I've changed the floppy drive on my 440.
I had it replaced for a Roland floppy drive, ref CHINON RZ-354 for Roland MV-30, and it works great, even faster than the Sony factory drive. The Chinon is a little smaller and thinner than the Sony. I had no problem with underneath screws to attached the drive to 440's chassis. I cut a little pice of thin black plastic sheet, got some double sided rubber adhesive tape, and glued the sheet on the top of the gap left by the drive. This is quite fine and looking good. The chinon is even quiter than the Sony. Highlt recommended.

I've also changed the LCD display. It's a Roland, again ;-)
Originally designed for Roland MK-80 (not MKS !!) digital piano.
It's a 2 lines by 16 chars, and features +5V green backlight !! It looks really great.
Here's how to :
Dissasemble the old LCD is easy, simply unscrew 4 nuts, and unplug the connector.
Then you can replace the LCD using larger washers. But before assembling, you'll have to do a little wiring job here !
You have to cut down the Roland's connector, and cut the old LCD cable with connectors at both ends in the middle part. Now you should have your new LCD unit with free wires, and a half part of the old 440 display cable+connector. Strip ends of each wires, and get ready for a good soldering party !

Roland Rhodes MK-80 LCD pinout
Pin #    Function
14        Vdd (+5V) black
13        Vss (0V) black
12        AS
11        LCD VO (contrast)
10        E
09        R/W  (grounded)
08        D1
07        D0
06        D3
05        D2
04        D5
03        D4
02        D7
01        D6

Studio440 LCD pinout
14        D7
13        D6
12        D5
11        D4
10        D3
09        D2
08        D1
07        D0
06        LCD (E)
05        R/W
04        A1 (RS)
03        LCD contrast (VO)
02        Vcc (+5V)
01        OV (ground)

Roland LCD PCB wire pinout ; REAR VIEW
14     O        O    13
12     O        O    11
10     O        O    09
08     O        O    07
06     O        O    05
04     O        O    03
02     O        O    01
                                 "here you can read the lcd reference, reversed..."

NOTE : wires #14 & 13 are black.
 

As you can see, you'll have to change the pinout !!
Here's the wiring table:
Studio440 LCD    to      Roland MK-80 LCD
14    D7                        2
13    D6                        1
12    D5                        4
11    D4                        3
10    D3                        6
09    D2                        5
08    D1                        8
07    D0                        7
06    LCD (E)              10
05    R/W                      9
04    A1                      12
03    LCD (VO)          11
02    Vcc                   14
01    OV                     13

simple huh ?

Now get ready for tuhe smoke test ! Should do it.
bonus : the 440's contrast pot even works after this modification !
Enjoy !
 

The following are tests routines for Studio440. I hope this will help some !!

                A set of diagnostic routines for testing RAM and various I/0 functions are
                contained in ROM. Of course, for these tests to operate, the computer must
                be basically running in the first place.

    ENTERING DIAGNOSTIC MODE

                1. Switch power off.

                2. Hold down both the INC and DEC switches.

                3. Switch power on.

                     When the display says "440 DIAGNOSTICS...", you can let go of
                     INC/DEC.

    Switch Test

                When diagnostics are first entered, the lower line of the display says,
                "PRESS ANY SWITCH". Pressing any switch or footswitch (except the ten-
                key pad) should display the switch name in the LCD.

    Test Selection

                After entering diagnostics, to proceed with one of the following tests, press
                the test number on the ten-key pad.

                To exit any test, press the number of the next desired test. (If you bounce the
                switch, you may accidentally exit a test.)

    INPUT TESTS

    #6 Pot Level
                This tests the potentiometer ADC action. Displays pot value from 0 - FFH for
                each pot:

                   DT (DATA ENTRY)
                   VL (MASTER VOLUME)
                   PA (PAN)
                   PI (PITCH)
                   LV(LEVEL)

    #4 Pad Level
                This tests the pad ADC action. For one pad at a time, applying pressure displays a
                value from zero through a maximum which is determined by the pad sensitivity
                trimmer. This test can be used to ensure that full pad pressure Just reaches the level
                of FFH. But It Is probably better to let the player adjust this empirically.

    #5 Pad State
                This test has a similar display as #4, but tests the pad comparator action (not ADC).
                Normal resting reading Is "00" Pressing each pad displays an "1111". It should
                require only a feather-touch on the pads to trigger the comparator.

    #3 Zero Sample (Sample Input)
                 Note: Before performing this test, disconnect any Input to the
                   SAMPLE/TRIGGER IN jack. This test checks for noise In the sample Input
                   and filter sections, by recording a sample, then checking that all sample words
                   are zero.
                While In progress, displays "ZERO SAMPLE TEST, SAMPLING...".
                When finished, It Indicates "ZERO SAMPLE TEST PASSES!" or failure
                location:
               "SAMPLE FAILS AFTER U314". This message Indicates that there Is noise In
                the sampling circuitry following the analog switch which selects the Input filters.
              "SAMPLE FAILS FILTER X”. "X" = 6,12, or 16; Indicating the noisy filter
                section.

RAM TESTS

    #1 Sequence RAM
                In progress, displays "TESTING SEQUENCE RAM".
                When finished, Indicates "SEQUENCE RAM TEST PASSES!” or failed bit:
                bit 7                  0
                L: p p p p p p p p   (bits 0 through 7)
                U: p p p p p p p p   (bits 11 through 13)

                   p = bit passed
                   1 a bit failed

    #2 Sound RAM
                In progress, Indicates "SAMPLE RAM TEST, PASS 1 – WRITING” then "PASS
                1 – READING” then pass 2 writing and reading.
                When finished, Indicates "SOUND RAM TEST PASSES!", or failed bit:

                   L: p p p p p p p p p p p p       lower 256K
                   U: p p p p p p p p p p p p       upper 256K
                bit  11                               0
                   p = bit passed
                   1 = bit failed
                  Note: In software version 1.31, this test cannot be exited, which prevents you
                   from directly entering the next test.

  #0 Sound RAM Refresh
                 Note: This test is only available In software level 1.3 and up.
                First, perform test #2. then do this test. This routine tests the sound RAM without
                writing to RAM.
                In progress, displays "SAMPLE RAM REFRESH TEST".
                When finished, display Is the same as test #2.

MIDI TESTS

    #7 MIDI I/0

                This prompts you to perform the following steps:
                    1. Connect MIDI IN to OUT A.
                    2. Press TAP.
                       After test, It reports OUT A passes or falls.
                    3. To continue, press TAP again.
                    4. This time, connect IN to OUT B.
                    5. Press TAP.
                    It reports OUT B pas or falls.

    #8 Terminal/Sync I/0
                Same as #7, except just connect the TERMINAL/SYNC OUT to IN.

BACK to my home page