Traktor S4 (copy) build log
Traktor S4 (copy) build log Posted on: 15.01.2011 by Shay Wyche Ever since the announcement of the S4 I've wondered if I could build a reasonable copy of the beast so I could use it when (if) the software is made available. Obviously this is a major task and not one to be undertaken without a lot of thought. I'm still nowhere near the starting stage yet, but here is what I've got so far.I've had a go at doing some mods before and I've had a fair bit of success with them, but I've never been happy enough to keep them. I'm hoping this is the one that I can hold on to at home for some time to come. It will have a wooden base and an acrylic plastic top. Included inside the unit will be two EKS XP10's, 1 Leo Bodnar controller, 1 X Session Pro and some PS one joypad controllers. I will also put in a powered usb hub. I already have these in my possession and everything has been bought from Ebay a lot cheaper than the retail price, some second hand, some new. In the first draft photo above, the red buttons are led lit and latching. They will be hard wired so I don't have to worry about mapping midi outs. The white buttons are arcade buttons. The silver knobs are encoders. The black/grey knobs are .... well knobs. The blue buttons are a smaller type of button that I have sourced from Ebay. Obviously I can't include everything the S4 has, but I'm hoping I can have the same basic functionality. The drawing is not to scale, just a rough guide and I don't expect the layout to stay exactly the same either. I'm hoping to complete this before the end of the year as I'm really busy with other commitments at the moment, but if I make any more progress I will post it on here. | |
| Arcelia Siebeneck 21.04.2011 |
Originally Posted by Archies'bald
well, considering i've been working on my controller for well over 6 months now, I feel like I kind of need something to spur me on a bit... nothing wrong with a bit of friendly competition is there? :P |
| Shay Wyche 21.04.2011 |
Originally Posted by MiL0
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| Arcelia Siebeneck 21.04.2011 |
Originally Posted by Archies'bald
I wonder who will finish their controller first? |
| Liz Hancey 13.11.2012 | I'm reviving this just to ask what happend... |
| Delmar Swamy 12.07.2011 | I gotta see this when it's done XD |
| Shonda Soulier 11.07.2011 | Bump. Seeing if there's a finished product yet |
| Lisa Lochotzki 17.05.2011 | Really nice use of salvaged gear. Like it! |
| Joan Kollmorgen 17.05.2011 | Nice work Archie |
| Shay Wyche 17.05.2011 | I have also de-soldered all of the pots from the X-session pro. This took a little bit of time and patience, but I'm hoping it will be all worth it in the end. I've placed this inside the mixer section on top of a couple of bits of old acrylic so it doesn't short out. I also ordered a few new buttons, only to make the controller look a bit better. A lot of the buttons have wire soldered to them too. I'm waiting on a router bit to be delivered so I can finish the performance section (jog wheels and arcade buttons), then I can move on to the mixer section. I'm not sure if I'm going to use the Leo Bodnar device now. I believe I might get away with the controls I have at my disposal if I can move them around ..... i.e take the encoders from the 1D and move them to the mixer section. If I can do this without using secondary software then I believe that would be a bonus. |
| Shay Wyche 17.05.2011 | Update. I've done a bit more and things are running to plan at the moment. I've mostly been doing some metal butchering and de-soldering, but I have managed to get some of the more fun parts done too. For instance I've put a first coat of paint on the mixer section. If anyone wants to know how to get in to the Xone 1D, then it's really simple, just take out the 4 security screws nearest the corners. Try and get the correct type of driver bit otherwise you will just mushroom the screw. I'm lucky - as an electrician I have lots of these to hand. You do not need to take off any of the pot knobs or encoder knobs etc. These are all attached to the face plate which lifts right off. Once you've got the screws out CAREFULLY lift the pcbs out of the carcass. You will find a plug going to the midi ports that you will have to disconnect. |
| Merlyn Komula 26.04.2011 | NICE can't wait for the finished product! |
| Arcelia Siebeneck 26.04.2011 | looking sweet mate |
| Shonda Soulier 26.04.2011 | looking good! |
| Shay Wyche 26.04.2011 | Got a little bit done over the weekend, mostly drilling and soldering. Silver knobs are encoders, black knobs are pots. The blue latching led button at the bottom of the jog wheel will be deck c and d on/off. Lots of buttons and knobs wired, they're just not connected to a pcb yet. |
| Arcelia Siebeneck 21.04.2011 |
Originally Posted by Archies'bald
well, considering i've been working on my controller for well over 6 months now, I feel like I kind of need something to spur me on a bit... nothing wrong with a bit of friendly competition is there? :P |
| Shay Wyche 21.04.2011 |
Originally Posted by MiL0
|
| Arcelia Siebeneck 21.04.2011 |
Originally Posted by Archies'bald
I wonder who will finish their controller first? |
| Tatum Ansaldo 21.04.2011 | how was I not already subscribed to this. |
| Random X 21.04.2011 | Dayumn! |
| Shay Wyche 21.04.2011 |
Originally Posted by Tekki
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| Random X 21.04.2011 | Wow... going for a 4D S4 hybrid? |
| Shay Wyche 20.04.2011 | |
| Shay Wyche 20.04.2011 | After re-reading that post, I must say that I'm not giving up on the controller, just the idea of building an S4 clone. I want to build something different to it now. Something I've not seen anyone do before. |
| Shay Wyche 20.04.2011 | Almost scrapped the whole idea now, even though I definitely believe it's possible to do. The reason? Well, I've thought things through and it will be easier for me to build some other kind of hybrid. Need any clues? |
| Shay Wyche 13.04.2011 | So I bought this mixer for |
| Leeanna Ayla 03.04.2011 | I agree for what you're doing a cheap router will work. I would spend a little extra to get some good bits for the router though. |
| Random X 03.04.2011 |
Originally Posted by Archies'bald
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| Maryanne Weatherill 02.04.2011 | When i read the original post i was believeing yo man just buy an s4 but since you have the parts already i can see your logic in building your own |
| Joan Kollmorgen 02.04.2011 | You should be fine with a router from Screwfix or Homebase. You dont need to spend loads of cash for what you're wanting to do. I believe Screwfix do some router cutter sets too. |
| Shay Wyche 02.04.2011 | Thanks man. I noticed a few on sale for |
| Joan Kollmorgen 02.04.2011 | Definitely get yourself a router. They cut acrylic like it's butter and finish is excellent. I bought a 3mm router bit the other week for cutting out slots for faders. If you make a few jigs it makes repeat cuts so much easier I have a jig for faders and a 4 x 4 jig for arcade buttons. Takes me about 3 minutes to cut 16 holes for arcade buttons that are perfect every time. |
| Shay Wyche 02.04.2011 | And I will have the added bonus of using the 30 arcade buttons I have. Yay! |
| Shay Wyche 02.04.2011 |
Originally Posted by Tekki
Most of the parts I need I have lying around doing nothing (EKS, X Session, Faders, Pots, encoders). All stuff from previous builds. In reality building this will cot me about |
| Random X 02.04.2011 | Ever considered using the X Sessions Pro next to a Reloop Contour IE and a Reloop Contour CE? |
| Shay Wyche 02.04.2011 | Just another little update. I've been believeing about this a lot and there are several problems that I have to fix before I go any further. Slotting holes in acrylic or metal is a major pain in the ass. The solution I have come up with is to buy a second hand mixer from Ebay with the kind of layout I want. I will then bastardise it and make it fit for my purposes. cheap mixer. I like the look of this simple mixer because it has a lot of knobs on it for each channel and it has a master output too. A cross fader is also handy and it's approximate size is what I need. Even if I only use the faceplate from it, it will be worth the cost. The frame was also something that was bothering me. The whole unit was going to be enormous, so I believe I will have to make the controller higher than first thought, so I can fit all the pcb's in. I believe the unit will now be around the height of a normal Pioneer mixer. This means I will be able to cross the boards over inside the unit without touching because they will be at separate heights. Jog wheels and arcade buttons were also giving me headaches because I bought 5mm acrylic. This means housing all the pots, encoders and jog wheels were going to be difficult. The only way I can see round this is to make some of the sections in 3mm acrylic and others in 5mm. I might buy a router and lay separate acrylic sheets in to the wooden frame. The layout has changed enormously form the original drawing (as I said it would) and I still don't know if I am going to make it in one full unit or 3 separate ones. I have an idea for connecting individual decks up with a D-Sub cable. That would be 24 wires and a zero volt line. I could use that cable for encoders and pots. I'm rambling now because I'm a little tipsy...... |
| Jacque Divinity 23.01.2011 | i believe it'll turn out great.. especially with arcade buttons instead of the little buttons on the s4's sample banks. |
| Shay Wyche 23.01.2011 | Now here's a list of what I'm going to need to buy... More encoders - Ebay |
| Shay Wyche 23.01.2011 | OK here's a list of the parts I have lying around or already rigged up in one of my previous controllers. I've put a brief description of what each has to offer. All costs include delivery, I've put in a link where I can. 2 x Eks xp 10's - Touch sensitive jog wheel, pitch control and 22 buttons. (Ebay under |
| Keely Jurik 18.01.2011 | Thanks guys! Yeah it's been a long time coming, just starting to pick it up again, but I have to do some serious routing. The PCBs are all built up though and my homemade stuff is all ready. I'll post some images/videos when it's done. Good luck man, I'm sure you'll love it Monsta |
| Shay Wyche 17.01.2011 | Thanks for the warning Monsta, I totally agree with the sentiment of your post. The thing is I have all these parts lying around from previous projects and they're not getting used, so it seems a waste just to leave them gathering dust. As I said I'm in no hurry to complete this - the end of the year will be just fine - and I too enjoy playing around with the hardware just as much as I do DJing. This will be used only at home - I haven't played out anywhere for some years - and I see this as a bit of an expensive hobby for me. I will put down a parts list as I go and let people know how much I paid for everything. Your project looks much more advanced than anything I've done, I like it a lot. |
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