old pad solution discussion - we decide on mail out DIY kits

dude,

totally down with #3 DIY option if that becomes possible - i'm in australia too so posting that shyt would just take too long!

would this fix just make the pads more sturdy and enduring - or would it also give them more of a similar feel/sensitivity to the other MPs, like the 2500 pads (just played one for the first time the other day - that shyt is nice... )

keep us posted yo, definitely down with this.
you do good work.

lotsa foreign types here - wonder how that happened.

would this fix just make the pads more sturdy and enduring - or would it also give them more of a similar feel/sensitivity to the other MPs, like the 2500 pads (just played one for the first time the other day - that shyt is nice... )

yes it would make them feel more sturdy and enduring. the pads would not be 16 separate sheets. they'd be either 4 or 2 sheets, depending on ease of mold making. i'm hoping to make em all on 1 sheet but that might be asking too much. however,, the maximum is 4 sheets w/ 4 pads each. i wouldn't go any higher than that.

all pads separate was a disasterous decision.

also, these pads will have a different feel from other mpcs - if these sensors are all they're cracked up to be, they'll be more sensitive. i'll make the rubber softer, too. this way a light touch will trigger notes in the 1-10 range - which is something we've never had the pleasure of enjoying before.

Also vote #3, and since I'm in Canada, shipping it might be an extra cost I can easily go without if you can ship the pads/sensors to me with some instructions. I'm totally down with that, just gimme the price, say a paypal account, and I'll be more than happy to wire the cash right away.
The project thing is a great idea for your portfolio. Good luck with that If you find something you like doing, it won't feel like a job at all
Cheers!

Someone get this guy another drink --->

ohhh man...

you do good work!

what kinda time frame are you workin on here?

without sounding rude or urgent or nothin - when do you think you'll start the manufacture and mail out etc?

again, not pressuring for sooner rather than later (shyt takes time yo) - just wonderin...

cheers

hey nym, what level of technical skill does it take to install the pads ourselves? i would prefer to do it myself, so that i can do it again if i need to. plus, no offense meant, but i dont know you. i dont really want to ship my gurl to ya if she isnt coming home! not saying that she wouldnt, but its a lot of bs out there. you understand my paranoid.

really though, id like to be able to do it myself. would the kit come with a diagram of how it would be done? kind of like the installation of the ram and hd adapter, only antonym style. i suck at soldering so i would probably have to get someone else to do it, but i really would like to be there and get a look at the process. for the sake of learning. give a man a fish...

hey antonym, just out of curiousity you are doing the molding and pad design? or is it an outsource job of some sort from a local company

sounds interesting either way...i imagine with the right resources it wouldnt be too difficult to make the pads, since the way they work is really simplistic (pad triggering is made from only 2 metal contacts that when more area is conducted it triggers more velocity) i noticed each pad is just sending a positive and negative signal from each portion of the seperated metal contacts.

anyway, i think the funniest part of the whole thing is that there's nothing really wrong with the electronics of the pad, just the fact that that damn carbon square gets too effed up after a year or so

best of luck to you ant
-G

p.s. im now curious of your design, i kinda wish i didnt repair my pads now...

cozy wrote:hey nym, what level of technical skill does it take to install the pads ourselves?

since as of right now you'll need those cables connecting the existing akai sensors to the pcb board, you'll simply need to desolder the cables from the akai sensors and solder them to the new sensors. i realized that today. i would have to make costs higher too find the same cable/plug and solder them into the pads already. maybe i'll find a quicker, easier solution, but let's just say for now that you'll need to know how to solder.

i would prefer to do it myself, so that i can do it again if i need to.

i dont want to talk to soon, but hopefully you never will have to.

plus, no offense meant, but i dont know you. i dont really want to ship my gurl to ya if she isnt coming home! not saying that she wouldnt, but its a lot of bs out there. you understand my paranoid.

haha yeah, i know. shipping it is not for everyone, esp those who are ballsy enough to do things themselves. power to em. however, shipping it to me will basically make for damn sure that it is put in perfectly as designed. i am competely down w/ people doing it themselves and i will provide proper documentation and how to, but the option is totally there for me to do it myself if they'd rather do that.

remember - i have waaaaay more to benefit from this whole venture than an extra mpc1000, this is about resume building and tech-credit. i want to be the guy who betters the 1k - that pad dude. the prospect is exciting to me.

i suck at soldering so i would probably have to get someone else to do it, but i really would like to be there and get a look at the process.

i'll look into setting it up so that folks don't have to solder/desolder anything, or at least have that as an option so that people w/ soldering experience can cut some extra costs.

for the sake of learning. give a man a fish...

yo i've been at the wharf for a minute, it's a nice place!

t_bias wrote:what kinda time frame are you workin on here? without sounding rude or urgent or nothin - when do you think you'll start the manufacture and mail out etc?

it does take time. i had hoped to be done with the plans before the new year, but it's taking longer. however, i'm glad it has. it's taught me a LOT about sensor technology, corporate scumbaggery, and patience.

plus, the final product is going to be that much better. if i'm right about this, we're going to have some really sweet ass pads. there's a chance i may even be able to get several different types of rubber, on a scale of hardnesses. folks could describe the pads they would rather have.

it'll be a couple more weeks before i am truly ready to say go. but it will come. i don't want this to turn into another 2.1 fiasco, where we sit there drooling at new features for months and months...

theInSiDEoUsHiDeoUs wrote:hey antonym, just out of curiousity you are doing the molding and pad design?

i will be personally responsible for every kit from its component materials. the irreducible complexity being the sensors, which i will be ordering and applying to a proper sheet and possibly cutting/soldering cable. i will also be molding the rubber pads from liquid rubber, which is another reason it'd be so easy for me to offer custom pad lettering.

pad triggering is made from only 2 metal contacts that when more area is conducted it triggers more velocity

this is actually not what's going on - it is not an aspect of area, although i at first thought it was too early in the days of cracking open the mpc.
the issue is material - it's not that it conducts w/ more area, it's that it conducts more with more pressure. the material itself is a pressure-transducing conductant.

anyway, i think the funniest part of the whole thing is that there's nothing really wrong with the electronics of the pad, just the fact that that damn carbon square gets too effed up after a year or so

yo that's the most insulting, frustrating thing about it. however, pad feel and quality wise, we will be improving from this original design by major points.

#4 sounds great. can you upload a pic of the pads and sensors you can make? I'd love to see what it looks like. I assume you have a mold of the regular pads... Definitely interested in what the difference between this sensor and the 1000's (sensitivity, accuracy, etc...). Thanks for the additional info. I'd order one from you tomorrow if you could! -Jesse

i voted 3 (as a DIY kit), but option 2 seems good also (and i guess it would be cheaper).
some pic would be great. but i guess it will take time.
keep on the good work

Nym, thanks again for the velostat.

Keep up the good work, and take all the time you need to perfect the new design.

I'm all for the best DIY kit you have to offer.

FUK AKAI

Nice going Nym,

I voted for the #3 DIY also. I live in the netherlands so shipping would mean i'd have to miss my baby for too long.

option 3 DIY too, if my pads ever went wonky on me.
There's no way I would send my mp to anyone in the mail.
cool idea Nym!