Here is a video that shows you the steps needed to do the modification. Download the cut guide for your machine shop and click bellow for a list of items you will need. Thats it!
What you need
- }}} First a word about the cut guide. Those measurements are the distance to the center of the holes from the absolute right and bottom edge of the VCI-100 case. These are the coordinates needed for a computer to cut perfect holes. You might want to change the height from .875 to .775 though. One of my buttons was rubbing against a wheel and I had to shave it down. Please double check your own measurements just to be safe because my machinist cut mine wrong.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.
- }}}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″ steel. I was charged $80 but thats a bit high- 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




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
Great job!!!!! Its a massive step up from mine. I love the color theme. Did you cut an entirely new case?
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. =)
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
Sorry forgot the LED’s, problem solved.
cheers
dddcrose