*Build Log* DIY Controller From Scratch

**Str8upDrew** · 08-22-2010, 04:11 PM

Excellent build log. Keep up the good work.

**extraclassic** · 08-22-2010, 05:31 PM

Nice work, keep it up.

Do those rotary pots have a center detent for the eq section?

If not might be worth looking for some that do.

**thelpb** · 08-22-2010, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by farhanashraf

great job so far!

Originally Posted by Str8upDrew

Excellent build log. Keep up the good work.

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by extraclassic

Nice work, keep it up.

Do those rotary pots have a center detent for the eq section?

If not might be worth looking for some that do.

They do not have a center detent. I looked for some briefly, but the ones I got were extra low cost. I have a software detent in that I set up the center of each axis to have 'gravity'. It'll work for now, but I will probably swap in better pots at some point.

**jennifer18** · 08-22-2010, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by thelpb

Lowe's, it was actually a single 18x24 sheet that I had them cut in half.

I really like the tactile feel of the Arcade buttons, but they're too big for all the misc buttons I need to complete the controller. Hence the smaller ones. Still looking!

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.

**thelpb** · 08-22-2010, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by jennifer18

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.

The main reason I can't use buttons out of a broken controller is because 99.9% of the time they are membrane buttons. Basically on the bottom of the button itself is a small piece of electrically conductive rubber. When you press the button the rubber contacts a pair of bare traces on the controllers circuit board which completes the circuit.

In order to use the buttons, I would have to etch my own circuit boards with the correct tracing to make it all work, which is beyond my ability right now.

I think I might have a winner though from a site I just found right now actually.

**thelpb** · 08-23-2010, 12:00 AM

Ordered Faders and Buttons from http://www.futurelec.com.

Long 10k Faders for Volume:

Short 10k Fader for the crossfade:

Small buttons:

More to come!

**DennisHuiberts** · 08-23-2010, 03:39 AM

Cool! Would really like to see the end result

.

**derschaich** · 08-23-2010, 05:06 AM

already loving your project!

Mudo · 08-23-2010, 05:46 AM

...

Good Job man!

...

**thelpb** · 08-23-2010, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by DennisHuiberts

Cool! Would really like to see the end result

.

Originally Posted by derschaich

already loving your project!

Originally Posted by Mudo

Good Job man!

Thank you all! I can't wait to finish it myself, should be a blast to use! Just wish I had more time to work on it, but my day job keeps me on the road a lot. Oh well, more to come!