Is it possible to shorten a Midi controller keyboard?

[flat earth]

Sorry, bit of an odd question.

I'm doing a case for someone, to house a synth module, and it needs a 32 key keyboard to fit. (2.5 octaves)

Most donor midi keyboards (Oxygene etc) are either 2 or 3 octave (alas Roland PC160 2.5 octave no good due to wrong bender type)

Is it possible to take a 3 octave keybed and remove half an octave without destroying it?

Thanks.

[Futureman84]

Yep.

Can be done.. I've had to do this a few times.. Once with my SID synth, and another time with a minimoog I was restoring.

Generally you would discard the upper octaves.

Sometimes after you have cut the pcb you may have to duplicate some pcb traces you cut with hookup wire.

Best of luck

[elijahbrown]

I prefer the roland style pitch and mod bender, what are you talking about.

[flat earth]

Originally Posted by Futureman84

Yep.

Can be done.. I've had to do this a few times.. Once with my SID synth, and another time with a minimoog I was restoring.

Generally you would discard the upper octaves.

Sometimes after you have cut the pcb you may have to duplicate some pcb traces you cut with hookup wire.

Best of luck

Thanks for info!

Originally Posted by elijahbrown

I prefer the roland style pitch and mod bender, what are you talking about.

The chap specifically specified 'wheels'

Personally, I prefer them too.

[foodeater]

I Hope you don't mind the hijack, but what about turning a keyboard into a module? I know someone selling a Polyevolver encoder edition w/ a few broken keys for less than a PE rack. I already have the the keyboard.

The underside is what I have the most concerns about. I'm not sure who I would take it to that could cut it down.

I see a hinge type thing on the back of the PEK and I wonder if I could take the whole bottom panel off and remount the components on something else? I don't have the abilty to work with metal or plastic. Would it be completely stupid to use wood?

[Futureman84]

Originally Posted by foodeater

I Hope you don't mind the hijack, but what about turning a keyboard into a module? I know someone selling a Polyevolver encoder edition w/ a few broken keys for less than a PE rack. I already have the the keyboard.

The underside is what I have the most concerns about. I'm not sure who I would take it to that could cut it down.

I see a hinge type thing on the back of the PEK and I wonder if I could take the whole bottom panel off and remount the components on something else? I don't have the abilty to work with metal or plastic. Would it be completely stupid to use wood?

Instead of completely destroying something and slapping it in a timber case, why don't you just replace the busted keys? I'm sure DSI will sell you some.
That will take you all of five minutes.

This is especially true if you are not confident working with metal.. As you'll most likely end up with something horrible for very little gain.

Best of luck

[Reptil]

sure
If you want, you can shorten everything.
It's the "making longer" that's the difficult issue.



some people actually like this, so take it FWIW

[cdog]

Reptil what did you do with the Fizmo Desktop? That thing was AWESOME

[Reptil]

it's baaaaack

I figured with all the good serious advice in this thread, you might actually think I'm trolling.. which I'm not of course (how could I )

[Tarkovsky]

Originally Posted by Reptil

it's baaaaack

I figured with all the good serious advice in this thread, you might actually think I'm trolling.. which I'm not of course (how could I )

Oooh, leftist trouble maker. I've got your number reptil!

[foodeater]

Minus that label (and the lack of a front?) the Fizmo doesn't look terrible. I don't know why desktop modules aren't more popular. It's my favorite format for synths by far.

Originally Posted by Futureman84

Instead of completely destroying something and slapping it in a timber case, why don't you just replace the busted keys? I'm sure DSI will sell you some.
That will take you all of five minutes.

This is especially true if you are not confident working with metal.. As you'll most likely end up with something horrible for very little gain.

Best of luck

Well, I was hoping I could put it all back together? I don't want to take apart my working PEK to find out though. Unscrew the side panels,unhinge the bottom and I think the mod/pitch wheels will detach too. Pop it back together if I ever decide to fix it. Bubinga wood is sorta pricey, but I think I could use it and still save.

That plexiglass is an interesting option. I know where I can get that cut. If I put something over the seams I think I could live with that. I wonder how bright it would be with all the LEDs.

Other issues are space, portability and that it also has jumpy encoders. I'd have to get a new keyboard stand, a case to move it, and fix the encoders. By the time I've payed to deal with all those I might as well have gotten the rack.

I sorta even like the idea of having an encoder version directly behind my PEK with pots.

But the PEK does have nice keys, when they're functional(if you like springy action).