# how to replace keyboard with arcade buttons?

**URL:** <https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/how-to-replace-keyboard-with-arcade-buttons/29788>\
**Category:** Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear\
**Created:** [September 14, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/how-to-replace-keyboard-with-arcade-buttons/29788 "2011-09-14T20:29:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DJ\_Pabloco](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/dj_pabloco/32/15095_2.png) [@DJ\_Pabloco](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/DJ_Pabloco)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/how-to-replace-keyboard-with-arcade-buttons/29788/1 "2011-09-14T20:29:19Z")

</div>

**how to replace keyboard with arcade buttons?**

Well, one guy in town came up to me and asked why I use arcade buttons( the midi fighter) and naturally I just told him that its because they feel amazing and they’re super responsive. He says he would love to try something with the arcade buttons for a month or two and I would love to give him my midifightersss- but i need them. So i offered him that I would take his USB keyboard and transform it into like two midifighters. His keyboard looks like this.

 ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/uploads/techtools/original/3X/e/6/e6dc4238814b2198e9cb2cde8374d03226693ab2.jpeg)

and I plan on making something like this

I put the keyboard there just so it doesn’t go to waste and now he doesnt have to touch his laptop.

Now i thought this would be a fun project- especially since he is paying for everything except the enclosure which I am making from some wood laying in my garage.

now the only thing I dont know how to do is solder the arcade buttons onto the keys. I know how but i dont know where is really what i should say. Here is a picture of the insides…

there is another keyboard I can try or is it easier to just take two numpads? cuz i think there are 16 buttons on each one. Right?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DJDoubleYou](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/djdoubleyou/32/12496_2.png) [@DJDoubleYou](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/DJDoubleYou)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/how-to-replace-keyboard-with-arcade-buttons/29788/2 "2011-09-14T20:38:14Z")

</div>

I think you should try an (older) difrent keyboard.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DJ\_Pabloco](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/dj_pabloco/32/15095_2.png) [@DJ\_Pabloco](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/DJ_Pabloco)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/how-to-replace-keyboard-with-arcade-buttons/29788/3 "2011-09-14T21:43:26Z")

</div>

one with a big pcb and no matrix… gonna be hard to find

unless this one would work

![](http://www.buypcsupplies.com/images/cat/38597_xlargenss_ndo4254.jpg)

theres probably tons of those in my garage..