Opening up the Numark Mixtrack. . . .

DJ Gear & Hardware Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear
1

Opening up the Numark Mixtrack. . . .

Welp, I opened up my Mixtrack for some certain modding, and to see what can/can’t be done within the case/specs. . .found interesting things that made me happy, but over all dissappointed. . .I have pics from myspace page just to show it here. Some of the pics are blurry (damn camera is messed up atm). That I apoligize for that. . .Here it goes. . .

Turned her over and screwd away. . .no pun intended. . .and began my look into moddin the unit for:

  1. arcade button Mod (for obvious reasons)
  2. replace the cord with a simple USB Female B connector (I just don’t like the cord attached to it)
  3. other potential mods (crossfader reverse button/switch)
  4. replacement faders (the cf with the unit felt flimsy, and the line faders are a bit too tight)


#2 looks to be an VERY easy mod. . .
the cord connects to the PCB via another connection, so thus a mod and a connector from sparkfun is very plausible. :slight_smile:


This part struck me as odd, as this was the tail-end of the UBS cord for the unit that connects below a connector I have’t seen. . .maybe an firmware upgrade for the mxt :confused:? Can anyone enlighten me on this?

As for #1, it appears it can be done. . .for one side only! Let me explain. . . .

Looking from the bottom, the right side cue/stutter buttons is a seperate pcb, like the VCi-100’s, thus I was ver happy to see that. :slight_smile:

Measured the placement and spacing for each button, and it looks like the Sanwas DJTT sells in the shop will work ver ver easily.

roughly 30mm wide.

and 28mm top to bottom.

the pcb is almost exactly the same on the VCi-100, albeit much much smaller


buuuuut. . . .

to my dismay, the entire right side (orientation for the unit right side up, mind you) is all one sngle pcb:rage:

so for my checklist
#4 fader replacement. . .check!
3 CF reverse switch. . .check!
#2 Replace USB cord with removable USB cord. . .absolutely!
but #1. . . .1/2 good . . .left side only :disappointed:

Not too much of a let down, but I was really looking forward to an arcade mod on this thing. . .I guess my search for a used VCi-100 in my area is underway. . . .

Just thought I’d share that with you guys. . .and again. . .sorry if some of the pics are blurry. . . .

Dj Windz One

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Thanks for taking the time to post the pictures mate, would be interested to see how this works out!

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The only things I know that I can definitely do is swap the USB and the cross fade switch. . .

There’s not much that I can do with the button mod though. It can only be done to one side unless I can remove/relocate the PCB’s for the button mod. . . I need to remove everything and see what I’m working with though. . .

and gigs have been kickin me in the butt. . .

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If someone was to build a new case for this and add new pots/xfader/faders/buttons would they be able to remove the original pots/faders etc etc, and use the main board as a MIDI brain?

I count 20 faders, 36 buttons, 1 encoder and 2 touch sensitive wheels all from 1 USB connection? That’s a lot for your money if you’re a Modder.

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@Archies’bald

When I did this (take it apart), I considered the exact same thing. . .The only thing holding me back was parts, and the time it would take to do this, as well as other the mods (arcade buttons and a “hamster” switch). But in my head, why bother when you got the basics already laid out, although I HATE the center line fader!

I’d say go for it. . .what’ve you got to lose? Money and Time (both of which I need more of!)

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Aye, money and time are things I’ve got loads of…:roll_eyes:

Looking at the specs I reckon this thing would do well if the soldering is accessible from the underside. It’s cheaper than 2 x EKS XP10’s (from Ebay) and it has more analogue signals. Button numbers would be a little lower, but the fact that you are getting 2 ‘scratchable decks’ from one usb should be a plus if you have tools/parts lying around…

I’m intrigued.

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how much do they cost? £130? yeah, seems like a pretty good deal, as a midi brain (especially as the jog wheels look pretty decent and can be recycled in a new controller).

I might look into this myself.., once I (finally) get the XP10 mod finished lol

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@Mil0
It’s definately viable, considering the jogs are connected to the PBC’s with a single wire.

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what would the wiring diagram be for the usb connector

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@DJAttackZ
I would have no idea. I would use a multimeter and find out which wire/bar to solder a new replaceable one.

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Too bad there’s no room for a sandwich compartment :disappointed:. Keep you sammich col while you DJ, that would be cool. : P

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But, I like my sammiches warm! :stuck_out_tongue:

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Perhaps you can manage to mod a heating element on the jogwheel, just put your sandwich on there so the more you scratch the hotter your sammich gets. Great ideas always start in forums!

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the more i look at this thing, the more i think about the modding capabilities. it has a ton of LEDs. i’d love to see what the button pads look like under the tactile buttons to see how easy it would be to solder new ones.

the main thing for me is the durablity of the case. this looks and feels cheap but the brain is solid. i’d look into some other type of enclosure though it doesn’t seem like it would lend itself well to one.

i’d probably keep the jog wheels, reposition the knobs, throw in a USB female like you said, arcade button the shit out of it… tough call though.

also, the Pro version has a built-in sound card and that would be cool to utilize.

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@ToOntown
I’ve looked at every plausible mod that could be done to this thing. The LED’s may bring about some issues, but I don’t see it being that big of a headache to replace those.

Arcade Mode - unless you want to made another case specifically for the arcade mode, somewhat plausible. The PCB for 1 side, like I mentioned, is one single PCB, the other is near replica of a VCi-100 (seperate PCB). The idea to add another PCB strip and just rewire the hell outta it for an arcade mod is very do-able. There’s a TON of room to work with if yer going to wire new buttons in there, but the PCB limits the depth of those buttons.

If yer are going to do it, Keep ME posted. . .I found a guys selling a Mixtrack here in San Diego. . and I might just pick it up for the sake of modding!!

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Hey I like that other people are exploiting the mixtrack as much as I am. I mean when i first got it i was like “wow this thing is cheap,” but after some tactile add-ons, an extensive ean golden-like mapping, and some reworking, it is actually a solid controller. i DEFINITELY should have opted for the pro (built in sound card) but i really want to open this guy up and see what i can do on the insides. as DJWindzOne said…there isnt the possibility to add arcade buttons to both sides, which is too bad because the buttons on it are terrible.

great post.

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Hi did you change the pitch sliders? Do you think this could improve the resolution of the pitch sliders?

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Nope, the only way to improve the resolution would be to output a 14bit resolution signal instead of regular 7 bit MIDI.

One of the “only” way to do so, is to alter the Mixtrack firmware… I doubt Numark will do it and even if the built-in A/D converter go up to 14bits (assuming we’re fussy). And, to me, it’s certainely don’t worth to invest in a second controller board to do the “Hi-Res Pitch” job…

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Sorry guys. .

I’ve been so caught up with more and more gigs and being single (again), that I haven’t even got to upgrading anything really. . .

@ Black Hombre
The MixTrack Pro looks a lil easier, but can you tell if it is one PCB like the regular Mixtrack?

@Petegt
KeeWee is right. You’d have to change the resolution internally. I don’t see why not though. . .but then again, it is only $150 for a small controller.

Again. . sorry guys. . I just hope that I could get my small mods done. . but with a possible upcoming gig in Las Vegas (o_0) I’ve been real busy.

But anyone is up for the challenge, I know it’s the people from DJTT. . . .

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@theblackhombre

i totally will when i finish working out the bugs…and i will also make an instructional video on how i use it.

it basically give control over four effects banks, jog wheels as effects amounts, 3 shift buttons…