DM2 Arcade Button Mod Wiring Help

**kaleaf** · 01-26-2010, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by faeruithir

Gentlemen, the deed is done. Except the back panel.

I will post pics of the finished controller as soon as i can get some good lighting. Its fully functional just have to get it all mapped now!

nice!

if you still have it open can I get a pic of the encoder for the jog parts, is it optical?

**faeruithir** · 01-27-2010, 02:26 PM

So here are the pics. Unfortunately the reflective surface, while shiny and pretty, is hard to photograph..

the setup with my x-session pro. two ribbon cables connect the 2 units together and the USB cable runs out of the left unit.

A close up showing LEDs, arcade buttons and jog wheel

the guts of the right unit....thats a lot of wiring..

Detail of the jog wheel encoder. It is optical, the jog wheel has teeth, which drives the little gear on the encoder which is connected to a round thing with slits. An optical sensor detects the time between each slit i guess...

I will put up a step by step soon!

**basspenetrator** · 01-27-2010, 02:41 PM

amazing mod! the reflective surface looks great..

**Patch** · 01-27-2010, 05:32 PM

You have done a truly awesome job there, faeruithir - and TRULY deserve the title of (AT LEAST) Tech Wizard. Looks great.

Any idea if there are any controls on the DM2 that could be modded into a pitch bend and a mod wheel? If I could creat controllers like yours with pitch bend and mod I'd have the PERFECT controller for my set-up!!!

Did you keep the bank change buttons to give you more controls?

Seriously great work there, mate. Love the LEDs! Are they the original LEDs from the DM2? You realise you've started a revolution now, don't you? DM2s are gonna fly off the shelves!

**faeruithir** · 01-27-2010, 05:45 PM

Thanks Patch!
I think the joy stick COULD be made into a pitch bend....not sure..

I did keep the bank buttons. Those are the 4 white indented buttons at the top of the left controller.

The LEDs are the ones right off the DM2. Just de-soldered them from the board and connected them back with wires. Make sure you don't get them the wrong way round though!

Here's a cost roundup:

Mixman DM2 $15 on ebay
arcade buttons 14 x $1.5 second hand = $21
other buttons total to about $15 only! (got em dirt cheap in Hong Kong)
acrylic sheet $26
Laser cutting charge $6 (being a student totally rocks)
Masonite (Free scraps!)
Wire and solder about $10

Total Cost: $93
took about 2 weeks to complete working a few hours a day
but planning took way longer

not too shabby!