DIY turntable (for learning)?

DJ Gear & Hardware CDJ & Vinyl DJing
1

DIY turntable (for learning)?

Hi! I need to covertly learn to scratch. What this means is that I can’t buy any equipment, and anything I make can’t be gigantic.

I believe I have more than enough stuff lying around to create this. Here are some things that might be of interest:

  • An old mouse or two
  • A few harddrives to take apart
  • Netduino (C# version of Arduino)
  • A raspberry pi with a piface
  • Decent knowledge of how to solder
  • Wires, resistors, etc.

I can also fluently program in Java, C#, Python, C++, and JavaScript.

Is this even remotely possible? I know it’s really easy to make a jog wheel, but what about something that actually turns on its own. And keep in mind, this can be a really shitty turntable.

2

Uhhhh..

I think you’re in for a project that will end up costing way more than a cheap turn table.

3

How much would that cost? All the turntables I’ve ever seen are pretty expensive. And there’s not really an easy way to find the best “worst” turntable. Any recommendations?

4

You can’t learn to scratch on a really shitty turntable (in your words). Yes, you may learn to move a record forwards and backwards, but that on it’s own is not scratching. You need at least one turntable and a mixer before you will learn anything useful.
Find someone you know with decks and use theirs instead :slight_smile:

5

“Today on Blue Peter, we’re going to show you how to build a pair of 1200s and a mixer out of half an empty bottle of washing up liquid, some sticky back plastic, and a broken television.”

I’m sorry, Regexninja, but EVERYTHING in your post deserves, nay, DEMANDS, an explanation. There is a story there and we want to hear it. You want to build your own turntable from broken Mice because you need to secretly learn to scratch?

This is what the internet was made for. Spill it Bud. :slight_smile:

6

There are plenty of cheap tables out there. They may not be the best, but you can certainly try to scratch on them. Numark, Audio Technica.

7

Is DJ’ing against your religion? I can’t understand why you’d have to hide this.

8

Turntable MacGyver… I approve. Pictures please!

9

You could build a jog wheel type controller out of the parts you listed. There are some projects on the web but while you could maybe get a feel for it (very roughly) you are still looking at getting equipment. For the pure heck of it you should build something and have a ball with it. Good luck and keep us posted.

10

Maybe these will give you some ideas…have fun with it

“diy dj controller” + google will help too

11

I agree with the above: This is maybe not the ideal approach to learning how to DJ, but nevertheless sounds like a very interesting project. Give it a shot and make sure you document it well – I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s curious to see what you come up with!