Hey all, just had some free time this afternoon and chucked a few things together in my favorite 3D app. Basically I wanted to set out and design my ideal midi controller based on a CDJ paradigm. What I have thus far is not near my finished concept–design/functional or otherwise. I also have a few other radical designs on brain paper but since this is kind of a personal project to keep in mind cost considerations I stuck with the standard box. Functionality not included thus far are external memory and browser controls probably worked into the inset area near the front. Also a lot of details are not there.
Nevertheless this unit would incorporate hi-res midi signal, robust platter and tempo adjustment with a standard collection of buttons and CCs. It would include a USB, midi in/out and power adapter. No CD player…this is a pure midi device.
I have no plans to ever fabricate this outside the virtual world but thought that some of you would be interested to see/comment on the concept as I have yet to see a very economical solution to deck controls on the market, i.e you get a VCI with it’s IMO lame jogs or a CDJ with wasted/unused servos.
What would you guys add/change to a device like this?
Quite true. It’s not very efficient, though i’m a bit torn between a classical design and a more progressive aesthetic. I just needed a starting point to get this personal project underway. Another concept would merge a circular base with elevated areas for controls.
“I want it to have my babies.”
Lol, There IS a glory hole on the bottom but I never really had the intention to incorporate a mini in/out.
I mean, dont get me wrong. This is perhaps the sexiest piece of kit I’ve seen hahaha, and I like that concavity, butttt, It is a tad wasteful, and I feel lots of people will have problems with that.
That, Stanton looks very nice. Dunno what 900AUD translates into EUR or USD but I would want this to sell for no more than 200-300USD.
Also, keep in mind this is about 2 hours behind a 3D app with no real reference than memory. I will want to add more controls, perhaps a basic LED and other gizmos. The main thrust of this is inexpensive but stylish and functionality. I’ll continue to develop based on other things I would like and your comments.
Oh yeah, for a sense of scale I used standard dimension from CDJ-1000
Thanks
Oooh, those assignable controls on the stanton are the teets
Comments. arcade button cue points!
I think a run of 8 buttons with 2 at the top for modifying would be perfect. run down the side of the unit. I’d have something like:
. .
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
with the o’s being the arcade buttons and the .'s being 2 modifier buttons.
In fact… I think you could just about ghetto/DIY this controller. The hard part is the platter. Both the fabrication of it and the touch-sensor on it.
Can anyone find a diy part that works as a touch sensor that we can connect to a larger platter.
B.C.Ninja’s Mod to the xbox controller has nearly enough buttons.
LOL, yup.
I will post some new images tomorrow. My concern w/arcade button near a tempo bend would be the ease of accidentally strafing a button and jumping cues. Though I could push the platter ove a bit a make adjustments. BTW the top row of buttons were placed with the intention of hut cues. I’ll sit down and do a napkin sketch fior a different design.
I love rootsy controllers like this! I’m not much of a controllerist, so simple devices like this are very much up my alley.
Big touchy-touchy jog wheel, big and smooth 100mm pitch fader, and extra programmable tactile bits for the individual preference. Big, solid fundamental elements of the classical DJ workflow.
If this existed, I’d sell my decks and keep these controllers on my home “stress relief and friends over for drinks” rig.
space monkey good point. But your design shows the platter as raised. So the chance of hitting the buttons should be fairly low. Unless pitch bending and then how much room off the side do you need to make it easy… the width of a button maybe less?
that is a very nice render - if that was priced at under £300 per unit I’d be very tempted! Are you doing this just for a bit of fun, or are you planning on trying to get these things produced? I’d take it exactly as it is - it’s the perfect design for my needs… you can always add another controller if you need arcade buttons…
