Russ Nixon :: Triton Project
http://tritonproject.russnixon.com/index.php
Big News
http://tritonproject.russnixon.com/index.php?entry=entry071010-013656
The Triton Project has been on hold since July because we are expecting our first baby. We're due any day now, and so we've been focusing on preparing the house and such. Tonight, I found some time to work on my Triton Project, and some absolutely huge progress has been made.
Video will follow very soon. The Triton is not yet completely assembled, but it is close enough that I was able to power it up for the first time (with its new motherboard), and it WORKS!!! I had to reprogram the software to tell it that it is an 88 now, because the motherboard was pulled from a 61, but I went through most of its self tests, and everything passes.
My heart was beating out of my chest when I first applied power, but after what I've been through with this project, I have a pretty thorough understanding of what NOT to do.
My heartfelt advice to all Triton owners out there is still this: Don't open your Triton unless you're willing to face the possibility that you might not get it back when you put it back together. Particularly the Triton Classic 88 model, it is somewhat easy to put it together and get a pinched wire, or some miscellaneous anomaly that you could not have possibly accounted for, and end up smoking something like I did. I was incredibly lucky to have found a junk Triton 61 that I was able to use as an example while I rebuilt my 88 - that was essential. The service manual isn't extremely helpful with cable routing and such.
I will post video soon! The Triton Project is coming to an end. Now, I have to decide what to do with it! I purchased a Triton Extreme 76 to replace my Classic, and I really don't think I need both. Or, do I?
:)
Thanks for reading, and for all of your support. I now feel like I have a really good handle on the guts of the Triton ProX; enough to know that I truly NEVER want to be in there ever again.
~R]]>Update: 7-14-2007
http://tritonproject.russnixon.com/index.php?entry=entry070714-124957
Here's some new video:
Russ ]]>Update: 7-10-2007
http://tritonproject.russnixon.com/index.php?entry=entry070710-201814
My thanks to those of you who have shown your continued support! This weekend (July 14) I plan on finishing the move and resuming work. Stay tuned!
Thanks,
Russ]]>Update: 6-9-2007
http://tritonproject.russnixon.com/index.php?entry=entry070609-193918
Stay tuned for more updates, and many thanks to all of you for your kind words of support.
Russ ]]>Welcome To My Triton Project!
http://tritonproject.russnixon.com/index.php?entry=entry070531-230436
Welcome to my Triton Project!
The intention of this Blog is simply to share with my fellow Korg users a very unique project. Here's some background:
I bought my Triton ProX new in May of 2001. It represented a major leap forward in creative resources for my studio. At the time, I had plenty of other instruments, but the Triton was special. It sparked a lot of really good ideas. I cherished my Triton.
Back in February, 2006, I took my beloved Triton ProX apart to fix an audio output that had become crackly. Unfortunately, when I put the unit back together, I made a critical mistake, which caused several electronic failures in the Triton. I turned it on, the screen lit up, then went dark, and then I smelled that distinct smell of burning electronics.
I took my Triton to a local Korg repair shop here in the Denver area. They worked on it for about a month, and after $300 of experimental surgery, they were able to get the Triton to power up, but no audio, no logic, just a blank (lit) screen. Scary. The next step would have been a new motherboard, at a cost of about $800. Ick.
Heartbroken, I dismantled the keyboard into parts, and intended to sell them. I bought a new Triton Extreme, though I went for the 76-key model because I'm not totally crazy about Korg's new weighted keybeds (I have others, so it wasn't critical to me to replace my ProX with another 88-key model). But I never sold the parts of my Classic. They sat in a box for months.
Then, about 3 months ago now, I spotted a Triton Classic 61 on Craigslist for $400. Knowing that the motherboard is the same between the three Triton Classic models, the gears started turning in my head. Here's an opportunity for me to resurrect my old friend. Yes, I bought a new Triton, which is wonderful. I have a lot of instruments that I love. But this Triton was a major milestone in my songwriting career.
The reason I am writing all this, and sharing my Triton rebuild project with you, is because I love my instruments; I care deeply about them, and this project is a big deal to me.
The Plan
After I transplant the motherboard from the 'new' Triton 61 that I bought on Craigslist, I will likely keep some of that Triton around for spare parts. Thanks to another Triton user that I made contact with through The Korg Forums, I was able to obtain the Korg Service Manual for all three Triton Classic keyboards (if you'd like the PDF, email me). Using the service manual, I will rebuild my Triton ProX. Then, before I turn it on, or even plug it into AC power, I will take it back to the Korg Authorized Service Center and have them verify my work. If they determine that I did everything right, it is done.
I will also post my progress at Korgforums.com in this thread at Korgforums.com. I will create a page where you can view and download video and images that I will be taking during my progress. Feel free to view the first video file by choosing one of these file formats: