Aftertouch is being linked to pitch? WTF

SpiralStatic · Post by **SpiralStatic** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:29 am

I'm using a Korg TR(61) and all of a sudden my pitch bend wheel no longer works (modulation still functions normally) and instead my keyboard's aftertouch is being linked to pitch for some very strange reason. What this means is that I can't control the thing's pitch, and it's always going out of tune whenever I'm putting more than a little bit of pressure behind the keys.

Anyone know how I could possibly fix this? Resetting doesn't seem to work, nor does unplugging it or preloading demo data (it was worth a shot...). Strangely, this doesn't happen at all when I'm controlling the keyboard externally with a MIDI controller, both the pitch bend and the aftertouch on the other keyboard (the controller) work just fine.

hj · Post by hj » Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:18 pm

I read another thread on this forum that makes me think the the TR has a defective (or perhaps just cheaply made) joystick.

I am brand new to the TR (my ancient Clavinova is built like a tank) so I don't know if it's normal for pitch wheels/joysticks to break. Sounds junky to me...

Voltan · Post by **Voltan** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:24 pm

well I hear it happens sometimes but it's supposed to be easily fixable... there have been some threads about it on this forum

SpiralStatic · Post by **SpiralStatic** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:25 am

I thought it might a hardware defect at first, but then the fact that aftertouch is being linked to pitch instead had me think otherwise. I'm really hoping this isn't a hardware issue, since I ordered this from the US and I don't think there's any global coverage on the thing.

Oh, I tried connecting it as a MIDI output as well, and the aftertouch sends pitch information to the computer that way as well.

SpiralStatic · Post by **SpiralStatic** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:25 am

Come to think of it...

When I configure aftertouch sensitivity (I believe it's under the global utility menu), the normal aftertouch function on the keys, as in... pressing the keys enough to activate aftertouch under normal circumstances, still works as expected. So the keyboard is still somehow registering aftertouch as it normally should early on in the circuit, but for some reason is later on linking it straight to pitch.

I'm stumped here, does anyone have any clue at all as to what may be going on here?

Garethbhoy · Post by **Garethbhoy** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 2:00 pm

I had same problem last year with triton le.. Couldnt get it into my head that it was a hardware problem as it happened very suddenly..Anyhow to come to the point, what was wrong was when a technician opened the board up--an I witnessed this--there was a wire under the pitch bender which was broken off. This was the wire connecting the damper pedal.Had it soldered and havnt had a problem since.Cheap and easy to fix thank god so I hope this helps you and enables you to get your problem resolved.

SpiralStatic · Post by **SpiralStatic** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:39 am

I was about to send it to an authorised Korg repair centre, but I've just found something that might prove that doing so would be a bit pointless...

This doesn't actually happen on some patches. For example, Combination A001 (Archi Prime File) seems to link Aftertouch to (I'm assuming) Expression as normal. The pitch bend wheel doesn't work at all on this patch either, but at the very least aftertouch seems to function as normal.

A65 does the same, as does A97, I'm guessing a lot more do as well. Does anyone know what all of these have in common? I'm guessing that it's the controller that aftertouch is linked to on these three patches, which seems to again point more towards the direction of a software problem. Any hints on what I should do now? What can I do to perform a COMPLETE software reset for example?

Garethbhoy · Post by **Garethbhoy** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:53 pm

Did you ever get this problem resolved? Would like to hear if so as when I had the same problem it happened only in certain patches also.

SpiralStatic · Post by **SpiralStatic** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:51 am

No, I'm still hoping to find a less expensive solution before I send it in to a Korg repair shop. Though if you were only having it with some patches as well, it sounds like I may as well give it to them to sort it out.

Garethbhoy · Post by **Garethbhoy** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:43 am

Yes, sounds like sme problem I had. Its a pity there is no-one local to you who can sort it out..Its definitley not complicated to sort out or technical,I would say any electrician could fix it very quickly.It is important though to wear an earthing wire so the person working with your board doesnt blow the circuit. Other than that 5 minutes would fix it..Post when you have it sorted as im interested to find out what the problem was--I have seen a few posts on here of people with same problem.
Good luck

DeacondDesperado · Post by **DeacondDesperado** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:19 am

If you are a DIY type, check out the tutorial I just made on this frustrating and sudden problem.

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... 618#272618