MiniMixxx preview: Mixxx + Yaeltex

owen.williams · September 28, 2021, 10:54pm

For a while I’ve been wanting to create a “MiniMixxx” setup so that I could have everything I need to DJ in a small bag. Most “small” DJ controllers make bad choices, dropping important things like the mid eq knob (!). So I commissioned a controller from Yaeltex and mapped it out to my liking.

It supports:

2 decks
2 channel mixer with full eq and quick FX knob
pitch and gain faders
(no crossfader – who needs it?)
encoders as simple jog wheels for tweaks and seeking
encoders as VU meters with colors matching intensity
gain adjustment
loops and beatrolls
beatjumps
sync lock
key lock and musical key adjustment
4 Hotcues per deck (supports custom colors)
8 Samplers
Library navigation
1 FX unit (in addition to quick FX knob)

The button assignments are a little hard to remember without labels, I will probably have to make some :).

I plan to pair this with a Raspberry PI setup for the ultimate tiny DJ system. Here is a little video of the mapping: https://youtu.be/0kQOocHjfuI

(I can’t figure out how to link to the MiniMixxx controller, it’s number 16088)

owen.williams · September 29, 2021, 12:37am

Feature request for next round of hardware: can you include a 4 channel sound card in the controller? (main out + headphone out)

Ale · September 29, 2021, 3:23pm

Cool one @owen.williams!
A lot of power in such a small package.

The button assignments are a little hard to remember without labels, I will probably have to make some :).

Yep, probably a good idea, more so with so much going on. Also, labels are a good help in the motor learning process.

I plan to pair this with a Raspberry PI setup for the ultimate tiny DJ system.

Can Mixxx run on Pi? The form factor and power of the Pi modules are really tempting…

Here is a little video of the mapping: https://youtu.be/0kQOocHjfuI

Lovely how are you using the encoder’s feedback rings!

Feature request for next round of hardware: can you include a 4 channel sound card in the controller? (main out + headphone out)

A feature request that pops up pretty often, it’s already on the “nice to have” list.
Tbh, we haven’t really deep-dive into it, but make it part of the framework is not trivial. We’ll see.

owen.williams · September 29, 2021, 7:13pm

Mixxx runs quite well on the pi4. I haven’t really tried to strain it but basic mixing works fine, including the waveforms.

MateoFY · October 5, 2021, 2:37pm

For this, I see that you havent used the included VU Meter mode. So you are sending two different CC values, one for intensity, one for color, right? Looks amazing!

Maybe a sharpie letter/symbol on the button itself? I haven’t tried it so I’m not sure it will be erasable. Sticky labels below each button are maybe less risky

Loving to see this one in action. Curious about that Raspi setup. Keep the updates!

owen.williams · October 6, 2021, 2:45pm

How do I make the minimixxx available for other people to buy? I have some interest from the other mixxx developers.

nacaramusic · October 6, 2021, 4:47pm

So cool!

encoders as VU meters with colors matching intensity

How do you achieve this without using VU meter CC mode?
Did you customize the firmware?

owen.williams · October 6, 2021, 6:59pm

The knobs are using the VU meter mode of the firmware, yes. I just send a lot of CC values:

github.com

ywwg/mixxx/blob/a76b70fe2b79b29c8b2d4a1f85a73b45a535e8f5/res/controllers/MiniMixxx-scripts.js#L247-L257


vuIndicator(value, _group, _control) {
    if (this !== this.parent.activeMode || this.showGain) {
        return;
    }

    let color = MiniMixxx.vuMeterColor(value);
    color = engine.getValue(this.channel, "PeakIndicator") > 0 ? MiniMixxx.PeakColor : color;
    const midiValue = value * 127.0;
    midi.sendShortMsg(0xBF, this.idx, color);
    midi.sendShortMsg(0xB0, this.idx, midiValue);
}

github.com

ywwg/mixxx/blob/a76b70fe2b79b29c8b2d4a1f85a73b45a535e8f5/res/controllers/MiniMixxx-scripts.js#L1433-L1437


MiniMixxx.vuMeterColor = function(value) {
    value = Math.max(Math.min(value, 1.0), 0.0);
    // Color: 85 to 22, multiples of 3. That's 21 levels.
    return Math.round((1.0 - value) * 21.0) * 3 + 22;
};

nacaramusic · October 7, 2021, 10:29am

Hi!
Thanks for the script, seems dope!
From what I understand, your encoder feedback is configured as Message type = CC, Color mode = Value to color, and you send the value to the encoder channel, and the color to channel 16, right?
Or is it something else?

francoytx · October 7, 2021, 12:53pm

I got the same conclusions @nacaramusic hahah

and the colors of the video match the limits @owen.williams uses for the colors in the vuMeterColor() method (85 to 22).

Configured as VUMETER CC, the colors are not changeable (yet ) and the ring is the vumeter itself.

It’s a great hack

We will talk to you about this via email

owen.williams · October 8, 2021, 3:08am

yup, I send those two CC messages with every tick. There is a 50ms timer that drives the updates to the vumeters and spinnies.