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Korg T1 Workstation
Refurbishing the T1 Synthesiser
When I acquired the Korg T1 there were several issues relating to its operation.
I could not correctly select the combis and programs as several buttons on the user interface had failed.
The keyboard was also stuck transposed several semi-tones lower than the the major C scale.
The back light to the screen had failed making it hard to read in most lighting conditions.
So I set about refurbishing my T1 back to a fully operational state. These are the projects undertaken in this series of videos:
I decided to replace the screen with a new OLED display. This display was white writing on a blue background display. This in my opinion is the best combinations and makes the display readable in all lighting conditions.
I desoldered and soldered in new contact ('Tac') switches to fix the issues with the buttons identified during the initial functional review of the keyboard.
The OCD part of the project. I replace the backup battery and then restored the Korg T1 back to its factory configuration.
I commissioned new end cheeks to be made. The original end cheeks were made from fibre board that have been damaged over the years and replaced with new hardwood cheeks. These really finish off my Korg T1.
I said there was nothing wrong with the screen on the T1.
However there is no back light, so it is broken. I am not a fan of the black on green background. I therefore decided to change the screen to a more modern OLED based screen that is white writing on a blue background. Personally I find this combination far easier to view from multiple angles and in low light situations than the factory fitted screen.
So as part of restoring the T1 back to use health this is how I replace the screen.
Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.
When I acquired the T1 the end cheeks had seen better days and this was put on the list of refurbishment tasks to be undertaken. And after 5 years I have finally got around to completing this task.
This end cheeks were more of a nice to have, but I think it really finishes off the keyboard.
This part of the process has only taken 5 months to complete the work and a further 4 months to finally edit the video!!!
But finally I have fitted new hardwood end cheeks and his is how I did it.
Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.
When I acquired the T1 one of the most noticeable faults was the fact that a number of the buttons on the user interface were not working. This is normally as a result of the contact / tack switches wearing out through use. The contact / tack switches, that are located underneath the surface buttons visible to the user.
In addition to the contact / tack switch problem a number of the plastic surface mounted buttons are also broken.
In this video:
I strip down the T1
desolders and removed all the old contact / tack switches. It is a false economy to fix just the broken ones.
soldered new contact / tack switches in place.
remove and replace the surface mounted plastic buttons with second hand recycled buttons that have been acquired.
Thankfully when it was all reassembled it all worked and the menu items can be accessed using the buttons. Even if the numpty infront of the camera managed to re-install the display upside down!
Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.
Following the acquisition of a keyboard, and the T1 is no exception, I have a policy to put a new battery into them. This is more about piece of mind, but it is also the first look at the internals of the keyboard to see if there are other things that need attention.
This is how I replaced the battery in my T1.
Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.
The new OLED screen does not integrate to the existing contrast pot presented by the T1. The new screen comes with a separate contrast pot (variable resister), which initially I taped it into the space between processor and audio boards.
In this video I implement a more permanent solution to allow the contrast pot to be accessed when the T1 is closed and in use. The lasting solution was after a number of other options were considered.
Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.