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Protecting keyboards from humidity during outdoors gigs

Posted: 06 Jul 2023, 12:15
by Rello
Hello everyone! I apologize in advance for my english, it's not my first language.

I wanted to ask tips about protecting keyboard and gear from moisture and wet environments. I started touring with a band here in Italy and I had a horrific experience one month ago with my nord stage 3, I was playing outdoor in a place with something like 90% humidity and my keyboard after one hour was covered in water. Near the end of the gig it started to glitch, showing all weird stuff on the displays and changing patches randomly, then it stopped working completely. Fortunately it was like 3 songs from the end of the gig and the day after it came back to normal and it's still perfectly fine (i played other gigs with no issues).

I used to protect the keyboard with a dust cover, but now I bought a big waterproof bag that i can put over the gear after the soundcheck and I'm also bringing silica gel bags to put inside for extra moisture absorption.

Unfortunately i have to play a lot outdoors so I need to find solutions, what are your experience with humidity and what do you do to protect your instruments?

Re: Protecting keyboards from humidity during outdoors gigs

Posted: 06 Jul 2023, 18:50
by WannitBBBad
Hello, much of the moisture can come from condensation due to a difference in temperature between your keyboard and the outside air. If you're moving from an air-conditioned house to the outdoors much warmer and humid, condensation will occur inside and out. It might help if you have a way to let your keyboard get gradually to the temperature needed (or at least closer) while in its case, such as placing it in a warmer room at home before the job, or not immediately taking it out of its case at the event until it warms up a little. I hope that helps, take care.

Re: Protecting keyboards from humidity during outdoors gigs

Posted: 06 Jul 2023, 19:09
by afroskully
this exact same thing just happened to me 2 weeks ago. we were playing on a beachfront stage and the fog rolled in so thick that i was wiping water off the nord for 3 hours, the drummer looked like they were playing in 80s music videos where the water would splash off of the heads.

i was pretty worried we'd actually all get electrocuted that night and have a memorable performance, but luckily, all was fine and the Nord behaved the whole show. I got home and just took it out of its case and let it air dry, and no issues since.

I don't think there's anything you can actually do in this situation, except pray for good insulated circuity.

Re: Protecting keyboards from humidity during outdoors gigs

Posted: 06 Jul 2023, 20:26
by Nordine
I used to put 3 or 4 of desiccant packets inside my old Keyboards and it help reduce the humidity inside the keyboard:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=dessicant+pa ... 8ycvls70_b