Rss

Archives for : keyboard

Keyboard and other music magazines content index search tool

Posted by :Don Solaris On : April 21, 2024
0

Category: talk

Tags:, , , , , , , , ,

Last September, a generous member of the music forums known as Clusterchord bestowed upon me his extensive collection of Keyboard magazines spanning from the 1980s to the 2000s. His noble gesture was driven by the need for additional space, and I gladly accepted the treasure trove of musical knowledge. Recognizing the value of such a collection, I embarked on a mission to maximize its utility by making it easily accessible and searchable.

To achieve this, I dedicated two weeks of diligent effort to meticulously scan the front covers and index pages of each magazine. With precision and care, I converted these scans into searchable text using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. This transformative process has imbued the collection with newfound functionality, enabling me to swiftly locate specific topics, articles, or references with a simple search command.

Now, armed with a comprehensive index of the entire collection, I possess a powerful tool for exploration and discovery within the realms of musical history, techniques, and equipment. Whether delving into the pioneering synth sounds of the 1980s or uncovering production secrets from the turn of the millennium, I can navigate this wealth of information effortlessly, thanks to the digital transformation of Clusterchord’s cherished collection.

Legal
It’s important to clarify that while I’ve meticulously indexed the front covers and table of contents of each magazine in the collection, I have not scanned or reproduced the actual content contained within the pages. Instead, I’ve utilized Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology solely on the metadata—the titles, headings, and index entries—to create a searchable index.

This approach ensures compliance with copyright laws and respects the intellectual property of the original publishers and authors. By focusing solely on indexing the metadata, I’ve maintained a legal and ethical framework while still providing a valuable tool for accessing and navigating the wealth of information contained within these publications.

What is it for?
The primary objective of creating this searchable index is to enhance the utility of the magazine collection, especially when dealing with hundreds of individual issues. Memorizing such a vast amount of information would be impractical and daunting, but having a searchable index enables quick and efficient access to specific topics, articles, or references.

With this indexed collection, anyone who possesses a substantial library of these magazines can instantly locate desired information without the need for exhaustive manual searching. Whether you’re a collector, researcher, or enthusiast, this tool significantly streamlines the process of finding relevant content amidst a sea of publications.

So, rather than relying on memory or spending countless hours flipping through pages, the indexed collection empowers individuals to effortlessly navigate their magazine archives and extract knowledge with ease. It’s a practical solution tailored to the needs of magazine collectors and enthusiasts alike.

What’s inside
In recognition of the immense value this indexed collection holds for music enthusiasts, I have decided to share it with the broader community. This meticulously curated index encompasses a wide array of esteemed publications, including:

  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Future Music
  • Sound on Sound
  • Electronic Musician
  • Roland Users Group
  • Home & Studio Recording
  • Music Technology
  • Mix
  • Home Recording.

By making this indexed collection available to fellow aficionados, I aim to foster a spirit of collaboration and exploration within the music community. Whether you’re a seasoned professional seeking to delve into the archives for inspiration or a budding musician eager to learn from the insights of the past, this resource offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration at your fingertips. I am aware of the muzines website which contains actual content of the magazines, however it does not feature Keyboard, Future Music and some other magazines that are featured in here. In the context of topic search – I think the two can complement each other perfectly. You can think of this tool made for us who have actual (physical) magazines, and need a quick search tool to find some specific topic. Keep in mind that muzines is far superior as it features meta search that goes literally into every article’s every word. But then again, this one is super simple and super fast. You press Ctrl+F, you find the info and go pick up the magazine from the shelf.

Donations are welcome
Furthermore, in an effort to continually expand and enrich this repository of musical history, I welcome donations of magazines spanning the period from 1980 to 2006. Your contributions will not only help build the searchable index but also ensure that future generations can benefit from access to this invaluable reservoir of musical wisdom. Together, we can cultivate a vibrant community dedicated to the celebration and exploration of music instruments, production and technique in all its forms.

Database access
Given the extensive nature of the indexed collection, hosting it on a blog platform could indeed present challenges due to its size and complexity. To ensure a user-friendly experience, I opted to create a dedicated page specifically for this project.

On this dedicated page, users can employ the familiar “command + F” (or “Ctrl + F” on Windows) search function within their web browser. By typing in the desired phrase or keyword, users can initiate a search that will scan the indexed metadata across all magazines in the collection:

https://donsolaris.com/mags/mags.html

The search results will then promptly display which magazines contain references to the searched phrase or keyword, enabling users to quickly pinpoint relevant articles or topics. This streamlined approach simplifies the process of accessing information within the collection, enhancing usability and efficiency for users seeking specific content.

In essence, by providing a dedicated page and leveraging the browser’s built-in search functionality, users can effortlessly navigate the indexed collection and extract valuable insights with minimal effort. It’s a user-centric solution designed to optimize the accessibility and utility of the magazine archive.

Roland JD-800 keys not working? Let’s fix it!

Posted by :Don Solaris On : November 21, 2023
1

Category: repair

Tags:, , , , , , ,

Suddenly several keys stopped working. It was too suspicious, especially since they were 8 semitones apart. I did install the new rubber contacts, but the problem was still there, as I’ve expected. Turns out the problem is the ribbon cable connection. It eventually wears off. But that’s just half of the problem.

The main problem: Those plastic “screws” holding two ribbons together do not provide enough pressure. But even if they did, that plastic plate which is supposed to hold one ribbon on top of the other – it will bend and not make a solid connection between two ribbons and hence the keys will not work.

Solution: rebuild the connections. Replace plastic “screws” with metal ones. Place a metal plate on top of that plastic plate and tighten with those real screws and nuts!

I forgot to say, contacts wear off even faster if someone tries to clean them with alcohol. The contacts are almost gone. Seems like no repair can be possible as you can’t solder anything to the flex PCB. But there is a solution in a form of a contact repair kit. It is a silver based solution for flex type PCBs. Check your local Mouser / RS/ Farnell store for details. Anyway here is the state of the ribbon contacts:

First thing to do is we have to create a mask. Distance between connectors is around 1mm, so you will cut 1mm wide strips. I helped myself by printing the raster so the cutting was much easier:

The mask is ready:

First couple of contacts are ready. Please ignore the mask on the top. You won’t need it. It was my attempt of soldering onto the flex PCB. So I had to rebuild two extra contacts:

Adding more strips:

Done:

Before applying the solution, clean the contacts first. I would recommend q-tips and some non alcohol based liquid, something as simple as window cleaning solution and distilled water. DO NOT USE ALCOHOL, it will melt the contacts entirely and you won’t have anything left to restore. There is no replacement part from Roland. Once done you can apply the sliver based solution. I used three coatings total:

24 hours later. Gently peeling off the strips:

And now we have entirely restored ribbon contacts:

Cutting the metal plate to the same dimensions as the plastic plate which was used to hold the ribbons together. Do not throw away that plastic! You will need it. You can throw away those two fake plastic screws though:

Drilling two holes on exact location they are present on the stock plastic plate:

Now place that original plastic and the new metal plate on top. The reason for this is – the original plastic will bend, while those plastic screws do not provide enough pressure. As a result the ribbon will not make a solid connection and the keys will not work:

Tighten those screws properly. And now finally you have a solid connection! Make sure to align two ribbons precisely before inserting the metal plate as it is obviously opaque, so you can’t see thru it to align. Use some masking tape temporarily if needed:

Now you have real screws and a real metal plate to hold two ribbon cables together:

No more bad key contacts: