Diy Joystick for A4

Elektron Gear Analog Keys/Four
#1

Hi
I thinking about building a Joystick for A4. Has anyone done this (i’m pretty sure someone did). But i have never done something like this…

  • Any suggestions witch chip i should use?
  • Has someone the codeing for this use?

I have the MNM Keys with the Joystick and the cool thing is, when changing a track while holding the Joystick i keeps the value in the buffer. Is this the same on the AK?

Thanks for helping

2 Likes
#2

hey
If you have an A4 mkii it is invitingly simple.
you can use one trs cable to directly connect the terminals of a joystick to the cv inputs of the A4mkii (or an ARMKII)
You will need to cut the trs cable in half and separate the three wires in each piece of cable. The “wire” that winds around the other two needs to be consolidated and will be attached to the middle prong on the terminal. The other two wires don’t matter. Solder the wires on, and repeat with the other half of the trs cable and second terminal on the joystick. Connect the two trs cables to the A4’s cv ins.
The A4’s expression learn does the rest.

here is a joystick you could use

5 Likes
#3

Yep, this is the answer.

I was after an A4 for the CV in/out, for modular integration, but this has made me realise that there are loads of unusual input methods you could use.

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#4

uk stock here for anyone interested…

#5

Hey thanks for the reply
I have the mk1 version… so i have to go by midi. That’s why i asked about code. I think i have to use a adroino or something similar. Then adress modweehl, breath and aftertouch… i guess.
Did something similar with a seaboard.

#6

I also thought about using a modular joystick module, but then i have to convert the cv signal to midi, need a case, poeersuply… so it would be expensiv.
That"s why i think about a diy projekt.
Or can you think of another way to control an a4 mk1 with a Joystick?

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#7

you could build one as midi controller with the Arduino or you could grab a cheap midi keyboard with a joystick and map that or modify the case down to the joystick alone.

the CV idea is brilliant

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#8

if you’ve not used the AK’s joystick before, the AK joystick controls 3x values - PB (X axis), MW (upper half Y) and BRE (lower half Y) - so i guess you’d have to use arduino or something to split the raw Y axis signal into two values to replicate these controls first, before translating each into a midi signal.

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#9

Thanks for the reply. I thought so… i just never did some codeing before… but hey you have to start somewhere