Want a custom controller???

[achim]

this one's gonna be a challenge :eek: :eek:

http://www.djforums.com/forums/showp...6&postcount=19

It's a modular design, but here's an example layout.



Originally designed for a stanton contest on djforums,

[Nephew]

I'm liking where this is going

[cmcpress]

i have some awesome ideas for controllers. Would you be using midibox?

[Nephew]

Little something I whipped up, but instead of 8 channels I would want 10

[Str8upDrew]

-milo
My digital camera is busted, don't know what the problem is, i probably could fix it, but its old so i'm going to just get a new one. As soon as i get it i will post pics of my current projects.

-MisterMoleyMole
It all depends on what you need, some good starting points are the hale-32, the leo bodnar HID (not midi), the arduino (capable of quite a bit), and the midi box, just a few suggestions.

-cmcpress
I do use the midibox for some projects, i haven't tried a stm32 core yet but i really want to soon. The 32 is interchangeable with the older core, so i plan on swapping it out with my 1st midi box project that i haven't used in years.

-the modular controller
Looks like quite a build, Those lcd buttons can get really expensive, if they just want little lcd screens it would be cheaper, but the lcd buttons would be more fun, a 12" touch lcd can be costly too. This would take a lot of time for design and coding. I haven't got any experience with OSC, but i've heard its pretty easy.
On a controller like this i would probably want to take away the laptop all together. Put the computer end of this inside the 12" lcd case.
Making it modular would be a nice challenge. Trying to conceal all of the cables in the case would be a bitch.
Maybe add a keyboard module, the have you could have a custom Openlabs Neko style thing going on.

It could be done, but in all honesty, i don't know if it would be a good idea for me to get into a module based system. But on the other hand....
you just got the gears going...... to the drawing board.....
for a module based system of my own design. (nothing as extravagant as seen above) but my system wont cost thousands of dollars like i foresee that build costing.

[Str8upDrew]

Little something I whipped up, but instead of 8 channels I would want 10

If you really want that it can be done. Just a few questions for you...
-Do you want the small lcd's to be color or will gray/green scale do?
-Would you like the computer to be integrated?
-Would you want to keep it modular for the possibility of adding future controls?
-Rotary encoders or standard pots?
-Any led rings or bars?

[achim]

As much fun as it would be, the little LCDs aren't LCD-buttons, cause a single screenkey goes for 30-50 € and isn't even velocity sensitive. But a velocity sensitive pad with build in OLED screen would be the kick-ass, unfortunately no one makes one yet. Hence these are regular velocity-sensitive pads/buttons and regular LCDs, probably large (whole width) ones which are covered to divide them into 8 smaller displays. I'd like so many LCDs cause I never want to look at the laptop (The 12" is for a lemur like controller and/or for displaying videos)

Originally Posted by Nephew View Post

Little something I whipped up, but instead of 8 channels I would want 10

I "hardwired" it to a fixed amount of channels because if you wanna have a modular amount of channels, each element would be it's own module, making it way to complicated. I did choose 8 channels as 10 would be too much for the desired with of a module (which is based on the width of a 12" LCD/tablet)

-Do you want the small lcd's to be color or will gray/green scale do?
-Would you like the computer to be integrated?
-Rotary encoders or standard pots?
-Any led rings or bars?

gray/green-scale would do, but 2 color (red/green) would def. be useful

Not sure if I would put the computer inside. Maybe I'd create a module case which can hold a 12" convertible/tablet.

I'd say one module with Rotary encoders and another with standard pots

If using a single line LCD strip, then with LED rings. If using 2-line LCDs, one could use these to display the curr value. But rings are def. the nicer solution



Akeem

[Str8upDrew]

Speaking of screen-key's...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWkjtnd367Q

I want one...

[Str8upDrew]

If you want it, it can be done. Just to let you know though, it's going to take a long time to build all of those modules and getting them all to work together.

[achim]

he he, I know. And super expensive. It was more intended as a starting point for the community. As you seem to have the experience and kindly offered your services, I was thinking maybe we all could come up with some kind of semi-modular design which would work for most people. If the design and the software would then be open-source, it could be used by many people here to build their dream controller... or you sell the modules??? dunno, if we all can come up with a good design, maybe a donation pool could be arranged and the prototype development financed from that... then see what's next... Just thinking out loud.

Have you seen xndr's modules at http://www.machinecollective.org ? (Also check his flickr page). His prototyping modules come close to what I envisioned, but lack the LCD feedback. And I prefer long strip-modules than square-modules. Think it's more flexible. Anyway, some good designs on his site, also on the enclosures.