Some of the keys on my Edirol PCR-50 are dying!

[Ford Prefect]

Same problem with the PCR 50 here Just out of warranty period + expensive to return for fixing x fit of temper = chucking it in the dustbin. I had three dead keys in the end. Cleaned it, shouted at it, talked nicely to it, still three dead keys.

What a load of crap it was

2 things...Sounds like the Sony timer...famous among IT people in Japan...everything lasts just a bit past warrantee...Secondly, I've had bad experience myself with Edirol products and therefore the MIDI controller I have my eye on now is the Novation Remote 25...

[xoxos]

i'm prolly being a dumbass to post, but here are the findings of my non-engineer explorations..

i've 'worked on' ~ a dozen midi keyboards.. every single one (apart from the pro-one) has the bubble keys, and all of them have responded to contct cleaning except for a dx100..

i loaned the dx to a mate, who spilled tomato soup or ?? inside it (... always happens.. you really like me!) and then the contacts didn't respond to cleaning..

now if you look at te actual physical keybod component, apart from the contacts, the only other shit in there are a bunch of resistors.

so either the contact material lost its conductivity, or fluid leaked into the resistors and changed them physically. of these, i reckon the latter is probably (what do i know?) more likely.

i havne;t done it yet, but try gonig thru them w/ a multimeter.. they're way cheaper thn controllers.

[daktaris]

any PCR-80 users having these problems mentioned? i was about to buy one soonish but guess now i'll have to put it on hold for a while too bad.

[dezai]

i've had my pcr-80 for a year and a half, and it works nicely. i like the feel of the edirol keys the most out of all the other newer controllers that are out there.

[Rick1114]

The 'first batch' models were prone to malfunction and the knobs only sent controller data in increments of 3.

Ah crap, haven´t noticed it before but my PCR-50 seems to be of the 'first batch' since the controllers do indeed send controller data in increments of 3. I bought it second hand from some guy and now I´m starting to understand why he sold it!

Rick11114, you wouldn´t happen to remember what serial # should indicate that the unit is of a newer "bugfixed" generation?

Sorry I don't remember the serial but if your *does* send controller data in increments of 3 then it's definitely an older one. I had one of the old batch at first and it was a bad experience altogether. The LED malfunctioned and doing filter sweeps and such sucked due to the controller data problem. I returned it for a '2nd generation' PCR-50 which works perfectly fine - no problems for almost 2 years now. Altogether a fine piece of kit, just wish the velocity response was a better, maybe a little more like the keys on a Novation but without the ridiculous pricetag.

FYI - The PCR-80 (and other PCR off-shoots) were created after the Edirol sussed out the problems of first generation PCR-50 & PCR-30. Just one man's opinion but I would say they are a safe purchase.

[raikard233]

I have a pcr30 and the D3 key dont work....
i have opened it..i've clean all...but dont work equally.
I've checked more the "dynamics" and i've observed that the key work only if i draw it (a bit naturally!!) to me...after 5 minutes it return to the non-work state!
I've tried to insert a thickness between the key and the "gum" under the key but nothing...
i think that is a contact problem..

[RWA]

i've had my pcr-80 for a year and a half, and it works nicely. i like the feel of the edirol keys the most out of all the other newer controllers that are out there.

That's what convinced me too; the keys have an excellent feel. I've had mine for about 6 months now with no problems at all. Seems like Edirol fixed the problem for this model.

[Lava]

Update:

I talked to Steve at Edirol, and he said they indeed were having trouble with the rubber strips under the keys of the earliest PCRs.

He took my address and is sending out new rubber strips for me to try out. He said if that didn't work they'd give me an entirely new controller.

So far, excellent customer service.

[InfiNeat]

Anybody has tried the newer PCR-1 or PCR-M1 yet? I'd like to get one of those for travelling. My PCR-30 is a tight fit in my suitcase and the buttons keep coming off... It's one of those first generation ones, anyway. I don't like the controller data going in increments of 3-4 but being a complete newbie back then I thought it was normal...

I had trouble with some keys last year but I managed to fix them. They've been fine since. At least this is not too bad.

[Distortion]

I don't like the controller data going in increments of 3-4 but being a complete newbie back then I thought it was normal...

I had trouble with some keys last year but I managed to fix them. They've been fine since. At least this is not too bad.

I am sending mine in to Edirol. It has the +3 controller problem and bad keys.
Hopefully it comes back good as new (better than new with +1 controllers).

[elhefe23]

Update:

I talked to Steve at Edirol, and he said they indeed were having trouble with the rubber strips under the keys of the earliest PCRs.

He took my address and is sending out new rubber strips for me to try out. He said if that didn't work they'd give me an entirely new controller.

So far, excellent customer service.

Hey Lava, are you under warranty?

[Lava]

Nope.

Steve said they'd fix any unit that had the problem, even if it was out of warranty because "it's their fault".

[Markleford]

Steve said they'd fix any unit that had the problem, even if it was out of warranty because "it's their fault".

Very classy! Tally up some points for Edirol!

[InfiNeat]

Steve said they'd fix any unit that had the problem, even if it was out of warranty because "it's their fault".

Thanks, Lava. That's really great to know. I'll see if I can get the same kind of service when I go back to Canada. But I guess they'll forward me to Steve in the US, anyway.

[pawlikp100]

I have problem with my knobs, thats mean sixth and seventh behave strange...sixht don't react on midi events. I use Fl Studio and when a choose link to controller and try to asign my sixth and sevnth knob nothing has happend...but anothers knobs and sliders work fine...
Does anybody have the same problem ?