Want a custom controller???
Want a custom controller??? Posted on: 09.06.2009 by Graham Frazier When i am finished with the 3... yes 3 controllers i am building right now, i have decided to give back to the community
that has helped and inspired me so much.So sometime around the end of the summer, maybe sooner, i will be offering my services to the good people here. Just tell me the design/features you want and i'll use my ample free time to construct a high quality midi controller, custom built for you. The cost will be: cost of parts, shipping, and a very small charge for my time and effort. The rewards: a top notch custom controller for you, and the chance for me to work on new ideas beyond my own, and build up my portfolio. Start coming up with ideas/layouts, and you could have your custom controller by this fall, maybe sooner. | |
| Adolf Hit 11.06.2009 | rather than one knob/ lcd per channel you would want to make it in modular groups of controls. eg a rack of four knobs and 5 buttons - FX a line of 5 center detent pots - eq's even though in terms of over all layout and control focus every body wants something a little different to the next guy, the same paradigms (ouch i said that?) hold true when you look at the arrangment of functional groups of controls for the bread n butter of mixing controls. To acheive a modular design the best approach is to use a central higher spec processor to handle the USB and act as a host to all the modules, the modules would be fitted with slower low spec (cheap ) micro controllers and be connected serially via either an SPI or I^2C bus. Each module would have a unique address so it knows which packets are meant for it, and an identifying code which lets the host controller identify its type. To design a system like that is no small feat if you want it to work well, though in saying that it is by no means out of the reach of hobbyists with a reasonable skill set. |
| Breana Singerman 11.06.2009 | it doesn't have to be modular, it can be set like that. I just liked how they had it so you can design your own controller. There are somethings that can be taken away and so on as I don't need some of them. Obviously if you do start making it I have a few more idea's I'd like to include and so. |
| Hamza Ishaq 11.06.2009 |
Originally Posted by Str8upDrew
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| Graham Frazier 11.06.2009 | We might be able to come up with something.... Semi-modular you say... I don't know though, my original idea was do make these so people could have a custom layout/design to fit their playing style. When modules get involved everything is already in a pseudo-fixed position, and that takes away the personal feel. But, i may be wrong, people might not care about a personal feel, as long as the function is there??? |
| Hamza Ishaq 11.06.2009 | he he, I know. And super expensive. It was more intended as a starting point for the community. As you seem to have the experience and kindly offered your services, I was believeing maybe we all could come up with some kind of semi-modular design which would work for most people. If the design and the software would then be open-source, it could be used by many people here to build their dream controller... or you sell the modules??? dunno, if we all can come up with a good design, maybe a donation pool could be arranged and the prototype development financed from that... then see what's next... Just believeing out loud. Have you seen xndr's modules at http://www.machinecollective.org ? (Also check his flickr page). His prototyping modules come close to what I envisioned, but lack the LCD feedback. And I prefer long strip-modules than square-modules. Think it's more flexible. Anyway, some good designs on his site, also on the enclosures. |
| Graham Frazier 11.06.2009 | If you want it, it can be done. Just to let you know though, it's going to take a long time to build all of those modules and getting them all to work together. |
| Graham Frazier 11.06.2009 | Speaking of screen-key's... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWkjtnd367Q I want one... |
| Hamza Ishaq 11.06.2009 | As much fun as it would be, the little LCDs aren't LCD-buttons, cause a single screenkey goes for 30-50 |
| Graham Frazier 11.06.2009 |
Originally Posted by Nephew
-Do you want the small lcd's to be color or will gray/green scale do? -Would you like the computer to be integrated? -Would you want to keep it modular for the possibility of adding future controls? -Rotary encoders or standard pots? -Any led rings or bars? |
| Graham Frazier 11.06.2009 | -milo My digital camera is busted, don't know what the problem is, i probably could fix it, but its old so i'm going to just get a new one. As soon as i get it i will post pics of my current projects. -MisterMoleyMole It all depends on what you need, some good starting points are the hale-32, the leo bodnar HID (not midi), the arduino (capable of quite a bit), and the midi box, just a few suggestions. -cmcpress I do use the midibox for some projects, i haven't tried a stm32 core yet but i really want to soon. The 32 is interchangeable with the older core, so i plan on swapping it out with my 1st midi box project that i haven't used in years. -the modular controller Looks like quite a build, Those lcd buttons can get really expensive, if they just want little lcd screens it would be cheaper, but the lcd buttons would be more fun, a 12" touch lcd can be costly too. This would take a lot of time for design and coding. I haven't got any experience with OSC, but i've heard its pretty easy. On a controller like this i would probably want to take away the laptop all together. Put the computer end of this inside the 12" lcd case. Making it modular would be a nice challenge. Trying to conceal all of the cables in the case would be a bitch. Maybe add a keyboard module, the have you could have a custom Openlabs Neko style thing going on. It could be done, but in all honesty, i don't know if it would be a good idea for me to get into a module based system. But on the other hand.... you just got the gears going...... to the drawing board..... for a module based system of my own design. (nothing as extravagant as seen above) but my system wont cost thousands of dollars like i foresee that build costing. |
| Breana Singerman 10.06.2009 | Little something I whipped up, but instead of 8 channels I would want 10 |
| Diogo Ribeiro 10.06.2009 | i have some awesome ideas for controllers. Would you be using midibox? |
| Breana Singerman 10.06.2009 | I'm liking where this is going |
| Hamza Ishaq 10.06.2009 | this one's gonna be a challenge :eek: :eek: http://www.djcommunity s.com/community s/showp...6&postcount=19 It's a modular design, but here's an example layout. Originally designed for a stanton contest on djcommunity s, |
| Hamza Ishaq 10.06.2009 | yeah, would like to see your previous controllers as well |
| Doug Bieling 10.06.2009 | Hi There, Any chance you could answer my question i posted a while back re a custome midi controller? What is it i need to start building a controller. I take it its soem sort of central midi unit that all my buttons and faders connect to. What is it called , where can i get one from ? Any information greatly apprecited. I have an old mixer that i am considering modding to become a midi controller. Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeers Gav |
| Breana Singerman 10.06.2009 | Yeah, curious to see the quality of you're work. I'm very interested in doing this as I have some idea's floating around and would love to get them made out. Cheers! |
| Arcelia Siebeneck 10.06.2009 | can we see some pictures/links of the 3 custom controllers you've already done? |
| Cristian Carmona 09.06.2009 | ok...to the drawing board! |
| Graham Frazier 09.06.2009 | Draw it up, i'll work it out. Feel free to make any changes you would like, the possibilities are endless. You just gotta write you own .tks/.tsi, that takes way too much time. |
| Cristian Carmona 09.06.2009 | something along those lines would be nice. I carry a huge flight case for my vci, so size is not a problem |
| Graham Frazier 09.06.2009 | Like the vestax tr-1 http://www.vestax-dj.de/products/end...hno=1&art=1710 Or i could make something, but i seriously doubt i could get it to be that thin. |
| Cristian Carmona 09.06.2009 | i would like a vci-100 w/out the jog wheels (wishful believeing, I know) |
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