* Build Log * DIY Controllers (gamepad PCB)
* Build Log * DIY Controllers (gamepad PCB) Posted on: 02.10.2010 by Wava Egizi Hi everyone!I have finally bought some material for my up and coming controller project! I already own a Kontrol X1 that I love, but I also love DIY controllers. So why not build two controllers that have the same dimensions as the X1 to have on each side of it? As a cheap solution I will use two USB gamepad PCBs! Each gamepad cost about $18 and will give me the following: 4 analog inputs for sliders/knobs 12 (maybe 14) digital inputs for buttons That is quite what I need for some fun play! The size of my controllers are the same as the X1: 120x29mm As a nice detail and addition I will add LEDs to all the buttons. When a button is pushed, the buttons LED will light up! Not as nice as MIDI controlled LEDs, but it will do As seen on the attached image I will be using two different designs. Functions as followed: LEFT CONTROLLER: 1 crossfader 2 volume faders (the far left, and far right faders) 1 fader with, until now, planned function 12 buttons for cue points, and other basic functions. Maybe some effects. I believe that I am satisfied with the left controllers layout. I believe it has the most basic functions I need: crossfader and volume faders. I like the 3x3 button layout more than 4x4. 3x3 takes less space, and somehow feels better to play with... For the right controller I'm not as sure... On the attached image there is 2 faders and 2 knobs on it. I added some knobs instead of faders, because the left controller doesn't have any. But I'm not sure... How do you believe I should layout my right controller? A jogwheel would be SO nice, but the budget does not accept it / Oskar | |
| Ralph Alderette 15.11.2010 |
Originally Posted by Ashigari
doesn't anyone read anymore? ive been seeing comments like this all day. |
| Patty Mcgilbra 15.11.2010 | very nice controller! now i need to build one as well, doesnt sound too difficult did you buy all the electronics from ebay or somwhere else? what kind of usb gamepad should i get, just some regular ps2 one? |
| Enrique Silversmith 15.11.2010 |
Originally Posted by DigitalManipulation
get a cheap ebay usb gamepad 20 buttons and 4 fadders or 4 knobs or any of that combination equaling to 4 i can only figure out 16 buttons as of now but from what i understand up-right up-left down-right down-left are the other 4 "buttons" u can set. but this is like a shift function u have to old down ur up button u have assaigned while u press the right or left etc so u will have 16 physical buttons but 20 functions....... (i believe) please correct me if im wrong im still learning this too and building up funds to do a picture walkthrough build. for keyboard mapping u will only need xpadder. the older versions of xpadder is free. or you can just buy it. its totally worth it. in xpadder ull choose a skin that comes with the program that looks like the gamepad u own and its stupid easy to assign buttons. after thats assigned go into traktor into keyboard mapping and ur gold keyboad mapping dosnt let u use the full functionality of the faders or knobs. its either on off kind of an idea with the keyboard mapping. u wont get the accurate control of the faders or knobs then if u wanted to use the knobs and faders properly ull have to convert the hid (human interface device, how windows picks up the gamepad) to midi like stated above glovpie is popular havent had the time to play around with it but it sounds and looks promising. |
| Enrique Silversmith 15.11.2010 | are u in the states? can u walk? 24x48 inch sheet is like $20 at homedepo |
| Margo Gilb 14.11.2010 | I would recommend going to a diy-store (Target-Market?) or something like this. There you will get acrylics. But for a beginner it could be helpful to search for leftovers or defective goods at Ebay. With this packages you can experience working with such material. We have a few companies (Germany) which sell cartons full of acrylic pieces for a few bucks at ebay for diy projects. for example: http://cgi.ebay.de/Plexiglas-Lexan-B...item230b9acca7 |
| Dillon Paganini 15.11.2010 | Yea dude thanks, the faders would be solder to the analog stick on the game pad right? now all i need to know is where to get these acrylics. cant find any on the web! |
| Graham Frazier 15.11.2010 | I'll help you out man. On the controller i posted on your other post(the one that looks like a PS2 controller), you can have up to 4 faders and 16 buttons. For the HID to Midi conversion, there are several software options but i know that glovepie is pretty popular. The conversion wouldn't be necessary if you didn't need the faders, because buttons can be mapped to key presses, however a fader uses a slightly more complex signal so a converter software is needed. Hope this helps. |
| Dillon Paganini 15.11.2010 | actually I have searched a lot of it but somethings I find myself in loops. whats wrong with asking someone who has a similar layout to what you want? Isn't this a community and a build log so people can re create their own version? thanks for the tip but that was hardly any help to what i asked and somewhat rude for no reason |
| Margo Gilb 14.11.2010 | I will drop a clue: HID - Midi converter... just SEARCH for it |
| Dillon Paganini 13.11.2010 | hey oskars mind if I ask some questions? I wanna make a midi controller and I was wondering where you got your stuff for the case (spacers and all that). Also what is the max buttons and faders i could get from a game pad? Also did you have to program anything or does it just recognize as a usb controller and you just map it in traktor? |
| Korey Quines 10.11.2010 | Looking awesome! Cant wait for the Traktor video. (Greetings from a fellow Stockholmer) |
| Wava Egizi 05.11.2010 | Thanks everyone! The switches are not so hard to get to! They will be used as a modifier for the faders I believe. |
| Vernie Beharry 04.11.2010 | :eek: . . . . . . AWESOME! Great Job, Oskars! Can't wait to see it working with Tracktor!!! |
| Gilma Marchini 04.11.2010 | That's hot. |
| Clay Lorow 04.11.2010 | Gr8 stuff!!! Just one thing, I wouldn't put those switches between faders in their topmost and bottommost positions. Harder to get to them. |
| Enrique Silversmith 04.11.2010 | sick!! |
| Wava Egizi 04.11.2010 | Thanks for all your kind words! Don't know which gamepad it is... Just some standard noname gamepad! Trying...to...up...date....but...time......time... .I...need...time..... BUT HEY! It's finished! Check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc_e765ibqU I will soon make a video of it in action with Traktor Pro! |
| Ralph Alderette 28.10.2010 | awesome job! can't wait to see the final product! |
| Shonda Soulier 28.10.2010 |
Originally Posted by oskars
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| Enrique Silversmith 28.10.2010 | need updates come one man build build build i want to see this!! amazing job though! |
| Vernie Beharry 20.10.2010 | Oskars. . .I've been keeping an eye on this for while now. I can't WAIT to start on my own project. . . Can't wait to see some video when its working with TSP! |
| Wava Egizi 20.10.2010 | Aprox. cost: Sanwa buttons: $2,3 * 15 Black acrylic: $7 MDF bottom plate: |
| Rolanda Clodfelder 19.10.2010 | Sweet looking controller dude ! pity you didnt go for penny & giles faders though hehe ... Might have upped the price just a "little" bit though What did the build cost you in total ? |
| Ninfa Larranaga 19.10.2010 | ^ nice work! |
| Wava Egizi 19.10.2010 |
Originally Posted by MiL0
Thanks everyone for your kind words! Another (small) photo update! I have cut out the base plate! Looking good I will paint it black! Doing some solder job I'm not such a good solderer... But it will work |
| Denisse Franklyn 15.10.2010 | Amazing! So clean. |
| Irwin Ney 15.10.2010 | congrats! I've really liked |
| Vernie Beharry 14.10.2010 | Looking good Oskars! Looking REALLY good! |
| Shay Wyche 14.10.2010 | I bought Alps faders from Ebay, they're pretty good quality but cost about 6 quid a pop. |
| Edmond Batta 14.10.2010 | @oskars: Just a note when sanding those. Make sure you use a block when sanding otherwise it won't be uniform and will be wavy @MiL0: Check out alps faders. High quality stuff |
| Arcelia Siebeneck 14.10.2010 | ah cool - I might buy a few different types of faders before I choose one then... I'm in the UK by the way... I'm looking to get a piece of 2mm thick metal (aluminium/steel/zintec?) laser cut... dimensions would be roughly 800x500mm.. no complex shapes (just squares and circles)... I'm just preparing a sketch in photoshop at the moment. |
| Wava Egizi 14.10.2010 | The faders are OKEY. Didn't spend so much time searching for good faders... I would suggest some other brands... but they are allright. Quiet stable faders. The LEDs will light up when the button/s are pushed. So I just solder some resistors to the LEDs and connect the LEDs between GND and 5V from the USB. I'm in Stockholm, Sweden. But maybe I could help you with laser cuttings. What material? PM me if you're intrested. |
| Arcelia Siebeneck 14.10.2010 | that's looking really nice man couple of questions... where did you get the faders from? how do they feel? recommend them? and how are you gonna light up the LED's? the usb gamepad won't have LED outputs on it so I'm guessing they'll light up when you trigger the arcade buttons (and not via midi). also, would you do some laser cutting for other people? would be willing to pay of course! |
| Tatum Ansaldo 14.10.2010 | looking awesome mate! |
| Wava Egizi 14.10.2010 | Whops! Got some Sanwa OBSF-30 today! I LOVE THEM! But this do-it-yourself-thing is tearing me! All these decisions! Haha! What color combinations should I have? Please help me with the colors... Should I have them one-color-by-row, or any other combination? It'd be easy if I knew how I would map it, but I don't Well, here's a photo update for all you photo freaks (including me)! Got this lovely knobs from Ebay yesterday: Testing some color combinations: Nice faders Some setup pics: |
| Wava Egizi 13.10.2010 |
Originally Posted by faeruithir
Wobble = Not cool! |
| Susann Blachford 13.10.2010 | Hey man, If i see correctly, it looks like you have four supports only (one in each corner). Knowing acrylic, and your controller being long, the faceplate will most likely either wobble or snap under the pressure of extended button pushing. Might wanna reinforce it in the middle! Just a heads up! |
| Wava Egizi 13.10.2010 |
Originally Posted by DJ Asand
Originally Posted by cabdoctor
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| Buster Kiper 13.10.2010 | Looks awesome! Did you have your plastic professionally cut or do it your self? |
| Ralph Alderette 14.10.2010 | awesome. how did you find out how many inputs it takes, by the way?? and what about outputs? did you just open it up and look at the "terminals" or something? |
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