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 Joel90 Sat Jul 30, 2022 1:37 pm
hello everyone.
My name is Joel and I'm from Portugal.
I have a mpc X wich I love and been using for thousands of hours, and now my Play/Start button is getting all loose and worn out.
I've seen the "PLAY / RECORD / LOCATE BUTTON ASSEMBLY - MPC-X" on the MPCStuff.com website, and thats exactly what I need, but I can't find any video on how to switch those buttons.

Anyone here knows if I can do that by removing the front/top metal panel on the mpc?
Or do I have to flip it upside down and remove all the components like you do to switch the pads?


thank you very much.
User avatar
By Lampdog Sat Jul 30, 2022 5:44 pm
Looks like it’s gonna be the other side of that board.

By Joel90 Mon Aug 01, 2022 7:23 am
Thanks
Iv'e seen that video. Looks messy as **** tho,
The mpc has a metal panel in the front fixed by some small screws and I was wondering if someone here had already take that panel out.
Maybe you can change the buttons by doing that.
thats my hope.
User avatar
By Telefunky Mon Aug 01, 2022 10:57 am
You may have a peek by removing that metal plate: if it shows the top of the buttons and not another layer in between, then it in fact eases button replacement.
(it allows to remove the buttons, if the machine is lifted or put in a in a vertical position)

You still have to open the MPC-X the way it‘s shown in the video and remove that io-board on the left side.
Looks like the button solder joints are those big pairs in the left part of the circuit board.
(in the video most of it is covered by the dangling io-board)
If that‘s the case you can unsolder from the position as shown in the video, then remove the buttons by lifting. Insert new buttons the same way and then solder from the flat position, which seems more convenient.

If you‘ve never done such soldering, find someone doing it for you or get a lot of practice first on trashed circuit boards. The solder is almost certainly lead-free, which means you need very (!) high temperature to get it melting. Usually as a 1st step one „resolders“ the spots by adding regular solder (containing lead) and then suck away the mixture.

That‘s the procedure in general as I would guess from the (nice) video, no warranties included, tho...
ps: it‘s quite easy to (at least visually) ruin a board that way, I have some hands on experience :Sigh: but everyone has to start some way :mrgreen:
By Joel90 Mon Aug 01, 2022 2:57 pm
Telefunky wrote:You may have a peek by removing that metal plate: if it shows the top of the buttons and not another layer in between, then it in fact eases button replacement.
(it allows to remove the buttons, if the machine is lifted or put in a in a vertical position)

You still have to open the MPC-X the way it‘s shown in the video and remove that io-board on the left side.
Looks like the button solder joints are those big pairs in the left part of the circuit board.
(in the video most of it is covered by the dangling io-board)
If that‘s the case you can unsolder from the position as shown in the video, then remove the buttons by lifting. Insert new buttons the same way and then solder from the flat position, which seems more convenient.

If you‘ve never done such soldering, find someone doing it for you or get a lot of practice first on trashed circuit boards. The solder is almost certainly lead-free, which means you need very (!) high temperature to get it melting. Usually as a 1st step one „resolders“ the spots by adding regular solder (containing lead) and then suck away the mixture.

That‘s the procedure in general as I would guess from the (nice) video, no warranties included, tho...
ps: it‘s quite easy to (at least visually) ruin a board that way, I have some hands on experience :Sigh: but everyone has to start some way :mrgreen:


Thanks for your reply!
I think that problem is actually the plastic. The button still works fine. It just got worned out you know?
that's why I think it could be easy to replace just by replacing the old buttons with the new ones from the top of the machine.
making the job way easier
User avatar
By Telefunky Mon Aug 01, 2022 3:32 pm
Sorry, forgot about that entirely and assumed it was electrically dead :WTF:
The „plastic“ is replaced from that side anyway.
But if the switch is broken into pieces (held together by the top cover) you likely can‘t put it in place again, once this cover is lifted.

On the other hand you can just remove the plastic and tip the electrical part of the switch through the hole. No beauty, but works.
Maybe you even can glue the thing together or modify it to function again.
fingers crossed... :mrgreen:
By Joel90 Mon Aug 01, 2022 3:44 pm
Telefunky wrote:Sorry, forgot about that entirely and assumed it was electrically dead :WTF:
The „plastic“ is replaced from that side anyway.
But if the switch is broken into pieces (held together by the top cover) you likely can‘t put it in place again, once this cover is lifted.

On the other hand you can just remove the plastic and tip the electrical part of the switch through the hole. No beauty, but works.
Maybe you even can glue the thing together or modify it to function again.
fingers crossed... :mrgreen:

haha no problem brother.
And by the way thanks for trying to help. Iove the machine very much, and the last thing I wanna do is screw it up by tearing her down without needing to.

I Think I only need these to be honest.
https://www.mpcstuff.com/play-record-lo ... mpc-x-ren/

My only fear is that to replece that I gotta teardown the whole thing. LOL

Gonna try to lift the metal plate this week and see whsta up.
TY
By mishra747 Sun Nov 06, 2022 8:07 pm
I have replaced the button contactor on mine, the plastic button was ok.
You have to disassemble all the mpc to access/change the plastic button. As you do it you should also change the button contactor as the global process take a lot of time if you don t want to break anythings…
By Jayson Wonder Sun Dec 10, 2023 3:02 pm
mishra747 wrote:I have replaced the button contactor on mine, the plastic button was ok.
You have to disassemble all the mpc to access/change the plastic button. As you do it you should also change the button contactor as the global process take a lot of time if you don t want to break anythings…


I am sad that I will have to take this beast apart to repair a $10 part. Just to be super clear, what are you referring to specifically when you mention button contractor? I cannot see a place to order this part? Is it what needs to be soldered to the board?

Thanks,