AM VCI mod (DIY?)
AM VCI mod (DIY?) Posted on: 02.01.2009 by DJ Pablo Since the beginning that I had the black VCI,I was not completly satisfied with the hardware layout, in combination with my "style" of playing.(3 decks) When Ean made his "SE" I upgraded mine to firmware 1.3 and loved the possibilities he had created for the VCI-100. So it kept me believeing for weeks (Breaking my head) how to mod my VCI; First I made a layout(3 channel faders,3 filter,3 cue,3X4 arcade buttons,possibillity to ad 60mm pitch faders), on paper and tested in Traktor Pro if all knobs and buttons would work on the new assinged knobs. Then I searched for the parts, but they are custom made by Vestax, so I ordered potentiometers with almost the same specs,12 arcade buttons, and 3 momentary pushbuttons 10mm (bleu led). After I finish the hardware changes, my neighbour will design a CAD drawing for me.Then I can go to a metal shop to let them make a whole new (Bigger) VCI casing.(27,5cm X 38cm fits still in my UDG prod.bag) At this moment I am waiting for some parts to arrive, but I have made already some rewiring.See pics... If the parts are soldered I first test the functionallity of all knobs and pots, and then I will desolder and rewire the leds. I still have not decided what eventually will be the definitive layout, I have 2 possibillities,see pics... Maybe someone has any suggestions to help me decide. I will keep posting here untill the project is finished (hopefully it will). | |
| DJ Pablo 07.03.2009 |
Originally Posted by claudek
In the silver vci the green leds are on the right side. I had also bright bleu leds ordered; http://www.led1.de/shop/product_info...97d56e2bea40c0 and I tested these.They light up similar as in the original black VCI |
| MadMan Ajms 07.03.2009 | Hi Anthony, thanks for your reply and help. I am just interested in changing my standard VCI-100 to an SE, so has the bright blue leds. I need to know which one's would be blue though..believe the green are replaced to blue? Thanks again, could be fun..or maybe not |
| DJ Pablo 07.03.2009 | The level of difficulty depends on your creative skills. First you have to desolder the Led.Look here, A nice tutorial how to desolder; http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/164/7 If you do it carefully, you can save the desoldered Led for another use, but I recommend to place new Leds.(50% of my Leds broke during desoldering).The white ones are fragile.Also take care not to damage the circuit board when pulling out the old leds! After that you stick in the new Led and solder the connections. Pay attention to place the Kathode and Anode the right way otherwise it will not light up. http://www.theledlight.com/ledcircuits.html I Used 2 kinds of leds: A bright white 3mm to lighten up the arcade pushbuttons; http://www.led1.de/shop/product_info...97d56e2bea40c0 (These were less white than the original white vestax leds) See the picture. The middle 2 arcade buttons have the original vestax leds. (I have changed this already in my mod) And a diffuse blue Led 3mm to lighten up my arcade pushbuttons. You may use these also to replace the red ones,(A bright bleu led is to bright to look in to; http://www.led1.de/shop/product_info...97d56e2bea40c0 |
| MadMan Ajms 07.03.2009 | How hard was it to change the led to blue? I am believeing of maybe doing it if it is no too in depth. Also, where can I order them? How is your project coming? |
| DJ Pablo 06.03.2009 | I'm busy with the design of an overlay for my mod,I was wondering what type of font is used on the overlays in the store. And does anybody know where to find the pics of the monitor cue. (the little headphones). |
| Xavier Emanuels 03.03.2009 |
Originally Posted by tomguinane
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| Matilda Caspary 02.03.2009 | Woah... Just signed up to the community
and this is one of the first posts i went on. I'm going to be checking the every day for news on how its going! Can't wait to see the finished product and you HAVE to put up a video! |
| DJ Pablo 01.03.2009 |
Originally Posted by JesC
one week. Total costs now +/-400 euro (70 euro shipping from US included) Today is someone coming to my house to explain the basics of Illustrator, so that I can begin to design an overlay.first I have to make the holes smaller on my first "Aluminium" design like the faceplates on the original, so that all holes fit tight for the overlay. After that I have to make a proper layout with colour and text. But I am curious what changes Ean has made on the new 1.4 firmware, and the final 1.6 tsi.These changes could be an influence on the final layout I'm gonna make. At the moment I am changing the 1.6 tsi for my needs (3 deck), but it can be a pain sometimes. |
| Cristian Carmona 01.03.2009 | Hey Anthony any new news on the MOD? |
| DJ Pablo 20.02.2009 |
Originally Posted by Chilly
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| Nick Ross 20.02.2009 | This is crazy insane...great job |
| Ashirumatic DJ 16.02.2009 | Dude great work on this know. I like how you have the arcade buttons lit up!. I myself have always yearned for an extra channel on my VCI-100. Being an Ableton user I have wanted the erganomic third channel on the unit. I am stoked to see a demo on the finished product. |
| DJ Pablo 16.02.2009 |
Originally Posted by Whitey
Maybe not all is an improvement, but anyway designed to my needs/aestethics. When all is finished I'll try to make a vid. |
| Margot Stevinson 17.02.2009 | I have been reading your post with interest AM. What strikes me is not only the amazing controller you are creating, but the courage you have shown in effectively taking something that works well anyway completely apart in the pursuit of improvement. I guess it's not many people who would have the confidence to do this. I understand your comments where you say that it's not that complicated, but ACTUALLY doing it is another matter. I take my hat off to you as I know that if I tried anything like this I might end up with burnt fingers and thumbs and a pile of useless wires, but a modded, improved VCI-100, no! I can't wait to see it completely finished and maybe a posted vis of you using it eh?? YT |
| DJ Pablo 16.02.2009 |
Originally Posted by alien2k
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| Mechelle Duncil 16.02.2009 | I missed this post before. Really nice work. I have been dreaming on modifying a vci but I don |
| Particia Vanmol 16.02.2009 | Nice Work, Hope you show me the working peace. |
| DJ Pablo 15.02.2009 |
Originally Posted by Roborob
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| Vanetta Tronolone 14.02.2009 | man youre making me drool! |
| DJ Pablo 14.02.2009 | Here the mod of the loop buttons. There was no room on the board to drill holes to attach the buttons, so I attached them on the housing. Also made a cable to make it easy to disassemble the board. Here again very nice soldering The 'hardware' mod is now almost finished. 5 knobs are on the way, and the housing for the backside will be designed in a couple of days. Now I have to figure out how adobe illustrator works, so that I can design an overlay, (with smaller and adjusted holes). Cheers! |
| DJ Pablo 14.02.2009 | I was almost finishing the hardware side of my mod, and then it came up to me to mod the 3 efx lights/leds, and the loop buttons. I wanted a larger light to put on some text, but now I made it work I'm not shure about the text. Looks great already. Don't judge my solder connections (Everything works) I'm not a pro! |
| DJ Pablo 14.02.2009 |
Originally Posted by midifidler
and about the fader, It's fantastic, much better feel than the vestax'.Fits exactly to the board. Too bad I just ordered one. |
| Adolf Hit 09.02.2009 | Cheers for that, looks like a better option than the 15 USD Ea halo button I was looking at for the LFO reset on my controller |
| DJ Pablo 09.02.2009 |
Originally Posted by midifidler
Arcade buttons are from; http://www.lizardlickamusements.com/...hbuttons.shtml and then the Seimitsu 24mm Colored Body with Clear Plunger. I kept the original depth of the enclosure, as you can see the jogwheels are sticking out the most. |
| Adolf Hit 08.02.2009 | hey where did you find the arcade buttons, and have you modified the depth of the enclosure at all? |
| Adolf Hit 08.02.2009 | Man those buttons look sic... Fader looks good I believe they will be fairly light which is good coz the standard faders are a bit tight |
| Xavier Emanuels 08.02.2009 | Cool man that looks well sexy |
| Vanetta Tronolone 09.02.2009 | The arcade buttons look amazing with the light |
| DJ Pablo 09.02.2009 | I take a little break with soldering now. I thought I could share already some pics of arcade buttons with light. The first 4 buttons I got working now. The blue leds also worked, but somehow they stopped again. (short circuit or bad connection, But I will find out what it is).Fixed;see picture 5 I routed the 3rd button and leds to the 4th place, so I have it light up bleu when I push "play". Hopefully in firmware upgrade they all will light up bleu. |
| Cristian Carmona 05.02.2009 | kool keep me posted. I want to get a 2nd vci and mod the sucker. |
| DJ Pablo 05.02.2009 |
Originally Posted by JesC
and all, but for the time spend on one project. When I finish this project, I hope a few weeks from now, I will let you know what the total 'hardware' costs are' |
| Cristian Carmona 05.02.2009 | Anthony that mod is looking tight. Have you ever thought of making more that one controller and possibly selling them in the future? |
| DJ Pablo 05.02.2009 |
Originally Posted by midifidler
What do you believe about this line fader for replacement in vci? http://nl.mouser.com:80/Search/Produ...E60-151B-103B2 |
| Adolf Hit 05.02.2009 | Dude that is looking sic ! Cant wait to see it finished! |
| DJ Pablo 06.02.2009 | Thanks All!
Originally Posted by thebeatworx
(I cut some board away to make them shorter) |
| Ruiz dB 06.02.2009 | What I really like about your mod is that it is really well thought out. I just started my own arcade button mod and followed Ean's footsteps in the cutting and splicing of wires. But I thought it was simplistic genius when I saw that you kept the orignal button board and just soldered the arcade buttons to the board itself instead of snipping the wires. It saves the existing LEDs for future use and removes the need for buying extra diodes. However, I'm not sure if the button circuit board can coexist with the arcade buttons inside if you don't enlarge the case like how you did. Either way, I'm really impressed!!! |
| Tianna Laguerre 05.02.2009 | mad props! |
| Felix Harrer 05.02.2009 | Wow, very impressive! |
| Jacquetta Doram 04.02.2009 | Great work. Still can't wait to see it finished. |
| DJ Pablo 04.02.2009 | Yesterday (very exited) I picked up the housing from the metal shop. Started asap to put all parts together, to see if everything came in place, as I tested before. I tapped the holes for M3 standoffs and screws. the 2 plates I put together (for potentiometers) and so far everything fitted well. The holes for the new placed cue buttons I had to make a little bit wider, and I made a design fault with the joggwheels holes.(I overlooked this in the cartboard design).I drilled 4 new holes for the left joggwheels, because they where 5mm lower than on the right side. I still need to do a lot of work; soldering the arcade buttons, find a way to lighten them up (It can be done,but it's not an easy way). And need still some parts; -5 Black knobs Vestax. -A good volumeslider (now I have the crossfader for deck 3 as on the picture) Is someone familiar with this linear slider from bourns? http://nl.mouser.com:80/Search/Produ...E60-151B-103B2 I can say I am very with the result, see pics below... To Be Continued... |
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