Add arcade buttons to a VCI-100
This post and video is outdated. For the updated version please visit this page:
http://www.djtechtools.com/2009/07/27/vci-100-diy-arcade-mod/
- your going to need a cut guide for the buttons. Please email ean from the about page and ask for the latest version.
- There is also a lip on the top/front edge of the VCI-100 base piece that needs to be cut away. I dont have pictures but its fairly obvious. Not the entire lip (the part in front of the cross fader can stay) just the parts that sit where the buttons are going. The lip is only about 1/4 inch wide so its a easy cut.
- you dont need to shave the lip if you use the Sanwa 24mm snap in buttons
- }}}Lead wires- 16 about 3-4 inches long (can be cut from microphone cable)
- }}}Diodes- 8 50 PRV 200ma switching diodes
- }}}Shrink sleeve- get about 2 feet so you can professionally protect your connections and not do it the ghetto way (like I did) with electrical tape. Shrink Sleeve is a plastic tube that shrinks down to enclose an exposed wire when heat is applied. Some people have heat guns but a match or lighter works fine.
- }}}Electrical tape
- }}}8 Arcade switches from Happ controls- they are the shallow micro arcade switches under the pushbutton section.
- }}}Some spray paint to make it a cool color (auto trim paint works well) SAND THE UNIT FIRST!
- }}}Phillips screw driver- One medium and one small tip-
- }}}Wire stripper
- }}}Solder
- }}}Solder Iron
- }}}Find a machinist in your area (there are a lot of them usually) send them the included diagram and say you need these holes cut out of 1/8″ aluminum. Try for around $50 if possible.
thats just about it! Enjoy your custom bad-ass VCI-100 and post photos when its done!
Good Luck,
Ean Golden
October 19th, 2007 at 10:56 am Quote
Hey Ean!.. After seeing your controllerism video i couldnt hold back any longer! Sourced the buttons in the UK! Got the tools out and got drillin! (stuck a couple extra faders in there too!) =)
Heres how it finished up.
http://www.native-instruments.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55755
Cheers again man! =)
D
October 20th, 2007 at 11:25 am Quote
Great job!!!!! Its a massive step up from mine. I love the color theme. Did you cut an entirely new case?
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:53 am Quote
Hey cheers! =). Its not a new case. I filled in the old slots with JBweld and cut new slots all 4 faders. A new case would need a LOAD of work due to way the rotary pots are mounted. Will do a quick how too when i get the time, maybe this week. =)
August 15th, 2008 at 7:24 pm Quote
This site prompted me to mod my own VCI and i am pretty fired up about it, “awsome site” but I just opened my hood and I have 12 wires attached to each switch bank and i have no brown cable for ground. Why is it differnet How can I tell what wires are what?
Cheers
dddcrose
August 15th, 2008 at 9:05 pm Quote
Sorry forgot the LED’s, problem solved.
cheers
dddcrose
December 23rd, 2008 at 4:58 am Quote
i’ve got the same problem as dddcrosse but am unfortunately not clever enough to solve it on my own…how do you know which one the ground is if all the wires are white? thanks!
December 29th, 2008 at 5:05 am Quote
You can follow the white wire that goes to all the buttons- thats the ground and it should be on the far left or right.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:38 pm Quote
thanks ean golden, you da man.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:47 am Quote
Nice work! I’ll have to do a cross post on this one ;)