From james_eaton@btopenworld.com Tue Apr 23 03:55:45 2002
Subject:Re: Custom Controller was Speakeasy Pedals

--- In CloneWheel@y..., "Simone Ghetti" wrote:
> http://home.earthlink.net/~cmathern/controller_001.htm
From your website:
"Last November both Fatar SL-161s started malfunctioning at the same
time. I tried finding the problem, but since I am not an electronics
or MIDI expert I had little luck."

"After harvesting the keyboard assemblies from the two SL-161s I was
faced with my first challenge. I had to find a MIDI encoder that
would convert information coming from the keyboards into MIDI "

Simon,

Nice cabinet! Reading through your website, I have the opposite
problem to you regarding the keyboards. The electronics on my SL-61
work fine (although occasionally need to a full system reset if there
is a power surge), but the keybed sometimes malfunctions - a couple
of the keys don't sound if they are hit too hard.

I presume this is due to oxidation/wear and tear on the copper tracks
on the PCB and the carbon/rubber pads on beneath the keys. You might
find you need to replace the rubber under the keys every so often
since you are still using the Fatar keybeds which aren't of the
highest quality. I plan to shift my contacts around if it gets any
worse.

Also, I am aware of someone who is using a Roland keybed with Fatar
electronics to get a decent quality lower manual. The Fatar is not
ideal for LH bass lines since the key resistance to me at least seems
a little too high for grace notes to sound properly.

James