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D.I.Y. Cross Controller

PostPosted: 17 Nov 2012, 20:18
by Marxon
Hi Community,

I have decided to built selfmade Cross Controller based on
Thorsten Klose´s upcomig new MIDIBox-NG project from http://www.ucapps.de
After getting experience by building other Projects like his
MB-Sid V2 and MB-Seq V4 i will try to create my own Midibox-Cross Controller and write some blog about the progress.
To save costs, i do not want to order solder ready Kits or PCBs instead i will try to make as much as possible by my self.
Depending on costs, time exposure, my commitment and skills
it is written in the stars when the controller will be finally finished.
Right now i am in the planning phase where i experiment with different designs and find the amount of parts i need to order.
Here is a first design concept.

MBC.jpg

Re: D.I.Y. Cross Controller

PostPosted: 17 Nov 2012, 20:23
by Blackbrook
Wow! I appreciate your dedication in that project! Please post link to your blog, I am interesting in your progress!!!

Re: D.I.Y. Cross Controller

PostPosted: 17 Nov 2012, 20:27
by Marxon
Hi Steve,
in meanwhile you can have a look in my other projects gallery:
http://midibox.org/forums/gallery/album ... 4s-seq-v4/

Best regards
Marxon

Re: D.I.Y. Cross Controller

PostPosted: 17 Nov 2012, 22:31
by Blackbrook
I have already seen that - great stuff! definitely!!!

Re: D.I.Y. Cross Controller

PostPosted: 18 Nov 2012, 02:43
by KevMaverick
I love the design concept - I wish you the best of luck, and can't wait to see the results. :D

Re: D.I.Y. Cross Controller

PostPosted: 24 Nov 2012, 15:35
by Marxon
OK, the list of needed parts is ready.

Common electr parts like resistor, capacitors: 50€
other parts like socket, headers and cable: 10€
100 RGB leds: 12€
100 Buttons: 15€
7 Fader: 40€
20 Potis: 20€
15 Encoder: 15€
Caps for Fader, Potis/Encoder: ?€
all other things like solder tin, veroboards: 15€
This will make round about 200€

The most critical parts are Buttons, Faders and Encoders.
There are big differences in quality and price.
I know which buttons and encoders i will use
but i need to test some faders first.
Also Caps are not really cheap if you want good looking ones.
Until now i dont know which to choose but this does not hurry.
Maybe if find a good offer later...

Re: D.I.Y. Cross Controller

PostPosted: 24 Nov 2012, 16:08
by KevMaverick
Now the fun part begins! :D

Please keep us updated - I'm so interested in this brilliant project. :biggrin:

Re: D.I.Y. Cross Controller

PostPosted: 28 Nov 2012, 23:21
by Marxon
Hi,

small update:
currently i am experimenting with an ir led/sensor encoder taken from a computer mouse as jogwheel. but i need to get more informations how to adapt it to the midibox hardware...

Re: D.I.Y. Cross Controller

PostPosted: 29 Nov 2012, 02:08
by KevMaverick
Sounds interesting - are you going to have sensors instead of physical jogwheels? That would be amazing :D

I'm also imagining two touchpads rather than wheels - pretty much like laptop touchpads, but better... that would be a great feature, but hard to implement I guess...

Re: D.I.Y. Cross Controller

PostPosted: 06 Dec 2012, 12:33
by Marxon
Good news:
The sensor is working with the midibox hardware, now :)
For testing i connected it to my MidiBox sequencer to
send out some MIDI control changes which control the pitch fader in Cross. I will upload a small demostration video tomorrow.
Bad news:
Unfortunately it will take 2-3 more weeks until i have
all needed parts to start soldering.
In meanwhile i will start creating the software.
This might be the hardest part because except some scripts
and presets for various tools, i never had to programm
something in C...