Share your knowledge on these two classic MPCs
By shiznay Thu Sep 24, 2015 5:47 pm
Hey guys,
I recently came into a job lot of a load of MPC stuff.
I really got the bug and got well into the MPC60mkII and I've been restoring much of it.
I really couldn't get over how crap the LCDs were so I set about getting a small batch made.

The only place I could find them for sale were asking $290 for them and they were out of stock, and I really don't like the whole EL backlight business as they only have a finite life and are not exactly bright to begin with. The DC>AC Converters are also noisy gits!

Anyway, long story short, due to relationships with a couple of companies in Japan, I've gone ahead and designed and had built a small run of displays.

These are BLUE displays with LED backlight, the LED is rated at 100k hrs+ All dimensions are exactly the same and so fit straight into your MPC 60mkII and, 3000 and a host of other old Akai Gear.
I can confirm my diplays will also fit the following
Akai S3000
Akai S3000XL
Akai S1000
Akai S1100
Akai CD3000

Having never seen an original MPC60 I am unsure as to whether the displays will also fit in that, I hear that it's just a mounting plate change or something? Perhaps someone more knowledgeable can chime in here?

Although I'm new to the MPC I'm actually a studio tech specialising in synth repair and analog recording console restoration, and, I sell a lot of displays for a lot of different audio equipment, hence being able to design a board layout for a new display..

If there is interest I'll create an eBay listing for these displays, there will be a 3 week wait for delivery with payment in advance, but, for the pre-orders I am going to sell the displays at $150/pc.
After the displays arrive the price will go up.

I already took delivery of my engineering samples and the improvement is VAST!

I had to find an image of a crappy mpc screen on the web, as the ones in my machines didn't work at all. However, the after shot is of one of my mpcs with my new screens!

Hope this will help some of you in the community out! No more crappy EL backlights!! :D

peace,


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Last edited by shiznay on Fri Sep 25, 2015 2:48 am, edited 4 times in total.
By shiznay Thu Sep 24, 2015 8:14 pm
Yeah Actually I just looked at that thread today, having only just joined the forum.
I had come across his site before and mention of his displays, seems he isn't doing them for whatever reason?

Any and all displays of a certain size/function are going to be pretty much similar, in fact the Akai's display was a slightly modified clone of the Hitachi LM200 graphic display, Hitachi being the ones that initially invented the controller chip back in the late 70s/early 80s, of which others then copied ( like sanyo , for instance, their controller IC is used in the MPC60II)

Anyhoo, rest assured this is my own design, not that it makes any difference, I'm not claiming mine to be any better that the other guys, unless his didn't work, that is! ;)
By shiznay Thu Sep 24, 2015 9:28 pm
Yes these displays work in the MPC3000 and the MPC60MK2
I think they also work in some other Akai gear, old samplers etc, but I don't know what pieces. maybe someone else knows..
whatever is cross compatible with the 3k and 60mk2 will also work with my displays.
Testing is already complete and they work well, there's no way I'd be selling them if they hadn't already been tested! ;)
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By richie Thu Sep 24, 2015 10:42 pm
I'm pretty sure the sequentix displays were off shelf lcds (do not remember the kind of controller) but required part of the gpios to be rewired to work correctly with the 60 ii and 3000.
By shiznay Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:54 pm
Hey Richie,
Yeah, You're right, from what I can tell it looks like they were Newhaven displays. They would be using the T6963 controller I (think) what he did was to patch into the other side of the controller chip (it's outputs) I've yet to study the datasheet for the IC, the difference between the mk2 and mk1 is more that the mk1 used the more standard size module with the pcb being around 180mm I think.
I should def be able to get something running for the 60 and in multiple different colours too, if there is any interest?
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By richie Fri Sep 25, 2015 12:55 am
@shiznay you're completely right - They are the Newhaven T6963 ones (or at least the ones I've seen posted in the Sequentix repair pictures.

I believe there is definite interest in displays, esp if there are more than one player in the game. Correct me if I'm wrong here (or anyone else for that matter) but don't the MPC 1000 and the 2500's also use the T6963 too?

Looking forward to see some more info about this dude.