Custom LCD screen, LED lights, help

Ok they tell me I have to solder the led lights in, is there any way I can install these without soldering? If not then what the hell is soldering and how do I do it, anyone have any video tutorials of someone installing these? Or how to solder... period. I dont know anything about it or where to start, or if its even neccessary?

Also these custom lcd screens they have in blue,red white and now black. I'm pretty sure on the 2500 u needed to solder, but Im positive I saw a youtube vid and on the 1000 the dude just popped it in, no soldering. he just opened the mpc and where the ribbon thing was I think he just snapped it in. Also I am also looking for custom data wheels for the 1000 but mpcstuff is dry, any other sites out there like it?

InspectahEX wrote:Ok they tell me I have to solder the led lights in, is there any way I can install these without soldering? If not then what the hell is soldering and how do I do it, anyone have any video tutorials of someone installing these? Or how to solder... period. I dont know anything about it or where to start, or if its even neccessary?

wow...Yes you have to solder..you should just have someone else do it.

If I wanted someone else to do it I wouldn't be asking for soldering instructions lol no one touches the mpc except me, and dont wow me lol like this is a soldering forum damnnnn like go wow these dudes that have quantize set off and make threads asking why theyre off beat lmao ya feel me, a simple link will do -->how to solder a button-->how to install leds-->etc... thanks

yea so....Google it. Youtube it. Search...A lot of your threads are the same, hence the wow.

To be honest, if you dont know what soldering is...starting on a $1000 machine isnt a smart choice....

Pound is only giving you sound advice, he's not being patronising. Soldering can be really tricky, and unless you have experience then I would definitely get someone else to give you a hand. If in the future you then want to do it yourself you can do, but don't go rushing in on your prized MPC with no prior experience.

It's not quite as black and white as you want it to be. There's various kinds of solder, various kinds of LEDs, and of course you have to de-solder the old bits before you can pop the new ones in. You also need to be careful of the heat of your iron, and you also need to be aware of dry joints which won't function correctly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6XbdAAQj1s

This video shows you how to replace tact switches on a 3000. It's probably the closest like for like tutorial, but the same rules apply. Good luck.

Not to mention the fairly poor construction of the 1k to begin with. Attempting this project with 0 knowledge has the potential to turn the sampler in to paperweight.

well if its too risky I wont even attempt it, thought it might be simple, doesnt sound like it... damnnn, oh well im gonna do more research and see how hard it is, seems real easy to damage the mpc

I've opened up my 2500 plenty of times so I would just be worried about that actual soldering/desoldering process but let me check this video of the 3000, who would know how to solder? an electrician???

I've replaced a few tact switches, well I say replaced I just swapped a couple over from buttons I use less. I consider myself a proficient and light handed geek with these things and it was still a bit of a pain in the a*se job.

If you do decide you want to do it, be very very careful with the various ribbon connectors, because they're temperamental at the best of times.

Honestly though, just get someone near you with experience to give you a hand, it's a fun experience you just have to treat it like a newborn.

An electrician would know how to solder, although it depends on their area of expertise if they can work on boards of that size. Worst comes to worst get yourself an old radio or something and have a practice on those boards until you get the technique down.

damn this looks extremely complicated

Not extremely complicated. But not something worth risking on this particular machine for a first try. If you have ANY old electronics lying around the house, I would disassemble them and practice. Its not hard but again, a mistake on this could ruin the machine. I changed every LED on my 1k, and even with experience I ran into problems when part of the print on the circuit board flaked off, that was an extra hour of hell for 1 LED.