The DJ Walkman
This project combines creative design, electronics, and programming to create a custom DJ controller for an immersive performance experience for the DJ JayWalker. This project encompasses several key steps, including designing and fabricating an acrylic enclosure, soldering PCBs for button and rotary encoder controls, customizing Arduino software for MIDI control, and creating a sound-reactive visualization for live performance. Each step contributes to the final product, offering a hands-on learning experience in digital fabrication, electronics, and software development.
In the initial phase, a functional electronic schematic was created and a PCB design meeting the MIXIMixer device's criteria was developed using EasyEDA. This involved setting up a new project, designing schematics for various subassemblies, and converting the schematic to a PCB layout.
For the Music preparation Rekordbox software was set up with a curated playlist of music to fit the DJ's vibe, Intro and outro loops for each song were prepared to facilitate smooth transitions during the DJ set.
To create the physical housing for the DJ Roam Board, the acrylic enclosure was designed using softwares Makercase and Inkscape. Once the design was complete, the enclosure was laser cut and assembled, ensuring all components fit precisely. Simultaneously, surface-mount and through-hole components were soldered onto the custom arcade button and analog wheel PCBs. A reflow oven was used for the surface-mount components, while a soldering iron was used for through-hole components to secure all connections.
During the software customization phase, the Arduino software was customized to interface with the MIDI controller's hardware. This involved programming button and encoder functionality, as well as implementing MIDI communication protocols to ensure compatibility with DJ software.
During the final assembly and testing phase, the complete MIDI Mixer was assembled, which included attaching the acrylic enclosure to the PCBs and connecting any necessary wiring. The functionality of all components was tested to ensure they were working correctly. In parallel, a sound-reactive visualization was developed using Processing, a programming language for visual arts. A program was created that responded to audio input and generated visual effects that synced with the music, enhancing the DJ performance.
Snippet of the performance during the rave complete with the light show:
