Vestax PMC-580 Rotary Fader Mod

[djpenguin]

Another post that got lost when the old site went down, so I figured I'd put it back up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/djpenguin/P1000373.jpg

Here's the custom rotary fader kit I made for my mixer, because Vestax doesn't make one.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/djpenguin/P1000375.jpg

Special thanks to Elliot Marx for helping me track down the right five-pin connector to mate with the mixer.

[titomysta3000]

Another post that got lost when the old site went down, so I figured I'd put it back up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/djpenguin/P1000373.jpg

Here's the custom rotary fader kit I made for my mixer, because Vestax doesn't make one.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/djpenguin/P1000375.jpg

Special thanks to Elliot Marx for helping me track down the right five-pin connector to mate with the mixer.

Anyway you could show pics of inside of mixer or parts lists so i could try doing this mod but with my denon 1600? thanks

[brichi]

From experience of modding rotary into a non rotary mixer, I can tell u that seeing the inside of that mixer or a parts list will be almost useless to you being that you are trying to mod a completely different mixer. You would have better luck showing us the inside of your mixer for tips on how to mod it. The wiring, connectors, faders, etc.... Are all usually completely different between brands of mixers.

[djpenguin]

brichi is dead on. The DN-X1600 is a digital mixer with channel curve control, so it should be fairly easy to convert to rotary, as long as there's enough space inside. Take a photo of your mixer with the fader plate removed, and one channel fader removed too, and it will be easy to tell if there's enough room.

[titomysta3000]

brichi is dead on. The DN-X1600 is a digital mixer with channel curve control, so it should be fairly easy to convert to rotary, as long as there's enough space inside. Take a photo of your mixer with the fader plate removed, and one channel fader removed too, and it will be easy to tell if there's enough room.

Alright i will try uploading pics today

[Mark_Spit]

Still lovin' this mod Penguin :tup:, and I'd still like to try it on my 37 but I've run out of juice to start any new projects :(.

[djpenguin]

Damn, that's too bad about the 37. I was really looking forward to seeing a rotary conversion for that. I'm almost tempted to mod the one I have, but I'm in the middle of doing some other stuff to it already.

I found a couple of photos that I had a photographer friend take back in August. They don't show the InnoFader I installed since then, but they are much nicer than the photos from the old post.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/djpenguin/IMG_7354.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/djpenguin/IMG_7356.jpg

[brichi]

looks nice, how did you know which pots to get? this was my biggest concern in doing the mod is that I would use the wrong ones and damage the mixer, Is that possible? I stayed with Pioneers kit from the 800 and added it to the djm900 so they were very close in resistance rating but what if you didn't have a place to start? thanks penguin for any info you can provide

[mostapha]

I'm probably going to end up doing something like that to my 004. Need to look into that.

[Estacy]

still love the mod! we had some talk about it, I wanted to mod my Ecler Nuo. but then the site went down and I didn't really look into it anymore.
basically:
you need a multimeter first. take out the faders and see if they're logarithmic or linear (easy to do with a multimeter, see what value it has on both ends, put the faderstem in the middle and if its linear the value on your multimeter should be somwhat in the middle as well)
then you need to check what impedance it has and the tolerance (5 or 10%)

then I got stuck lol

[brichi]

lol,,,, thats pretty much what I did, I didnt know to look into the linear vs logarithmic but I figured the kit was made by pio so they used the same for both mixers :) whats the difference anyway? or i'll just google it if you dont have time to answer

secondly with the meter I measured the resistance from fully shut to fully open, the stock faders were 2k-8k and the rotary were 2k-13k, figured it was close enough and they work fine, Especially since the rotary should have a higher number being that it has more of a rotation "distance from open to close" From what I read the lower number is the more important one anyway because thats what is deciding how much power goes through, least resistance.

[DTR]

lol,,,, thats pretty much what I did, I didnt know to look into the linear vs logarithmic but I figured the kit was made by pio so they used the same for both mixers :) whats the difference anyway?

Linear means that as you move the fader the resistance increases / decreases at a constant rate. Logarithmic means that the resistance increases slowly at one end of the travel and sharply at the other end. However a logarithmic curve does not necessarily mean a sharp fader curve.


I measured the resistance from fully shut to fully open, the stock faders were 2k-8k and the rotary were 2k-13k, figured it was close enough and they work fine

13k probably is close enough. It might give the fader a slightly sharper curve though.


Especially since the rotary should have a higher number being that it has more of a rotation "distance from open to close".

This is not the case. The pot resistance should match the original as closely as possible, whether or not the new pot is rotary.

[djpenguin]

Estacy: The next step would be to figure out what the pinout is for the existing faders, then write up a pinout for the new rotary pots that will match it. After that's done, solder on the wire and connectors, and figure out your physical mounting solution.

mostapha: If the 004 is anything like the 002 I have, a rotary conversion would be do-able, but not that simple. The lower casing (under the faceplate) has smallish rectangular cutouts about 14mm wide for the linear faders. Those cutouts would need to be enlarged to accomodate rotary pots, and the pots themselves would have to mount to the faceplate.

[brichi]

thanks for the info DTR, Mine have been working great so I guess I am good to go, I wouldnt think it would cause long term damage being that close in resistance between the 8k and 13k

[Mark_Spit]

Damn, that's too bad about the 37. I was really looking forward to seeing a rotary conversion for that. I'm almost tempted to mod the one I have, but I'm in the middle of doing some other stuff to it already.


You sound pretty disappointed. I'll make you a deal: If you can tell me the proper pots I'll need for the job, I'll build it 'cause I don't have the knowhow to figure that part out and I don't want to fry my baby. I'm good with a soldering iron, just don't start throwing impedance values or what not at me. Damn I shouldn't have goofed off so much in school :freak:

[mostapha]

mostapha: If the 004 is anything like the 002 I have, a rotary conversion would be do-able, but not that simple. The lower casing (under the faceplate) has smallish rectangular cutouts about 14mm wide for the linear faders. Those cutouts would need to be enlarged to accomodate rotary pots, and the pots themselves would have to mount to the faceplate.

Something tells me that's probably the case, but I don't know. I haven't taken it apart yet. Are these the kinds of things that could be solved with a dremel, or would I have to find a piece of sheet metal to replace a section of the face plate?

[djpenguin]

looks nice, how did you know which pots to get? this was my biggest concern in doing the mod is that I would use the wrong ones and damage the mixer, Is that possible? I stayed with Pioneers kit from the 800 and added it to the djm900 so they were very close in resistance rating but what if you didn't have a place to start? thanks penguin for any info you can provide

It was actually pretty simple, because it's a digital mixer, which means the volume controls are just single-gang linear pots for digital control. I just unplugged one of the standard faders, and tested it with my multimeter. From the testing, I was able to determine what the value, tolerance, and curve specs were, then it was just a matter of tracking down some rotary pots with the right specs to match. In my case, I found some nice Bourns 10KB 10% pots from Jameco that had 1/4" metal shafts.


You sound pretty disappointed. I'll make you a deal: If you can tell me the proper pots I'll need for the job, I'll build it 'cause I don't have the knowhow to figure that part out and I don't want to fry my baby. I'm good with a soldering iron, just don't start throwing impedance values or what not at me. Damn I shouldn't have goofed off so much in school :freak:

It's a deal! I think that the channel faders for the 37 are dual-gang 50KA 10%, but I'm not positive. I'll open up my 37 as soon as I have a chance and get back to you with a firm answer. It might not be today, as I've got a small gig tonight, and a bunch of other stuff to do before then.

[brichi]

Linear means that as you move the fader the resistance increases / decreases at a constant rate. Logarithmic means that the resistance increases slowly at one end of the travel and sharply at the other end. However a logarithmic curve does not necessarily mean a sharp fader curve.

so I would assume that most mixers are Linear, i just tested the stock upfader from the 900 and it consistently moves the meter as I bring the volume from 0-10, I am pretty sure (without ripping the rotaries back out) that they did the same, especially since the volume changes consistently as I raise and lower the rotary knob

[Mark_Spit]

It's a deal! I think that the channel faders for the 37 are dual-gang 50KA 10%, but I'm not positive. I'll open up my 37 as soon as I have a chance and get back to you with a firm answer. It might not be today, as I've got a small gig tonight, and a bunch of other stuff to do before then.

Sounds good:tup: No big rush. There are a couple of stores that are really good for parts that I go to. One is by my work which I can get to during the week, the other is close to home that's more accessable on the weekends. So when ever you get around to it is cool. I can at least get started on the top plate. I'm going to see if I can get a nice piece of stainless for it.

[hoff]

looks sexy. very clean

[d22901]

http://www.the-mainboard.com/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/Like.png Nice work djpenguin

[djpenguin]

Something tells me that's probably the case, but I don't know. I haven't taken it apart yet. Are these the kinds of things that could be solved with a dremel, or would I have to find a piece of sheet metal to replace a section of the face plate?

I suppose it's possible, but the board is pretty crammed with components, even on the 002. It's going to be tough to fit the rotary pots in there no matter how they're mounted.


Sounds good:tup: No big rush. There are a couple of stores that are really good for parts that I go to. One is by my work which I can get to during the week, the other is close to home that's more accessable on the weekends. So when ever you get around to it is cool. I can at least get started on the top plate. I'm going to see if I can get a nice piece of stainless for it.

I pulled a fader out of my 37 earlier today, and it's a dual-gang logarithmic (A-curve) 25K 10% tolerance pot.

[mostapha]

I suppose it's possible, but the board is pretty crammed with components, even on the 002. It's going to be tough to fit the rotary pots in there no matter how they're mounted.

Dang. Oh well. I guess I have to actually upgrade at some point. Bummer.

[Mark_Spit]

I pulled a fader out of my 37 earlier today, and it's a dual-gang logarithmic (A-curve) 25K 10% tolerance pot.

I'm on it!

[Mark_Spit]

Crap. I tried 2 stores today and neither has logarithmic with those values. They both had linear though. No good I guess? :shrug: I still have a few more shops to try. Fingers crossed.

[Mark_Spit]

I tried 3 more shops yesterday and only one carries them but they are out of stock ofcoarse - just my luck :mad: Looks like I'll have to order through Digi-Key