diy controller

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diy controller
Posted on: 27.12.2012 by Lori Altmiller
So I've seen loads of people have made these so I want in on the action.
How do I do it lol. If I use a pc controller can I set up say 16 buttons and a pot like midi fighter.
Or could I even use one of these?

Check out this item I found on eBay: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=370719132553
Xenia Gorin
12.01.2013		@Stewe,

How easy are these buttons, http://shop.lividinstruments.com/4x1-omni-keypads/ to hook up? Also can these be used with the Teensy board?
Awilda Boggie
12.01.2013		ok thank you for your help

I really appreciate it!


Edit: I also was wondering let's suppose I'd use black buttons with transparent rim,

(how) would it be possible to let them 'shine' with different colours?

Edit2: That makes teensy cost +- 41 (with shipping), the livid brain jr = 49$.

Is it worth going for the teensy?
Caridad Fan
12.01.2013
Originally Posted by 32Digits
would you recommend with or without pins?
Since you're a newbie, stick to with pins and breadboard of course.
Awilda Boggie
12.01.2013
Originally Posted by Joel Santos
That's about the same. There aren't different ways of soldering stuff ehehe. Just youtube it.
would you recommend with or without pins?
Caridad Fan
12.01.2013		That's about the same. There aren't different ways of soldering stuff ehehe. Just youtube it.
Awilda Boggie
12.01.2013
Originally Posted by Joel Santos
It's really different. First: costs the double. Second: from what I know, you're limited to the number of pins you have on the livid brain and on teensy, since you can code on it, you can matrix or shift register. Third: Since you can code on Teensy you can (with good code) have better latency results (although the differences won't be that big, you won't notice)
These are the differences from what I know
But I mean in terms of connecting the wires (also isn't it better to solder te wires?)
is it harder?
Caridad Fan
12.01.2013
Originally Posted by 32Digits
wow that's really easy :O

but what's so different with teensy? doesn't it also have like the same type of inputs? to connect your buttons?
It's really different. First: costs the double. Second: from what I know, you're limited to the number of pins you have on the livid brain and on teensy, since you can code on it, you can matrix or shift register. Third: Since you can code on Teensy you can (with good code) have better latency results (although the differences won't be that big, you won't notice)

These are the differences from what I know
Awilda Boggie
12.01.2013
Originally Posted by Stewe
Check this vid for Livid Brain jr:

wow that's really easy :O

but what's so different with teensy? doesn't it also have like the same type of inputs? to connect your buttons?
Awilda Boggie
12.01.2013		I know 3rd party software sucks

I taped 4 buzz controllers with to each other and "mapped" the 16buttons with a converter.

But It's annoying because i use a mac and pc and when switching I have to try another software +
there is junxion which is easy but limited to 2h, and I don't want to pay 60euro's for converter software.
Kellie Myrum
12.01.2013		Check this vid for Livid Brain jr:

Caridad Fan
12.01.2013		If you want already made solutions, livid ones seems to me the best to do direct midi. You don't have much more solutions unless you have a software that converts HID to MIDI and well... that sucks. Otherwise you'll have to code with a microprocessor and the best solutions for that are arduino and teensy being teensy the best for MIDI since it makes direct MIDI to USB.
Awilda Boggie
12.01.2013		Whats the big diff between brain jr and teensy?
Kellie Myrum
12.01.2013		I believe that Omniboard supports only four arcade buttons so you might need to connect four boards or to get Brain jr and connect arcades directly, it also support LED feedback (monochrome and RGB).
Awilda Boggie
12.01.2013		I also wonder, are there other boards like midifighter one. Where you just click buttons on?
I know livid has something alike tho you would need to attach that to a brain right? Omniboard i believe
Awilda Boggie
12.01.2013		The only "coding" i ever did was copy and paste commands and sometimes adjust numbers

about the led yeah nothing spectacular; what would you do?
Caridad Fan
12.01.2013
Originally Posted by 32Digits
Hey there!

I'm also interested in building a direct USB-Midi without 3rd party software

(currently I taped 4 playstation buzz controllers to each other and I converted HID-Midi)
-> I have tho a problem with multicontrol for mac, windows works fine with rejoice, but I can't seem to find noteon/off it's only noteout, if someone could help me with this?

Anyway,

I was also interested in building a diy controller (with teensy++ 2.0)
I can get the OBSF-pushbuttons really cheap but shipping takes long. (even found pushbuttons without brand for 0.19$ excl. shipping fee)

so what I wanted to ask is the following: is it possible to have a look-a-like of the midifighter classic, but

5x4buttons + whenever you push 1 button, 1 led will light up. (with teensy++ 2.0 without pins)

And is the coding of teensy hard? I mean I have no clue about coding, but I learn fast.

thanks in advance.
If the idea is to get one LED to light up when you press a button, it's even simple than most of the things we're trying to achieve here. You don't even need the ++ but with the ++ you won't need to do any kind of matrix which will simplify the code very much.

About the code being hard... it really depends. Do you have any experience with code? At all? What about electronics? Any experience?
The thing you want to do is pretty simple. I still would recommend to follow the tutorials on the teensy website and even some arduino ones. So you get used to the way of the code and understand why the basics are this way.
Awilda Boggie
12.01.2013		Hey there!

I'm also interested in building a direct USB-Midi without 3rd party software

(currently I taped 4 playstation buzz controllers to each other and I converted HID-Midi)
-> I have tho a problem with multicontrol for mac, windows works fine with rejoice, but I can't seem to find noteon/off it's only noteout, if someone could help me with this?

Anyway,

I was also interested in building a diy controller (with teensy++ 2.0)
I can get the OBSF-pushbuttons really cheap but shipping takes long. (even found pushbuttons without brand for 0.19$ excl. shipping fee)

so what I wanted to ask is the following: is it possible to have a look-a-like of the midifighter classic, but

5x4buttons + whenever you push 1 button, 1 led will light up. (with teensy++ 2.0 without pins)

And is the coding of teensy hard? I mean I have no clue about coding, but I learn fast.

thanks in advance.
Kellie Myrum
10.01.2013		Anytimes!
Xenia Gorin
10.01.2013		Nice!! Thanks bro!
Kellie Myrum
10.01.2013
Originally Posted by soundinsurgent712
@Stewe, can you post a link to the pads. I just bought a bunch of arcade buttons but I'd rather use other buttons.
Here is the link to their builder DIY section. Plenty of cool items there:

http://shop.lividinstruments.com/builder-diy/
Xenia Gorin
10.01.2013		@Stewe, can you post a link to the pads. I just bought a bunch of arcade buttons but I'd rather use other buttons.
Caridad Fan
10.01.2013
Originally Posted by Stewe
I agree, this keypads and spacers ain't cheap but I love the feel on them and don't want to go for arcades in this project. And rotary pots are metal and one of the best for price - 1.99$, great feel!
well... on that you have a point. i guess that if the shipment was cheap for portugal I would use some of their items but... not the brain but that's because i already know how to use teensy ehhe.
Kellie Myrum
10.01.2013
Originally Posted by Joel Santos
Seems to me a little pricey.
I agree, this keypads and spacers ain't cheap but I love the feel on them and don't want to go for arcades in this project. And rotary pots are metal and one of the best for price - 1.99$, great feel!
Caridad Fan
10.01.2013
Originally Posted by Stewe
Want to keep simple as that. No additional functionality, just one layer to map some of effects settings from my main mapping to always have them available on the fly and without need for changing bank/page selection. New Livid brain junior seems pretty cool for this - it has 16 analog and 16 digital (LED) and it's already available in their store for 49 US. I'm very pleased with their components so I'll go for pots and pads as well, should be around 110 bucks total.

Looking forward to see where you're at
Seems to me a little pricey.

Let's see if i do it today (the 3D). Items are coming from China already to make it really happen. Design decided!
Kellie Myrum
10.01.2013
Originally Posted by Joel Santos
That doesn't seem to hard! Mapping may be but I guess you won't have problems on that department ehehe.
Want to keep simple as that. No additional functionality, just one layer to map some of effects settings from my main mapping to always have them available on the fly and without need for changing bank/page selection. New Livid brain junior seems pretty cool for this - it has 16 analog and 16 digital (LED) and it's already available in their store for 49 US. I'm very pleased with their components so I'll go for pots and pads as well, should be around 110 bucks total.

My controller is already on the PCB. Today I'll try and do the 3D of it.
Looking forward to see where you're at
Caridad Fan
10.01.2013		That doesn't seem to hard! Mapping may be but I guess you won't have problems on that department ehehe.

My controller is already on the PCB. Today I'll try and do the 3D of it.
Kellie Myrum
10.01.2013		My next project

Janyce Henningson
07.01.2013
Originally Posted by ssp
I am currently finishing a prototype traktor controller which is a direct interface replica of the software, for this i have used the midi box system using the new NG system.

I have been building midi box stuff for years, the last thing i built was the only fully working replica controller of the MOTU BPM soft drum machine.

here is the finished unit.



I designed the whole thing from the ground up and used the midi box as the brain using midibox mios as the main software. the controller has a built in editor system so i do not need a pc editor and also has a small storage chip to hold different setups i can merge from one to the other in realtime.

The new project the Midibox ng has even more functionality why not take a look at that as a possibility? here is the link: http://www.ucapps.de/midibox_ng.html
That is very nice
Caridad Fan
08.01.2013		http://community .djranking s.com/showthr...t=64970&page=8

So... here is the new layout for the new controller i'm wondering about.
Xenia Gorin
07.01.2013
Originally Posted by synthet1c
If I were you huey I'd get a novation zero mk11 and hack it up.. It's got led ring encoders enough analogue for 4 channels on the mixer.. And already has firmware and software so no programming is needed

Attachment 14681
I have looked at one of those in the past , might have to revisit it. This is mostly something to do with my son, but i figure if were gonna do it might as well put some effort into it, lol!!
Caridad Fan
07.01.2013
Originally Posted by synthet1c
If I were you huey I'd get a novation zero mk11 and hack it up.. It's got led ring encoders enough analogue for 4 channels on the mixer.. And already has firmware and software so no programming is needed

Attachment 14681
Where is the fun in that? :P
Jonathan Chiuchiolo
07.01.2013		If I were you huey I'd get a novation zero mk11 and hack it up.. It's got led ring encoders enough analogue for 4 channels on the mixer.. And already has firmware and software so no programming is needed

40978-novation-zero-sl-mk-ii--large.jpg
Caridad Fan
06.01.2013
Originally Posted by ssp
Yes the community is full of information, best thing is, its all free also goto ucapps.de for all the info on the midibox project.

How will i build the casework? well the first thing i do is sketch a rough in my design pads of what i am looking for etc, just rough drawings. Then i need to source components and thier schematics for size and dimentions. By getting these things at the beginning i can then plan the amount of space i will need for the controls to work ergonomically.

I work on a standard 2.54mm pcb layout and then position everything i need in the plan and transfer the necessary holes and cutouts to my solidworks model, also remembering to add tolerances from the manufacturers specification and also the tolerance of powder coating. This means if i need a 7mm hole for a switch cap to poke through i would allow 7.05mm this is the +.5 that the manuf specifys, then i check with the powder coaters what thier tolerance is and say its 1mm i then add that to the cut out needed, the hole now becomes 8.05mm with the tolerances being taken up.

With solidowrks i can create the pcb with the parts, create the casework and all cutouts ready for transferring to a cnc or laser cutting machine and former.

Another option are pre made abs cases there are many on the net to choose from, i used a standard of the shelf okw abs case for my midi machine controller i built:http://midibox.org/community s/topic/1369...l-unit-of-ssp/
100_3365.jpg
100_3372.jpg
I'll check the community . I'm using a teensy to make the MIDI. Casework it's been kind of a "what will I do to make it easier for me?". The same with components (because of the price).

Damn that looks pretty neat. Do you have skype or something easier to talk?
Tangela Jibril
06.01.2013
Originally Posted by Joel Santos
pretty awesome ssd. I'm also starting to build some controllers and stuff. Good one. Is that community any good?

by the way... how the hell are you going to build that case? insane!

Yes the community is full of information, best thing is, its all free also goto ucapps.de for all the info on the midibox project.

How will i build the casework? well the first thing i do is sketch a rough in my design pads of what i am looking for etc, just rough drawings. Then i need to source components and thier schematics for size and dimentions. By getting these things at the beginning i can then plan the amount of space i will need for the controls to work ergonomically.

I work on a standard 2.54mm pcb layout and then position everything i need in the plan and transfer the necessary holes and cutouts to my solidworks model, also remembering to add tolerances from the manufacturers specification and also the tolerance of powder coating. This means if i need a 7mm hole for a switch cap to poke through i would allow 7.05mm this is the +.5 that the manuf specifys, then i check with the powder coaters what thier tolerance is and say its 1mm i then add that to the cut out needed, the hole now becomes 8.05mm with the tolerances being taken up.

With solidowrks i can create the pcb with the parts, create the casework and all cutouts ready for transferring to a cnc or laser cutting machine and former.

Another option are pre made abs cases there are many on the net to choose from, i used a standard of the shelf okw abs case for my midi machine controller i built:http://midibox.org/community s/topic/1369...l-unit-of-ssp/
100_3365.jpg
100_3372.jpg
Caridad Fan
06.01.2013		pretty awesome ssd. I'm also starting to build some controllers and stuff. Good one. Is that community any good?

by the way... how the hell are you going to build that case? insane!
Tatum Ansaldo
06.01.2013		Yeh I'd like to see more of those projects.
Tangela Jibril
06.01.2013
Originally Posted by fullenglishpint
Bloody hell ssp, you built that? That's plain awesome!
yea thanks, it took a few months to do, i use solidworks all the time for prototyping, since doing that controller i i have a lot of projects on the go. here is the midibox thread. http://midibox.org/community s/topic/1273...tu#entry120993

I have a custom set of controllers i am working on which are basically similar to the pioneer cdj systems however they are simply controllers, yes i know i can just buy them but its the challenge of building them that i love. I have built a few things now and enjoyed everything i built and using it.

Also i am building a direct traktor interface replica controller and my own version of the F1 controller also. I like my replica controllers to be a precise copy of what you see on the screen, so bar the displays it will be an accurate replica controller.

I will put up some pictures of the controller this week to show where i am on the design at the moment.
Tatum Ansaldo
06.01.2013		Bloody hell ssp, you built that? That's plain awesome!
Caridad Fan
06.01.2013		Well. I still don't get it i've to see it working
Lori Altmiller
06.01.2013
Originally Posted by Joel Santos
I didn't understand the first question.

About the second one... yeah i've tried it. I don't like touch for these kind of things. I like analogue.
1st question meaning, 16 buttons each controls 1 slot from the remix deck. onnly the f1 and the midifighter can do this afaik

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