My latest MIDI controller opus
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2019 7:05 pm
As you know, I'm mostly a mouse user (a very nice Logitech M705 wireless mouse with "Hyperscroll"). But I am invested in MIDI controllers to the extent that I actually own two of them! Recently there was information posted about an Arduino based controller called Odin. I was sufficiently intrigued with both the main line setup on the Odin and the contest observations of G8NJJ as well. To that end, I decided to investigate whether or not I could duplicate the set of controls on the Odin that were motivated by SSB phone contesting using one of the MIDI controllers I have.
I chose the smaller of the two MIDI controllers I have as being more representative of Odin in terms of size, number of controls, and types of controls. With two exceptions, only one being important IMHO, I was able to completely duplicate the controls shown on the Odin that were on the "contest list". The two exceptions were:
1. No diversity controls are enabled in MIDI. IMHO this is not really very important except for very small minority of users who are actually set up to use this feature. However certainly these functions could be added to the MIDI repertoire because nearly all MIDI functions are based on the corresponding CAT functions and the Odin team has already added the CAT for this in both PowerSDR and Thetis.
2. More importantly, while the MIDI controls for adjusting the passband edges do exist, they are only support for "wheel" type controls at this time. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the controls on most MIDI controllers are knobs and sliders. If "knob/slider" control were added for the Filter High and Filter Low MIDI functions that would solve this problem.
Having accomplished that, I finally got motivated to come up with a layout commensurate with my normal rag chew op's and occasional forays into DX, and I got out the label maker as well. The results are depicted in the two attached photos.
For my purposes I was more interested in split functionality than in being able to switch modes or bands. Both of the latter functions were on the "contest list" of controls. Hence the buttons under the large jog wheels are dominated by split functions. However, in the "contest" setup I had made those controls mode and band buttons instead, and collapsed the Tune Speed controls into a single button that allows changing between high and low rate tuning speeds. Yes, that is Tune Speed, as in Hertz/Jog Wheel Step, not "Tune Step", which is an entirely different set of controls also available by MIDI.
Similarly, I'm more interested in VOX and Squelch controls, but in the "contest mode" I had those controls set up for Mic Gain, RF Drive and Tune functions.
It is worth noting that the white buttons on the Hercules DJControl Compact are able to be illuminated under control of the MIDI functionality in PowerSDR and Thetis. Hence I used those for buttons that represented a state of ON/OFF and you can see in the photos how that can work.
Finally, I left the passband knobs labeled that way in the shameless hope that I can beg Chris to add knob mode support for the Filter High and Filter Low MIDI commands
73,
Scott
I chose the smaller of the two MIDI controllers I have as being more representative of Odin in terms of size, number of controls, and types of controls. With two exceptions, only one being important IMHO, I was able to completely duplicate the controls shown on the Odin that were on the "contest list". The two exceptions were:
1. No diversity controls are enabled in MIDI. IMHO this is not really very important except for very small minority of users who are actually set up to use this feature. However certainly these functions could be added to the MIDI repertoire because nearly all MIDI functions are based on the corresponding CAT functions and the Odin team has already added the CAT for this in both PowerSDR and Thetis.
2. More importantly, while the MIDI controls for adjusting the passband edges do exist, they are only support for "wheel" type controls at this time. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the controls on most MIDI controllers are knobs and sliders. If "knob/slider" control were added for the Filter High and Filter Low MIDI functions that would solve this problem.
Having accomplished that, I finally got motivated to come up with a layout commensurate with my normal rag chew op's and occasional forays into DX, and I got out the label maker as well. The results are depicted in the two attached photos.
For my purposes I was more interested in split functionality than in being able to switch modes or bands. Both of the latter functions were on the "contest list" of controls. Hence the buttons under the large jog wheels are dominated by split functions. However, in the "contest" setup I had made those controls mode and band buttons instead, and collapsed the Tune Speed controls into a single button that allows changing between high and low rate tuning speeds. Yes, that is Tune Speed, as in Hertz/Jog Wheel Step, not "Tune Step", which is an entirely different set of controls also available by MIDI.
Similarly, I'm more interested in VOX and Squelch controls, but in the "contest mode" I had those controls set up for Mic Gain, RF Drive and Tune functions.
It is worth noting that the white buttons on the Hercules DJControl Compact are able to be illuminated under control of the MIDI functionality in PowerSDR and Thetis. Hence I used those for buttons that represented a state of ON/OFF and you can see in the photos how that can work.
Finally, I left the passband knobs labeled that way in the shameless hope that I can beg Chris to add knob mode support for the Filter High and Filter Low MIDI commands
73,
Scott