D.I.Y. Cross Controller

[KevMaverick]

I shall look forward to your demo video.

[MusicMeister]

Sounds interesting - are you going to have sensors instead of physical jogwheels? That would be amazing

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...

Sort of. The main challenge would be converting the HID/location information to MIDI messages.

There was a similar implementation using a touch surface on the Stanton System 3 (SCS3D/3M). It was actually a really flexible controller, but it used Bomes for the heavy lifting (actually they packaged and rebranded Bomes as 'DaRouter' with the product - but the config files for DaRouter are all encrypted Bomes configuration files).

They used a touchpad as an X/Y MIDI controller on the Xponent but it had some limitations if you really dug into it... (fuzzy on the details but I had more than one discussion on this in the past - most of it had to do with the choice of the pad itself).


I've seen a number of different methods used to control jog wheels... from encoded plastic discs like they used on the Technics SLDZ-1200's to simple optical sensors on the Vestax Typhoon and M-Audio Xponent.

I'm interested to see the final result though.

[KevMaverick]

I remember getting my hands on a controller with a single touchpad for a short while - it wasn't the Xponent though. Pity I can't remember what it was!

The two main functions I can remember was using it to browse the tracks, like a mouse, and also to control the effects (that part was loads of fun!)

[MusicMeister]

Xponent actually had a button so you can switch between MIDI and trackpad functionality. Pretty cool... But that product is looking long in the tooth right about now after being out for more than 4 years...

[KevMaverick]

I'd never used a MIDI controller until a couple of years ago when I went back to being a DJ - now I'm absolutely fascinated by them!

It would be good to try and find a few of the older ones, on Ebay, and compare them with newer ones - if they are cheap enough of course. It could be the start of a fun hobby!

[nillin]

Oh nice someone else builds hardware controller =)
and from my country =) nice

[nillin]

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...

hmm your button price is really to low =) better use acard Buttons for the sampler pads

[Marxon]

I remember getting my hands on a controller with a single touchpad for a short while - it wasn't the Xponent though. Pity I can't remember what it was!

The two main functions I can remember was using it to browse the tracks, like a mouse, and also to control the effects (that part was loads of fun!)

WIth KaossPad3, Zero 8 and Touchscreen Laptop i dont need more touch pads

hmm your button price is really to low =) better use acard Buttons for the sampler pads

thats true! here i shoudt spend more money

sensor demo video is online, sorry for the bad quality

FULLSCREEN

[Marxon]

Hi MixVibers and Happy new year!
Here are the MidiboxCross news:
The electronical parts have been ordered and payed.
May i can start making the first (solder) joints this week
But i am still undecided about the encoders, pots, and faders.
Last week I tried to get some samples from Alps.
Until now my order has not been approved.
May it wont be... Because i am a privat person, i had to gloss my sample order a little bit. Not the best way, i know.
But worked in the past
What manufactures/types are inside a UMCP2?
Does somebody know this?
And then there's still the thing with the buttons...
How i get good looking illuminated buttons like other
controllers have?
This was also a big problem while building my Sequencer.
I have never found any that were affordable also if
less than 1000 pcs are ordered.
So i made them this low-cost way: http://midibox.org/forums/topic/17186-yaib-yet-another-illuminated-button/
For the Cross Controller i am going to do some experiments with translucent silikon instead of hot glue filled ink caps and i have some idea how to get them conductive because i like the thought that some buttons will be touch sensitive.
In meanwhile there are more new features i want to add:
-10-segment led bars for every pad button.
To use them as volume meter or playback graph.
Have not checked if this is available in Cross via MIDI or hui
but this would not matter... they have been ordered allready
- Two 100mm touch stribes for needle searching.
eah one also gets a 40 segment led bar to visualize the track position.
- Two punch in/out buttons. Left and right of the crossfader.

OK now you are up to date
Hopefully i can show you the first hardware pictures
in the next post.

Best regards
Marxon

[KevMaverick]

Oh man! This is starting to sound awesome!

Put me on the list for when you go into full production!

Oh, and Happy New Year to you.