|Build Log| - DIY midi gamepad controller

[fbonito]

i've found the solution...

iff you have trouble with a 9 pole stereo jack, here is the scheme...


link

[fbonito]

a little problem with the arrows...

HELP - gamepad to midi

[fbonito]

another problem...

it seems that i've lost one gamepad pcb... i was testing one pot and the pot start to burn...

i've disconnected everything and the gamepad is not recognized...

i'm seriously thinking of change my idea... and get the gamepads off

since i'm using two gamepads i will need a usb hub...
since i've burned one gamepad i will need another one...

and iff just use one BUO836 - leobodnar or a arduino ?

i guessing that the price and trouble of the gamepad + hub will be the same

[MiL0]

I'd recommend a Highly Liquid Midi CPU over a Leo Bodnar for the following reasons:

- a bit cheaper (especially compared to the BU0836X)
- proper midi device (no "HID to midi" utilities needed)
- supports encoders more easily
- supports more pots
- supports LED's
- better support on their forum than the Leo Bodnar forum (admin there will write your 'code' for you if you tell them what you want)

Only reason I'd go for a Leo Bodnar is if you want to do less soldering or if you prefer to use USB.

http://highlyliquid.com/midi-controllers/midi-cpu/

[fbonito]

my mind was in one direction, now it's in all directions...

the highly liquid board that you sugest is too expensive for me and has too many funcions that i will not need...

the price is really a big isue since i need to keep the project has low cost has possible.

for my project i only need

- 32 X switch
- 8 pot
- 2 rotary enconders (i can lose the enconders and have 3 extra switch)

ideally i would like to have USB/MIDI board instead of HID

and about the arduino?

[MiL0]

my mind was in one direction, now it's in all directions...

the highly liquid board that you sugest is too expensive for me and has too many funcions that i will not need...

the price is really a big isue since i need to keep the project has low cost has possible.

for my project i only need

- 32 X switch
- 8 pot
- 2 rotary enconders (i can lose the enconders and have 3 extra switch)

ideally i would like to have USB/MIDI board instead of HID

and about the arduino?

The Leo Bodnar boards are the same price or more expensive than a Highly Liquid CPU. Getting an Arduino Mega for less than $49.95 is probably possible but you would likely need to buy a Chinese clone. Unless you're confident with coding microprocessors, I'd probably choose something else.

I'm using both an Arduino and a Highly Liquid CPU; it's much simpler to get the Highly Liquid working properly.

[fbonito]

whell

I am convinced, the liquid looks like the best option... nad you'r right the price is lower than the leobodnar

the only catch is that it comes from US and i'm in europe, so the price will be higher than i expected, and a lot higher is the cutomes get the hand on it...

at this point it seams that the best option will be to keep my inicial plan.... buy another gamepad (about7€) and use this liquid board on another future project... :-(

[MiL0]

yeah I had to pay about 8 euros for customs import duty

[fbonito]

yes...

that's the problem... board+shipping+customs... it will be to expessive... so, i will keep the initial idea and think of a new project for the future :-)

[fbonito]

the sifão building is going on, i've the buttons, pot on the layout, and now it's time to connect everything together.

the game pads are locaded on a box, that will be in the interior of the controller, i'm using ribbon cable.

i don't like to have all the cables and connections like a big mess, so i put everything in the right place


the two gamepads


i've used the existing holes


box closed


another view


everything fits...


o will probably buy smaller knobs... let's see...


another view


box closed


a detail

:-)