*BUILD LOG* 'CDJ 2000'-style DIY Traktor controller

Home :: Reviews of DJ equipment :: *BUILD LOG* 'CDJ 2000'-style DIY Traktor controllerReply
*BUILD LOG* 'CDJ 2000'-style DIY Traktor controller
Posted on: 14.10.2010 by Arcelia Siebeneck
Just in the design stages at the moment but I'm pretty excited by this controller concept... believe it's pretty unique and is a good compromise between a performance 'midi-fighter-esque' controller and a more traditional CDJ/mixer combo. See what you believe:



The screen is a 7" USB screen by Samsung (model U70) and is the most expensive part (about
Arcelia Siebeneck
10.12.2010
Originally Posted by jdog667jkt
how's this going?
it's on hold until the new year - currently saving up for a holiday in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok... going in a few weeks (for about a month).

once I get back I'll have some more money and should be able to finish it... I don't want this project to become another one of those half-started, never finished ideas that you sometimes see on here (was on two minds about even starting this thread)... it will almost certainly get finished!

oskars - very interesting... you have the know how to program the arduino?
Random X
10.12.2010		Cool!
Wava Egizi
09.12.2010		Naah... well... yes... Some problems in JunXion with the hatswitch. And Arduino seems more reliable and gives more to play with... I will post my adventures later
Joan Kollmorgen
09.12.2010
I plan to exchange my gamepad PCB with a Arduino Mega to controll both my controllers!
Why? Did you run into some problems with the game pads?
Wava Egizi
09.12.2010
Originally Posted by MiL0
this is the thing.... I'd love to go with a midibox or Arduino implementation but my programming skills aren't up to scratch. Now, if there was a way to buy an Arduino and the Mux Shield, wire them together and download an existing bit of Arduino code that automatically assigns all the inputs on the Mux to midi outputs on the Arduino then I'd definitely go for it.

edit: perhaps it could be combined with this: http://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/cata...roducts_id=492

skenderbeg - totally agree with you about the paradigm for a dj setup... much prefer using the house mixer (but good to have midi channel controls on each 'cdj' just in case).
I plan to exchange my gamepad PCB with a Arduino Mega to controll both my controllers!
Leonarda Javorek
09.12.2010		how's this going?
DJ MENSAH
27.11.2010		I loved the fact that I was able to program some complicated logic into my MIDIBOX.
For example, that way I was able to implement Shuttle (outer ring) and not just the jog dial form a re-purposed CD player jog-shuttle.
Marlena Mouer
26.11.2010
Originally Posted by MiL0
this is the thing.... I'd love to go with a midibox or Arduino implementation but my programming skills aren't up to scratch. Now, if there was a way to buy an Arduino and the Mux Shield, wire them together and download an existing bit of Arduino code that automatically assigns all the inputs on the Mux to midi outputs on the Arduino then I'd definitely go for it.

edit: perhaps it could be combined with this: http://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/cata...roducts_id=492

skenderbeg - totally agree with you about the paradigm for a dj setup... much prefer using the house mixer (but good to have midi channel controls on each 'cdj' just in case).
I feel your pain as far as programming. Im very new to arduino and am currently building a basic small scale controller with acrcade buttons, sliders, pots, and an xbox controller joystick. There is a TON of info and example code out there. I figure if you have the skills to do this hardware, the code would not be all that difficult. This gives you a non HID option (just run a small serial to midi program and you can send the info over USB) with a ton of I/Os
Arcelia Siebeneck
26.11.2010
Originally Posted by bobsagat666
Have you considered an Arduino with MUX shield?
this is the thing.... I'd love to go with a midibox or Arduino implementation but my programming skills aren't up to scratch. Now, if there was a way to buy an Arduino and the Mux Shield, wire them together and download an existing bit of Arduino code that automatically assigns all the inputs on the Mux to midi outputs on the Arduino then I'd definitely go for it.

edit: perhaps it could be combined with this: http://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/cata...roducts_id=492

skenderbeg - totally agree with you about the paradigm for a dj setup... much prefer using the house mixer (but good to have midi channel controls on each 'cdj' just in case).
Beatrice Splitt
26.11.2010		Fantastic. This is exactly what I have had in mind for a few years now, and may get round to doing something similar myself.

I always use an external mixer (usually the club installation one) so don't like the all-in-one controllers. I also like the 'traditional' layout of decks either side a mixer, so two separate units is a great plus. The main thing I like is the move towards no reliance on the laptop screen for feedback - having the waveforms particularly.

I would have gone for more feedback separate from the screen itself in the way of LED feedback - such as led rings or something to indicate the position of the FX knobs.

I'd also go smaller format, I don't believe I'd need the CDJ size jog wheel. I am trying to get something more the size of a Xone1D but with more LED feedback and embedded screen.

Annoyingly I use OSX so can't use your clone thing program, which is the key in all of this!

Good luck, I follow with great interest.
Marlena Mouer
25.11.2010
Originally Posted by MiL0
progress is slow... just working out if I can make this thing using 2-3 xbox controllers as the midi brain. The problem is the encoders so I might have to use one of these as well:

http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836/

Anyone know how to wire 12 encoders to this inputs on this controller? I'd probably need to use a button matrix and use 24 of the inputs (or 36 if the encoders include momentary push buttons). What about diodes?

edit: The good news is that I've got the clonescreen software working on external screens so the usb lcd display section that clones certain parts of Traktor should be straightforward to implement.
Have you considered an Arduino with MUX shield?
Shay Wyche
24.11.2010		Sorry, can't help on this one. I used the more expensive BU0836X for ease of use. Look up the community for help. It's a little slow going, but worth it in the end, as most questions are already answered.

http://www.leobodnar.com/community /
Arcelia Siebeneck
24.11.2010		progress is slow... just working out if I can make this thing using 2-3 xbox controllers as the midi brain. The problem is the encoders so I might have to use one of these as well:

http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836/

Anyone know how to wire 12 encoders to this inputs on this controller? I'd probably need to use a button matrix and use 24 of the inputs (or 36 if the encoders include momentary push buttons). What about diodes?

edit: The good news is that I've got the clonescreen software working on external screens so the usb lcd display section that clones certain parts of Traktor should be straightforward to implement.
Roy Houn
24.11.2010		They would be great for controlling traktor, as someone has said you would have to look at the laptop virtually never with these things, il have 2 when they are ready haha.. keep up the good work, wish i was clever enough to design my own controller haha
Cedric Ojha
23.11.2010		I just searched beatmania on youtube.. crazy crazy game, god knows how people could play that. Must take them a v long time to learn :/
Random X
23.11.2010		WoW!


If this succeeds anything like the renders in the starting post.... Dammit, I'm wanting one too!
Enrique Silversmith
23.10.2010		ya im watching this
Rolanda Clodfelder
21.10.2010		Somthing I'd forgotton about a long long time ago but this thread reminded me of is the DJ Dao fp7 arcade platters ..the "beatmania" controller.

I had a few emails back and forward about 2 years ago regards getting patters and bits things from him for a midi turntable project...

really sturdy piece of kit if you've ever played around with the game in the local arcade it rivals most jog wheels out there IMHO :P .. i'd love to get these in a controller... the controllers are not cheap though might be worth an email or two ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZK0Q4aJl_k
DJ MENSAH
21.10.2010		Don't mess with the motorfaders, IMHO, they are just not worth it. Use touchstrip(s).
Midibox project has motorfader support, maybe you can just go and see what they require from your electronics.
Wava Egizi
20.10.2010		Nice! How much for the platter?

About the progress tempo... yes... I've felt that too. It's always better to have a slow tempo, than just put something quick together!
Arcelia Siebeneck
20.10.2010		gonna pick up a CDJ-800 platter from a shop on Friday... they had a broken one out the back so I should get it for a decent price, hopefully!

gonna be ordering some more parts as well

(yeah, progress will be slow on this one)
Wava Egizi
19.10.2010		Very very nice project!

Really ambitous! I love it! The thing you do with the filter-screen is something I've thought about a long time! A really high class feature!
Arcelia Siebeneck
17.10.2010		yeah I've figured it out - you setup a midi output in the controller manager settings in Traktor. Set the midi output to "Tempo" (in the Tempo subcategory) and the pitch fader will now output midi data when you press 'sync'.

So now I need to choose a HID/midi brain that can accept HID data / Midi data and output it to the motorised fader... any ideas?
Rolanda Clodfelder
17.10.2010		Good question .. the BCF manages it though as does the stanton scs, so must be possible "somehow"
Arcelia Siebeneck
17.10.2010		okay, so say if I go for something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALPS-Fader-mot...ht_2997wt_1140

how would you get Traktor to send midi data to update the fader position? is that even possible? what kind of midi/hid brain has outputs? (as well as the usual inputs)
Rolanda Clodfelder
17.10.2010		Rotary encoders & motorized faders like the BCD/F

I honestly cant fathom why they didn't go motorized faders in Otus RAW they ain't that expensive?
Irwin Ney
16.10.2010
Originally Posted by Unimagination
P.S. I second the motion for two pitch faders, seems like the simplest way to get around the value jumping.
Two pitch faders will not help you here... The problem with the pitch is the same with the AUTO-GAIN feature... Everytime you load a track, traktor gains it automatically, so if you have two gain knobs for deck A and C it would still not be enough, because Traktor will auto-change their values to match the volume output.

The same happens with the pitch faders and the SYNC button. Even if you have two pitch faders, when you hit sync, the value on the software will be different from the value of the hardware. Did you get it?

The best approach here is to use touch strip or motorized faders. And you dont need a long long touchstrip to pitch your track, you can use a short one, and use it like you use your mouse wheel...

Why dont you try this way of pitch your tracks by experiment on a SCS.3d / 3m ? Search a store that would allow you to try the SCS.3 and you will see what I'm talking...
Leigh Derbyshire
16.10.2010		Make sure the pitch fader has a CDJ-comparable resolution please!

And I'm keeping an eye on this as well. Looks very good.
Shay Wyche
16.10.2010		I'm liking this. As you know I've butchered my XP10 too, so if I can help in any way give us a shout.

Does the CDJ 1000 platter rely on a pressure sensitive button when it's scratching? I've never really looked in to one. Would it be possible to sacrifice a button somewhere to get this running? Would you also need part of the casing for this to work? Good luck with mounting the platter on the Xp10 spindle, that will be tricky.
Tatum Ansaldo
16.10.2010
Originally Posted by MiL0
I still don't really understand how this works... Seems like the Okus Raw uses two pitch faders for two decks... how does having two faders prevent value jumping?
Don't base any of your design on the Otus Raw, it's an abortion of a controller.
Arcelia Siebeneck
16.10.2010
Originally Posted by Unimagination
Whoa this is absolutely bananas! Good luck! I can't wait to see your project.

P.S. I second the motion for two pitch faders, seems like the simplest way to get around the value jumping.
I still don't really understand how this works... Seems like the Okus Raw uses two pitch faders for two decks... how does having two faders prevent value jumping?
Denisse Franklyn
15.10.2010		Whoa this is absolutely bananas! Good luck! I can't wait to see your project.

P.S. I second the motion for two pitch faders, seems like the simplest way to get around the value jumping.
Maisie Marras
15.10.2010		at first i was like: this NEEDS to happen, but its going to be to hard to get started


but then i saw the other attached pic and when HOLY SHI-

this is awsome
Williemae Trau
15.10.2010
Originally Posted by MiL0
good question... any suggestions? They need to have push buttons built in to them...
http://blog.lividinstruments.com/201.../code-preview/

I really like the encoders built into the Code by Livid Instruments. I contacted Jay at Livid about these encoders and he informed me that he had them specially made for the Code. He also said that he may offer them in the Livid store in the near future.

I bet if you contacted Livid they would sell you a few..
Omar Nila
15.10.2010		oh this is nice
Edmond Batta
15.10.2010
Originally Posted by MiL0
have you seen any cheap touchstrips for DIY projects like this one? I'm more of a fan of tactile controls to be honest.
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/pro...oducts_id=9073

Not exactly cheap but will work.

Have you thought about using two pitch faders like the OTUS RAW?
Arcelia Siebeneck
15.10.2010
Originally Posted by V-Hoff
Really like your design!

You solved the auto-gain issue with those gain encoders but what about the pitch fader?
When you hit sync you will have the same problem as with using gain knobs instead of encoders. Soft takeover helps but it's a pain, and for pitch fader you can't have value jumps, it will ruin your mix.

Have you believeed about using a long touchstrip for pitch faders? You could pitch fader your track by rolling down your finger some times. Search some videos of SCS.3d pitch fader and you will understand what I'm suggesting.
Another option will be using a motorized fader, but I believe that is more expensive then a touch strip and maybe one more mechanic thing to break.

And what about encoders for FX parameters? Are you using them, right?
yes - endless encoders for FX parameters.

have you seen any cheap touchstrips for DIY projects like this one? I'm more of a fan of tactile controls to be honest. Not going down the motorised fader route but I'm wondering how controllers like the VCI-100 handle this (they have pitch faders too)

Originally Posted by V-Hoff
Another suggestion
Can you fit Deck C waveform on the screen when Deck A is active? there is enough space for that? Would be nice to see both waveforms...
If Deck A is active your screen, you can show all controlls from Deck A and only the waveform from Deck C, if Deck C is active, it would be the inverse...
This is definitely possible using CloneThing... you can clone any section of Traktor, stretch it, shrink it, etc and hide/show using midi/keyboard shortcuts. Your suggestion is interesting - I'll probably experiment with it once it's all built...

Originally Posted by V-Hoff
I believe the arcades are damn cool, but the blue collor doesn't fit me...
Maybe a black arcade would look less like a toy, more pro-looking...
The image I knocked together in photoshop is just a concept image... I was limited by what stock images I could find on google! Everything can and probably will change! I'm planning on black arcade buttons with red outer rings (to match Traktors colours).
Arcelia Siebeneck
15.10.2010
Originally Posted by ANok?
I'm really interested in this! From what I gather, no touch sensitive jog wheel? Why is that? Also I'm not sure the mixer section should be a part of a deck controller..but i can totally see having two of these and being set. I love the idea of using traktor without having to have the laptop out..this could really help restore the audience/dj interaction.
yeah, no touch sensitive jog wheel planned at the moment. I'm using an EKS XP10 for most of the guts of my controller, and the XP10 does have touch sensitive jogs, but it might be difficult to implement in my design as I'm significantly increasing the size of the wheels... we'll see.

and yeah, CDJ's usually don't have a mixer section but I've designed mine so that it can be used in pairs, either on their own or either side of a normal DJ mixer. Best of both worlds I believe (it also saves me having to design and make a THIRD diy controller!)

Originally Posted by D!RK
is there going to be a way to browse the library ???
yep - CloneThing has hotkey support so it's easy to change the section of Traktor that I'm cloning. The buttons to the left of the LCD screen are for changing the view... the middle button displays the library.

Originally Posted by chrisw
Nice dude!!!!!!! This is a badass design. How much has it cost so far for it? Also can u maybe document it with pics as the project progresses?
The EKS XP10's were about
Irwin Ney
15.10.2010		I believe the arcades are damn cool, but the blue collor doesn't fit me...
Maybe a black arcade would look less like a toy, more pro-looking...
Edmond Batta
15.10.2010		IMO a controller like that needs less arcade buttons and more tact switches with custom caps on them. It would look much better and they have a better feel to them.

Cool design. I like it.

<< Back to Reviews of DJ equipment Reply

Copyright 2012-2023
DJRANKINGS.ORG n.g.o.
Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan

Created by Ajaxel CMS

Terms & Privacy