Hercules DJ Console MKII mod

DJ Gear & Hardware Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear
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Hercules DJ Console MKII mod

I have been at DJ Techtools for a while now and now it’s time to make my first post!

Djing is something I do for fun and I would like to take it to the next level with a better controller.
I own a Hercules DJ Console MKII right now, but would like to modify it to my own likings. There is no plan for the layout yet. I did some research on the inside and found out it uses membrane switches. Is it possible to short circuit the same signal by soldering a hardware switch, like a arcade button, on to the ground and signal? Or is there more to it?

To illustrate the board I made some pictures:

[ATTACH]3156[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]3158[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]3157[/ATTACH]

I would really appreciate your help to make my mod possible :slight_smile:

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whatever you do, don’t cut the green wire!!!

kidding :wink: this is way above my head.

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I’ve been asking around. It is possible to just use the same contacts and solder an arcade button onto it. If it works in the end, i just have to try out :slight_smile:

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It is, it can be tricky though. So if you haven’t done something like it before, i would buy a cheap universal tv remote, they all pretty much use membrane switches, and practicing on that.

5

I do know how to solder, but i have no knowledge of circuits. I’ve got an idea for the design, the current options of the controller are actually great for a midi fighter like layout!

I am thinking of two platters with 16 buttons in the middle, and four underneath each deck. I’ve got a A&H Xone:42 for the external mixing, so i can use the faders for effects, which will be on top of the deck, including the pots.

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I have been working on the design of my new controller. The only problem with the layout are the current faders, they are too small, I would like them slightly bigger. The current faders are 570mm and I would like them at an length of 8 or 9 centimeter. My current faders are 100k, does anyone have a good advise on new ones?

Here is my new design:

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^ nice!

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The jog wheels are made of two HDD platters with a 7" record clamped between them. I was wondering if it is possible to make the HDD platters touch sensitive so I can alter the function when i touch the jog wheel in the middle? Is there a solution for this idea? I do hope so!

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cunductive paint on your vinyl migh help, although you might loose your much apprechiated vinly-feel :eek:

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I have the MK1 and I also want to do thing like that because those buttens works very bad.
please picture all of your progress…
how you soldering the arcade butten on that membrane switches?

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I am planning on soldering the arcade buttons on the same points the membrane switches are on, only the ground will come from one source, I think. That is much easier.
I will post as much progress as possible. With pictures!:slight_smile:

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a bit of reply here so i can keep updated on this. got one too, and im dying to mod it myself.