# The activator **URL:** \ **Category:** Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear\ **Created:** [September 10, 2010, 12:42pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/the-activator/14026 "2010-09-10T12:42:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shminkens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Shminkens](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Shminkens)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 12:42pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/the-activator/14026/1 "2010-09-10T12:42:59Z")
**The activator** Hi everyone when I saw mr. Golden and his midi fighter my brain suddenly got activated. I started thinking if it was possible to build my own controller. So I started reading some tutorials on this site and I made an image of how my controller should look. ![](http://img543.imageshack.us/f/controllerkopie.jpg/) I thought of using the midi-fighter board. Is this a good decesion? I’ll need 4 analog inputs (4 pot-meters), 28 led-outputs and 32 digital inputs (4 rotary encoders, 24 arcade buttons 😃 and 4 normal buttons). If someone will try to give advice, please consider I’m a total noob. But I’m very excited to start this project. ---
**Author:** ![photojojo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/photojojo/32/14618_2.png) [@photojojo](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/photojojo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/the-activator/14026/2 "2010-09-10T13:43:15Z")
I think it’s been said by people much smarter than me that rotary encoders won’t work with the Midi Fighter. There’s a couple of build threads that are currently active, check those out and see what kind of boards and software they’r using. ---
**Author:** ![Shminkens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Shminkens](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Shminkens)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/the-activator/14026/3 "2010-09-10T17:10:33Z")
Maybe I can still make use of the midi fighter board if I replace the encoders by normal pot-meters. The design I added in my first post is the latest version of my design. The previous version had pot-meters in stead of encoders. ---
**Author:** ![TheBurninator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@TheBurninator](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/TheBurninator)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/the-activator/14026/4 "2010-09-10T17:46:09Z")
> **[www.uCApps.de](http://ucapps.de/)** > > free MIDI DIY Stuff Midibox64e is what you want. ---
**Author:** ![basspenetrator](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/basspenetrator/32/11426_2.png) [@basspenetrator](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/basspenetrator)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/the-activator/14026/5 "2010-09-10T18:21:07Z")
the MF only has 16 led outputs so going with a midibox or some hooked together umc32’s is a better option.. ---
**Author:** ![djpbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/47e85d/32.png) [@djpbe](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/djpbe)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/the-activator/14026/6 "2010-09-10T22:47:56Z")
I think the MF will work. You would have to use two boards to get all of the inputs and outputs you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![photojojo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/photojojo/32/14618_2.png) [@photojojo](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/photojojo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 10:57pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/the-activator/14026/7 "2010-09-10T22:57:30Z")
> [@photojojo](#): > > I think it’s been said by people much smarter than me that rotary encoders won’t work with the Midi Fighter. There’s a couple of build threads that are currently active, check those out and see what kind of boards and software they’r using. Maybe it’s endless encoders that dont work because Ean has some rotary encoders on the MF’s on todays blog post. ---
**Author:** ![Str8upDrew](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/str8updrew/32/1363_2.png) [@Str8upDrew](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Str8upDrew)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 7:46am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/the-activator/14026/8 "2010-09-11T07:46:03Z")
> [@photojojo](#): > > Maybe it’s endless encoders that dont work because Ean has some rotary encoders on the MF’s on todays blog post. Rotary Encoders = Endless Encoders If they end, then they are simply potentiometers or pots for short. And you can add pots to the analog inputs. I’m not sure on the resistance they recommend, but i’m sure it can be found easily in the midifighter section. ---
**Author:** ![Shminkens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Shminkens](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Shminkens)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/the-activator/14026/9 "2010-09-12T20:21:25Z")
What is this Midibox64e exactly. Is it some sort of DIY-kit like the midifighter? It seems interesting for my controller. ---
**Author:** ![TheBurninator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@TheBurninator](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/TheBurninator)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/the-activator/14026/10 "2010-09-13T16:58:54Z")
> [@Shminkens](#): > > What is this Midibox64e exactly. Is it some sort of DIY-kit like the midifighter? It seems interesting for my controller. Read the link I posted