D-50 joystick repair?

[Elandroth]

So for the past year or so that I've had my D-50, I never really delved into programming much or even really using it as a synth, I mostly use it as my main keyboard controller because I absolutely love the way the keybed plays. I got it for 100 bucks on craigslist, it's in fantastic shape cosmetically... really clean, the aftertouch still works (although I do have to be pretty forceful about it), but after messing around with it a bit more, I do not have a functional joystick. What would be the normal reason that the joystick would stop responding? Has anyone repaired one before? It's still there, moves smoothly - just doesn't influence the sound. It may just be some menu setting that has it turned off... or something is just not working. Any advice? Common things that cause this? Trying to get some perspective before I crack it open and start poking around.

[D-Collector]

Have you tried pressing either buttons "upper", "lower" or "balance", and then moving the joystick?

[Elandroth]

Nope, totally assumed those were for programming each half of the sound hah. As I said barely used it except as a nice playing keybed! So the joystick does indeed work, but seems to not be so great on the right side of the socket, like it'll not change the value smoothly like on the left side of the socket... probably just a good dusting/contact cleaner in there ya think?

[D-Collector]

The joystick on the D-50 works in a strange kind of way. To be honest I rarely use the feature, but I think that when you select upper / lower the joystick works vertically, whereas in balance mode it is horizontally. Or the opposite... Hehe! I don't remember right now. I'll check it out soon. I really should be taking more advantage of the mixing of partials because you can achieve some nice transitions that way!

[fh991586]

Depending on what parameter you want to change, the joystick use the X or the Y axis.

Just check the "key transpose" option: when you press it (and keep it pressed), the display states a number between -12 and 12. Normally, it is at 0 by default (a red led will glow if it's not on the 0 preset). But if you use the joystick while pressing the "key transpose" button, the value will decrease when going left, and increase when going right. This adds up to an octave up or down.

So if this works, maybe you just don't understand how to use the joystick. I suggest you take a look at the manual. But it's pretty simple to use if it works: the D50 was my first keyboard, and I almost got the idea right away on how to use the joystick...

[Elandroth]

Alright I'll try that when I get home, but what I'm saying is I put it on upper, and when it's on the left side but I move it up/down I can change the values nice n smooth, perfectly - when it's relatively centered it seems to work fine as well, but when the joystick is favored to the right of the x axis, but I'm moving up/down on the y, it doesn't change values very well at all. Now if the joystick cannot be used to change 2 things at once on both the x and the y axis simultaneously, then this is a moot point since I can just keep it centered while going up/down - but if the joystick is capable of transitioning both axes simultaneously, then this not-as-responsive spot would be a possible source of frustration. I've been busy with summer classes so I didn't sit down a whole lot with it to figure out two variables at once function if it does have it, but I'll dig out the manual at some point and see what can be done.


Either way, isn't the joystick just operating two potentiometers in some fashion, one x one y? If so it's probably just some corrosion or something gunking up the area I'm having issues with.

[fh991586]

As far as I recall, it's just left-right OR up-down. There is no need for both axis at the same time, unless you want to mix 2 types of parameters, and then it would become very difficult to program!