Keylab 88 does not work with external 5V DC supply

[Kaleid]

I cannot believe it. Today I've tested a 6V 500mA PSU and the KL88 turn on fine but the display background light has got too much intensity and it's difficult to read. There's no contrast function to set the brightness. So there's no PSU which works like the USB cable, at least not for me

Please let me know what can I do

Regards

mA units are for DC (like phone batteries...) there's nothing to be on this case. We want AC suministry to KeyLab through a voltage control device at 5.5V or 6 (just see Watts)

[ben arturia]

With latest firmware we have improved the LCD brightness with different PSU.
Please download latest here :
http://www.arturia.com/products/keylab88/resources

You can now use a 6 or 9v 500mA power supply with your kl88.

Remember that if you want to use USB connection with a PSU you need to connect PSU first.

Best
Ben

[Kaleid]

With latest firmware we have improved the LCD brightness with different PSU.
Please download latest here :
http://www.arturia.com/products/keylab88/resources

You can now use a 6 or 9v 500mA power supply with your kl88.

Remember that if you want to use USB connection with a PSU you need to connect PSU first.

Best
Ben

With the new firmware upgrade LCD looks degraded brightness from blue to rose...Letters look brighter than old firmware.

[ben arturia]

Hi kaleid,
 
Sounds weird...
Could you please tell me what kind of supply you're using ?

[Kaleid]

I don't use any DC adapter. My comment is to refer with the original USC connection.

[ben arturia]

Hi Kaleid,

Could you please test with this firmware version :
https://owncloud.arturia.net/index.php/s/LreaCZOYQQeweiO

Let me know if this fix your issue

[m1ke]

Ben's proposal improves display readability when KL88 is USB powered. I did not try external supply with this FW yet.

[voon]

Wow ... that's something new. A maker of a product makes a mistake and now we can not power the unit as intended (by USB) ... and we're asked to find power supplies ourselves? And to plugin things up to 9V into a plug, that is labelled 5V? That sounds a bit scary .. I don't want to damage freshly bought my unit, which probably has some old firmware? Does the Ampere matter? Or does any 5.5V PSU work, as long as it is more than 500mA?

Would this work:
https://www.digitec.ch/de/s1/product/ansmann-universal-steckernetzteil-aps-600-72-w-3-12-v-universalladegeraet-5592006?tagIds=520-523
?

I find that a bit hard to believe, Arturia. If anything, you should ship free powersupplies out to anyone who bought an 88. If we did that to our customers, it would be goodbye forever. Especially since we also lost the nice feature of simpl yusing USB, and not having to use a second power cable/PSU.

[pax-eterna]

If you want a PSU that work perfectly you should find a 5.5V one. The display should not have too much background intensity with an higher one but there is an issue with the voltage regulator. But  it will not cause any damage to the unit.

However 5.5 power supplies are EXTREMELY rare!! Arturia really should provide one (at the user cost of course) this is a MAJOR oversight!!! In Australia I can get a 5v, 6v 7.5v even 4.5v but NOT 5.5!!!!

Can Arturia make any suggestions please?

Thanks

[pax-eterna]

With latest firmware we have improved the LCD brightness with different PSU.
Please download latest here :
http://www.arturia.com/products/keylab88/resources

You can now use a 6 or 9v 500mA power supply with your kl88.

Remember that if you want to use USB connection with a PSU you need to connect PSU first.

Best
Ben

Before I buy a PSU can you 100% guarantee, with firmware 1.2.0.5 and above a 9v 500mH centre + power supply will work and will not "fry" my KL88?

Thanks

[ben arturia]

With latest firmware updates you can now use a 9v power supply. (since FW 1.1.0.4)
No problem !
Check latest update 1.2.0.6

[Chami]

Hi, I can't believe that this controller has all thoses issues...
It doesn't work properly with a 5v DC. I purchase another DC with a 6v option the display seems fine
But while playing with my external sound module ... After 10min or less the drama begins ... It's sad because the technical support  don't help !!! don't get me wrong this controller I like it ... I love the way it's built and the feeling of the key notes but with all the issues I am having I don't think I will keep mine and it makes me sad ... Why thoses random notes after 5 or 10 minutes playing??? How can't I get it fixed??? How to set it up with an external sound module??? Can't someone help me  please ...

[pax-eterna]

With latest firmware updates you can now use a 9v power supply. (since FW 1.1.0.4)
No problem !
Check latest update 1.2.0.6

^^^^ This. I can confirm (not that Ben needs it hahaha!) that this works 100%!

[kelkinson]

Hi, I just picked up a new Keylab 88.   I read up on all the power supply issues and wanted to make sure I did not miss or mess up anything with a brand new unit. 

To be clear, I really just want to use this to control software synths on my Mac.   I am not interested in the USB connection, only the MIDI one. 

Therefore I need to make sure the external power supply works.   

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015PXUHYA/

Can someone from Arturia please confirm the above works.  I ordered but have not tested.  And also if this does work, should I use the 6V setting or the 9V setting.

Lastly, will the latest firmware make this all work ok, to use just as a MIDI controller?   

[ben arturia]

I think the supply will do the job. Double check the polarity before !!
Have a look at this :
https://www.arturia.com/faq/utilization/wich-power-supply-psu#KEYLAB