jbaldwinroberts Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Hello everyone,I have been reading through the wiki and forums trying to learn as much about MIDIBOX as I can, but i may have missed something so please forgive me.What i would like to do is control Virtual DJ through a USB interface.[url=http://img411.imageshack.us/i/61646066.jpg/]On the picture above I have highlighted what I want to control in red and green.This means i need7 pots3 sliders (Pots??)16 buttons8 LEDsDo pots or encoders work best in these sorts of applications??Would the sliders have to be set to the centre before I plugged it in so that they were calibrated with the slider on screen?Do i need any extra buttons to control the interface?I also read that it is recommended to have an LCD, can this be used to display output from the PC, or is it just for programming?To do this I believe i need:1X MIDIBOX64 core (MIDIBOX64E if Enc's were used)1X AIN module1X DIN module1X DOUT module1X LCD1X USB GM5 ModuleIs this correct?The blue highlighted items in the picture are controls i want to include but these looked harder and more complicated to implement. They are:2X motor controlled pitch sliders (they have to be motor controlled as the pitch can change when syncing)2X jog wheels (used to scroll though the track, not scratch.How much harder does adding these controls make the project?Is there anything I missed?Any other controls you think i should have?If this is in the wrong section, mods please move. Any answers will be much appreciated.ThanksJoe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Have you checked out the Midibox Traktor variations in the User Projects section?http://www.midibox.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=midibox_traktorMight be worth looking at the threads made by each user outlining how they built them.Does virtual DJ have a midi learn function for controllers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbaldwinroberts Posted September 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Thanks for the quick reply,Im looking through those projects now.Virtual DJ has the option to map from keyboard, midi and hid.A couple more questions....Can you get Pots/Encs with momentary switches built in. i.e. to select an effect and then turn it on/off?How easy are LED rings to build and program and does each indiviual LED require a DOUT or just each ring. i dont need these, but they look cool ;)Can the MIDIBOX be powered by USB or battery's for portability?Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janis1279 Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 16 LEDrings :http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp/mbhp_doutx4_ledrings.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbaldwinroberts Posted September 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 16 LEDrings :http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp/mbhp_doutx4_ledrings.pdfhmm, they look like quite a lot of extra work. Thanks anyway.Can anyone answer any other of my questions.Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nILS Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Pots/encoders: Matter of taste. Encoders are always in the correct position, but don't give visible feeback about it unless you have led rings, while pots always do but lead to parameter jumps.Extra buttons: If you just want a hardware CS to add real knobs to that app - no you don't.Display: The display can show whatever you want it to. It's not needed for the box to work, but it's extremely handy for testing (a small 2x16 will work for that). It might work well for the drop down lists (one row per list, if I got it right you have two).AIN module: You only need that if you have more than 8 analog inputs (pots/faders)Jog wheel: A jog wheel is just en encoder. Nothing really fancy there.Motor faders: If you want motorfaders, you'll also need a MF module. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Virtual DJ haven't native MIDI-out support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebula Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Here are my thoughts on pots vs encoders. Others may disagree, but here goes:For controls serving multiple functions (i.e. one minute it's controlling an effect, the next minute it's controlling pitch), encoders are generally a better choice.In a live setting, The biggest annoyance about encoders is when the control value is at its maximum (or minimum), and you aren't looking so you don't know this, and you keep turning it to to try to achieve more. Encoders also tend to be more precise than pots, and typically require more turns to get to the value you are aiming for.But pots are less precise than encoders, so in most studio applications encoders are generally nicer.From the MIDIbox perspective: for pots you'll need an AIN board. For encoders you can use the same DIN board you use for your buttons. And good-quality potentiometers are cheaper and easier to find than good encoders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbaldwinroberts Posted September 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Thanks, i think il go for pots then so i can use the MIDIBOX 64.... no jogwheel then, best keep the first one simple eh.So to make 7 pots3 sliders16 buttons8 leds1 screeni would need all the modules above, is that right??Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janis1279 Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 ITo do this I believe i need:1X MIDIBOX64 core (MIDIBOX64E if Enc's were used)1X AIN module1X DIN module1X DOUT module1X LCD1X USB GM5 ModuleIs this correct?So to make 7 pots3 sliders16 buttons8 leds1 screeni would need all the modules above, is that right??Yes ,but without the some Shift Register chips. You can read more in the Ucapps MB Hardware Platform section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbaldwinroberts Posted September 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 what are shift register chips?thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janis1279 Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 The DOUT module comes with multiple serial registers 74HC595; every register provides 8 digital outputs, which are updated with the latch enable signal RCLK and shifted out with the clock signal SCLK. The advantage of using such shift registers is, that they can be cascaded to a long chain without the need of more than 5 cables to the core module. The DOUT board has been designed on a way which allows to cascade not only the ICs on the board, but also several DOUT modules.The DIN module comes with multiple serial registers 74HC165; every register provides 8 digital inputs, which are sampled with the latch enable signal LD and shifted out with the clock signal CLK. The advantage of using such shift registers is, that they can be cascaded to a long chain without the need of more than 5 cables to the core module. The DIN board has been designed on a way which allows to cascade not only the ICs on the board, but also several DIN modules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbaldwinroberts Posted September 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Thats great, does this mean i would need2X 74HC5952X 74HC165Are these the black chips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janis1279 Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 Thats great, does this mean i would need2X 74HC5952X 74HC165Are these the black chips?Yes, the black chips.7 pots + 3 sliders =10 pots = 2*4051 (CD4051BE)16 buttons = 2*74HC1658 leds = 1*74HC595 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbaldwinroberts Posted September 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2009 Would i need to populate these boards with all the other components even though i am only using 1/2 chips?What main IC chip would be recommended as i've seen 3 different ones?Virtual DJ haven't native MIDI-out support.Is it possible to implement non native MIDI-out support?Can i control the LEDS from within the MIDIBOX? (So that i could make the LEDS be constantly on to illuminate my buttons if i coudn't interface them with virtual DJ)Is the best MIDI-USB interface the USB GM5 module?The picture has MIDI and USB ports on, does this board therefore output both USB and MIDI?Thanks again for all your help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbaldwinroberts Posted September 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Can anyone give me any help with the questions i asked in my last post?Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janis1279 Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Would i need to populate these boards with all the other components even though i am only using 1/2 chips?No.Note: To reduce effort only the DINX4 variant is available at Mikes PCB shop. If you don't want to etch the modules by yourself, just use the DINX4 and stuff just only the ICs which are really required.Note: To reduce effort only the DOUTX4 variant is available at Mikes PCB shop. If you don't want to etch the modules by yourself, just use the DOUTX4 and stuff just only the ICs which are really required.What main IC chip would be recommended as i've seen 3 different ones?Pic18F452auaimbctg.pdfauaimbctg.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbaldwinroberts Posted January 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 Hey, iv got a bit further with this in the last 6 months and i have got to the point of buying my faders. Can anyone reccommend some volume faders and a cross fader that will work with this project? Iv bin working on the assumption that any linear fader will work for volume, but is this the same for the cross fader? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janis1279 Posted January 21, 2010 Report Share Posted January 21, 2010 Hey, iv got a bit further with this in the last 6 months and i have got to the point of buying my faders. Can anyone reccommend some volume faders and a cross fader that will work with this project? Iv bin working on the assumption that any linear fader will work for volume, but is this the same for the cross fader? thanks Did you search the same info in the Wiki page? "DJ traktor faders" for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbaldwinroberts Posted January 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 Did you search the same info in the Wiki page? "DJ traktor faders" for example. Thanks, i have just looked through those. I am looking at getting Cross fader Faders Will these work? I was also wondering whether i need to buy a single or dual unit resistor, what lever type is reccommended and resistance taper? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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