*Build Log* DIY Controller From Scratch

**danshadowcompany** · 08-08-2010, 04:50 AM

Haha quality. I wish i was technically gifted enough to do that. Although might have a crack at a midi fighter kid soon.

**thelpb** · 08-08-2010, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Archies'bald

Judging from what I've read from the reviews on that button it's a replacement for the X-Box controller buttons. Would it be possible to buy broken controllers off of Ebay to supplement your buttons? If you could find old ones with damaged cords, you may be able to desolder the buttons for next to nothing.

Only thing is I don't know how they are mounted in the controller. Hell, you may even be able to use the rest of the controller as a brain for some of your other pots, buttons etc.

I'm just thinking out loud here.

You're main problem would be trying to mount the buttons, I think.

Actually, gamepad buttons would be an ideal solution, if not perfect... I'll have to see what I can find. Thanks for the tip!

Originally Posted by freakuency

Definitely following this thread. I've been very interested in doing something like this myself, possibly using the MIDIbox system. I love the idea with the hard drive and Powermate. But the Powermate is a USB device on its own, how would you integrate it with the controller itself?

I did a bit of reading on that UHID card. Looks interesting. 50 inputs... so does it convert these inputs to MIDI notes, or will you need some other device to do this?

Well the UHID board is USB, the Powermates are USB, two of the other devices that will be on board the controller will be USB, and I will have a +5 volt power supply on board as well. Simple solution to make it all work: A Powered USB Hub in the controller. I can strip the hub out of it's enclosure to make it as small as possible. With a little soldering work I can also shorten the cables to their minimum length.

The UHID board does not convert to MIDI, in a nut shell it allows me to create a keyboard (of the QWERTY type) with any buttons or switches that I choose. I can then assign functions in Traktor to use keypresses rather than MIDI notes.

The UHID board will also accept potentiometers (ie knobs and faders) and convert them to analog joystick inputs. With the joystick inputs, I can use MJoy to create MIDI notes for the functions in Traktor that cannot realistically be controlled with a simple keypress.

All in all, im just taking this DJTT post to the next level and adding a little more to it at the same time.

**farhanashraf** · 08-08-2010, 08:07 PM

suweet!

**TABS** · 08-08-2010, 11:00 PM

I want to see these vids of the powermate.

**thelpb** · 08-08-2010, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by TABS

I want to see these vids of the powermate.

I'm out on the road right now for my day job. I'll be home on Tuesday or worst case Wednesday, vids up at that time

**iCallShotgun** · 08-09-2010, 12:08 AM

Well the UHID board is USB, the Powermates are USB, two of the other devices that will be on board the controller will be USB, and I will have a +5 volt power supply on board as well. Simple solution to make it all work: A Powered USB Hub in the controller. I can strip the hub out of it's enclosure to make it as small as possible. With a little soldering work I can also shorten the cables to their minimum length.

This might sound like a total n00b thought but, will this cause any latency?

**thelpb** · 08-09-2010, 01:13 AM

Originally Posted by iCallShotgun

This might sound like a total n00b thought but, will this cause any latency?

Gonna find out

For my uses though, I'm fairly certain that if there is any, it won't affect me much, if at all.

Mudo · 08-09-2010, 07:55 AM

...

Put it, please!
http://www.ultimarc.com/SpinTrak.htm

...

**thelpb** · 08-09-2010, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Mudo

...

Put it, please!
http://www.ultimarc.com/SpinTrak.htm

...

I really would have liked to have used the SpinTraks. They are bullet proof and easily panel mountable. They are, afterall, designed for arcade consoles.

The problem is that in order to use them with Traktor, I only have one option: GamePad mode, in which each pulse from the SpinTrak is registered as a button press. Not only is this what I am already doing with the Powermates, the Powermates are considerably cheaper.

This is eclipsed by the fact that Windows XP only supports 2 Joysticks/Gamepads at a time, and I need both of those slots for my Faders and EQ/FX Knobs.

Such a shame too, cause the SpinTraks are sweeeeet~