MPC Arrow Key

Hi there,

Yes, another topic about arrow keys.. I bought a used MPC 1000 and I noticed the upper arrow key doesnt work so smooth, I have to press it pretty hard in the upper corner to get it working.

I see you guys are always talking about Deoxit, but they don't sell that in the Netherlands.

Is there any other way? Can't I just replace to button with this: http://www.mpcstuff.com/akai-mpc-1000-g ... u1000.html

that would work if there was an actual break or something in the button, but it might be the tact switch, which in that case you would need the right side pcb assembly or this

http://www.mpcstuff.com/small-tact-swit ... utton.html

I don't think you'll need a new PCB for that.

If the actual button itself is not damaged, more likely you need to clean or replace the tact switch. Routine maintenance for a used MPC.

if there happens to be a Radio Shack over there, they would probably carry the DeOxit... i've found Radio Shacks even in more obscure countries, so there probably is one somewhere around... other than that you would need to replace the tact switch.

I just opened the MPC up, the previous user said the MPC wasnt used that much.. and I have to agree, it looks pretty new.
Even on the inside its very clean.

Problem now, I don't really dare to pop out the arrow button, because I don't know how... I dont want to break the button with the board.

Going through all kind of video's on youtube and asking MPCStuff for advice.. but not really getting what I want.

So I can't judge if its the tact switch or some dirt.

i'm sure it's the tact switch... and it won't be the only time you'll have this issue either... you would know if it was the actual button because the plastic would feel broken and the button would sink. the tact switch issue is the most common problem with the mpc1000s. i've had to spray at least 5 different tact switches over the years.

Ah well, I can't solder, because I have no heating equipment, that would get really expensive too I guess.
I'll try to import a deoxit bottle.. any advice on which type and how and where to spray it?

any variety of DeOxit should do the trick... radio shack usually sells a pack with 2 different ones... either one is fine for the MPC's tact switches.

you want to lift off the plastic button, spray the tact switch beneath it with just a little tiny bit of the contact cleaner, then click the tact switch repeatedly... you'll notice a difference almost immediately.

the contact cleaner will come in handy to have around... if one button is already acting up, expect more of them to do so in the future.

Okay cool, I don't have to get the plastic button out, I can just lift it up right?
Than I'll order some Deoxit asap to hopefully get the job done.

for some reason dexoit is only allowed to ship via ground freight.. so idk..

some people have been able to use alcohol on a q-tip to clean their tacts...

the buttons are fairly easy to remove and pop back into place as well... you just need to gently squeeze the "legs" on the bottom sides and then lift the button up... putting it back in is as simple as pushing it back into place. you're gonna need to lift the button up in order to clean the tact switch... but don't worry it's no big deal at all...

you can see a button be removed at about 30 seconds into this youtube video here and you'll notice it's no big deal... however, this video is for fixing broken buttons instead of tact switches...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ5ScgSAK4E

Thanks allot for all the replies, now I know what I have to do and how.
Saving up some money to get things right, I can't understand why a MPC would break down faster then a MPD...

EDIT:

Now I see lots of people talking about Deoxit D5.. I hate to be this insecure about fixing stuff.

Cheapest thing I can buy in the Netherlands from Deoxit is this: "CAIG D100L-2C", its a tube..
Now I wonder what is the big deal with D5 compared to others?

Hi

DeOxit will work temporarily, but eventually you will have to replace the tact switches with decent ones (as opposed to the crap ones Akai use).

I am doing this with mine right now, as my arrow keys and 'main' key are all dodgy. I don't own a soldering iron and I wouldn't be confident doing it myself so I am buying 50 of these:

http://uk.farnell.com/alps/skhhaka010/s ... t=165-6423

as they are 25 times cheaper than if you buy the official ones from MPC Stuff! (20 pence each as opposed to 8 dollars each!) And better quality too - the ALPS ones should work for 1,000,000 cycles.

Then when they arrive I'm shipping the unit and the switches to John Bright (in the UK) who is a very experienced and reliable professional technician, and he's going to replace all 27 of the small buttons on the MPC 1000 for me, for £40 labour (estimated). I'm going to get them all done at once so I don't ever have to worry about my switches ever again!

You can read more about how to do it yourself here:

viewtopic.php?t=140732&f=21

Hope some of that helps if you ever do replace the switches!

Tom

one of mine did it, ended up being a combination of weed crumbs and tobacco hahaha

a good blow with a can of air or take case off and clean.

I just fixed my arrow key, there were no weed crumbs!

I used a spray of Kontakt (alternative version of Deoxit, but atleast its available in Europe, same effect) and it works like a charm.
Saved allot of money on this, though I appreciate the fact there are people willing to repair it for me, for labor costs, but I think about the idea itself.

Thanks all for giving me a bright sight of the MPC.