Unusual midibox controler

MIDIbox HUIs
1

Hi all,

I’d love to build some particular MIDI controler, that would merely look like this :

If I could, I would also like to plug a pedal controler on the box, but I don’t know how to do (how about the possibiliy to plug a standard expression pedal, where to connect it on the scheme and does it need a particular routine in MIOS ?). Well having a box like this scheme would already be a great challenge !

The context is I have a master keyboard (Yamaha P60) which is really fabulous but has absolutely no controller at all, and I never saw where to buy a unit like the one above (so I have a strong motivation to accomplish this proto ;D).

Of course I know I need the core module (I’ve planned to buy it already mounted, with the PIC ready) and a LCD module also.

CORE MODULE & LCD : http://www.mikes-elektronikseite.de/shop_englisch/index.htm

  • 1x CORE_V2 - Kit without PIC
  • 1x PIC18F452
  • 1x LCD

MODULATION WHEELS & JOYSTICK : http://www.doepfer.de/home_e.htm

Question 1 : What else do I need to buy, what are the next steps ?

Question 2 (dumb :-[) : Does anyone know where to find something to put on that really small bit of joystick so that it looks like a real joystick at the end ? Is that standard ?

Question 3 : The joystick is a 20K one, is it possible to use it in a midibox compliant project ?

Question 4 : About the modulation/bend wheels set, Doepfer says :

“Pay attention that not the full rotating angle of the potentiometer is covered but only about 40%. If the end terminals of the potentiometer are e.g. connected to GND and +5V only a voltange range 0…+2V is covered !  Especially for DIY/OEM applications one has to pay attention to the limited rotating angle.”

Do any of you know how to solve this ? Does adding a resistor helps ? If yes, which value ?

Thanx very much anyone for help, & please forget my perhaps approx. english …

Olivier

2

You are supposed to use 10k pots but some people have used 50k joysticks without problem so 20k should work too

3

Question 2 (dumb :-[) : Does anyone know where to find something to put on that really small bit of joystick so that it looks like a real joystick at the end ? Is that standard ?

Olivier

you’ll have to worry about thread pattern and thread depths buying the end from a different company, but ive seen a few ones that dont look to bad on arcade surplus sites. like the people that fix arcade machines. check into it.

goodluck

taylor

4

Thanx for your help. Doepfer joysticks cost 40 euros, which I consider is too expensive, especially when having to buy 2 of them  :frowning:

Does anyone know where to buy cheap joysticks that fit into a midibox project ? (I searched the forums but didn’t find any valuable post on the subject …  ???)

Seeya

5

Does anyone know where to buy cheap joysticks that fit into a midibox project ? (I searched the forums but didn’t find any valuable post on the subject …  ???)

http://69.56.171.55/~midibox/forum/index.php?topic=4550.0

i use it with success!

6

I have two standard arcade joysticks here. The common type you see are actually sort of primitive electronically. They’re not pots, just a stick attached to a base that “leans” on a few momentary switches. They coincidentally are the same standard switches they use in the arcade buttons. They also have a guide piece for some that locks the movement in four directions. They normally can do eight. There are probably some arcade machines that have to use continuous controls.

-George

PS- Just remembered, I had an Apple II joystick which was fairly small and hi-tech looking, which had pots. They were pretty common and there were a few different ones through the Apple II GS and maybe even early Macs.

7

Thanx all for your help  :stuck_out_tongue:

3 euros seems very acceptable for a joystick. I’ll see if I can perhaps buy other parts & reach the 15$ limit for shipping;

And what about the modulation wheels restriction ??  :cry: How is it possible to amplify the signal from 2v to 5v ? Anybody good on electronics ?

Bye people,

8

How is it possible to amplify the signal from 2v to 5v ? Anybody good on electronics ?

… there is nothing to amplify to 5V. It’s meant, that since you don’t have the full rotation of the pot (only 40%), that you don’t reach the zero position (no resistance).

I don’t know about it will work with midibox when you calibrate the pot.

Greets, Roger

9

How is it possible to calibrate a controller in a midibox project ?

Thanx again, very valuable info.

Olivier

10

How is it possible to calibrate a controller in a midibox project ?

Thanx again, very valuable info.

Olivier

… I think it’s this one: http://www.ucapps.de/mios_fun.html#MIOS_AIN_PinLSBGet (not shure since I won’t use rotaries)

Greets, Roger

11

If I wanted to choose a hardware solution, which component / scheme should I use ?

Another stupid question : do I need a AIN module or is it possible to connect a pot directly to the core ?

Thanx all,

Olivier