DIY controller, midi fighter style

I was thinking, I love those midi controllers, but isn't it to expensive for only 16 buttons controller, when you can have the same with velocity for half the price (mpd 18, or other like that one). Then I thought it would be awesome if I could build my own one, but the problem is that I don't know how to use those midi/usb interfaces (not sure of that word, check the french translation if you don't get it).
Anyway, I came to the conclusion that the easyest way to make my own midi fighter would be to use a cheap, velocity-pad style controller, and to remix it into an amazing midi fighter style super-explosive-awesome-controller. After browsing the internet, I've set my choose on the korg nanopad 2, witch provides 16 pads, that can be turned in buttons, and 4 banks, plus a nice looking tactile section that can be very nice to play with, and some nice gate features.
So the basic idea is to take the nano pad, f**k it up to keep good parts (electronic, usb stuff, plus the touch-sensitive area), and replace the pads with good arcade buttons, LA style (YEAAH).
I've not started yet the project, but it's comming soon. I hope you guys like the idea, tell me what you think about it, if you have any advices, I'm ready to take the all, else, if you have some questions, don't hesitate!

Stay tuned, more comming soon

Why would you sacrifice velocity sensitivity? There is no real benefit for arcade buttons over pads other than that they are easier to DIY.

What I'd do is see how complex the PCB is between the left 8 pads and the right 8 ones. Chances are you have a pretty limited amount of PCB tracks that you could sever and reconnect with wires to make a 16 pad grid. Be aware that some PCB's are multilayerd, meaning thet tracks run IN the pcb as well. If you'd make some good macro photo's of the pcb maybe I can tell if it is or not.

Are you aware that Korg (had?) quality issues with the x-y pad? If it is hackable, you can also hook up 2 pots or a joystick for controls.

If above can be done. It's tempting to try myself....

I'd like some arcade buttons to play finger drumming (mad zach style), after having bought the novation launchpad, and an akai mpd, i discovered that playing this way, in my opinion, is much more enjoyable. First, with tinny buttons (not to much, those on the launchpad are maybe to tiny, but the MPD makes it hard to play fast, and many differents sounds at the same time, because of the way it's built). Then I think that to play samples, buttons are better because you don't need velocity, and they feel better; while playng on my pads i end up nearly beating it, beacause it dosent have a trigger feel (not sure to explain it well). One other fact is that buttons on the lauchpad have a weired feel, and sometimes block a bit while playing, because of the two times pushing (you push it halfway, and then totally), as opposed to arcade buttons wich, in my opinion, realy stick to the idea i have of finger drumming with samples. One other point, not the most important though, the look realy great.

What do you mean by PCB? If you mean the way "notes" are placed on the grid, if figured that the raws are exactly like a 16 pads grid, but not the same places --> high left 4 buttons would be the 1st line four ones (first line being the closest from you when playing), high right would be the second, down left the third, and down right the top line.

(I now get what you mean by PCB, after googling it ^^, (I'm french so...)) I've not already bought the korg thing, but I'll get it soon. I re-oppenned my MPD and there seems to be only two connections for each pad, which seams weired because of the velocity thing. the hole pad section is suppoted by a metal part, wich could be something like the ground connection, nothing sure about that. anyway, eveni if pads are to be used with three connecttions, there might be a way to turn those into a two way connection for the buttons. (join photos of the mad sectin of the mpd, more comminh soonAttachment 13474Attachment 13475