Circuitbenders Forum

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Author Topic: DIY MIDI controller  (Read 12104 times)

parricide

  • Way to much time on his hands
  • **
  • Karma: 1
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 63
DIY MIDI controller
« on: November 26, 2012, 11:03:52 AM »

anybody got any advice on a board to build a midi controller with? i obviously need it as cheap as possible.
all i need is buttons to trigger ableton live clips (a simplified launchpad). not sure how many buttons yet, but maybe about 16 buttons minimum.

thanks
Logged

Synthetech

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Karma: 1
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 17
Re: DIY MIDI controller
« Reply #1 on: November 26, 2012, 04:59:40 PM »



Give this a look-

http://store.highlyliquid.com/collections/midi-controllers/products/midi-cpu

It's not uber cheap, but it has 24 terminals to hook switches/potentiometers/encoders up to.

The configuration for the terminals is very flexible/customizable.
Logged

01012k7

  • Dayglo Volunteer of International Masturbation
  • ***
  • Karma: 9
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 102
    • ANALOG SYNTH
Re: DIY MIDI controller
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2012, 11:45:25 PM »



Give this a look-

http://store.highlyliquid.com/collections/midi-controllers/products/midi-cpu

It's not uber cheap, but it has 24 terminals to hook switches/potentiometers/encoders up to.

The configuration for the terminals is very flexible/customizable.
i was thinking getting this but the manul was not great so i left it at the moment till i have more time  ...i still want to make a custom keyboard contoller with lots of pots anbd switches
Logged

parricide

  • Way to much time on his hands
  • **
  • Karma: 1
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 63
Re: DIY MIDI controller
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2012, 12:45:20 PM »



Give this a look-

http://store.highlyliquid.com/collections/midi-controllers/products/midi-cpu

It's not uber cheap, but it has 24 terminals to hook switches/potentiometers/encoders up to.

The configuration for the terminals is very flexible/customizable.


that seems perfect! thats the kind of price i was expecting to be honest.
thanks for the link
Logged

Circuitbenders

  • crustypaul
  • Admin
  • This person is dangerously insane.
  • *****
  • Karma: 1102
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2451
    • Circuitbenders.co.uk
Re: DIY MIDI controller
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2012, 02:17:10 PM »

don't doepfer do something along those lines? It'd probably be more expensive, but you won't get stung for customs fees etc bringing it into the UK.

EDIT: Even better, this polish site has some good stuff
http://www.midi-hardware.com/index.php?section=products&R2=EUR#MIDI

I've bought various interfaces from them and they are excellent. The tiny MINICV midi to cv converters are smaller than  a 10p coin!
« Last Edit: December 01, 2012, 02:19:28 PM by Circuitbenders »
Logged
i am not paid to listen to this drivel, you are a terminal fool

Synthetech

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Karma: 1
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 17
Re: DIY MIDI controller
« Reply #5 on: December 01, 2012, 03:12:55 PM »

that seems perfect! thats the kind of price i was expecting to be honest.
thanks for the link


if you decide to get it, I know the firmware/configuration inside and out on that thing..  it's quite a capable little unit.



Thanks for posting the poilsh link CB.. lotsa cool stuff on there.
Logged

01012k7

  • Dayglo Volunteer of International Masturbation
  • ***
  • Karma: 9
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 102
    • ANALOG SYNTH
Re: DIY MIDI controller
« Reply #6 on: December 01, 2012, 08:06:38 PM »

don't doepfer do something along those lines? It'd probably be more expensive, but you won't get stung for customs fees etc bringing it into the UK.

EDIT: Even better, this polish site has some good stuff
http://www.midi-hardware.com/index.php?section=products&R2=EUR#MIDI

I've bought various interfaces from them and they are excellent. The tiny MINICV midi to cv converters are smaller than  a 10p coin!
yes i order the MINICV after 3 weeks he told me that its out  stock but not showiing on the site not shure when it will come before chrismas but with my look after ...
Logged

01012k7

  • Dayglo Volunteer of International Masturbation
  • ***
  • Karma: 9
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 102
    • ANALOG SYNTH
Re: DIY MIDI controller
« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2012, 08:15:14 AM »

that seems perfect! thats the kind of price i was expecting to be honest.
thanks for the link


if you decide to get it, I know the firmware/configuration inside and out on that thing..  it's quite a capable little unit.



Thanks for posting the poilsh link CB.. lotsa cool stuff on there.
ok here here a project i been thinking about for about 6 months which i will do when i have more time i have a old korg SG-1D keyboard which has a lot of problems but being a 12 bit at best was only used as a controller so  i want to make a midi controller using the keyboard and case and add  pots  + switchs and use it with the draw i am using to controll vst instruments
Logged

parricide

  • Way to much time on his hands
  • **
  • Karma: 1
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 63
Re: DIY MIDI controller
« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2012, 12:52:57 PM »

thanks for the input and links everyone! im spoilt for choice!
Logged

Synthetech

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Karma: 1
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 17
Re: DIY MIDI controller
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2012, 04:18:23 PM »

ok here here a project i been thinking about for about 6 months which i will do when i have more time i have a old korg SG-1D keyboard which has a lot of problems but being a 12 bit at best was only used as a controller so  i want to make a midi controller using the keyboard and case and add  pots  + switchs and use it with the draw i am using to controll vst instruments



I posted an answer at the MIDI CPU forum..

You'll need to use up 19 CT's/Ports on the 24 CT/Port controller to create an 88 note matrix, if Korg was sane and did 8 Data Lines and 11 Select lines.  
That gives you 5 remaining CT's to hook up pots n  switches.
So you'll easily need another MIDICPU to get the extra 16 pots and 8 switches.. or combination of..  you can have a max of 16 pots per CPU board, no more than that.

We'd need the schematics and/or pics of the keyboard wirinig/PCB to determine it's matrix setup and show how to hook it up to the CPU
« Last Edit: December 02, 2012, 04:24:10 PM by Synthetech »
Logged

01012k7

  • Dayglo Volunteer of International Masturbation
  • ***
  • Karma: 9
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 102
    • ANALOG SYNTH
Re: DIY MIDI controller
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2012, 06:13:05 PM »

don't doepfer do something along those lines? It'd probably be more expensive, but you won't get stung for customs fees etc bringing it into the UK.

EDIT: Even better, this polish site has some good stuff
http://www.midi-hardware.com/index.php?section=products&R2=EUR#MIDI

I've bought various interfaces from them and they are excellent. The tiny MINICV midi to cv converters are smaller than  a 10p coin!
when you order from midi hardware how long did it take as its been almost 1 month now
Logged

Circuitbenders

  • crustypaul
  • Admin
  • This person is dangerously insane.
  • *****
  • Karma: 1102
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2451
    • Circuitbenders.co.uk
Re: DIY MIDI controller
« Reply #11 on: December 06, 2012, 06:31:31 PM »

To be honest i don't really remember, though it was probably about a week from when it was shipped until it arrived.

I know that Roman, who runs the place, is working on a few other things at the moment and a couple of items are out of stock until the new year, but he's usually pretty good at answering emails

Logged
i am not paid to listen to this drivel, you are a terminal fool

01012k7

  • Dayglo Volunteer of International Masturbation
  • ***
  • Karma: 9
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 102
    • ANALOG SYNTH
Re: DIY MIDI controller
« Reply #12 on: December 10, 2012, 08:20:24 PM »

To be honest i don't really remember, though it was probably about a week from when it was shipped until it arrived.

I know that Roman, who runs the place, is working on a few other things at the moment and a couple of items are out of stock until the new year, but he's usually pretty good at answering emails


was the 25/11 he told me it would be sent out in 2 days  but still not come also sent out email 4 days ago noreply  it was a month today i order it
Logged