Share your knowledge on these two classic MPCs
By marxski Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:49 pm
Has anyone done a mod on the contrast knob on the mpc 60 or s950 that allows it to be switched off the same as later Akai samplers?

If anyone has where would I get the right pot/switch to do this?

Thanks

By marxski Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:47 am
hee hee thanks - it's obviously just a push-push switch and pot combined. I think I'll try VST and see if they know. I have an s3000xl and it looks like the pot is smaller than the s950/mpc.... does anyone know if the s1000 or s1100 is has a switch on it as it is from the same era and might be the same size.

By Arks Mon Oct 15, 2007 4:18 pm
Just had a look at my S1000 (HD version), I can confirm it has the contrast knob, no switch though.
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By Robbinson Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:57 am
My 60ii has a contrast knob. I had it done a San Diego Sound Repair.
Jason Maxwell is the biz. I didn't get much face time with the actuall installation, but can get you a few answers. It doens't really switch off, but, contrast as dark as off is gonna get.
I'll check in when I get the correct information.
By mogazi Thu Jan 02, 2014 1:31 am
Hi, just wondering if you had any luck with this mod. I used to have an S3000xl which had exactly that type of hybrid switch/potentiometer combination for the screen.

It seems like a reasonably easy modification and one that could extend the lifetime of the backlight significantly but so far I haven't found anyone who's actually done it on a 60 or ASQ10.

Those potentiometer which when turned all the way to zero become a switch (like the volume pot on many portable radios) could be an option...
Last edited by mogazi on Thu Jan 02, 2014 11:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
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By SimonInAustralia Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:37 am
The MPC3000 Display Contrast knob doubles as a push button backlight on/off switch, I guess it is the same as the S3000.

It switches the +5VDC power input line to the backlight inverter on and off.

If you didn't want a combined contrast knob/backlight switch, you could use a switch and mount it somewhere else on the MPC.


Robbinson wrote:My 60ii has a contrast knob. I had it done a San Diego Sound Repair.
Jason Maxwell is the biz. I didn't get much face time with the actuall installation, but can get you a few answers. It doens't really switch off, but, contrast as dark as off is gonna get.
I'll check in when I get the correct information.

:hmmm: All MPC60II have a contrast knob.
By mogazi Thu Jan 02, 2014 11:21 am
SimonInAustralia wrote:It switches the +5VDC power input line to the backlight inverter on and off.

If you didn't want a combined contrast knob/backlight switch, you could use a switch and mount it somewhere else on the MPC.


Thanks, that's exactly the info I was looking for! :-D

I'd like to make the modification as disguised as possible so the potentiometer/switch combo seems to be the best option. In that case would I simply need to find a potentiometer/switch with the same resistance value and simply make sure the +5 volts pass through the switch part of it before reaching the inverter?
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By SimonInAustralia Thu Jan 02, 2014 12:03 pm
Yes, that should do it.

Contrast pot mounts on small plate/bracket underneath the faceplate.

Would be good to find switched rotary pot that fits in it's place, and can use the same knob.

Contrast pot and mounting plate/bracket looks like this...

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