Installing TouchKeys

TouchKeys is available as a self-install kit for your own keyboard, so you can choose the keyboard size, action and features you want. Installing the sensor kit takes an evening and requires opening your keyboard, but otherwise no special tools are required.

The TouchKeys Assembly video below (produced by Mind the Film) shows how to install a TouchKeys DIY kit on your keyboard. There are also step-by-step written instructions for installing the kit.

If you prefer not to install the kit yourself, you instead can buy one of our prebuilt instruments where we install the TouchKeys for you on a new keyboard.

Complete written instructions can be found here. Also follow the link above to watch and download the installation video.

Other Installation Tips and Tricks:

The following suggestions come from my own experience and the experience of others in installing the kits. Please read this thoroughly before starting the installation:

Before Opening the Keyboard

  • Ensure that the key surfaces are clean before starting.
  • Before opening the keyboard, it can be useful to check the length of the sensors to see whether they need to be trimmed to size. The cutting procedure is in Step 7 of the video/guide.

During the Install

  • Step 5: Not every keyboard has space immediately behind the keys as described in the video. On some keyboards, the open space may be located farther back. This is fine, as long as the cables reach from the sensors to the controller boards.
  • Step 15: for the sharp (black) sensors, it is fine (even advisable) to bend the rigid blue part of the cable down around the back of the key. It can be easiest to create a bend in the blue part before the sensor is attached to the key. Hold the sensor with one hand, with your fingers firmly supporting the connector, so bending the cable does not pry the connector off the board.
  • Step 17: bits of tape have been placed on the ends of the controller boards right near each of the wide ribbon cable connectors. Peel the backing off this tape before you insert the wide ribbon cable. This will hold the cable securely in the socket once it is installed.

Closing and Finishing

  • Be sure not to trap any of the ribbon cables between the halves of the case. Make sure you are not about to put a screw through any of the cables when you put the keyboard back together! A bit of tape can help keep stray cables out of the way of the screw holes.

Troubleshooting

  • Device not seen by computer, or does not open: Check the wide ribbon cables from the USB board to the controller board and between the controller boards. Make sure all cables are secure and straight in their sockets. Also check that the USB mini-B cable is securely attached.
  • Device shows fewer octaves than it has: Check the wide ribbon cables between controller boards, as above.
  • Some keys do not show touch data: Check the ribbon cables between the keys and the controller boards, on both sides.
  • The ribbon cable came out of the sensor: Even with the sensor attached it is usually possible to guide the cable back into the socket. The back of the sensor can be gently lifted up. The cable can be pushed into the socket even with the latch closed, though this is difficult. If the sensor is lifted far enough, the tip of a knife can be used to re-open the door without removing the sensor.
  • I still couldn’t get the ribbon cable back in the sensor: If it is impossible to get the cable back into the connector, the sensor should be removed. This is challenging, especially on the naturals, but it can be done with consistent pressure, taking care not to bend the sensor too much in any particular place. On the sharps, the sensors can most easily be removed with a twisting motion rather than pulling straight up.
  • One of the plastic doors broke off the controller board: Each kit ships with replacement connectors in case the doors break. Gently remove the door from the replacement connector (a knife can help release the latch) and put it on the controller board. In most cases, a door with a broken latch will still hold the cable securely. This is also true for the wider connectors on the ends of the boards.
  • The sharp sensors are still too long, even after I cut them down: A small number of keyboards have very short black keys. It is possible to shorten the sharp sensors further by cutting some off of the front of the sensor as well as the back. You will want to file down the corners after doing this so they are still rounded to the touch. Please contact us if you think you are in this situation; I may have a few ideas.