Nord Electro 5D dead keys

Synth Repair
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1

Nord Electro 5D 61 key – 4 dead keys

Hello all,

I’m troubleshooting a Nord Electro 5D with 4 dead keys. D1 A#1 F#2 and D3 are not providing any signal when pressed. So far I’ve tried cleaning the contacts with 99% isopropyl, cleaned the pads, switched the pads around, reflowed a crusty looking solder joint, updated the firmware, and checked the solder joints on the main board as well.

My conclusion is that there is some issue with the lower register keybed motherboard and I need to get a new one. The other strange pattern that leads me to believe this is that each dead key is exactly 9 steps away from each other so maybe a problem with the jack for the cable to communicate to the main motherboard.

If anyone has any other suggestions or questions please throw them my way.

Thanks in advance

- Jakob

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2

The keys are scanned as a matrix, so every 9 keys sounds like a row/column isn’t working correctly.

Have you got the schematic for the Nord? This will help you pinpoint the issue.

3

I couldn’t locate a service manual online, the one site that appears on Google is no longer supported. Is it viable to contact NORD directly for the service manual? I’ll try

4

Hi Jakob,

It sounds like you just need a new key contact board. A good way to narrow it down further would be to use an external midi controller to control the Nord as a sound module. (midi out from external keyboard to midi in of the Nord) This will help confirm that it is indeed an issue with the keybed/contact boards and not something greater.

We have these contact boards available on our website:

Just make sure you select the correct ones as the 61 key and 73 key versions of the Electro 5D use different boards.

5

Yes thank you, testing with MIDI confirmed that it is in fact the key contact board (low) for the 61 key model that is the issue.

Unfortunately that item is out of stock, so I’ve entered my information to become notified when it becomes available.

Also still no dice on acquiring a service manual for this keyboard, going to try contacting NORD directly to inquire.

6

Did you do any continuity testing on the IC Chips of the keyboards PC board? It could even be that the chips need to be re- seated. In layman’s terms… remove the IC chips very carefully and then push them back into place very carefully. It could be a ribbon cable that connects the keyboard PC board to the mother board. Use a can of compressed air to spray the female and male pins. Make sure to remove any dust on it’s inner female connectors. Lastly, the male pins may have become oxidized. You can try spraying those with Deoxit D5. It sounds to me like it’s a connections problem instead of a faulty electronics problem. Deoxit D5 saved my entire Soundcraft Ghost board. A lot of the 1/4” inputs were oxidized and not making a connection. It was like I said before, not an electronic problem but a physical one. Try this for sure.

7

Thanks for the response!

I ended up being able to source replacement boards and that resolved the issue. I’ll keep your suggestions in mind if I encounter another board with similar issues in the future.