Reply to [BUILD LOG/HELP] FX CONTROLLER FOR TRAKTOR. Need few bro-tips.

Hey yo i'm believeing about building a fx controller for traktor as i dj with my friend and if one is trying to do fx as the other is stomping on my numark omni it becomes a bit thight there. you get the point. So yeah i wanted to make a controller for Fx and have made an layout as you can see in the picture.

So yeah it consist of 8 push knobs and 8 arcade buttons and 16 leds. As the mapping i believe i will let the push active the effect which is kinda obvious? But when you press the D/W you will turn it into a super knob and create a massive mess, which can be cool. Arcade buttons would then be for like making build ups with beatmasher like in the instant gratification mapping for the MF, like one button creates 1 bar loop, next 1/2 and so on. But enough of that shi.
Things i need help with:
What is the best "brain" to build this from? I have seen someone use a gamepad, but i have also seen things like this but that costs much more. So what is the cheapest and easiest thing to use as a brain.

Also is it harder to map push knobs than just regular knobs? And can i use every knob or do i need some special type?

[ame="http://s528.photobucket.com/albums/dd321/Kurbitur/mysetup/?action=view&current=MidiController1.jpg"]mysetup :: MidiController1.jpg picture by Kurbitur - Photobucket[/ame] here is a link to photo