Replacing UC-33 (or UC-33e) knobs?

Tinhead · Post by **Tinhead** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 4:39 pm

I seem to recall a few people talking about how they've replaced all the factory knobs on their UC-33s with different ones. I'd like to do this, replace the plastic-y knobs with something a bit more rubbery and solid (i.e. the oxygen-8 knobs), prefferably something that would also provide a more obvious visual indication of the knob's position in dark club lighting.

My main question is, how did you get all the factory knobs off the UC-33 in the first place? Might seem like kind of a silly question, but I'm a bit wary of using a whole lot of force, or prying them off with a screwdriver, as I would hate to break the knob posts and damage the unit!

Also, any recommendations on the kind of 'substitute' knobs that have been used (i.e. the original gear the knobs were made for)?

Advice from anyone who has modded their UC-33 (or UC-33e) in this fashion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

AdamJay · Post by **AdamJay** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 5:13 pm

wedge a butter knife under the knob (between the bottom of the knob and the face of the UC33) gently twist the butter knife to slowly bring the knob up. once you get it about a quarter inch up, you can pull it off by hand.

Them knobs stay on their tight don't they ??

Thats kinda why i like the UC-33, i've never lost a knob!

AdamJay · Post by **AdamJay** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 5:16 pm

and i can't speak for a solution to the plastic feel to the knobs, i got used to that.

but as far as low visability of knob pointer position.
a $2 bottle of metallic silver nail polish will take care of that.
since the pointers on the knobs are raised, they are very easy to paint with some nail polish and actually make it look like they came that way.

give it a try before you replace the knobs, you may find it to be a great solution.

otherwise, Mouser.com is a good source for knobs, though i am not sure what size the UC33's are. If you find any that work great - post back, i'd be interested to know.

good luck!!

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 5:33 pm

The good olde butterknife

The knobs i have now are perfect. all with a white stripe that glow under a blacklight. also got a blacklight on my keys, just in case.
I got them from a friend. if you check around, it's easy to find busted up mixers or something. i was able to find 18 alike knobs from the same mixer. the 6 others are all white with black stripes.
only a butterknife can reach those surtain knobs.

common Adam, how about some more modding? How do we motorize those faders? is it possible to build a faderfox lx1-like module (the one with the buttons) from a busted up usb midi keyboard?
Hehe, i should probably have to bump the DIY thread back up for this one. I think there are alot of uc33 users who would like to turn this cheapass controller more into a bitshift pro.
How much do they go? 600$ or something? i could get a minimac for that.

B

AdamJay · Post by **AdamJay** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 5:53 pm

hoffman2k wrote: common Adam, how about some more modding? How do we motorize those faders? is it possible to build a faderfox lx1-like module (the one with the buttons) from a busted up usb midi keyboard?
Hehe, i should probably have to bump the DIY thread back up for this one. I think there are alot of uc33 users who would like to turn this cheapass controller more into a bitshift pro.
How much do they go? 600$ or something? i could get a minimac for that.

B

The only other mod i looked into was reversing the direction of the Master Pitch knob (so to use it as a Technics style pitch control, without the use of MidiOX). And it doesn't look promising. The way these things were put together is evident that they were never meant to be taken apart.
The knobs are about the only mod you can do, or possibly the sliders if you can find some taller slider knobs that will fit these LED slide pots.

time to dust off the old mouser catalog!

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 6:11 pm

that reversing the fader thing works.
press "channel assign" and "recall" together.

AdamJay · Post by **AdamJay** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 6:26 pm

hoffman2k wrote:that reversing the fader thing works.
press "channel assign" and "recall" together.

yea it works for ALL of the faders at once.
i just want to reverse 1 fader.

Tinhead · Post by **Tinhead** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 6:28 pm

Awesome, thanks for the advice so far!

I will definitely drop some paint / nail polish onto the knob indicators while I search for an adequate 'rubbery knob' replacement that fits onto the UC-33's posts.

My 'day job' is with a company that specializes in A/V equipment, my desk is right next to the repair / parts crew so I'll have no problem getting a hold of replacements, just gotta figure out which piece of gear's knobs will fit & work the best!

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 7:51 pm

AdamJay wrote:
hoffman2k wrote:that reversing the fader thing works.
press "channel assign" and "recall" together.
yea it works for ALL of the faders at once.
i just want to reverse 1 fader.

i'm gonna tell you how you do it with 1, 2 ,3 ,... faders :p
Go to www.plogue.com
Download plogue bidule, install,...
First start up Live
select an audio track and choose bidule as an audio input (otherwise it wont start up as a rewire slave)
Then start up plogue bidule and load this file.
reversed cc.zip
This is set up as an example for cc channel 35. you seem to work often with reactor, so this setup will explain itself.

See if it works. you can do loads of cool shit with bidule.

AdamJay · Post by **AdamJay** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 7:57 pm

that reverse cc.zip link isnt working
can you double check it?

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 8:41 pm

My bad. works now.

AdamJay · Post by **AdamJay** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:57 pm

hmmm. this makes sense but i must be missing something.
admittedly i haven't opened up Reaktor in a few weeks, so i could be rusty.
i've got bidule loaded per your steps, rewiring successfully.
i've changed the CC to #28 from #35 in both Midi CC_Filter_1 and 2

assigned CC #28 to song tempo with a range of 130 to 140bpm.
but still down is 130 and up is 140

what am i doing wrong? missing a step?

PS. i've toggled Bidule's ON/OFF switch with no change in response.

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 12:13 am

i've had to experiment with some settings.
dont choose the uc 33 as remote control in Live. otherwise it conflicts.

the one line filters out the cc you choose. the other is the uc 33 dry, without the chosen cc.

AdamJay · Post by **AdamJay** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 12:22 am

okay - with the midi control turned off in live, i've got no response at all now.
i have to be missing something stupid, right?

how can i check that Bidule is getting the midi signal coming in?

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 12:38 am

if you can select the uc 33 in plogue. it has a signal.

instead of the template i'll try to walk you through. could be a pc mac difference.
-open live
-open plogue in rewire mode
in plogue;
-add a uc 33 from midi devices-
-add 2 cc filters from te midi plugs
-add bidule 1 out from midi devices
-add a cc inverter
-connect the uc 33 to both cc filters
-from filter 1 to bidule 1
-from filter 2 to cc inverter.
-from inverter to bidule 1
-set the filter on the inverter to only allow cc 35
-set the other filter the opposite of that

Now live should act as it normal would when using the uc33 through bidule. except for cc35.
It could be i overlooked something. but i've done it. and as you see with this app. it makes sense in way.
if you figure this one out i'll show you how to use the uc33 as a 16 step sequencer in bidule