VCI-100 DJ Controller Mod with Arcade Buttons, DJing with Toys

Vestax VCI 100 DJ controller modded with arcade buttons

Finding the perfect controller for DJing, laptop music, and so on has tended to mean either buying an off-the-shelf solution, or building one from scratch. But a growing number of users is choosing a third way: find a nearly-perfect controller and mod it to perfection.

DJ Tech Tools, a new blog from three DJs that has grown out of stories for Remix Magazine, has a great story on adding arcade buttons to a Vestax VCI-100 controller. And yes, that’s “arcade” as in gaming — those fantastic, tactile buttons found on vintage game cabinets.

Tutorial on adding arcade buttons to a VCI-100 [djtechtools.com]

Here are a couple of examples of the results:
Sonic Boooom! VCI-100 Vs. Street Fighter
A great VCI MOD rolls off the line!

Speaking of whimsical DJ toys, djtechtools points to DJ Nu-Mark, who has replaced turntables with a “pair of learning toys meant for teething toddlers.” djtechtools can’t seem to find more details, so I turn that to the ever-knowledgeable CDM readership. And Mark, if you’re out there, give a holler. Not totally sold on his DJ name, though it is a big leap better than “DJ Bear-In-Jer.” But the set looks fantastic. (Via.) The video, with Jurassic 5 in 2006:

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6 Comments

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Vestax: Vestax VCI-100 Mixer Modded with Arcade Game Buttons

[...] newVideoPlayer(”vestax_gawker.flv”, 475, 376); [YouTube and djtechtools.com via Create Digital Music] [...]

October 23, 2007 @ 5:02 am
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Turn your DJ controller into a retro gaming system

[...] Video tutorial on adding arcade buttons to a VCI-100 Link - [via [...]

October 23, 2007 @ 9:31 am
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Techzi » Blog Archive » Turn your DJ controller into a retro gaming system

[...] Video tutorial on adding arcade buttons to a VCI-100 Link - [via] [...]

October 23, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
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TheBlogItAll » Blog Archive » Vestax: Vestax VCI-100 Mixer Modded with Arcade Game Buttons

[...] Here’s what you do if you think your Vestax mixer looks dull as day-old dog doo: mod it. One of the guys from DJ Tech Tools swapped his boring old black knobs for arcade game buttons. How-to video is after the jump.newVideoPlayer(”vestax_gawker.flv”, 475, 376); [YouTube and djtechtools.com via Create Digital Music] [...]

October 24, 2007 @ 9:36 pm
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Create Digital Music » DJs Advocate Controllerism

[...] Speaking of the folks at DJ Tech Tools and modding controllers, my friend Matt Moldover is pushing a new term he’s coined, “controllerism.” Moldover, pictured here with his hacked-up Novation ReMOTE keyboard at the last Handmade Music event from CDM, Etsy, and Make, has a rig that combines custom Reaktor ensembles, Ableton Live, and modified controllers. His idea is I think to separate digital DJs using vinyl (following in the steps of the original turntablists) from those adding other performance elements unique to computers. [...]

November 16, 2007 @ 5:46 am
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Kipp

We have a digital system that works great. Very slick - We didn’t sacrifice any gear though - Everything is still in its manufactured state.
You can see the thing at myspace.com/runninthingsrecords or get a hold of me through Moldover’s groovy web page: http://www.controllerism.net

Kipp

September 19, 2008 @ 2:01 pm
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