Installed a new data wheel encoder

Update! This mod does not seem to work with the older MPC 1000 - I think Akai changed the rotary encoder part and PCB wiring, on units with the updated pads. (Black MPC's maybe?)

Make sure your rotary encoder looks like the one on the picture before ordering.

Hi!
My first post. I bought a brand new mpc 1000 last week - everything's smooth EXEPT the f**** data wheel. The wheel skipped steps/pulses like 3 or 4 times per 180 spin. At first I didn't really care, but as I started sample editing i JJOS it was a pain doing edits with speed. SO I googled and the part numbers I found when searching this forum was either out of stock or not available, but found a part from ALPS (EC12E2420404) at http://uk.farnell.com/


This is what I recieved:

original part to the left, and my ALPS to the right... oookkey.

Worked out fine though for my uses

It's much better than it looks actually. the wheel is tight and firm, and the steps are smooth and silent. (compared to the original RA-TA-TA-TA...) I put a thin peace of plastic and glued some felt to it to go underneath the plastic wheel.(The plastic wheel itself is unmodified.)
I wanted to "fill up" the gap to stop the encoder top from wobbling. The gap between the mpc casing and the plastic wheel was about 3mm.
So the plastic wheel now sits entirely OUTSIDE the mpc... haha.

I also replaced all the tact switches on the PCB with great ones form ALPS while I was at it...
Now it all works really well and the mpc "feels" much better.

Thought some of you wanted to know, if the encoder goes bad.
Just know about the height on this one.

Sorry if bad english.
cheers
U.

great news!

thanks for the detailed post.

cheers

NICE. you just did an amazing service to this community.

i call for sticky.

should have tried using xl wheel on it

bump. i'm betting you could use a fine saw and hack down the height of that sucker.

WHAT? 1 GPB? BARGAIN!! i'll take 2.. **** I already paid at another site, which advertised here BTW, but they didn't send me sh** for 3 months.. and I'm sure they won't m-****ers..

Nym wrote:NICE. you just did an amazing service to this community.

i call for sticky.

You said it Nym.

Uno, you literally have NO idea how appreciative I am of this. I'm ordering immediately. Thankyou a hundred times!

edit: Could you let us know the part number for the tact switches aswell please?

Nym wrote:bump. i'm betting you could use a fine saw and hack down the height of that sucker.

Yep. That's what I did with another piece of gear I have when the encoders died. I had no trouble getting exact part replacements but the originals were shorter and you could tell that they had just sheared of the tops at the factory. So I just followed suit with the replacements. No probs just extra plastic.

Just be carefull not to put stress on the encoder shaft. I think I just used a pair of old wire cutters.

Nice to help out!

Part no. for tact switch: SKHHAKA010 (SWITCH, TACTILE, PCB, 0.98N)
I think you can get better ones. These are not as silent as I would like.
But it's ALPS, and thats good ****.
WAY better than the crap Akai put in there.

It's been almost a year, and I've had no issues with the replacement BTW.

U.

I'm excited for this new mod. I think it will surpass all other new mods. I for one will get this mod immediately.

Let's all chip in and get UnoW a well deserved "I void warranties" t-shirt.
Bravo sir

.... and the answer to the question is: Yes... yes i did.
Voiding warranty is fundamental.

U.

UnoW wrote:.... and the answer to the question is: Yes... yes i did.
Voiding warranty is fundamental.

U.

And just like all other stickies with details regarding mods (for new MPCs), a disclaimer should be included to remind folks that it will certainly void your warranty. I personally wouldn't worry about tact switches on a new MPC as you will get a 1 to 3 year warranty depending on where you purchase it.

This applies to the MPC 500, 1000, 5000, MPD 32, MPC Ren/Studio, etc.

You haven`t done anything special really. You should shorten the pin because it`s too long. It`s very simple. Then it will fit better.

It's worth mentioning the part that is listed by Uno in the original post is not suitable for every 1000 PCB.

http://www.vstservice.com/p-706-akai-mpc-1000-rotary-encoder.aspx

This link explains why, and I can confirm the same thing happens with this part on my 1000. I ordered a handful myself from Farnell and have had the exact same bug that is described via the link above.

It does say there is no way to check on the board, but I believe the difference is in the original rotary encoder. I notice that the part Uno took out was actually metal-bodied already, whereas mine was completely plastic.

From talking to Mike at MPC Stuff as I'm looking to replace that PCB in its entirity due to lots of other components failing, I know that the two boards contain different rotary pots... which is confirmed by me and Uno having different parts.

So I can only assume that if you have an earlier PCB with a completely plastic encoder, the search will still have to continue. IF however you have a board that has the later upgrade and a metal bodied encoder, then this part should be ideal!