in at the deep end, diy controller

james. · Post by **james.** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:52 pm

well after not much look with finding the perfect controller i decided i had to make it even though i wsa unsure to begin with im now pretty happy about the idea. expect that to change though when a box of bits arrives lol.

plan to make a midibox 64E and a midibox64. 1 with 64 encoders with led output and the other with 64 buttons or maybe some of those buttons as switches. wish me look, order has gone in for all the pcb stuff. just need the encodes etc

heavensdaw · Post by **heavensdaw** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:57 pm

GOOD LOOK! dude..
Man you've got BALLZ!

Keep us poosted!

Hd

james. · Post by **james.** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:14 pm

heavensdaw wrote: GOOD LOOK! dude..
Man you've got BALLZ!

Keep us poosted!

Hd

will do

think its more blind ignorance mixed with a bit of dumbass

oblique strategies · Post by **oblique strategies** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:43 am

Definitely keep us posted.
Don't spare any of the gory details!
I may be going down this path one day too.

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:30 am

why not just use encoders with switches built in? The ALPS encoders cost just a few euro cents more, if you get them with a button built in than without.

anyways, good luck! For sourcing parts in europe you can't go wrong with www.reichelt.de

misteron · Post by **misteron** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:07 am

heavensdaw wrote: Keep us poosted!

+1

Patch · Post by **Patch** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:35 am

Well done mate - you are a brave lad! Keep us posted on the progress, and and problems/roaring successes you have!!!

How much has it cost you so far?

fatrabbit · Post by **fatrabbit** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:42 am

I was thinking of doing this recently.

But I look at all the websites related to Midibox/DIY builds etc. and they have a habit of making them and displaying info in the most convoluted, hard to digest way possible.

Plus sourcing for parts is total shit. You end up on some generic crap (usually wholesale trade) company website and have to input codes to find the exact part you're looking for. And if you don't know what that is already you're screwed.

And that's even before you get all the bits you think you may need.

Maybe i'll do it one day but i'll have to prepare myself with about 3 years of meditation and slow breathing on a mountain above the clouds first.

james. · Post by **james.** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 1:36 pm

going to have 2 seperate boxes as i think the maximum number of outputs on the 64E core module is 128 but only half are recognised so 64 is the most you can have. also the buttons/switches arent gonna have anything to do with the fuction of the encoders so wanna keep them seperate. finally dont wanna be going for it twisting knobs all over the show get to excited and hit a track lauch or something like that and vice versa. never felt ecoder buttons have a very nice feel.

picking the pcbs up from a recomended site based in germany who stock kits. you get the pcb and all the bits to put on it. so far the cost is around 180 ish i think. this includes 2 cores, 6 digital in's 6 digital out's, 2 boards for the midi stuff, 2 eprom chips to make memory sticks and 2 PIC chips to go in the cores with the firmware loaded.

that should get me going to start with but as i only just got into this an few days ago its been a bit of a mean task sorting out what i want. basically got the internals ordered than get what else i need along the way while im building the boards. the help sites are full of info but it is pretty hardcore to read. i had to keep flickin back an forth and reading and re-reading. sick of looking at some pages but sure it will only get worse lol.

longjohns · Post by **longjohns** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 2:27 pm

have fun!

don't skimp on your iron. get a nice one

contakt321 · Post by **contakt321** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 2:41 pm

fatrabbit wrote:I was thinking of doing this recently.

But I look at all the websites related to Midibox/DIY builds etc. and they have a habit of making them and displaying info in the most convoluted, hard to digest way possible.

I feel the exact same WTF is up with that. Can I get a DIY build for dummies?

longjohns · Post by **longjohns** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:28 pm

it's called a monome kit.

chalkline · Post by **chalkline** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:12 pm

My monome kit will be with me on monday, it looks like early learning centre version of electronics, which is great as I am far to lazy to go any deeper than that. Wish I had the balls to go in any deeper, but circuit bending is as far as I can be bothered!

oblique strategies · Post by **oblique strategies** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:34 pm

A few more options for you in your project:

Doepfer USB64: DIY action: They have a number of DIY items now to build your own.
http://www.doepfer.de/home_e.htm

Stribe: multi-touch controller:
http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/search/label/Stribe

Interview w/Stribe builder:
http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2008/02 ... touch.html

More on Stribe:
http://createdigitalmusic.com/tag/maxmsp/

Much luck to you!!!

PS: I haven't read all the articles on the Stribe, so my apologies in advance if it doesn't pertain.

djsynchro · Post by **djsynchro** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:40 pm

Machinate wrote: anyways, good luck! For sourcing parts in europe you can't go wrong with www.reichelt.de

He that looks like a good place! know any others?