[BUILD LOG/HELP] FX CONTROLLER FOR TRAKTOR. Need few bro-tips.

Hey yo i'm thinking about building a fx controller for traktor as i dj with my friend and if one is trying to do fx as the other is stomping on my numark omni it becomes a bit thight there. you get the point. So yeah i wanted to make a controller for Fx and have made an layout as you can see in the picture.
http://s528.photobucket.com/albums/d...ontroller1.jpg
So yeah it consist of 8 push knobs and 8 arcade buttons and 16 leds. As the mapping i think i will let the push active the effect which is kinda obvious? But when you press the D/W you will turn it into a super knob and create a massive mess, which can be cool. Arcade buttons would then be for like making build ups with beatmasher like in the instant gratification mapping for the MF, like one button creates 1 bar loop, next 1/2 and so on. But enough of that shi.
Things i need help with:
What is the best "brain" to build this from? I have seen someone use a gamepad, but i have also seen things like this but that costs much more. So what is the cheapest and easiest thing to use as a brain.

Also is it harder to map push knobs than just regular knobs? And can i use every knob or do i need some special type?

[ame="http://s528.photobucket.com/albums/dd321/Kurbitur/mysetup/?action=view&current=MidiController1.jpg"]mysetup :: MidiController1.jpg picture by Kurbitur - Photobucket[/ame] here is a link to photo

my thoughts for FX:

sooner or later you will have FX premaped to single button like midifighter and you will need at least 360 knobs with incremental ability to modified that values wich will jump every time you hit some button(preset). and if you can buy with led rings so you dont need to watch at laptop.

at the end buy BCR2000, its easier and cheaper :)

Well, i could just buy a bcr2000 but that thing is kinda of huge compare to my idea, and it doesn't have push knobs and arcade buttons. Also making stuff is fun!

hmmm ... the concept is sorta similar to a LPD8 ... have fun building but if need be, look into an LPD8.

:cool:

You're right on that one, didn't realize until now.

I'm going to jack this from MiL0...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a7NU98fSMI

he has shown us how easy it is to mod the PCB of the LPD8 simply by soldering onto the underside. if you want to solder arcade buttons onto it, i imagine you can do that as well, although that is slightly more difficult.

this of course is assuming you still want to customize the layout. i should also mention that you can't use push pots with this PCB...you would need 8 more digital solder points.

if those need to be push pots, you might want to look into another brain, like Arduino (advanced), Teensy (intermediate), or the Leo Bodnar BU0836X (novice).

LPD8 is like born to be fx controller! I use it mainly as an fx controller, but there are 3 more banks for other stuff. Just genius.
Building a controller will cost about 25 euros, ldp8 costs 50 and ist much much better.
But hell yea, it's too much of temptation to build one! :D

And as I see, if you decide to build it from gamepads, you are going to need two of them. That way, you are going to use 16 of 24 buttons, so reconsider adding another row of arcade buttons.

Hey there Dj-techtools.

A bit of update of what i'm thinking about. I think i will build from http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836X/ as it looks quiet simple, but i could also save some money and build from this http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836/.
What is this matrix thingy i need in the smaller one? and is it more complicated to use than the larger one?.

As for arcade buttons i think i will just buy some fro the DJTT shop as they are cheap and work.

For knobs, would these work? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=180638088237
and can i solder leds to them like on normal potentiometer? As when i turn the knob the led will become brighter as in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAosgd9Cy6U

As for case i will just make something up and paint it cool.

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Originally Posted by Kurbitur

I think i will build from http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836X/ as it looks quiet simple, but i could also save some money and build from this http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836/.
What is this matrix thingy i need in the smaller one? and is it more complicated to use than the larger one?.

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the X model is much easier to work with, but it will ultimately be up to you how much time you want to put into it and how much money you're willing to spend. there might be a steeper learning curve with the matrix too.

Quote:

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For knobs, would these work? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=180638088237
and can i solder leds to them like on normal potentiometer? As when i turn the knob the led will become brighter as in this video

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Those are encoders not potentiometers. They rotate 360 degrees and lack a relative position. You sound like you want pots, not encoders. So to answer your question, no, those would not work and the LED would not work like that video either. I don't know where to find push pots, sorry.

I don't think push pots exists so i think i will have to go use these encoders, or use pots and mini pushbuttons, if i have enough slots for that. But yeah i think i will go with the x model.