Creating a mixer from scratch...

[Guest Laser_iCE]

Just before I start, I personally think these general forums should be pushed up to the top more... They're so far down that I don't bother scrolling all the way down here!

Okay, on topic;

I do a bit of party DJ'ing and what not every now and then, and for now, I'm just using my laptop and an amp, while on the laptop, using the Virtual DJ [www.virtualdj.com] software...

And with the software, you're able to set up keyboard shortcuts for literally everything, and what I want to do is to make my own mixer with twisting knobs and stuff on it (much like you see that some keyboards have in the top right hand corner), and buttons to press...

So what I'm thinking of doing, is getting a cheap keyboard, taking it apart, putting it at the bottom of a wooden box, and then wiring up the knobs and the buttons to press certain keys, so that I can have a more "hands on" approach to dj'ing, rather than strugging to use a few shortcuts with the keyboard and mouse...

So the question that I have, is how would I go about;

a. buying twisting knobs (so say, for tempo, to speed up and down) that I'm able to hook up (to say, press A for slowing down and S for speeding up) and then;

b. getting the buttons/knobs to press the key's. Are there any old keyboards that you know of that possibly use magnets or circuits of some sort? otherwise I'm going to have a fuckload of levers, lol.

Also, if any of you would know an easier alternative, with perhaps a controller of some sort... Keeping in mind that I'm going to need at least 30 buttons :)

Thanks in advance;

Laser_iCE

[Guest James]

sounds like a right pain in the ass to me mate :)

i have used virtual DJ (as welll as owned decks and CD decks over the years) you could buy an external controller:-

http://www.virtualdj.com/products/hardware.html