hercules mk2 mod it or throw it on junk?

[gpapdj]

i bought a new midi controler herculers rmx.its a decent for the work i need but i have a hercules mk2 now sitting.so i thought if it is possible to make a new body for mk2 to rearange the button and knobs as i want it to use it as a simple midi control(traktor or ableton etc) so i use as main controler rmx and extra mk2.is this possible?will it work?has anyone done it?or should i take a hummer and smash it because if i try to sell it i ll get 30 bucks.any advice will do.

[deevey]

Assumming you mean DJ controller Mk2 and not the "Mp3" mk2

You could Throw the guts inside a broken cheap mixer body e.g. Behringer VMX200 (should be lots of them )

The Mk2 was actually pretty "ok" apart from only USB1 .. I sold mine to a guy who wanted it as a 5.1 sound card, the phono preamp inputs are a nice addition they can be used for timecode with Mixxx, Mixvibes, Torq or VDJ.

[gpapdj]

Assumming you mean DJ controller Mk2 and not the "Mp3" mk2

You could Throw the guts inside a broken cheap mixer body e.g. Behringer VMX200 (should be lots of them )

The Mk2 was actually pretty "ok" apart from only USB1 .. I sold mine to a guy who wanted it as a 5.1 sound card, the phono preamp inputs are a nice addition they can be used for timecode with Mixxx, Mixvibes, Torq or VDJ.

ofcourse the controler mk2.well i think im gonna try to use it into something.

[ToOntown]

It's probable that you can mod that puppy. If you're considering throwing it away might as well open her up and show us her insides!

By my count you can get 28 digital outputs (buttons), 14 analog (knobs/faders - this includes the knobs on the front and the joystick), 4 encoders (2 jogs, and I'm assuming those pitch knobs are endless as well). Plus a bunch of LED outs and a built-in soundcard... Somebody may want to confirm who owns one???

So take off all the caps and remove the screws, get it down to the circuit board, take some good quality pics, and take advantage of this forum. I'm sure people will give you input on designs and such--me included!

[zestoi]

i still use mine as a soundcard and even if/when i get something else (like a K2) i'll still probably keep it. certainly too good to just trash... i remember seeing some video on youtube ages ago of something who did a major mod using a mk2.

[ToOntown]

Seems that somebody has already busted it open - http://forum.djtechtools.com/showthread.php?t=17487

zestoi - this guy?

[zestoi]

zestoi - this guy?

yup - thats the one not sure why he made it quite so big, but it's pretty impressive. i didn't find the jogs too responsive on mine, quite laggy, but still useful for effects or nudging. the mk2's still seem to sell for about 45gbp on uk ebay and one sold for 60 a few days ago so def not worth chucking away maybe i will sell mine if i can get something like that for it - towards a k2 or something. it was my first experiment with digital dj controllers tho, so kind of a shame to get rid of it...

[synthet1c]

if you are feeling gutsy I suggest getting a used efx1000, and replacing the insides with the herc, so you have a midi efx1000... I have a 1000 that has been sitting dormant since i went midi, it is such a great interface for an effect controller, it's a real shame it isn't midi capable...

[zestoi]

this thread made me think about my mk2 again so i just plugged it into my linux laptop without any herc drivers installed... pretty cool as it can just be read as a HID device and the jogs don't seem to be laggy any more...

off to create a midimasher hid mode devices file for it and give it a go in HID mode...

i presume it can be used in HID mode on windows so long as the hercules drivers aren't installed... odd tho as i thought only the mk1 *needed* a driver to show up as midi.

$ ./hiddump 
1: Hercules DJ Console Mk2 
2: Hercules DJ Console Mk2 

choose a device: 1
opening device...
01 80 00 00  00 00 7c 98  72 96 6f 86  00 00 43 00  
00 d7 ff 80  80 
01 00 00 00  00 00 7c 98  72 96 6f 86  00 00 43 00  
00 d7 ff 80  80 
01 00 01 00  00 00 7c 98  72 96 6f 86  00 00 43 00  
00 d7 ff 80  80 
01 00 00 00  00 00 7c 98  72 96 6f 86  00 00 43 00  
00 d7 ff 80  80 
01 00 00 00  00 00 7c 98  72 96 6f 86  00 00 43 00  
00 d6 ff 80  80

[zestoi]

in hid mode u can actually get twice the resolution out of all the faders and pots - not bad - if they all get sent to traktor as pitch bend messages. the resolution of the jogs seems the same tho.

suddenly makes it a more appealing controller to mod