Support and discussion for all of Akai’s modern standalone MPCs including the MPC X / X SE, MPC Live 1, 2 & 3, MPC One / One+, MPC Key 37/61.
By KaoticShock Sun Jun 05, 2022 2:10 am
Has anyone paid and shipped their MPC to mpcstuff.com for pad replacement/new pads installation? I recently sent an email inquiry and found out that it costs $170. I'm assuming that just for the service, so I also have to pay for the pads themselves and shipping. I don't know whether I should take the risk of bricking my MPC or is it worth the cost?

The video of taking apart the Live MK1 seems pretty straightforward, yet there are posts on this forum about not being able to turn on the MPC due to improperly connected cables.

Thoughts? Opinions? Should I pay the $170 or try it myself? (I have no experience opening electronic devices)

Also, I heard styleflips does upgrades as well, any experience or knowledge of their services would be greatly appreciated.
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By Lampdog Sun Jun 05, 2022 2:22 am
Don’t be scared, ground yourself, ground your gear, have a camera and egg carton ready. Document the flowers out of EVERY little thing you take apart.

Do it in reverse when you put things back.

You should be fine from there.
By KaoticShock Sun Jun 05, 2022 2:43 am
Lampdog wrote:Don’t be scared, ground yourself, ground your gear, have a camera and egg carton ready. Document the flowers out of EVERY little thing you take apart.

Do it in reverse when you put things back.

You should be fine from there.


Thanks for the advice! Hopefully I can save myself a couple bills and weeks without my Live.
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By Lampdog Sun Jun 05, 2022 2:50 am
Flowers.


:lol:
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By EnochLight Sun Jun 05, 2022 2:17 pm
KaoticShock wrote:Has anyone paid and shipped their MPC to mpcstuff.com for pad replacement/new pads installation? I recently sent an email inquiry and found out that it costs $170. I'm assuming that just for the service, so I also have to pay for the pads themselves and shipping. I don't know whether I should take the risk of bricking my MPC or is it worth the cost?

The video of taking apart the Live MK1 seems pretty straightforward, yet there are posts on this forum about not being able to turn on the MPC due to improperly connected cables.

Thoughts? Opinions? Should I pay the $170 or try it myself? (I have no experience opening electronic devices)

Also, I heard styleflips does upgrades as well, any experience or knowledge of their services would be greatly appreciated.


I’ve built my own PC’s for almost 25 years, and I’ve done minor soldering repairs on a few of my studio gear (my Dreadbox Typhon, an old vintage Ensoniq SQ1+ 32, and a Nektar Panorama P4). I’m too much of a chicken to perform surgery on my MPC Live II to do the pad replacement mod, but mine is still under warranty through Sweetwater and I don’t want to void the warranty.

Once my warranty expires, I might try it.
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By Lampdog Sun Jun 05, 2022 3:30 pm
EnochLight wrote:I’ve built my own PC’s for almost 25 years…..

Me too.

Ground everything possible.
Pics
Egg carton or containers for pieces
Stay alert.
Everything will be fine.

If I’m under warranty, I’d stay there. If not, I would do it myself.
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By Monotremata Sun Jun 05, 2022 4:23 pm
The important part is to TAKE YOUR TIME. Don't rush, those flimsy little ribbon cables they use to connect boards and shit inside there are a pain in the ass and you do not want to break them. When I was a repair tech, I actually killed a couple of MacBooks here and there with those cables (Apple used to use those to connect the hard drives internally). Just takes the right bend and those things will snap and there goes your ribbon cable.

If you have patience, can stop and read all the directions, its nothing.
By KaoticShock Sun Jun 05, 2022 6:42 pm
Monotremata wrote:The important part is to TAKE YOUR TIME. Don't rush, those flimsy little ribbon cables they use to connect boards and shit inside there are a pain in the ass and you do not want to break them. When I was a repair tech, I actually killed a couple of MacBooks here and there with those cables (Apple used to use those to connect the hard drives internally). Just takes the right bend and those things will snap and there goes your ribbon cable.

If you have patience, can stop and read all the directions, its nothing.


Thanks! Thankfully I have a lot of patience, a backup MPC and some references. Also, this I the Live MK1, so no worries about warranty, it's WAY past that time! :lol: I've watched the mpcstuff video a few times, but some of it looks really fragile, definitely don't want to brick my MPC due to a cable. I'm not to keen on how to ground everything, need to do more research beforehand.