Vintage Synth Explorer Forums

OK So I've decided to be lazy and take the easy way out with my DIY sequencer..

Instead of solder+build the interface/enclosure for it, I'm just going to buy a midi controller to send controls to the sequencer program..

Anyway I'm trying to come up with ideas of controllers that have at least 16 encoders + 16 buttons, preferably in rows of 16, rather than blocks (although 2x8 would be manageable)
Would need a few other buttons for functions as well, although these could be added by me.

The buttons need to have lights in/next to them that indicate on/off.

I don't mind modifying things a bit, as long as it's still gonna be easier than building the whole thing myself... BUT if anyone can think of any stock products that fit I would be much more interested in that.

Some ideas I've had so far (that still require a bit of work...)

2x BCR2000s sitting side by side (this would be ridiculously huge.. but so great it might just be worth it.. 4 encoders per step(+ 3 more on the other top row banks) and the LED rings around each one... that gives me pitch/gate/velocity/extra value available at all times.. very nice.

2x Launch Pads - not that difficult to interface with a button matrix, just bypass the USB section.
I guess I cooooould cope with no encoders, but I also think the 9th (0th) row along the top with the circular buttons would be perfect for removing and putting encoders in. 16 encoders + 8x16 grid + 2 columns of 8 function buttons.. yeah I could deal with that.

Any ideas guys?

what about the korg nanokontrol?

The command station has 16 programmable buttons. They are very easy to program, and there are 64 different scenes (multi setup) that can be recalled in any time, changing the controller change maping in a question of milliseconds.

The amount of assignable functions for these knobs is simple overwhelming. For $350 is very OK. And they have two MIDI outputs

How about a couple of ZeRO SL MkIIs? 16 knobs, 8 sliders, 8 pads, and 32??? buttons on each one.

Behringer BCR2000

Why would you need 2?
24 buttons and 32 knobs right there plus 4 more buttons

a pair of nanokontrols.. no thanks.. had bad experience with the nano series.

the command station has no encoders.

The zeros are quite nice, certainly an option.. One thing that makes me unsure is they have the kind of 'half and half' controller arrangement.. so if you place 2 next to each other there's not really a continuous row of the same kind of controllers.

I would get 2 BCR2000s so that I had rows of 16