crappy mixer upgrades
Results 1 to 10 of 10
  1. #1

    Default crappy mixer upgrades

    im not buying a new mixer, so what can one do with a crappy four channel mixer aside from getting a new cross-fader?

  2. #2
    Tech Mentor
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Southern Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    244

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mixmasterpayton View Post
    im not buying a new mixer, so what can one do with a crappy four channel mixer aside from getting a new cross-fader?
    Hack into its controls and turn it into your own midi controller!!!!

    See mine:

    Stock on the front:


    Almost stock on the back:


    Not so stock on the inside:


    Behringer would never do this:


    Closeup of DX-500-M guts:


    One more closeup:

  3. #3
    Tech Wizard alex8337's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    43

    Default

    More information:
    Are you using turntables?
    Are you using CDJ's?
    Are you using a media player of some type?
    What kind of mixing are you into, scratch, beat mixing, sampling????

    To attempt to answer your extremely vague question. If I had a crappy four channel mixer (I didn't want to upgrade) and used Traktor pro, I'd attempt to add to it by getting either a Midi Fighter or Novation Dicer. Also, Korg's new nano midi controllers are cheap and look ok.
    ThinkPad 2.53ghz Core2 | Windows7 32bit | Kontrol S4 | Hercules 4-Mx | Midi Fighter | KRK 8" Rockit's

  4. #4

    Default well

    i am a hard core turntablist and this mixer would be for performing but i would still like to do turntablist like activities. Im buying an inno fader and an inno juster that i was going to cut a hole and mount into the front, but thats all that immediately comes to time.

  5. #5

    Default and also

    djnecro, that is most impressive work on that mixer:eek:. that something i am nowhere near prepared for though.

  6. #6
    Tech Mentor
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Southern Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    244

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by alex8337 View Post
    More information:
    Are you using turntables?
    Are you using CDJ's?
    Are you using a media player of some type?
    What kind of mixing are you into, scratch, beat mixing, sampling????

    To attempt to answer your extremely vague question. If I had a crappy four channel mixer (I didn't want to upgrade) and used Traktor pro, I'd attempt to add to it by getting either a Midi Fighter or Novation Dicer. Also, Korg's new nano midi controllers are cheap and look ok.
    I started in the early 90's with vinyl as most of did, I used Torq with tc-vinyl while I had the space for a complete setup (2x12's and a mixer), but I don't have the room for it all so I built a few midi controllers to let me get back into it again

    As for my style, just normal everyday bedroom dj'ing... nothing special yet.. my controllers are in a constant state of flux so practice doesn't make much sense yet. A pic of my current setup is below:


  7. #7
    Tech Guru MiL0's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Brighton / Bangkok
    Posts
    1,386

    Default

    Necro - I don't really get what you've done in those pictures (although it looks impressive!) - can you briefly explain the mod? looks like you've converted an analogue audio mixer into a midi controller? how did you use log potentiometers which are designed for audio, in a midi controller (which usually requires linear pots)?

  8. #8
    Tech Mentor derschaich's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Munich
    Posts
    412

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MiL0 View Post
    Necro - I don't really get what you've done in those pictures (although it looks impressive!) - can you briefly explain the mod? looks like you've converted an analogue audio mixer into a midi controller? how did you use log potentiometers which are designed for audio, in a midi controller (which usually requires linear pots)?
    +1 on the log potis, have some log-faders lying aroud from old stereo, would love to use them on my diy-mod

  9. #9
    Tech Mentor
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Southern Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    244

    Default

    The volume faders are log, and they are a little bit of a pain to deal with, but since I don't use the volume faders for anything other than quick cuts I can deal with it for now... as soon as I can find some spare cash I will likely swap them out for linear ones...

    I replaced the crossfader since it was so old and dirty it was useless, even for midi purposes...

    The channel pots seem to be linear, I haven't encountered any issues with them, the master/zone/headphones are log, but they are set it and forget it knobs, so no worries there.

    I haven't tapped into the buttons yet, and I may end up replacing them with momentaries, as they are all toggles at the moment.

    Essentially, the wiring is the same as it would be for any other kind of DIY controller, I just cut the pot leads that go into the board to isolate them from the rest of the circuit (i tried just tapping into them, but I got wonky values due to the rest of the circuit interfering. I'll likely post a little how to one of these days about the generics of midi controllers/buttons/faders/encoders/etc...

    It seems MUCH harder than it actually is... Just like dj'ing... you were all amazed when you first saw a dj do his stuff, but when you finally got your own gear, you realized that the actual skill involved is not that tough, its what you do with the skill that makes it amazing...

  10. #10
    DJTT Tankard fullenglishpint's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    St Albans, UK
    Posts
    7,097

    Default

    If you could post a how to that would be great, I'm sure a lot of people on here would be very interested. Maybe even a video of it in action?
    TSP 2 | Serato DJ | Live 8 | MBP (SSD + HDD) | AIAIA TMA-1 Fool's Gold Edition | 1200 Mk2s | MidiFighter | KRK RP5
    Xone: DB4 | Pioneer CDJ-2000 Nexus
    DJTT FAQ | Read my guide to AUDIO CABLES

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •