mik pointe

On 8/1/2018 at 12:19 AM, Brad Saucier said:

Thanks for the update.  I'll keep it in mind for anyone else who might have the same issue.  

Sure thing, and thanks too.  I updated it to reflect that it's the time between sensor hits that determines velocity - not the force per say.  Have a nice day

I solved this issue.  It took a lot of exploration.  For anybody else pulling their hair out over this issue... 

There a tri sensor rubber contact - the one towards the front seems to control high velocity in a sense, even though it's the time between the strikes of the different sensors that calculates the velocity methinks.  The bottom of the black and white keys, as well as the black and white keys' rubber contacts are different from each other by design.  In my unit, the angle of the rubber contact pcb was such that the white keys were striking the front contact pad too late, causing them all to sound unnaturally loud (hitting the other sensors too soon after, thus tricking it into thinking I was playing louder).  I was able to correct the angle by literally putting VERY thin carboard as washers, under the screws that hold the Rubber Key PCB to the rest of the keyboard, thus changing the angle so that the keys weren't hitting the front pad at the wrong time.    The result is that the keyboard plays correctly now!!!!!   This is a picture of the difference that the cardboard made.  In a perfect world, one could use washers that were the right size.  I imagine that this is a factory defect, as I've come across a few folks that have had this issue.  This works because the black keys rest closer to the pads than do the white keys (even on a properly functioning Privia).  So, my adjustment didn't make any noticeable difference to the black key sound, only the white keys.

In the Photo, there are two PCBs visible.  The rubber contacts themselves are held by three of these.  The further one is corrected to be at the right angle.  You can see the tiny difference.  But really, it plays like my other Privia that didn't have this problem.  This was the most maddening keyboard issue I've encountered yet. It works now though

Warning: If you use a material too thick, the key won't work at all or will cut off abruptly.  Start small and work up.  I got lucky on my first try, by comparing it to a youtube video of Privia 850 action from the side.

I just want to add my experience to this thread.  I've played 3 perfectly working privias ( Px860, px160, px 850 again) and one that had this irritating Keboardwide issue of the black keys being uniformly softer than the white keys.  I discovered only that the issue wasn't in the keys themselves (I swapped out keys), nor in the brains of the keyboard, but instead somewhere in the entire plastic piece that holds the action/hammers/sensors etc.  I swapped out a working plastic key bed with everything attached ,  with the one that worked fine, and the keyboards switched issues.  

I'm reluctant to pay a bench fee but I'd really love to find out what in the world the problem is.  It's not a difference in sampling or whatever, as some people have suggested.  It's some problem, perhaps in the hammers, of perhaps in the off-white plastic piece itself that holds the action. If I ever figure it out I'll try and post it to every post where I see this issue.  Right now I suspect it is some kind of defective main keybed in a tiny batch of privias due to poor quality control. The shame is that very inexperienced players won't detect it. It's also less noticeable at lower volumes. So if you are in a rush like I was, you can end up with a lemon from someone who didn't know the difference, that's out of warranty.

Did any liquid or particles of whatever fell on it get into the keyboard? That would be the first thing I'd check

On 1/3/2018 at 3:18 AM, AntonioCoppola said:

Hi, Yesterday finally arrived my new Privia PX-860WE.

Everything is ok (i like the sound and the keyboard...) except the two headphone outputs.

The sound comes out of the speakers but not from the headphones output (I tried different models, I did a factory reset but nothing..).

When I plug in the headphones, the sound correctly doesn't come out of the speakers, but not out of the headphones! The red light next to it is on.

For me it is fundamental because I can only play late in the evening

 

Is there a way to solve the problem? (Has someone else had the same problem?)

Please help me.

Thx.

 

Not knowing a single thing about your knowledge, the only thing I can think is to check if it's a mono 1/4" to 1/8" adapter (one strip instead of two on the plug), then it might not work.

I just opened a px-150 and took out the key action.  In my opinion, if you are electrically savvy or have messed around with electronics and arduinos and the like , you don't need a schematic or service manual if you're just replacing the main board.  All the boards in the Casios I've owned have kind of standard clips and such.

For the record I think the "classic" sound option is smoother in turns of dynamic range. The Grand default thing has an unnatural spike at a certain point.

Update to everyone.  Thanks for chiming in.   With patience, I nabbed a px-150 for $150 .  I took out the entire keybed, swapped it into the Px-850 and the 850 works perfectly now!!!  

Before the key action swap, I had ruled out - the keys, any felt issues, and I think the contacts.   Now, I have a px-150 with the same problem but I intend to keep tinkering until I figure out what on earth is going on.  All told I learned a heck of a lot, especially that the key actions in px 150 , 350, and 850 are 100 percent swappable IF You are a de facto tech.  The lay person has no chance with this operation. 

The white keys on mine are all labeled 21.  a21 b21 c21 etc.    I'm curious were all of your white keys labeled 22? I see in the middle they are.  Thanks!

On 6/23/2018 at 12:31 AM, Sjt2 said:

I had to remove a ton of screws and then fix the stuck key back into place. Then put all the screws back. I took lots of pictures when I am reviving them that prices helpful when I put those back.  There were some videos online but for a different model. Have to use that as a reference. Hope that helps!

 

 

Ditto on taking lots of pictures.  I also used a magnet board to group the screws together, in order of the disassembly.   

I also live in a 100+ year old noisy apt, and could feel my keys thumping literally on the floor in my feet, but a little styrofoam underneath and viola  - no longer.  But yeah that neprene thing looks thinner.  Good thing is you can test different solutions but putting your feet on the carpet near the base, and playing fast/heavy.  It's amazing what some absorption can do

On 11/26/2015 at 12:48 PM, picus said:

Hello everyone!

Have you guys experienced the same problem as I did? I just bought the PX-780 and I think everything on it is pretty impressive, except for one thing:

When you play between forte and fortissimo, the volume of the sound steeps up considerably. (see attached graphic)

This happens mainly with the main sound 001 Grand piano concert, but is also an issue with others such as modern piano, rock piano, etc.

I found that it should be a software problem as the 004 Grand piano classical and 007 Grand piano dolce don't have this problem but... I don't like them too much as the sound is too mellow for my taste.

NOTE: I tried changing the touch sensitive to 3 but the problem persists.

I saw that another user at Amazon reviews has also noticed this problem, so it's not my imagination.

Also, if I use the Privia piano as a MIDI controler and use a VST such as Pianoteq on my PC there is not such problem.

 

What do you think? For me this is just not acceptable, I have played digital pianos for more than 20 years (Roland, mainly) and this was never an issue, so CASIO, I hope you are able to solve this problem soon via a software update or something like that.

 

I have wrote to CASIO technical support but have no response yet after 3 days.

 

tip to CASIO tech staff: maybe you forgot to normalize between several "layers" of samples when you build the virtual instrument.

 

Please help me if you are able.

I experience this as well, but only on the white keys.

18 hours ago, Brad Saucier said:

Is that the same PX-850 you bought used at a massive discount?   It sounds like that unit needs repair.

Hey Brad after further tests... I don't think the headphones are broken -  it's just a equal panning from right to left.  Really not how it sounds sitting in front of a piano where resonance is a huge centering factor.  I stand by my comment about binaural samples being superior though that wasn't what this reviewer was asking

2 hours ago, Brad Saucier said:

Is that the same PX-850 you bought used at a massive discount?   It sounds like that unit needs repair.

Yep ! And hey thanks maybe you're right and they are related issues.  Does yours sound natural in headphones?  I am comparing it to top of the line binaural sampling, but now that you mention this... my old Privia 400R sounded just fine in headphones.  I'll edit my post thanks so much.  Calling support tomorrow maybe will see how much new PCBs cost.  Since I got It for $250 it should be pretty doable.

Just to chime in to others who will have this issue, I also had this issue.  There is a piece of rubber on the hammer that can get messed up if you pull up the key.  After reading a nice tutorial here on how to remove the keys properly, it will easy to remove the keys so I could access the messed up one.  Then could quickly put it back on.  Just be patient and read tutorials carefully.  I stole some extra grease from surrounding areas too. 

- Edit: I think mine is broken (see below).  But still think binaural sampling takes the cake. 

I have to say, I own a Yamaha CLP635 , which uses binaurally recorded sounds, and the PX850 headphone sounds bad compared to that. The panning is abrupt. Definitely will improve on nice open back headphones, but it will still sound a little whack compared to binaural samples

On 5/21/2018 at 10:12 PM, Kettz said:

"Hi guys, this is my first post here. I couldn't find anything already posted related to a problem like mine so sorry about that.

 

Basically one key on my PX-150 digital piano is malfunctioning. I have had the keyboard for about 4 years now.

 

It is the second G# key from the left on the lower register of the keyboard.

 

If I play the key with a certain amount of heavy pressure and hold it down, the key tone plays briefly but stops abruptly even if I'm still holding it, like a staccato sound.

 

What's weird is that sometimes, after the sound abruptly stops, if I slightly reduce pressure on that key, the key tone will play again but very loud and short, I think at max volume.

 

Anyway, I really need this piano for school and it gets in the way of practice. My family is a bit tight on funds so any help or advice at all would be greatly appreciated."

I'd put my money on the fact that something got under that rubber key contact pad.  WARNING: DON'T USE CONTACT CLEANER anywhere near those things. 
You take out the rubber strips on my keyboards and wash them gently in warm soapy water. But what worked for me cleaning it gently, then buying a cheap thing of conductive paint, and applying it to the offending contact pad per the instructions.  The next day worked perfectly.  Just don't spray mechanical cleaner or WD40 or anything near the rubber things.   If any gunk or crumbs get under, all the million key presses will wear out the the carbon contact.   Good luck!

On 5/26/2018 at 8:22 PM, Jokeyman123 said:

"I think you found out why it was massively discounted-it is massively defective. Sounds like the felt cushions are messed up pretty badly which are under and over the keys-there are typically 2 rows of felt-one on top to quiet the rebound, and one at bottom when hitting downstrokes. If the cushions are badly worn-it may be affecting the length (depth) of the key throw-which in turn will change the dynamic response. And it could be that the structure that holds the fulcrum arms in position is out of wack or broken, so the hammers are not operating properly in relation to the key action. Something is grossly wrong here, and unless you know a good keyboard tech (or are one) this sounds like it needs some major work to get it right. Can you return it, either to Casio or the vendor who sold it to you? This is definitely not a typical Casio Privia key action."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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After further tests, I think it is the black keys aren't getting to full velocity.  I plugged into MIDI and played the hell out of them, literally with fist, and the black keys would not get to max.  White keys got to max similar to what you'd expect (no fist needed).  Upon disassembly I noticed the black keys fall onto raised rubber platforms to keep them higher than the white keys.  I wonder if somehow these uniformly got altered.  I also wonder if it's somehow related to the brains of the machine.  The tri-sensor contacts all looked similar - no evidence of dust or gunky dried soda or other things I've found in velocity-wrecked keyboards. The felt also looks to be similar.  It's got to be either something stopping the black keys from hitting before they get to the bottom, or some hardware issue that for some reason is controlling only non-natural keys.  It's exciting to learn. Calling support tomorrow :D. Any genius thoughts welcome!  Starting to think the weights were put on wrong for the black and white keys.

On 5/26/2018 at 8:22 PM, Jokeyman123 said:

Thank you very much, Jokeyman!  It's nice to hear from ya here... I actually perused your detailed and helpful post about felt.  I bought it for group classes on the premise that the headphone jacks were broken, and it turns out they work fine, but there's this problem.  To test it, I tried reinforcing the top felt (where the imitation hammer hits the top where the strings would be on a grand).  It seemed to help a little but not totally for the amount of padding I stuffed in there. Going to investigate the other felt, and see if something is loose too.  Really appreciate your post :)   

I bought a used PX-850 for a truly massive discount, so tried it out quickly.  Upon playing at home, I noticed most of the white keys are very much louder than the black keys. The black keys have a soft pianistic feel at key bottom. The white keys clanky. Anybody have any experience with this? Wondering if it could be felt or if perhaps something else that is the trouble :)