotland]

@@reinardsynth6581 Many thanks for your information.

[@rreterrete]

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

[@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…

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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…

[@mohammadawwad6598]

Pleez out put ac v from transformar

[@reinardsynth6581]

@@mohammadawwad6598 ehh…. what?

[@lestat666666666]

​@@reinardsynth6581 Hi Mr Reinard, can you show me wich voltages you have on transformer secondary side on power supply, primary is 120 V , but on the schematics someone forgot to add secondary side notation Blue, blue ,Red, black, red wires is unknown voltages, Could you help me with that, please? I need to know the value voltages to feed power supply, my transformer is damaged😢

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

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