newly restored M3 module

[Jokeyman123]

Here is a picture of my newly restored M3 module. A great addition to my battery of musical equipment. You can see I am using another Korg, an ancient but very playable Korg SP-500, as a controller. Why this one...it has the RH2 graded action-same as the Oasys but more so because the action is very playable for piano-a little heavier than my TP40 Fusions, closer to the Casio PX560, but has nicer "momentum" to the keys. and thanks Steven Kay for responding to my post, my first here. I cn't seem to get half-pedaling done with the Korg DH-1 pedal. I have it plugged directly into the M3 module-all the correct settings are on and the multimeter shows the pedal working through its range-I see incremental change in the resistance readings. Might have something to do with the SP-500 as controller? But that's another post.

[Jokeyman123]

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Since the SP-500 has no joystick or other controller, I am trying one of these to use with the Korg M3 and other workstations, has a midi out din port and USB. Ordered from the UK, will take awhile to get here. The extra controls will be useful and are programmable.

[SynthfulDwarphus]

Nice setup!

How's the joystick contraption working out? Are they pricey?

Also, it that wood veneer on the M3 module endcaps and LCD bezel strips?

[Jokeyman123]

Sorry I didn't post back sooner-life gets in the way. Yes, it is from part of a collection of sample sheets I kept from my uncle, who was a VP and design engineer with US Plywood back in the 50s-60s, when they were first starting to use exotic veneers for furniture and other building plans. I still have a few sheets.

I needed to study how this midi module is programmed, very easy once I studied the directions carefully, but I haven't had a chance to try it, its sitting next to my SP-500-I also purchased a midi merge box from "DoReMidi" since I would need to midi this and the SP-500 together, just go that last week.

Since the original keyboard assemblies are so hard to get-and the SP-500 has a rather fantastic piano action with its RHII graded, this alternate way to get extra real-time control is definitely worth trying. The SP-500 is pretty narrow from front to back, I built a stand to prop the M3 module upright directly over the SP, takes up less space than a full 88-key M3 keyboard and module. I just wish the slide pots were sturdier-very similar to the old Korg microKontrol-which must have had the same slide pots, I'd repaired at least 2 microKontrols with faulty pots on those., and the replacements are hard to find.

If I were using this on gigs regularly-well I don't think I would! By the way-despite its age, the SP-500 has some very usable sounds, was a big surprise-I guess it was derived from the Triton or Trinity.

[Jokeyman123]

Months later, here is an important update and not very good news, although I have sent the M3 into Dekatronix as the technician there did a great job restoring my old Yamaha RM1x, which had some circuit problems I could not correct. The problem-the LCD screen, which apparently is not new as this Chinese vendor advertised, and after not even a year of use, is failing. Has to do with the backlights, as it suddenly started shifting to a pinkish color overall, and proceeded to get worse very quickly. Haven't heard back from Dekatronix yet, but he suspected the problem was built into the screen, and was not a part of the ancilliary circuits or components but I'll see. I also contacted this Chinese vendor about this and if this turns out to be a used screen, I am going to file a complaint with eBay and call it FRAUD, which it is, the screen was no bargain. I paid for a new screen, an it seems, at this point that I did not get one. I was suspicious right after I installed it, because it did not present a very bright backlight, the original factory broken LCD was actually quite a bit brighter. GGGRRRR..........it was no small job putting in the screen which also needed a new touchscreen. Still worth it I think.

[Jokeyman123]

Still bench testing this mod-looks amazing. I'd post a picture but I can't capture the brightness and clarity with my cameras that really show what this looks like. Like the difference between an old laptop TFT display and an LED laptop.

Dekatronix decided to update the fluorescent backlight arrangement, which was an odd configuration because it partially wrapped around the screen in a 90 degree L-shape, with LED's. The difference is impressive, even the original factory screen did not look this bright and clear. Screen gets a little warm now and is almost too bright, I contacted the tech about this and I might need to adjust the brightness to tone it down a bit, possibly with a current limiting resistor but I'll know soon enough. Ended up costing a few hundred dollars alot of which was shipping round trip. dekatronix price was roughly 250.00, but considering they had to remove everything again as I had done, had to find a configuration of LEDs that would fit, i think it was worth it. And a new $3000-4000 88-key Kronos does not fit my budget right now even several years after it has been around.

I know many of you have moved onto the several iterations of the Kronos, but i still think the M3 is a viable workstation, particularly as I can use it with a variety of my large 88-key controllers and get a decent variety of pianos, organs drums out of it. Not the endgame, I still think they needlessly blew up the numbers of programs by making only slight variations in many of the most important bread and butter sounds-organs, pianos etc. I would imagine the Kronos possibly improved on that by creating fewer sounds but with better more pronounced variations in theses categories. Still when I wangle my way through the combis with a good sound system or my better headphones, still is a pretty impressive module considering it is one of the few on the market that can be used like this-a full workstation in a box I can carry under my arm. This is a picture of the original backlight inverter, you can see part of the broken end of the fluorescent tube. The inverter was not the problem-I am repeating this caveat emptor-when you buy these Chinese supposedly "new" replacement screens-the full screen not just the touchscreen, you will be getting a used one. A new fluorescent tube display should not fail within a year. if you can live with that, fine but you can see what I had to go through, just to get a readable screen.

[Jokeyman123]

Did manage to get a good photo, showing clearly what a difference this makes. One bit of a problem-although this LED kit expects 9-10V DC according to my tech, this is almost too bright, and does warm up the screen quite a bit, not sure why, I thought LEDs were supposed to run pretty cool. Looking inside, there is a driver board for this assembly with an optional lead to patch in a trimpot to bring down the brightness. Easy to do as the entire electronic assembly is not part of the screen. But wow does this look good at this rather extreme brightness, just concerned about the heat. I do not know what kind of "kit" my tech used-I think it was from Mouser electronics and I can't see what was done to mount the LEDs around the screen unless I disassemble several boards again, which I might do just to check the design. I have the tempo knob, just didn't notice it had fallen off when the pic was taken.