Building a First Usb Midi Controller
Building a First Usb Midi Controller Posted on: 01.08.2010 by Taylor Baines Hey DJ TT, I'm new to these community
s, and to controllerism in general. I want to build my own controller, like the midi fighter, but don't know where to start. I get the basic jist of how it works, but I dont know what to use to get the signal from the buttons/knobs to a midi signal on my computer. I am not going with the Midi fighter because $160 is a little high for my budget, and I would like to do something diy instead. I'm believeing 16 Arcade buttons and 8 Rotary knobs, so what are my options for a cheap PCB? I've heard of people modding korg nanokontrols and USB keyboards to do this, would either work for me? Thanks for the help! Edit: I did some more research and am believeing the nanokontrol was the way to go. There was a mod on here done with one, and at the moment I am believeing it should work. Will it work to hook arcade buttons up the the buttons on the left of the faders? If so, I can make a SWEET controller for under $100 | |
| Taylor Baines 03.08.2010 |
Originally Posted by V-Hoff
For my planned use I will only be using one mode/scene so led feedback is not a problem for me. Does anyone know how soldering the buttons to the kontrols pcb would work? I need a little insight from someone with more electronics experience than I have... seeing as I only know as much as I could find on the internet (which is not that much) |
| Irwin Ney 03.08.2010 |
Originally Posted by extraclassic
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| Taylor Baines 02.08.2010 |
Originally Posted by Str8upDrew
I'm not believeing of building it from scratch, just modding what is already there. If I could make it work, I could get it done under $100. There are some computer gamepad mods that use the same kind of buttons I believe, so it shouldnt be too bad. I just need to figure out how to solder the connections and then it should be a really simple mod. |
| Joan Kollmorgen 02.08.2010 |
Originally Posted by V-Hoff
And thanks for the comment V-Hoff ....Much appreciated |
| Taylor Baines 01.08.2010 | Hey DJ TT, I'm new to these community
s, and to controllerism in general. I want to build my own controller, like the midi fighter, but don't know where to start. I get the basic jist of how it works, but I dont know what to use to get the signal from the buttons/knobs to a midi signal on my computer. I am not going with the Midi fighter because $160 is a little high for my budget, and I would like to do something diy instead. I'm believeing 16 Arcade buttons and 8 Rotary knobs, so what are my options for a cheap PCB? I've heard of people modding korg nanokontrols and USB keyboards to do this, would either work for me? Thanks for the help! Edit: I did some more research and am believeing the nanokontrol was the way to go. There was a mod on here done with one, and at the moment I am believeing it should work. Will it work to hook arcade buttons up the the buttons on the left of the faders? If so, I can make a SWEET controller for under $100 |
| Taylor Baines 03.08.2010 |
Originally Posted by V-Hoff
For my planned use I will only be using one mode/scene so led feedback is not a problem for me. Does anyone know how soldering the buttons to the kontrols pcb would work? I need a little insight from someone with more electronics experience than I have... seeing as I only know as much as I could find on the internet (which is not that much) |
| Arcelia Siebeneck 03.08.2010 | there are two possible solutions: one would be to use a mechanical switch that makes it obvious which 'mode' your controller is in. If the switch is to the left, you can physically see that your arcade buttons are acting as cue point triggers, if it's to the right then the arcade buttons are doing effects (etc). another solution would be to activate and deactivate the LED's using the controller itself. A basic circuit design could mean that by pressing an Arcade button it switches 'mode' but also activates an LED (with no intervention from your pc/mac). |
| Irwin Ney 03.08.2010 |
Originally Posted by extraclassic
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| Irwin Ney 03.08.2010 | Sorry to remeber again but you will not have led feedback like the midifighter does... One of the main features of the midifighter mapping is the multiple modes that Ean Developed, without led feedback is nearly to impossible to play with multiple modes on your controller, you need that shiny leds to know in what mode you are. Believe in me, I used an Oxygen 8 v2 with 3 modes on the knobs without any led feedback, is really hard to remember in what mode you were before "try a knob" That was one reason why I bought two korg nanoKontrols to pair with my Oxy, now I don't have modes anymore, and I don't use the "scenes" from the nano either... |
| Taylor Baines 02.08.2010 |
Originally Posted by Str8upDrew
I'm not believeing of building it from scratch, just modding what is already there. If I could make it work, I could get it done under $100. There are some computer gamepad mods that use the same kind of buttons I believe, so it shouldnt be too bad. I just need to figure out how to solder the connections and then it should be a really simple mod. |
| Graham Frazier 02.08.2010 | You should check out the Hale UMC 32. But to be honest, i would just go with the midifighter. I know you said it's a little over budget, but when you factor in all the cost of building your own controller, it can get expensive pretty quick. 16 arcade buttons @ $2.60 = $41.60 8 pots w/ knobs @ $4 = $32 So with just the buttons, pots & knobs you're already at $73.60. Then you've got the price of the controller "brains", the casing, usb cable. And don't forget about shipping. Only thing about the midi fighter, it only has 4 analog inputs. So you'll be limited to 4 pots. |
| Taylor Baines 02.08.2010 | Hmm... what about using a usb keyboard? The nanokontrol may be to0 difficult for me to mod with my limited experience. This mod apperently used one for the arcade buttons and seems really cheap and strait forward. Does anyone know if the responce is fast enough for cue juggling for usb keyboard mods? My only real worry is the latency... Thanks again for the input. |
| Joan Kollmorgen 02.08.2010 |
Originally Posted by V-Hoff
And thanks for the comment V-Hoff ....Much appreciated |
| Irwin Ney 02.08.2010 | You can use a ps2 controller to do a mod: http://www.djranking s.com/community /sho...ht=playstation http://www.djranking s.com/community /sho...ht=playstation http://www.djranking s.com/community /sho...ht=playstation This is the most sick project with a ps2 controller: http://www.djranking s.com/community /sho...light=technics |
| Taylor Baines 03.08.2010 | I also learned that the buttons are printed on to the nK's pcb, meaning Id have to solder to the leads :/ Seeing as I have no experience soldering or working with electronics it could be a challenge. I was also talking about this mod, but they never said if they finished it or not. |
| Irwin Ney 02.08.2010 | But the nanoKontrol doesn't have led feedback, you must keep that in mind before chose it... the nano doesn't receive MIDI signal like the VCI or APC or Launchpad... I never built a controller but from what I heard from people, I'm sure that you will spend more money in the end of your project, keep in mind that if this is your first time, you will do a lot of mistakes and will need to buy a lot more pieces then you spected, and everytime you need to replace a piece you will spend money on shipment and taxes... The overall "price per control" will be more then a finished product, and the quality will probably be worse... |
| Joan Kollmorgen 02.08.2010 | I believe using the Nanokontrol for the project you have in mind is a good idea. Wiring up some arcade buttons and pots to that board would be easy and you wouldn't have to use any software converters as the Nanokontrol is a midi device. Although I would be tempted to make use of as many of the buttons, knobs and faders as possible.
I did some more research and am believeing the nanokontrol was the way to go. There was a mod on here done with one
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