LCD display replacement (Roland MKS-50)

[logix]

The display backlight of my MKS-50 looks kind of weak and it might be time to change the display entirely. Does anyone have any info on how and which replacement display works?

[Rasputin]

Does anyone have any info on how and which replacement display works?

Some cheap 16x1 LCD with LED backlight such as,
https://www.crystalfontz.com/product/cf ... KsFcN7COMs

or a 16x1 OLED, but this requires also replacing the MKS-50 firmware to make it compatible.
http://zine.r-massive.com/roland-mks-50 ... -firmware/

[logix]

Thanks.
So a standard HD44780 type 16x1 display?
Are the pinouts identical?
The service manual says the display is a DM011Z-1DL3, but there aren't any pinouts or other details there, nor am I able to find anything online about it.

I remember messing around with a Roland D-110 LCD replacement where the connection was almost the same as with the original one. Fortunately I got a lot of good help here and it worked out in the end.

[Graphik]

I've tried these Crystalfontz displays and even though they look amazing when connected to the MKS-50 there problems that occur which are:

1) The LCD panel is smaller than the original so you would have to find a way to mount the entire LCD
2) The VA (View area) of the Crystalfontz display is also wider than original and when you place the MKS-50's plexiglass / front panel over the Crystalfontz display, characters get cut off.

So, to answer your question: NO this is not a drop in replacement for the MKS-50's "DM011Z-1DL3". That said, the unit could be modified to hold it, but I think one would have to figure out the mounting solution inside and most likely, make a wider viewport or an entire new plexiglass for the front panel to accommodate the wider VA of the Crystalfontz display. I'll be honest, I've thought about doing this, but its a lot of work no matter how great they look.

Where I'm at with this? I've decided to completely dissemble the Crystalfontz display and remove the Blacklight and retrofit it into the orginal LCD displays Blacklight housing unit (its a tiny little Lightbox with micro LEDS strips inside) fingers crossed this works as I don't want to go through the previous mentioned details, I also don't want a "short-life" OLED in there that also requires an updated firmware.

I'll report back if this works

[logix]

It's been a while, but how did the LCD replacement work out?