Stay Home and Wash your Synths

I was working on a track this weekend, and I noticed that my Squarp Pyramid was acting up. Some button press wouldn't register, others seem to flicker multiple times. Since most of use are staying home and washing a lot of things, I figured this would be a good time to open up the Pyramid and clean the contacts and pads.
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[@dinosaursequence834]

Having exactly the same problem with my pyramid, will give this a go, thanks so much for the great video!

[@brymilan]

Thanks for saying the torx size for the case screws. I was thinking of bringing my Pyramid into the hardware store to find out what size those are. I'm going to install some rubber feet. The adhesive ones keep coming off. - edit: just rewatched and noticed you said 2mm hex, not torx. I have a mk3 pyramid and it has torx screws. :/

[@OlivierOzoux]

Ooh, interesting. Mine is actually a Mk1, that was upgraded to a Mk2 case a while ago. Didn't know Squarp switched the screws for the Mk3.

[@FunkTree]

Awesome 👍, could u use rubbing alcohol for the pads? I've done same cleanup with my novation circuit recently:)

[@OlivierOzoux]

You can probably use vinegar or a solution of baking soda and water instead of deoxit. Search online for “remove oxydation from electrical contacts” or something like that.

[@OlivierOzoux]

Also if the problem is because the black traces on the pads have lost conductivity, you can use graphite ( pencil ) to restore them, or even some of these new conductive markers they sell to make paper-based electrical experiments

[@ER-xk2zp]

i was expecting a close up of the contacts. was there any visible oxidation?

[@OlivierOzoux]

Yeah, I had notes to take some, but then I got caught in the actual process of cleaning. There was definitely a change in coloration as I was sweeping the contacts with deoxit. But there was also a fair amount of dust on the board and pads. I didn’t notice wear on the carbon contacts, but there was some grime at the edge of the pads. All these things combined would have caused misfires, and the pyramid is operating smoothly now.

[@Noise-Conductor]

@@OlivierOzoux Did u ever have to clean it again?

[@brmbkl]

Quick question (thinking of buying a Squarp); if something fails, obv. it would be better to repair or clean, but in a pinch, are all buttons midi assignable? (meaning that; can you plug in a pad controller to the midi in, and have those pads act as the pads on the sequencer (with backlight feedback)?

[@OlivierOzoux]

You can map a lot of things to midi, but not the sequencer itself. So you can’t operate 100% remotely