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

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
Leave a CommentVestax: 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
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
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
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
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
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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