DIY S4 question: How to recreate the loop-size LCD display

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DIY S4 question: How to recreate the loop-size LCD display
Posted on: 13.10.2010 by Arcelia Siebeneck
Anyone have any ideas how this could be achieved? If you look at the S4, on each deck it has a 2 digit LCD display showing the current loop size. This can be changed by rotating an encoder. I'm guessing that it's possible for Traktor to output the current loop size via midi but how/what would you send this to? There's probably a way to do it using Midibox hardware but I'm looking for a cheaper/easier solution... any ideas?

One way would be to use a different LED for each loop size (1,2,4,8,16,32,etc) and then illuminate the corresponding LED when the loop size is changed... would be nice to use a 2 digit calculator style LCD though...
Arcelia Siebeneck
04.03.2012
Originally Posted by kevz718
Milo, do u have any links to documentation on how u use lcdsmartie or any of those other lcd applets to display midi? I was never able to figure out getting midi info out to it..

I could get windows cpu percentage, etc but that dont help

And lastly, how would you even get traktor to send the loop size? Forgive me if its just an available output option.. I dont recall seeing this.

This is def one thing i wish the x1 had (a S4 loop size display)
Someone was supposed to be writing a midi dll for LCDSmartie but last time I checked it still wasn't released.

The way I got around it was to write a script in Autohotkey that receives midi from Traktor and saves it to a text file that LCDSmartie would read, in realtime. So effectively LCDSmartie was just displaying a text string from a text file (or converting a number/string from a text file into a bar chart).

I believe I explain it all better in this thread (sorry it's been awhile since I've played with this stuff!)

http://community .djranking s.com/showthread.php?t=18512
Williemae Trau
15.10.2010
Originally Posted by MiL0
nice idea

believe I'm just gonna use LCDSmartie with an LCD (see the VU meter link below in my sig)
haha nice.. so you decided to use MiL0's idea.....
Williemae Trau
14.10.2010
Originally Posted by Unimagination
^ It's a little funny that you linked to MiL0's handiwork when suggesting possibilities to... MiL0 lol.
wow.. im an ass

lol
Arcelia Siebeneck
13.10.2010		Anyone have any ideas how this could be achieved? If you look at the S4, on each deck it has a 2 digit LCD display showing the current loop size. This can be changed by rotating an encoder. I'm guessing that it's possible for Traktor to output the current loop size via midi but how/what would you send this to? There's probably a way to do it using Midibox hardware but I'm looking for a cheaper/easier solution... any ideas?

One way would be to use a different LED for each loop size (1,2,4,8,16,32,etc) and then illuminate the corresponding LED when the loop size is changed... would be nice to use a 2 digit calculator style LCD though...
Kyra Ramquist
07.04.2013		I know this is an old thread, but since the same question was asked again a year ago and there still wasn't an answer, here's how you do it with Arduino or any other programmable hardware that can receive MIDI:

  1. Add an out for Loop Size Selector (under Deck Common > Loop)
  2. Assign it to a CC message (makes more sense since Note will send a note off message for 1/32)
  3. There are 11 loop sizes (1/32 to 32), so set Controller range and MIDI range to min 0 and max 10
  4. Assign to a deck of course.

Use the following array in your code:
PHP Code:
const char loopSizes[11][5] = {
  "1/32",
  "1/16",
  "1/8",
  "1/4",
  "1/2",
  "1",
  "2",
  "4",
  "8",
  "16",
  "32",
}; 
Now, whenever you receive a control change (CC) message, loopSizes[value] will return the loop size.

Edit: likewise, you can use:

  • Tempo Range Selector to display the tempo range
  • Effect X Selector to display the effects in each bank (if you hardcode the order of your effects in your controller)
  • Seek Position with the default values to for example draw a bar of where you are in the track.
Arcelia Siebeneck
04.03.2012
Originally Posted by kevz718
Milo, do u have any links to documentation on how u use lcdsmartie or any of those other lcd applets to display midi? I was never able to figure out getting midi info out to it..

I could get windows cpu percentage, etc but that dont help

And lastly, how would you even get traktor to send the loop size? Forgive me if its just an available output option.. I dont recall seeing this.

This is def one thing i wish the x1 had (a S4 loop size display)
Someone was supposed to be writing a midi dll for LCDSmartie but last time I checked it still wasn't released.

The way I got around it was to write a script in Autohotkey that receives midi from Traktor and saves it to a text file that LCDSmartie would read, in realtime. So effectively LCDSmartie was just displaying a text string from a text file (or converting a number/string from a text file into a bar chart).

I believe I explain it all better in this thread (sorry it's been awhile since I've played with this stuff!)

http://community .djranking s.com/showthread.php?t=18512
Cliff Lohman
03.03.2012		Milo, do u have any links to documentation on how u use lcdsmartie or any of those other lcd applets to display midi? I was never able to figure out getting midi info out to it..

I could get windows cpu percentage, etc but that dont help

And lastly, how would you even get traktor to send the loop size? Forgive me if its just an available output option.. I dont recall seeing this.

This is def one thing i wish the x1 had (a S4 loop size display)
Pansy Shiveley
02.03.2012		Has any progress been made on this? I'd like to incorporate an S4-like loop length LCD screen in my future Arduino project.
Williemae Trau
15.10.2010
Originally Posted by MiL0
nice idea

believe I'm just gonna use LCDSmartie with an LCD (see the VU meter link below in my sig)
haha nice.. so you decided to use MiL0's idea.....
Arcelia Siebeneck
15.10.2010		nice idea

believe I'm just gonna use LCDSmartie with an LCD (see the VU meter link below in my sig)
Graham Frazier
15.10.2010		Is it possible to map each loop size to multiple outputs??(I've never really tried)
But if it is, then you could just use some 7 segment displays, and the custom hardware of your choice, and just map each loop size to the appropriate leds on the displays.
Rebbecca Fennell
15.10.2010		that made lol

and then because i am so sick the lol was followed by a long series of wretching hacks and coughing from the liquid in my lungs
Williemae Trau
14.10.2010
Originally Posted by Unimagination
^ It's a little funny that you linked to MiL0's handiwork when suggesting possibilities to... MiL0 lol.
wow.. im an ass

lol
Adolf Hit
14.10.2010		They are 7 segment displays, you will need some processor to receive the midi, then some extra electronics to drive the display
Arcelia Siebeneck
15.10.2010		:P

so I'm guessing the LCD is done using NI custom hardware then... ah well...
Denisse Franklyn
14.10.2010		^ It's a little funny that you linked to MiL0's handiwork when suggesting possibilities to... MiL0 lol.
Williemae Trau
13.10.2010		MidiBox would definately be the way to go for this, but i guess there are a couple of other options.

1)Arduino-I don't know much about this system, but I know it's very robust. I'm sure an LCD screen could be adapted.

2) http://www.djranking s.com/community /showthread.php?t=18512 - MiL0 usees a USB LCD screen to display traktor output.

3) As you mentioned, use LED's to emulate an LCD screen

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