If you’re in the UK and your looking for a cheap little project to get working with, then this might be what you’re looking for. Lots of buttons, just make a new case for it. 85 keys and no need for a third party software. Deckadance included if you’re that way inclined to.
Anyone modded one of these before? It states that it’s a keyboard, so I’m not sure if you press more than 3 keys at the same time they will all work. Led’s look a little shit as well as they are on all the time, but I’m sure with a little work, you would be able to get round this.
It’s a HID device rather than a MIDI one, I suspect mapping it to other functions other than it is programmed with “may” be an issue. I don’t know the device, if it doesn’t have an editor program like the Korg’s etc. it might only ever be a deckadance unit.
I have a couple of old units similar to this bought very cheap and was unable to get anything useful out of them ..
However it’s CHEAP ! …and before opening it up, see if you can re-map it to trakor ..if you can’t leave it as is, and mess about in deckadance - the last version wasn’t too bad really.
@Stewe, have you actually modded one yet? I have, and they are a PITA. but the editor was a godsend, each button can be remapped to any note-on, CC or MTA transport.
Something so small isn’t really a good starting point … but they are lovely to mod (when you have all the right tools).
this build is a bit old now, and i’ve replaced the black fader caps with white ones, and counter sunk all the fixings and used anodised black hex bolts … just looks prettier.
The other thing thats changed is the box, i replaced it with a 5mm black acrylic box … again, just for looks.
when the baby wakes up at 3am, stay up with the soldering iron .. in fact make him/her a MIDI enabled mobile, as your baby touches the bits of the mobile, you could get it to play soothing songs or animal noises …
Actually I didn’t mod any of those but they seem very easy to set especially cos it comes with editor Would be cool to combine two nano controls if those can speak at the same time in different midi channels and build 4midi style of controller but it’s pretty much a thought for now… (as many)
F1 project is great! You are all set for remix deck openings, brake a leg
I have some “middleware” that sort of controls the REMIX decks as well as Machine 1.7 (changing page, changes MIDI channel) …but it’s rubbish LOL (I wrote it).
If modding for the first time, I would not recommend the nano, they are really too small and even I as an “expert” I kept breaking wires off, by simply handling it.
The other thing to note is, if any of the circuits are left open i.e. remove a pot/fader and don’t connect it to something else, one would experience random weirdness from signals/crosstalk coming from other devices.
As a recommendation for modding, I love the faderfox DX series, absolute simplicity and so simple to add different components.
New they are yes, but on the 2nd hand market, i regularly grab them for under €40 …more or less the same price as a second hand nano1.
as for the EKS10, I’ve never had one open, but I do know many have been modded with great success … maybe I should look into it.
Anyway these days with all the PIC, ARM, ATMega based USB development boards, we should be making controllers from the ground up … I personally love the Teensy2++ and have ordered a few of the new 32bit Teensy 3’s.
This is the only way (I think) you can fake the REMIX deck controls.
Here’s something to mod … unless everyone bids on it. Nice and cheap, and super easy to mod.
BTW it’s far easier finding cheap ones in local auctions, listings in the small ads of papers etc. as soon as something is on eVilBay it goes through the roof. I’ve seen 2nd hand ones sell for more than new ones !!
Other disadvantage is you cant take the pcb out of the original casing without enabling the touch sensitivity on the platter. In other words, any time anything solid goes near the platter it activates the touch sensitive part of the wheel, rendering the two part layer of the jog wheel useless. I’ve got a couple and found modding them outside of the original case pretty much hopeless. Lots of buttons, touch sensitive wheel and a pitch fader means I will still keep them and think about using them whilst in the case or extending shaft for the jog wheel somehow. If anyone finds a work around for this then they would be a modders dream, especially combined with a nano or a x-session.
The sound card on them is a minor advantage, but setting them up can be a pain.
if it’s capacitive (it sounds like it), very hard to mod. resistive is easier ..but not “easy” by any means. The problem is that they expect a certain range of values, when you change the components, those values change. They can be “settled” by using various circuits - something I’m sure I could design (given enough time to figure out what is what).
I’m going to say capacitive, though I have no real basis for this guess. What would be the difference? I’m aware of phones having a resistive screen and a stylus, the xp10 isn’t like that. It’s more like one of those lamps you can turn on and off by touching the body of the lamp.
in fact make him/her a MIDI enabled mobile, as your baby touches the bits of the mobile, you could get it to play soothing songs or animal noises …
Would be cool to combine two nano controls if those can speak at the same time in different midi channels and build 4midi style of controller but it’s pretty much a thought for now… (as many)
