Every Fourth Note No Longer Functioning in X-50

babrams123 · Post by **babrams123** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 3:03 am

Had my x-50 for about 18 months. I brought it out of storage where it had been for a week and now when I play it, every fourth note no longer plays (e.g. d, F#, A#...etc) . This pattern goes all the way up the keyboard and doesn't deviate. Anyone have an answer to what this happened and what I can do about it?

Thanks

levis · Post by **levis** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:03 am

load default data

babarosa · Post by **babarosa** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 4:16 pm

... maybe you run out of voices, e.g. playing chords with a combination?

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 5:47 pm

If notes stop working across the keyboard in an obvious pattern, then it is usually a failure of one of the following:
1. Keyboard ribbon cable
2. Keyboard diode matrix
3. Keyboard matrix scanning driver chip/interface board

Also, If it is every other note stops working, there is also a setting in global mode to play only odd or even notes. This is designed for expanding polyphony with another unit.

babrams123 · Post by **babrams123** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 2:28 am

Odd. The problem fixed itself. Good to know what to do in the future though if it returns and persists. Thanks!

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 8:29 am

If the problem fixed itself it may be a loose connection .. expect that it might happen again.

Thisnameisnowtaken · Post by **Thisnameisnowtaken** » Sun May 20, 2012 12:33 pm

I've had the same problem for like the last year, and today it spontaneously fixed itself too! I want to know whether or not your synth has remained working.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Sun May 20, 2012 7:57 pm

Thisnameisnowtaken wrote:I've had the same problem for like the last year, and today it spontaneously fixed itself too! I want to know whether or not your synth has remained working.

Sounds like a cable making sometimes contact, sometimes not. If it spontaneously is fixed, be prepared that it comes spontanteously back.

Kahnn · Post by **Kahnn** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 12:48 am

X-50 is a compact, convenient synth full of nice sounds, combis, possibilities including easy editing options.

But:
Its cheap consturction makes it unstable, and thus unreliable.
I had exactly the same issue (no sound on d-f#-a#) which could happen just anytime even on stage!

A DI box and/or a Belkin-Surgemaster could help -I had never thought of it for my observation was that it had got sth. to do with heat, temperature and/or humidity (moist). I had almost all of the incidents during summer time, and in very hot cities. I don't recall any problems during winter time.

So, since I have to play in summer as well as winter, I've sold it.
Honestly, I miss it.

Thisnameisnowtaken · Post by **Thisnameisnowtaken** » Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:15 am

Any solutions to this yet? I've since purchased the Korg Kronos, but I still love this little thing, I'd love to have it working again.

Thisnameisnowtaken · Post by **Thisnameisnowtaken** » Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:16 am

Also, here is a schematic of the inside of the X50, if it helps anyone solve it. http://www.guitar-parts.com/sites/default/files/X50.pdf

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Thu Nov 01, 2012 7:15 pm

Did you try reseating the ribbon cable like I suggested? It's normally the ribbon cable or the keyboard matrix when you have failed notes in a certain pattern across a keyboard, it's due to the way the keyboard is scanned where certain lines and parts of the ribbon will cover certain patterns of notes.

Thisnameisnowtaken · Post by **Thisnameisnowtaken** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:07 am

Thanks! I'll open it up and give it a try today. Since I have no history in electronics or repairs, what exactly am I looking for?

Thisnameisnowtaken · Post by **Thisnameisnowtaken** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:14 am

I've taken a look at the schematics and I can't see any keyboard matrix or ribbon controller, then again, I have no idea what I'm looking for. Could you take a look at it (http://www.guitar-parts.com/sites/default/files/X50.pdf) And maybe give me an idea what I'm looking for before I go tearing my keys apart?

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:26 pm

If you don't have a clue about electronics then you won't be able to do much except for re-seat cables and other connectors. Anything further than that I'd recommend that you take it to someone who knows a bit about electronics (to the soldering level, not just someone for example who builds computers) or a proper keyboard and electronic instrument technician/repair place.

A ribbon cable is one which is flat and wide and consists of many other cables like the IDE cable that connects older disk drives on computers.

The Keyboard Scanning Matrix is the circuit board directly underneath the keys with a diode matrix and key contacts spread across it. Technically this is the diode matrix, and often the scanning driver chip is on a separate board connected to the diode matrix by the aforementioned ribbon cable, which may have a loose connection so would need (if possibly) un-plugging and re-plugging, firmly, to assure that it is connected properly.

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