Ok great, so I just bought my 4th midi keyboard in 6 years and my 3rd (Novation Xiosynth) has a seizure and burns itself out after **2** freakn years of owning it.

I'm getting sick and tired of going through keyboard like this are these things not built to last?
I've owned 3 different brands (M-Audio, Alesis, Novation, new one is an Akai MPK 61) and NONE made it past the 2 year mark.

Whats even weirder, is collectively, they've all died around the 2 year mark. I've been going for about 6 years now, and this has just really started to piss me off.

I'm trying to figure out WHY this is happening.
I don't punch, shake nor even really move them around that much. May just slide them around the table a bit but I have never dropped one in my life.
I don't punch the keys hard nor do I rough up the knobs. I try to take care of these things like you'd take care of any piece of electronics, which is very carefully.

The ONLY thing I can think of its the amount of time they are on and I'm using them. I'm trying to go with an avg of 4 hours a day mixing, but some days it can be 10 hours straight, other days maybe an hour. But just guessing an avg I'd have to say 4 hours a day they're on and being used.

I just spend a good $350 on the akai, and now I'm thinking "great, this one will prob be gone by 2012". Its always the electronics that start acting up first, like a key will mismatch my daw, or the led starts blinking for no reason, and its a matter of time usually before they can't be used at all.

I'm kinda of pissed though, the xio was a synth too, and I liked having it next to my akai. I don't understand how I'm already on my fourth friggn keyboard though and only on year 6.
Can there be something else going on that I'm missing here? Like brownouts or a fluctuating current coming in from the wall or something?
It just doesn't seem right that I'm going through them so quick. You'd think I'd get lucky and have one for like 15 years but no, they all just crap out and die.

How long does a midi keyboard generally last you? Is this normal or is it just overuse do you think?

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Sequencers: FL Studio 9XXL & Reason 3.
Main Synth Bass GTs - Pro-53, V-Station, Sytrus, Subtractor, Trilian, Blue, Sylenth & Z3ta.
Main Synth Lead/Pad GTs - Z3ta, Sytrus, Sylenth, Vangard, Albino & Nexus.
Main FXs GTs - Waves Plugins, Soundtoys, Volcano, FL Native FX.
Hardware - Truths, Echo Audiofire, Virus Snow, & Novation Xio Midi-Synth.

That's definitely not normal behavior. I have had 3 MIDI keyboards over my nearly 20 years of producing in one form or another. None of them ever stopped working really, they just got replaced with better versions. I had an old Roland PC-200 for like 10 years and the only problem I ever had with it was one key stopped working. That was easily fixed with a good taking apart and cleaning.

Things are not built to last these days that's for sure, and most of the MIDI keyboards are made of cheap plastic. That is especially true for cheap equipment. I know that my Novation keyboard probably won't last 10 years, because its cheap plastic, but my Moog Little Phatty will probably last 50 years because it is built like a tank. Still, even cheap equipment should last a long time if not abused.

The only thing I can think of is if there are indeed environmental factors at work that may be causing the problems. Obviously things like smoking in your studio is going to create a larger potential for things getting dirty and stopping working, but I'm assuming you don't smoke so that shouldn't be a problem. Keep in mind that the "other" type of smoke can be more damaging to equipment that cigarettes. Trust me on that one.

It may sound weird, but maybe you have bad luck with these things. I know when I played drums I had the worst luck with drum heads, especially all my resonance heads on the toms. They were always splitting near the rim, even when I upgraded my set to one with tension-less lugs.

very weird indeed. are all of these usb powered? do you have other electrical issues with things? do you live in an old house?

my "midiman 61" is over 6 years old, doesn't look like its going to bust anytime soon.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J That's definitely not normal behavior. I have had 3 MIDI keyboards over my nearly 20 years of producing in one form or another. None of them ever stopped working really, they just got replaced with better versions. I had an old Roland PC-200 for like 10 years and the only problem I ever had with it was one key stopped working. That was easily fixed with a good taking apart and cleaning. Things are not built to last these days that's for sure, and most of the MIDI keyboards are made of cheap plastic. That is especially true for cheap equipment. I know that my Novation keyboard probably won't last 10 years, because its cheap plastic, but my Moog Little Phatty will probably last 50 years because it is built like a tank. Still, even cheap equipment should last a long time if not abused. The only thing I can think of is if there are indeed environmental factors at work that may be causing the problems. Obviously things like smoking in your studio is going to create a larger potential for things getting dirty and stopping working, but I'm assuming you don't smoke so that shouldn't be a problem. Keep in mind that the "other" type of smoke can be more damaging to equipment that cigarettes. Trust me on that one. It may sound weird, but maybe you have bad luck with these things. I know when I played drums I had the worst luck with drum heads, especially all my resonance heads on the toms. They were always splitting near the rim, even when I upgraded my set to one with tension-less lugs.

Ok wow, I do smoke actually and thats really making me wonder.
I mean I know electronics and smoke don't exactly like each other, but wow.. I just couldn't picture it being the cause of all of this. Or maybe I'm just another nicotine addict in denial who knows? I've been contemplating quitting for a long time anyway so this is just more reason to stop as far as I'm concerned. And seldomly (holidays/b'day parties/etc) we will have the other kind of smoke in the house too so I'd imagine that just adds to the problem. I can't believe this didn't even cross my mind wow..

#2, (in response to DJ Anthony Ross) I DO live in a very old house, believe it was constructed in 1935, and I guess we have had electrical issues in the past. I remember the electrician told me once I lived in an area where "brown outs" were common because our sony flat screen burnt out after only 3 years and had to get fixed (luckily still under warranty). I think that means a drop in voltage, and he said that can mess with electrical equipment so that was the only real thing I was thinking was the culprit here. And its all usb connected too yes.

Just from these few comments though it definitely #1 does NOT seem normal, and #2 like I may have more than just 1 force at work here. I have one of those things you plug into the wall which is suppose to stop brownouts, but its connected to the tv, I'm thinking about picking one up for my computer too now (its a heavy gray box with 6 sockets and a huge battery, not sure what you call them). And than theres the smoking issue I will just have to start going outside I guess which isn't that big a problem because I wanted to stop this summer anyway.

I suppose there can't really be a whole lot else going on, so I'll start there I guess and see how long this one lasts. I've always been told smokings bad for electronics but I never thought it could actually break equipment like that. But at least I have more than 1 thing to consider now. Thanks gents! Much appreciated.

___________________
Sequencers: FL Studio 9XXL & Reason 3.
Main Synth Bass GTs - Pro-53, V-Station, Sytrus, Subtractor, Trilian, Blue, Sylenth & Z3ta.
Main Synth Lead/Pad GTs - Z3ta, Sytrus, Sylenth, Vangard, Albino & Nexus.
Main FXs GTs - Waves Plugins, Soundtoys, Volcano, FL Native FX.
Hardware - Truths, Echo Audiofire, Virus Snow, & Novation Xio Midi-Synth.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox Ok wow, I do smoke actually and thats really making me wonder. I mean I know electronics and smoke don't exactly like each other, but wow.. I just couldn't picture it being the cause of all of this. Or maybe I'm just another nicotine addict in denial who knows? I've been contemplating quitting for a long time anyway so this is just more reason to stop as far as I'm concerned. And seldomly (holidays/b'day parties/etc) we will have the other kind of smoke in the house too so I'd imagine that just adds to the problem. I can't believe this didn't even cross my mind wow..

Keep in mind, Im not suggesting that this is actually the cause, just that smoke of any kind around equipment is generally not good for it and can shorten it's life. Even without smoke, its a good idea to clean your equipment regularly just for the dust that gets in there, especially with your computers.

a synth tech i've used posted an email w/ a guys juno 60(i think) drenched in smoke aftermath. it was disgusting! i'm trying to find it but my flight is boarding lol.

anything under 500 tends to keep its action for a couple years and then its time for something new. I have yamaha p series keyboard ( around 2000$) and it will / should last for years. The construction for cheap midicontrollers is appalling. I think you either luck out and get a unit that lasts or you don't and have to replace it every few years.

Smoke doesn't kill a midi keyboard in 2 years. Not if its well built to begin with. Jeez, the amount of DJM-600s I've used that were caked in hash oil and with scratchy faders from flicking ash on top of them. Never saw one break down but thats cause DJM-600s are tanks.

I've smoked over my Virus kB for years. Hell most people I know that are into dance music have smoked over it too. Its seen better days but everything still works.

stop typing with a midi keyboard

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Mr Kaizen on Soundcloud

Back on-topic. The better the airline company is, the longer my keyboards will live! Czech airlines while going to ukraine lost my luggage, and when it got back the weekend after the keyboards had scratches, my pair of headphones was broken, my trigger finger was damaged. I NEVER ever got any refund from CSA. Flightcare in belgium broke two of my cases by playing basketball with luggage. A few baggage handlers in some airports have simply no respect for people who sometimes pay hundreds for their tickets.

And as for smoking in your house, ahhh feel so much better now I've quit for a month, but anyway, I wouldn't smoke inside.

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Http://www.airwave-music.com is my new site. Djairwave.com is no more. A new era has begun

Fuckin hate it when all that crack smoke starts dissolving shit yo.

And its even worse when they start trying to get you.

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New Mix: March 2010 Promo
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