Gotta say, the sketches are very well done.
I think the first design is the best, the moveable separators are a great idea.
The 3rd one looks a little bit like a lunch box, which is kinda cool, but i don’t know about it folding out to become a stand like that, the joint between the two compartments seems like it would been a major stress point with all the folding.
Also how tight a fit would the case be for a midifighter? or would it have a little bit of wiggle room (~1/4 inch on each side)?
Would love to see the third design with a slight addition.
But with a few additions. A sort of elastic brace in which you can place your headphone, and also a velcro patch through which you can feed your cables to MIDIfighter and soundcard.
Got to add a +1 to the not understanding to have a case that can fit two MIDIfighters?
Also, is it possible to have the MIDIfighter fit that well, that you will be able to operate it as easily as it was an original casing?
(And have it have the same height as the average mixer?
Thanks for all the feedback guys.
Holding two Midi Fighters was Ean’s suggestion. I’m not sure how many people actually own two of them, I think that would be worth looking into.
As for patents/copyrights, I can’t imagine NI would have much of a patent on the product. Its just a case for a product, with a few marketing statements attached to it like “innovative zipper free velcro design”. I’m pretty sure to have a patent you need to have a totally unique idea…will check with Ean on this.
The third idea was really me trying to branch out a bit. The idea was that it could hold 2 Midi Fighters, OR 1 MF and a sound card, OR just headphones. I imagine the middle joint would become a major stress point, but considering it will be made of fabric (with stiffeners for the sides), I think it wouldn’t be that much of a problem.
So far I believe the first and second ones would be most practical.
i like 1 and 3 the best. would def want some type of internal tie down velcro strap or something to keep things snug.
i would be concerned over how many folds you can get out of 3 before wear and tear starts happening.
edit: i take it back - #1 is the best because it looks like you might have room for midifighter+soundcard+headphones(=win) when a divider is taken out. still want some kind of tie down to keep things from sliding around.
Since #1 is only the thickness of the MF, which is 1.75 inches, I don’t think it could hold headphones, unless your headphones can fold to less than that thickness. Or we’re talking about earbuds here..
Just a question for everyone
Do you guys know what the difference between the VELCRO design of the X1 case and the ZIPPER design is? As far as I know they’re only selling VELCRO ones now…
why is the velcro one better do you guys think?
I think this is pretty great!
Can anyone help me out with some feedback on the NI cases?
Why did they switch to the velcro design? What was wrong with the zipper one?
What do you guys prefer? Zipper or Velcro?
I need more feedback before i advance in the design process
Updates
Just so everyone knows, this project is still going on!
Heres an update on the case.
Ean said he prefers the zipperless velcro design, so I’ve moved forward with that a bit and started to visualize the design and materials more clearly.
Heres a WIP:
Larger version here
So you can see the case will fit 2 midi fighters and a little more. Currently there are two velcro patches on either side under some faux leather material. The faux leather also extends on two strips to the top of the case, to help the midi fighters stay in place when they are on top of the case(in theory).
Tell me what you all think! Any opinions before I keep going?
Lookin’ good! What about making a smaller, single midi fighter version as well? Space is at a premium in my gigbag, and I wouldn’t want a case that takes up more room than necessary.
I agree that a single MF case may be more useful, since I’m not sure how many people here actually own 2 MFs. But the idea was that it could be used for an MF + something else or 2 MFs + a little something.
I think with the new “deckalized” mapping Ean may be hoping that more people decide to have 2 MFs in their setup, therefore needing a case that holds 2 of them.
Yeah, I think this would be and awesome case for my MIDIfighter and Audio4DJ. 
+1
could i get a little hook/loop on the corner to hang on my bag?
Good idea!
You guys should give me more suggestions!
What’s the thickness like on the Audio 4? I have a Presonus Firebox and it’s about half an inch thicker than a Midi Fighter (just guessing as I don’t have it right in front of me), and im gonna guess about the same in terms of the footprint.
Also maybe it would be worthwhile having a side compartment be along the long side of the case so that USB cables etc don’t have to be folded as much to fit within the case? Maybe just make the case wider (about 1 inch?) to add the long compartment for cables? Kinda like the terribly done ASCII drawing below… best I can do while I’m at work lol.
|…Cables…|
|_____________________|
|…|…|…|
|…|…|…|
|…|…|…|
|…Midi Fighter…|…Midi Fighter/.|…|
|…|…Soundcard…|…|
|…|…|…|
|______________||_____|
And slightly OT: I built sidewalls out of lego for my Midi Fighter and they add about 1/4 inch to each side, would there be room for my Midi Fighter with the lego walls?
Because the Midi Fighter is a highly customizable device, it will be hard for one product to suit everyone’s needs. I will need to consult Ean on how much wiggle room will be given. A 1/4 inch isn’t that much, and I assume the case will be big enough to accomodate for that.
As for cables, I was imagining they would be strapped to the top part of the case, as in the X1 case.
Yo yo,
I’m a massive fan of No 3. I know things might have moved on but it would be good that it could serve as a stand (like the X1). If you did 3 - could you not easily make a 1 and 2 Midi Fighter versions? One just double the hight?
Or am I wading in with oversimplifications?
Make it like a two-compartment luchbox-like thing, made out of the same material of the native istrument control case. I’ll draw something up and take a picture of it if I can, to show you what I mean.
But basically it would be two compartments with the hard to semihard casing around it, and maybe a really luxurious plush interior on a lunchbox type thing (A really nice one would be aluminum shell havles quilted with and plush interior). Then you would have ones like the native instrument material ones that would cost less. Two of these compartments would be held together by a zipper, and carried around, perhaps on a shoulder or small hand strap. They could then be used in between a mixer and deck or simply next to your mixer/ small controller at home, stacked one on top of the other for larger controllers, multiple midifighters, or as a prop for Karlos’ midiFox controllers on either side of a mixer. Inside the compartments, your midiFighter(s), soundcards, cables, midiFox controllers, etc., would sit snug and sound in all your travels. A padded velcro instert would define compartments, to keep separate midifighters from bumping into eachother, or merely separate controllers and cables.
I’ll get pics as quick as I finish my sketches.
Hey Segfault
If you will look on the 1st/2nd page I have already drawn up an idea pretty similar to what you have described. Also, to make the product of the complexity and variety of materials you have described would probably make the case cost more than the NI X1 case (much more especially if it will only be made in small batches). Such a product seems to be beyond the need and capabilities of DJTT.
Perhaps you could simplify your suggestions and fish out some of the ideas that you feel are essential?
So I looked at your illustrations on page two, and I had a face-palm moment. I have a drawing I sketched out remarkably similar to number 3 on your image.
Anyway, a few things I’d like to add to it, now that I’m not quite as spaced out as I was last night:
Make the case an aluminum shell with an interior lined with fabric similar to the NI case, or some other padding. I’m imagining it looking kind of like a small lunchbox. Alternatively, the aluminum shell could be entirely covered in fabric, with a padded lining inside, similar to a slip cover to keep with the zipper design.
I’m not sure how expensive it would be, but I think it would be an excellent idea.
Also, to touch on what Tekki said earlier, having an opening to feed cables through the case would be handy. With the case supporting your midiFighter(s) next to the mixer, you could stash your soundcard underneath the case, keeping it safe and sound and out of sight.
Also; something like this: http://www.slipperybrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/proporta-gadget-bag.jpg
Obviously with a better color scheme, though.