gonna modify my MODE button (for 2xl track change shortcut)

at risk of endlessly customizing my hardware so i can make music more efficiently, i'm going to further customize my hardware so i can make music more efficiently.

in jjos2xl, you can change tracks by simply holding MODE while turning the data wheel. this is incredibly handy because it's cross-mode, and is an enormous shortcut while recording, editing, whatever.

problem is, those buttons are f'in fragile - both the plastic and the tact switch underneath. constantly mashing that mode button down is going to cause a problem.

so here's what i'm going to do - i'm gonna see if i can't solder extra wires to the mode button tact switch terminals and run them off to a different tact switch elsewhere on the mpc - notably the LEFT side, in between the qlinks to the right a little bit. i'll drill a hole through the mpc frame and boom, i'll be able to use my right hand for the MODE button. the mode light will still flash and the other button will be fully functional.

the button i'll be using is the same pressure sensor type one that's in my hollowbook and the same that was in my pad fix - it's those inaba sensors that i've still got a couple of - and it will survive 9 million actuations. furthermore, it's easier to hold down and will respond with just a gentle tap instead of a forceful click.

i'm looking forward to this. unfortunately i've got mad beats/raps that i'm writing and this will take an hour or two that i feel greedy about spending.

however this opens up a lot of ideas - like replacing all the cursor buttons with nicer tact switches that require less clicking and more gentle pressure.

dude you should try to source a drop in replacement for the button so it doesnt require major modification

this is really starting to **** with my mode

a drop in replacement wouldn't solve the placement problem - it's still in a location where you needto use the same hand for the scrolling of the data wheel to hold the MODE button. meanwhile your other hand is doing jack (don't be immature) while it could be holding the MODE button instead. i think dual hand mode control is useful - normal right side mode control for accessing the different MODES, left hand mode control for changing tracks.

Nym wrote:in jjos2xl, you can change tracks by simply holding MODE while turning the data wheel. this is incredibly handy because it's cross-mode, and is an enormous shortcut while recording, editing, whatever.

problem is, those buttons are f'in fragile - both the plastic and the tact switch underneath. constantly mashing that mode button down is going to cause a problem.

precisely what has happened to me, after 4 months has broken the switch for the constant pressure(skip tracks with mode-rotary shortcut)

I think the switch used in this way takes no longer than 4-5 months... i wonder if in theory there is a limit to the switches that can be soldered without the printed circuit damaged...

anyway I hope you can find a solution

the switch works beautifully. i tested it by soldering some long wires taken from an ethernet cable to the switch and touching them against the tact switch terminals while the machine was on. when i press the tact switch, the mode LED lit up and flashed. while holding the tact switch and spinning the data wheel, the tracks changed.

i just soldered the leads on to the underside of the tact switch terminals pcb and silicone glued the wires to the edge of the pcb for stability so they won't get bent off the terminals. i drilled a hole in my mpc's top metal frame right in between the qlinks (and a little to the right) so i can run the wires through and resolder them to the tact switch and then silicone glue the tact switch to the mpc frame. this is durable (these switches have no moving part and will not break) and it won't come off cuz of the nature of the glue i'm using

the only downside is that unless i come up with a solution, i'll have to desolder this new additional mode button before taking the top frame off. i'm not worried, cuz i'm not in there very often, but still it's something to consider if you want to do this yourself.

works like a charm.
this is fantastic. i even solved the frame removal problem.

1- cleaned the pressure sensor
2- soldered two wires on the underside of the terminals of the mode button tact switch
3- silicone glued these wires to the underside of the R op board PCB
4- ran them under the pad frame/pad array
5- attached the wires to a 2 pin connector
6- epoxied the 2 pin terminal housing to the underside of the top MPC frame
7- glued the sensor in between the qlinks a little to the right
8- soldered 2 wires to the 2 pin terminal housing
9- soldered the other side of the 2 wires to the 2 terminals on the sensor
10- connected the 2 pin connector to the 2 pin terminal housing ("tethering" the frame to the mpc body itself
11- wrapping the excess cable into free space in the mpc
12- screwing the whole thing back together.

works incredibly well
changing tracks with the MODE button hotkey is so so so much better than turning the data wheel while holding the MODE button with the index finger.

it's also cool to hit the button on the far left of the mpc and see the mode button on the right lights up

dude i have a.d.d like a champ,,is there any way you could post pics,,im getting confused reading what u wrote,,and trust me im good with my hands,,im just not understanding what 2 wires you ran,and if they had to go to the same legs on both tacts...like is there a positive and negative?...ive installed tacts and even did a tutorial here on it,,but ive never (daisychained)them..
i find this very interesting as i can add whatever i want to wherever i want it.
this is true? as far as tacts?

i really dig ur work dude and i even watched some videos you had up,,as a matter of fact,i never heard of needlewerk until i seen your video,and i immediatly went and ordered a red screen for my 2500(the last one as a matter of fact)not even here yet..
if u could help me with some pics,i would really appreciate it!!

ive got a video camera but no firewire input yet. i've got no camera, too - and last, i've already zipped up my mpc and powered it back on for the evening.

if there's enough demand i'll bojangle a camera and try to put up some pictures or something but meanwhile, i soldered the leads to the underside of the tact switch terminals like this: (the numbers are the terminals)

12
34

i soldered terminals 1 and 4, adjacent ones. there's no positive and negative for these, it's just an on/off switch.

i find this very interesting as i can add whatever i want to wherever i want it.
this is true? as far as tacts?

yes, this is true. anything can go anywhere if you have the ability. it'll get messier and messier with excess wires, but with the gumption you can do it.

Nym wrote:a drop in replacement wouldn't solve the placement problem - it's still in a location where you needto use the same hand for the scrolling of the data wheel to hold the MODE button. meanwhile your other hand is doing jack (don't be immature) while it could be holding the MODE button instead. i think dual hand mode control is useful - normal right side mode control for accessing the different MODES, left hand mode control for changing tracks.

I'm confused.. why can't you use your left hand to hold the MODE button? did you really go through all of that work to save yourself from sliding your left hand a couple inches to the right?

^^ did u miss this part?

Nym wrote:at risk of endlessly customizing my hardware so i can make music more efficiently, i'm going to further customize my hardware so i can make music more efficiently.

I'm confused.. why can't you use your left hand to hold the MODE button?

no, that's a good question. using the left hand on the mode button would be a good solution if it were more comfortable. if you had the 1k in front of you, you'd see why that'd be an awkward movement, between crossing in front of you and also being so close to the other hand. especially compared to having a button right there where my left hand is anyway.

using the same hand is to turn knob and hold mode is real trouble, cuz you can easily let go of the mode button (although you're still pushing with considerable pressure) and all the sudden you've changed a parameter in GPE, or accidentally switched your outgoing midi channels, or wreaked all kinds of havoc elsewhere.

furthermore, there's the tactile feeling of the button compared to the pressure sensor i installed. the sensor is waay more comfortable - if i had the ability/access to enough of the sensors, i'd love to replace all the buttons on the mpc with them, but that's just not sensible

where do you get pressure sensors? locally?

i would say this is a pretty cool idea altogether. will save wear and tear on your stock buttons thats for sure. im just wondering if you can still use the stock button if you wanna. if i could use both i think id be down for this one. got any extra sensors nym? and is there a pretty way to conceal the button? i guess i could use another button that was easily hidden... fugit i want a hovering holographic console to appear before me so i can depress buttons with no wear on the unit whatsoever.