*Build Log* DIY Controller From Scratch

**Travis Trax** · 09-05-2010, 07:32 PM

that thing looks so wicked so far!!! can't wait to see the finished product

**MiL0** · 09-06-2010, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by slangemenneske

@milo : that wouldn't be practical. From what I gathered by implementing my own Twitter relay, the delay before the currently playing track is updated is way too long. First I think it has to play for the amount of time set to mark a track as played, then you have to wait for icecast's buffer, which typically can't be altered.

ah ok - well I guess I'll have to do it using autohotkey instead:

- use autohotkey to screengrab the 'now playing' section of Traktor when the track changes
- use GOCR cli to convert the screengrab into text (http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/topic4089.html)
- use LCD Smartie to display the track name / artist
- use autohotkey (with midi support - http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/topic4089.html) to detect a toggle button so that you can switch the LCD screen from VU meter to artist/track information.

bit hacky though innit!

OP - would you be willing to upload the source for your LCD Smartie dll plugin you've wrote? (or at least just the dll) - I'm sure there are a lot of people who would like to use an LCD as a VU meter in Traktor =]

**oskars** · 09-06-2010, 12:09 PM

Why wont none them LCDkits work with Mac?

**MiL0** · 09-06-2010, 05:37 PM

Okay, so I've managed to write an AHK script that selects an area within the Traktor screen, runs an OCR script on any text it finds and finally dump the writing to a txt document. What this means is that by using this script, it's possible to output any writing from within Traktor as a text file, even if the writing appears as an image! The upshot is that it'd be very easy for someone to use this script for a load of different things:

- Twitter / HTML output
- MSN now playing
- LCD screen

will upload something when it's less buggy (the OCR isn't perfect)

**thelpb** · 09-07-2010, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by thugbear2005

I can't wait to see this beast in action. Good work so far mate.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by oscarjmg

Greets mate, great work...

how´s the expense account going?

Not sure actually, i'll have to tally it and add it all up!

Originally Posted by V-Hoff

I love this thread!
keep it up!
feed us with pictures

TONS of new pics to post, new post coming!

Originally Posted by athtsak

That thing is looking cooler and cooler, keep it up.

I would add a few things thou, if I may make a suggestion without being critical of corse. I am using TPro, I personally think there should be a 5th pots in the EQ for the filter, besides that it looks good. Love those wires, looks clean.

I also have an idea for your support problem, you can use a few more spacers up the center like the ones you have on the corners. And maybe see if you can install and wire a sound card in it. I think that would be so cool, then your you in trouble, because your going to have to make me a price on making me one...lol

Later,
Tom

Center EQ is going to be (from top to bottom) High, Mid, Low, Filter. I didn't bother with gain knobs. I will probably end up adding a fifth bolt to the center of the panel for support, which seems the best way. I also fully plan on putting a sound card in it..

Originally Posted by Travis Trax

that thing looks so wicked so far!!! can't wait to see the finished product

Thanks man! I can't wait myself!

Originally Posted by MiL0

ah ok - well I guess I'll have to do it using autohotkey instead:

- use autohotkey to screengrab the 'now playing' section of Traktor when the track changes
- use GOCR cli to convert the screengrab into text (http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/topic4089.html)
- use LCD Smartie to display the track name / artist
- use autohotkey (with midi support - http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/topic4089.html) to detect a toggle button so that you can switch the LCD screen from VU meter to artist/track information.

bit hacky though innit!

OP - would you be willing to upload the source for your LCD Smartie dll plugin you've wrote? (or at least just the dll) - I'm sure there are a lot of people who would like to use an LCD as a VU meter in Traktor =]

I actually like this idea, i'll be following your progress! I am absolutely willing to share the code. It's not pretty, but it is extremely simple and it does work. Gimme a bit and i'll add it as an attachment to another post.

Originally Posted by oskars

Why wont none them LCDkits work with Mac?

Drivers, or lack thereof rather..

Originally Posted by MiL0

Okay, so I've managed to write an AHK script that selects an area within the Traktor screen, runs an OCR script on any text it finds and finally dump the writing to a txt document. What this means is that by using this script, it's possible to output any writing from within Traktor as a text file, even if the writing appears as an image! The upshot is that it'd be very easy for someone to use this script for a load of different things:

- Twitter / HTML output
- MSN now playing
- LCD screen

will upload something when it's less buggy (the OCR isn't perfect)

Looking forward to this actually. Please upload when you feel more ready with it.

**thelpb** · 09-07-2010, 08:01 PM

First off, new parts!

Futurelec, Sparkfun and U-HID/Ultimarc all delivered. I also picked up small parts from Radio shack. The second Powermate landed too, but I don't have a photo yet. Need to go pick it up.

Small buttons from Futurelec:

Faders from Futurelec:

Jumpers from Sparkfun:

Shiny LED holders from Radioshack:

Panel mount headphone jacks from Radioshack:

U-HID Nano boards:

These are REALLY tiny, here's a comparison to one of the DJTT Arcade Buttons:

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Ok so down to work. I started off by laying out the controls to figure out what kind of configuration I wanted. Began with the FX section.

Moved on to the individual decks and misc controls.

One possibility:

Another, which is actually very close to what I ended up going with:

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Once I was done brainstorming, I started in on the old panel that I broke for practicing cutting the slots for the faders. I suspected this would probably be the most difficult part of the project and I was NOT let down. It was a muthaf*cka to say the least.

Got started by clamping down a straight edge and drilling a set of pilot holes. At this point it was total experimentation, so I just winged it at first.

Pilot holes:

I quickly discovered how horrible a series of pilot holes looked, rather than a single pilot, so I broke out my Unibit and cornholed the original set. The Jigsaw blade required a 5/16" pilot. Once that was drilled, I ran the Jigsaw up a few inches to test how well it would cut the acrylic. Turns out it was pretty easy and surprisingly clean.

Clean cut!

Zinged a couple of mounting holes on the outsides of the cut and attached a fader. This may not be so bad afterall!

I removed the fader and cut a matching pilot hole at the other end to make it match. One test down, time to do another!

Drilled another pilot hole. This time I just went right in with the Unibit on both ends to start with. Clamped down the straight edge and went at it!

And good god was it a disaster...

... or so I thought. It actually ended up being the winner, I figured out how to compensate for the Jigsaw blades drift and also how to shave the cut to make it a little wider and also straight.

Time to do it for real! Measuring the panel.

Drilled the pilot holes for the cut and also the mounting holes.

And one down!

Fader mounted.

Two down, faders mounted.

Three down, crossfader mounted. Bwahahaha this is gonna be so awesome!

--------------------

Getting started drilling the small controls and LEDs.

Small buttons and an LED holder in place.

Both deck corner controls drilled.

Measured and drilled pilot holes in the FX section.

Placing the other LED holders to check spacing and measurments.

FX section LEDs ready to go.

--------------------

That's it for now. Should have all the controls, LEDs and at least some wiring done tomorrow.

More to come!

**theory28** · 09-07-2010, 11:03 PM

as usual, very awesome

i would have screwed up the faders had i done it lol

**MiL0** · 09-08-2010, 12:45 PM

nice one - some good progress there

why are you using 2 x Uhid Nano boards instead of just one regular board? Is 16 inputs gonna be enough? or do u have a regular board as well?

regarding the OCR thing - I've got it working but its very temperamental... sometimes it doesn't detect anything and other times it gets a character wrong ("B" mixed up with "8" for example). I'll upload what I've done in the next few days and perhaps someone can improve it...