DIY button replacement? does it exist?

Just making a post because I have been having a serious dilemma w/ my MPC1000 for a while. Important tact switches and buttons have been steadily breaking over time.. I want new buttons but why are our only options the horrible, over-priced akai buttons? Not trying to complain because I really love MPCs but honestly..the buttons remind me of the gundam models I used to make as a child; cheap and flimsy. I am very surprised w/ how little people actually make diologue w/ such a complaint from so many mpc users! I tried the double sided tape trick for the buttons and it didnt work at all! I refuse to believe that nobody out there can at least shed an ounce of light on my situation. Akai has really amazing ideas but sometimes I feel like they cut corners so that we MPC users are trapped in a loop of replacing buttons.! my tech savvy friend has a really cool idea to not only get new, sturdier buttons but expand the button-holes to accomidate them. hope that I can attract some knowledgable eyes to my plight.

Thanks for reading,
Kane

i always wanted to replace all the buttons with rubber ones and different tact switches... i hate how that shit clicks louder than a mouse-click... sometimes i'll be trying to make a beat at 2am and i realize just how annoying that CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK can get when having to scroll around with the arrow cursors while editing n stuff like that. keep us posted if you ever do swap the buttons...

It's not the buttons but the tact switches beneath them that are largely responsible for the loud clicks. Get these
http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=SKQJAAA010virtualkey68800000virtualkey688-SKQJAA
Almost whisper quiet compared to the old tact switches.

As for buttons, no idea where to get those other than the typical online mpc vendors.

My whole problem is the buttons are so shitty and cheap that when the tact switches go out, you press the buttons harder and harder until they break. my only easy option is to buy new akai buttons but those will eventually break too, I think, unless somebody out there has experienced otherwise. Need some opinions here. Like I said to have new, sturdier buttons would mean totally redesigning the entire casing but I feel like w/ the right help it is possible, if it is worth it (which it totally is because my sampler at this point is practically unusable and I dont have money to just buy a new one). Nobody should have to keep buying replacement parts for something they spend 600+ on, you know? PLUS nobody even has the akai buttons in stock anyways right? MPCstuff.com seems to be perpetually out of stock w/ most things (most things that I need anyhow)..
just trying to stimulate some ideas. I have faith that something will come out of this but I'd like to hear some opinions from fellow MPC users.

I've changed almost all the tact switches on the 1000 but only once. The ones that came out the factory were ridiculously cheap in quality, seems like the cheap ebay ones hold up better which is sad and strange.

The buttons are likely breaking due to the poor quality tact switches underneath. Your best bet is to replace all the tact switches at once, not as they start to wear down.

It is important to purchase the right type of tact switches for the MPC. Some need higher pressure from your fingers to actuate. This is usually rated in gf -- the lower the number is better.

Have you tried reinforcing the weak part on the buttons with some epoxy? Just put a small drop on the weak point and you should be good to go. I've repaired several buttons on my MPC 3000 this way and they have held up well.

Ocular wrote:It's not the buttons but the tact switches beneath them that are largely responsible for the loud clicks. Get these
http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=SKQJAAA010virtualkey68800000virtualkey688-SKQJAA
Almost whisper quiet compared to the old tact switches.

As for buttons, no idea where to get those other than the typical online mpc vendors.

Has anyone tried these? i am thinking of ordering them to replace all my tact switches, for less noise and more response.. anyone?

does anyone know if the replacement PCB board on MPCstuff has upgraded tact switches?

only thing from stopping me is im not sure how to replace the PCB board...

justin wrote:Has anyone tried these? i am thinking of ordering them to replace all my tact switches, for less noise and more response.. anyone?

Yeah, I have those tact switches installed right now. 5 months so far with no problems.

Well my right cursor button is very dodgy, and ive just ordered 2 of the "underbuttons" from mpc stuff. i have no idea how to go about installing it, but im gonna give it a go. with all the instructional mpc videos im surprised theres nothing regarding this!

Come join our thread

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=140732

though its for the 2500 it applies equally to the 1000
- its sounds like everyones getting fleeced for their tact switches, the higher quality ones are 4000% cheaper -- yes that is four thousand percent cheaper for something that is better.

Also if you've found some good instructional video links & threads add them to that thread too.
much appreciated.