joost_db

i want to build a controller with around 60 pots/faders, 50 buttons, 50 leds and 5 rotary encoders. is it best to build a 64e and incorporate the pots as has been described, or build a 64 and somehow try to incorporate the encoders as i remember reading somewhere that there is a "trick" to use encoders with the 64.... any help is appreciated!!! Joost

I figured it out. I wasnt getting upload requests in mios studio when i powered the core. UNLESS (get this) i restart mios studio and re-configure midi routing. I then power the core and get a single upload request message. First i tried uploading a new MIOS but got an error. Then i try the midibox64 app...and it upload beautifully! WEIRD maybe this is a bug in mios studio? Now the core is sending LOTS of midi messages from channels 11-16, values randomly less than 12. Why could this be? I have a single pot attached as such http://www.jdb-design.com/DSC00007(Large).JPG.

I have been trying to re-upload the MIOS and APP but nothing is being sent. When i power the thing it displays the Mios v1.9d message, then the screen goes blank, and nothing is being uploaded...... I am really stuck now. is my pic dead :'(??

After i uploaded the mios the first time and then when i booted it said "Mios v1.9d......" and then something like "MIOS is up to date with the lastest version" Then when i tried uploading the application when the screen started going blank..... What you have suggested is what i have been trying....is it possible somehow to empty the core and re-update the Mios and try the app a second time? Joost

I just uploaded the MIOS with no problems. I then download midibox64_v2_4.zip (which i think is what i need right for a midibox64) and attempt to upload the file and it gives me the message "Starting upload of main.HEX Sending block 00003000-000030FF" and then sits there doing nothing for 60 minutes. At this point I conclude something must have gone wrong, hit "Stop" to try again and same problem. Now when i power on the core I get the message "MIOS v1.9D ©2007 T. Klose" and then the screen goes blank. The LED on the LTC module that was blinking every 2 sec before the MIOS was uploaded (i guess sending upload request signals) blinks once when the core is powered and then stays lit. Anyone know what I am doing wrong here???? Thanks, Joost

hehe ok...got a reply from mike and he says that it is not necessary to put the caps on the board and it will work without...hmmmm there must be a reason for them. this is annoying, so i either build it without, go find them in some local electronics shop around here in amsterdam, or email mike to send me more caps.

hey guys, i am just building a AINX4 module i bought from www.mikes-elektronikseite.de but both AINX4 kits he sent me have only 3 bypass caps included....do i only need 3 or is this a packaging mistake? from this page http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_ain.html I would think that I need to hook up 4 of them... any help is appreciated. i emailed the company but no reply as of yet.

wow you guys are CNC milling your faceplates??? I was planning to just manually drill holes in a piece of aluminium. i do however have access to a cnc machine at my university so i may be able to use....could i design the front panel in illustrator? would a cnc machine accept that type of vector file?

woa....that makes 2 ppl that want to know if this is possible. great idea! i will change my design if this is possible

well, i just installed it and my first go i mixed live over my vinyl with no problems at all!!! this thing looks like its awesome, easy to link up to midi controller aswell. i wonder if its possible to use a pot instead of just pushing and holding a button down to "push and pull" the music.

well...this push and pull program looks cool. can anyone familiar with live confirm that this is the best solution for synching live with turntables. i would prefer to work from within live without any 3rd party software but this seems like a good solution.

Yes I know what you mean! I am currently looking for pretty small push buttons with integrated LED lights and also a rotary encoder with push action built in...really hard to find. p.s. here is a link to a modded xone 92 with midi functions for inspiration http://www.richiehawtin.com/CTRL/CTRL92RevA.swf

also i like the metronome and tempo controls, i will add those to mine aswell. for the scrub and left/right buttons, is that to synch up live to an already playing source such as a turntable?

im not being funny...but, how?

Wow awesome, I would like to implement this on my controller. Rowan could you explain how you have implemented the -MIDINoteFeedback hack?? That article about follow actions doesnt tell me much. Thanks!

so there are a couple significant differences here. first of all you are incorportaing a crossfader, which i was also thinking of doing, but then just opted to use only the upfaders of the individual channels. why are you incorporating an x-fade? is it when you are using the controller to mix mp3s together? secondly you have 4 sends on each channel, how are you planning on using this kind of setup? will you have control on effects parameters with this kind of design? Joost

53 pots 9 faders 57 buttons 50 leds the design is fairly self explanatory (see labels on buttons). the blue parts in the middle are pushbuttons with integrated leds (illuminating when a clip is playing), and the red parts on the bottom are pushbuttons with circular led lighting (illuminating what channels are sent to the headphones). the scene control button can be used to navigate through live's scenes and pushed to launch the scene. the top row of pots can be pushed to turn on/off the effect. i am planning to route channel 1-4 to Send A and 5-8 to send B and then with the jog wheels i will be able to control the effects that are layered on the 2 returns. this way instead of using effects on all the channels i am using only on the returns (with exceptions of course) which will save cpu power - and mimics the way a xone 92 mixer works. anybody have any comments/ideas?

if you could upload those pics that would help me out ALOT thanks

I propose we start a thread to exchange ideas regarding the design of controllers for use with Ableton Live. There seem to be alot of people here doing DIY jobs since there is such a lack of decent controllers for Live. I realise that to some extent your design will be very personal and reflect how you use Live, but there will still be many similarities and ideas that can be exchanged. I am currently planning the layout of my own Live controller. It will be based on the midi section of a Xone 3D (see pic http://www.xone.co.uk/images/Hi-Rez/3D_top_overlays.jpg). I will finish off the layout design and upload it along with button labels later today. Joost

I am looking for places to buy the following parts: Pushbuttons with integrated LEDs so that the button can glow when the clip is playing in Live. Round pushbuttons with integrated LEDs but around the buttons (allen&heath xone style) Good faders Rotary encoders (or potentiometers actually, which one has a fluid rotational movement? similar to those on DJ mixers) that have an integrated push button so they can be pushed to turn on/off and effect in Live. I am based in Holland, have been looking at http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=where_to_order_components but cant seem to find any of these. Can anyone help me out with this? I will order from the US if i need to.

thanks for the info. i am still however unsure as to whether i need to buy a seperate LCD module in order to use the LCD screen that i ordered. from reading this http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=lcds there is no mention of any LCD modules and I cant seem to find them in any online store which has got me thinking the LCD screen will plug directly into the core module. My soundcard has no MIDI input (yet) is it easy to install the USB module and use it this way? I am guessing i can solder the + and - of the powersupply directly onto the core module somewhere? Joost

great i will go for it then! I am about to place an order from http://www.mikes-elektronikseite.de/shop_englisch/index.htm So far in my basket I have the following: MIDIbox64 PIC18F452 LC Display 16x2 with backlight ribbon cable, 16. pol 1 meter MIDI cables, 1:1, 2x 5pol DIN-plug, 2m Pots 10 k Knobs for the Pots, black Button Blue female connector 16-pin LED, red 3 mm / 50 pcs. Cheap LED Socket 3mm Is this all I will need? Is the device powered from the MIDI plug? First I want to set everything up so am only getting a few pots and push buttons, then once I have got it working and finalised my design I will order a load from another site including some faders. They are not selling a LCD module on this site...also not on SmashTV. I will need to get this from someplace to be able to get the LCD screen to work right? Will I also need 2 midi plugs? Thanks for any help, Joost

I would absolutely love to be able to make my own controller for Ableton and came across this page and it has got me wondering if I should spend my time to get into it. My question is, if I wanted to make something with 64 push buttons 64 pots and faders (so i guess a MIDIbox 64) for someone with absolutley no prior knowledge (but quite technical - studied engineering at uni ;) is there alot of learning involved with this? I mean is it just a matter of ordering the parts, designing and building the front panel, and plugging everything carefully and it will work? I will then be able to assign the buttons and faders to ableton like I do any other midi controller? Or is it trickier then this and does it require programming some code for the controller? I am wondering if I should get into this or if there is too much learning (and time) involved. Thanks for any help, Joost