Converting a MIDI keyboard to a pad style controller

[Diamondj421]

I was just going through some old gear that I have laying around and found an old M-Audio Keystation 49es MIDI keyboard that I haven’t touched in years. I’ve been looking around for a new MIDI controller but I wanted something with pads. I’ve been itching to start a new project and I got to thinking whether or not it would be possible to gut the Keystation and use the internals to make a new controller from scratch. I’ve never opened one of these up before but I’m assuming there’s some type of trigger under each key/button and then encoders/slides for the volume/mod/pitch wheels. As long as I know which is which I could arrange them however I’d like, right? Does anyone have any experience with something like this or is this just a horrible idea?

 

[Michael Tibes]

Afaik pad controller work differently from keyboards. They use piezo elements for the pads while keyboards use switches for the keys. So I wonder if the effort might be too high. Also here in Berlin 2nd hand pad controllers can be had for a few bucks. Quite often people sell their old Maschine hardware, sometimes for 50 bucks, I also scored a complete simple EDrum Kit for 80€ a while ago. So in my case I'd rather build something else and get one of these.

Michael

 

[Diamondj421]

Ahhh yea. That makes sense. I'll probably look into grabbing something second hand then. I'd try to sell it but the volume slider is broken off so I doubt anyone would buy it.  Time to think of another way to reuse the parts. I feel bad throwing things away though when I'm sure I can repurpose the parts.