The M50's Achilles' heel: Its keybed?

kikedeolivos · Post by **kikedeolivos** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:40 pm

PEACE to all.

andersborg · Post by **andersborg** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:17 am

After having played around with it for a while I think the keybed is quite playable, and with a rather good reaction despite what others have said. I knew I would get a synth keybed in the 61 key version and that's what I need. The only real gripe is that it's impossible to play high up on the black keys, but played the normal way they work fine.

mocando · Post by **mocando** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:50 pm

andersborg wrote:The only real gripe is that it's impossible to play high up on the black keys, but played the normal way they work fine.

I second that. I find it really difficult to play SAGA's On The Loose arpeggiated pattern smoothly.

andersborg · Post by **andersborg** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:52 pm

Good choice of music though

.

NuSkoolTone · Post by **NuSkoolTone** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:42 am

I don't see what all the bitchin is about for the keybed. Could it be a little smoother? Yeah. All I really wish is it had aftertouch and usable pads instead of those "Chord Buttons".

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:42 am

NuSkoolTone wrote:I don't see what all the bitchin is about for the keybed. Could it be a little smoother? Yeah. All I really wish is it had aftertouch and usable pads instead of those "Chord Buttons".

They have that. It's called the M3.

Zanator · Post by **Zanator** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 11:32 am

Some keys of my M50 have started to keep some clicking / rattling noise. Do you have the same? You thing that tightening some screws would help.

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 3:45 pm

I wouldn't tighten anything. I'm hoping your clicking sound is caused by the felt under the keys wearing in. My Tritons are loud as heck but it's just because of that. If you tighten any screws and the issue *IS* with the keys, it could cause them to break faster because they are over tightened and there is additional stress on them.

I wouldn't touch it, personally...

mrteclas · Post by **mrteclas** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 4:41 pm

M50's keybed design is very similar to the one used in some cheap Casios, and that scares me a lot. I owned a Casio keyboard in the past and broke 2 keys. I pley better now, much smoother, but knowing the system is similar scares the hell out of me. Still, can't compare Casio to Korg at any level, and that's it.

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 5:06 pm

There's no secret that I don't baby my gear. I've gigged my M50 and I drag my fingers all over the keys. Haven't broken a key yet. But if I do, they are expensive and easy to replace. I look at breaking keys like breaking strings on a guitar. It happens if you play a lot but it's easy to repair yourself.

mocando · Post by **mocando** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 5:38 am

McHale wrote:There's no secret that I don't baby my gear. I've gigged my M50 and I dra I look at breaking keys like breaking strings on a guitar.

Hmm, I don't think the comparison is fare, Mc. I would compare guitar strings with drumsticks. If that was the point they would have made them easily replaceable and found as spares in stores easily. I think they should endure much more. Still they are prone to braking with heavy use.

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 2:47 pm

I just said, that's how *I* look at them. Drummers also break drum heads are those cost a LOT more than individual keys and can take longer to replace.

My only point is, when you use things a lot, they wear out and break. If you gig your keyboard a lot, expect general maintenance at some point - switches, keys, etc. After a couple years, I haven't broken any keys and when I was a drummer, I went through more drum heads than that.

-Mc

Zanator · Post by **Zanator** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:44 am

McHale wrote:I wouldn't tighten anything. I'm hoping your clicking sound is caused by the felt under the keys wearing in. My Tritons are loud as heck but it's just because of that. If you tighten any screws and the issue *IS* with the keys, it could cause them to break faster because they are over tightened and there is additional stress on them.

I wouldn't touch it, personally...

I don't think it's the felt. The rattling noise comes when you let the key bound back up. Couple of keys are noisy.

Oh well, maybe I'm picky, It still irritates...

dalen · Post by **dalen** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 7:53 pm

Zanator wrote:
McHale wrote:I wouldn't tighten anything. I'm hoping your clicking sound is caused by the felt under the keys wearing in. My Tritons are loud as heck but it's just because of that. If you tighten any screws and the issue *IS* with the keys, it could cause them to break faster because they are over tightened and there is additional stress on them.

I wouldn't touch it, personally...
I don't think it's the felt. The rattling noise comes when you let the key bound back up. Couple of keys are noisy.

Oh well, maybe I'm picky, It still irritates...

It's definitely not the felt. I had the same problem. I complained about it, but the warranty service disallow my claim. So I opened the keyboard.
The keys should be thoroughly coated with vaseline underneath, then the rattling noise stops. Of course I lost the warranty.

useron · Post by **useron** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 9:58 pm

dalen wrote:
Zanator wrote:
McHale wrote:I wouldn't tighten anything. I'm hoping your clicking sound is caused by the felt under the keys wearing in. My Tritons are loud as heck but it's just because of that. If you tighten any screws and the issue *IS* with the keys, it could cause them to break faster because they are over tightened and there is additional stress on them.

I wouldn't touch it, personally...
I don't think it's the felt. The rattling noise comes when you let the key bound back up. Couple of keys are noisy.

Oh well, maybe I'm picky, It still irritates...
It's definitely not the felt. I had the same problem. I complained about it, but the warranty service disallow my claim. So I opened the keyboard.
The keys should be thoroughly coated with vaseline underneath, then the rattling noise stops. Of course I lost the warranty.

My Korg M50 has only four days and I have the same problem with one of the keys. I agree it's very irritating.

I have recorded a video with my mobile phone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za5nDoTy5Tg

I have written to Thomann and let's see what they tell me. I'm on the 30 days money back warranty... should I send it back?