help, key is playing the wrong note?!

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gabe

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I own a casio cz101 and out of the blue, when I press D (anywhere on the keyboard), it plays Eb/D#. The keyboard is transposed to C and it this awful error is so noticeable and obvious. I really don't even know where to begin to remedy this problem. I'm convinced it is something internally. Did something come loose? Please, if you have any information or advice for me.... i'm desperate!

Thanks,

gabe
 
There must be a setting for transpose value -- set it back to a value of 0.

If your D is playing back as Eb, your transpose must be set to +1, causing all notes to be offset a step up.

I have no idea why you say the keyboard is transposed to C - if it were, then you wouldn't be having this problem!

Bruce
 
Is it only a single note out of tune?

You can try resetting the transpose to shock it back, but if the detune is consistant with each transposition, then it sounds like a controlling circuit board is out of whack.

Some older keyboards have individual boards or single chips for each note (notice I didn't say "key"). That chip doubles (or halves) it's frequency for each octave.

If the chip that controls the virtual oscilator for a given note is having a detuning problem, it could be caused by environmental conditions (powering up in extremem temps before the keyboard has a chance to aclimate can cause this).

It is possible that the problem will fix itself (unplug the keyboard, remove any batteries and turn it on. This may clear it up).

Much older keyboards have a pot on each note's circuit board that control it's tuning. I doubt that the CZ uses that tired technology (it's an 80's keyboard, yes?).

However, if it does, you'll find that each circuit board has the name of the note lithographed onto it (C, C#, D, D# etc.).

You'll see a tiny silver box or cylinder with a plastic pot inside of it. It'll look like the top of a flat head or philips screw.

You'll need a plastic tweaker to tune the board. Using a good guitar tuner, hook it up to the keyboard (audio output from board to audio input of tuner) and making sure you are clear from any electronics, turn the keyboard on.

Ground yourself, hit the offending note (and sustain it with a foot pedal). Now carefully tune the card while looking at the guitar tuner. Clockwise will sharpen and couter will flatten the note.

Hope this helps you.

Carl
 
The only way a single note should go out of tune on a digital keyboard is if you somehow created a custom tuning. Keyboards do that for people who want to do alternative tunings for very old classical, middle eastern and other weird stuff.

Is there a way to reinitialize the keyboard? As long as you have any custom patches backed up that would be the quickest way to fix it.
 
Another possibility is a defect in the contacts of the key. Could be that there's a shortcut between the D and D# contacts, so that the controller thinks that D# is played instead of D... Just an idea...
 
hmmm....

Sorry guys, it's hard to explain my query without this getting all confusing, especially w/ my lack of musical lingo. I think Roel and Krakit are definitely on to something, with the problem being the contact of the key itself. I have tried resetting the transposition. I have "reset" the keyboard as well.

Krakit- Yes, the cz101 was produced in 1985 I think. I think I'll take a look at it's innards and try and fix this problem.

Thanks you guys, sorry I couldn't be more clear in my explanation.

Cheers,

Gabe:confused:
 
Roel said:
Another possibility is a defect in the contacts of the key. Could be that there's a shortcut between the D and D# contacts, so that the controller thinks that D# is played instead of D... Just an idea...
This (what Roel said) is most likely what is happening.
Sometimes its an easy fix,,, sometimes not. But I'd bet it's a short in the contact.
 
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