Nord Lead 3 stuck note

[stiiiiiiive]

So… after some investigations, I have bought myself a Nord Lead 3. It has been unused for three years or so and the seller was cleaning it with a soft brush. Before sending it, he used a "dry gas" spray to clean it a bit further.

The encoders felt a bit dusty as they were not all responding the same way, but I felt with some rotations it would go better.
Some buttons are indeed switching two values when clicking once. It happens quite less than on the previous NL3 I tried though.

The real problem is the second G# key. That one will trigger an infinte note which can only be stopped by pressing the "Panic" combo. Once this is done, the key won't trigger the note again… untill you power cycle the synth. Then it does all the same.

First, I though it was a contact problem but the post power cycle behaviour led me to think it could be software caused.

This morning a tech I know suggested me to try to trigger this particular note through MIDI, and to try to push this key while transmitting in MIDI. I'll try that tonight.

If no result comes out, I'll try to rollback to OS 1.08 -as I read here the arppegiator is bugged in v1.20.

Any idea is welcome

[mjbrands]

The encoders felt a bit dusty as they were not all responding the same way, but I felt with some rotations it would go better.

Mine also feel a bit scratchy, though the amount varies. Apart from the feel, they're working fine though (not like my Poly Evolver or Blofeld).

This morning a tech I know suggested me to try to trigger this particular note through MIDI, and to try to push this key while transmitting in MIDI. I'll try that tonight.

Sound like a good idea.

[stiiiiiiive]

Your stuck key problem is extremely unlikely to be a software issue, otherwise other people with the same software version would have reported the same problem.

If I were you, I would start with the simplest assumption - dirt - open it up and give it (the offending key and other parts) a good clean. If that doesn't do the trick ,then the next thing to look at would be a hardware failure of some type, which is where a professional repairman comes into the picture.

Reading your other posts about this machine, it sounds like it has been neglected and possibly abused. The previous owner's claims that every problem it's got are "classic problems" with the Lead 3 are clearly twaddle and just sound like excuses for his lack of careful ownership to me.

Taking everything you've said about this machine into consideration, most of the issues with it are likely to be dust or other contamination (spilt drinks come to mind!), or possibly some aging or degradation of the controls, (although I don't know how the encoders are constructed, so I don't actually know whether they're subject to aging, oxidising or other degradation in the medium term).

Edit: Oops, re-reading your posts, it seems like you're talking about two different Lead 3's. Whichever, I'll still put my money on dirt and dust. A dry gas spray is all right for general cleaning, but won't get into the nooks and crannies needed to clean keys, switches and encoders.

[mjbrands]

Whichever, I'll still put my money on dirt and dust.

Me too.

[stiiiiiiive]

Thanks guys. It seems you are right: it's definitely a material related problem, likely because of dust, maybe something broken.

I tried the MIDI stuff: with the NL3 MIDI-controling any synth, the said synth sounds infinitely too. The other synth won't make the NL3 sound infinitely when controling it.

So MIDI it is not.


I will talk to the seller and take the temperature: is he afraid to cash back? If so, will he propose to pay some repair, around €50? We'll see.

[jro_sf]

I had the same thing with my NL3. I bought if from someone who gigged and there was some spilled junk inside. I've worked in electronic manufacturing so I was comfortable with opening up the unit. It is actually pretty easy and well designed (I'm not sure I would attempt this with my NS2). But if you pull off all the knobs and unscrew from the bottom, there are two screws on the sides that allow the cover to hinge up. Just watch out, there are two (as I recall) ribbon cables that need to pulled off to allow it to fully hinge open. Then i wiped around with isopropyl alcohol and everything was as good as new. Just reverse the process to button back up and it was as good as new. (Of course, turn off the unit).

If the aftertouch does not work, then one of the cables was not seated properly.

Just take your time. And maybe lay a towel out to protect the finish.

Unfortunately, I've sold mine and am looking for a NL3 Rack-- i really loved it. I have an NS2 but the synth section is not as robust. I have a NL2X Rack but the NL3 is so fun to play with.

[mjbrands]

But if you pull off all the knobs and unscrew from the bottom, there are two screws on the sides that allow the cover to hinge up.

No need to take off the knobs, unless you want access to the panel with the controllers (most likely not required here). Opening it up is really simple, remove the four screws on the sides (you might want to loosen the back ones but leave them in, as the top panel rotates on them). You also need to remove a screw on the bottom of the keyboard (roughly in the middle) and 4-5 screws on the back, holding the top panel to the bottom.

You could remove all the keys (not actually that much work) and clean them, the circuit board and contacts below them. But to be honest, I'd start with the key that has issues. Do a search in the Stage or Electro section for more information on cleaning the key contacts (velocity issues) and removing the keys.

Isopropyl (or rubbing) alcohol is a good way to clean the PCB and the key contacts. You can clean the black contact spots in the rubber strip too, but be very gentle with it (I wouldn't do much more than gently clean them with a cotton swab and some alcohol). Be sure you don't remove any of the grease; you may even need to apply some more, but there's a good chance you won't have to (if you do, it is always something you could do at a later time).

... the NL3 is so fun to play with.

Indeed!

[stiiiiiiive]

Thanks you so much guys

I've unmounted my NL2X lately to change the keyboards springs a try to get a better feel. I guess I will manage with the NL3. Will post what comes out.

[WoutBlommers]

My this could be a help?

http://nm-archives.electro-music.com/02 ... part_2.htm

Wout

[stiiiiiiive]

It might indeed. I remember having read that a while ago, and having forgotten it after

Thanks!