DIY DJing: Five Projects to Build Your Gear

For enthusiasts intrigued by the fusion of DJ technology with hands-on creativity, exploring the realm of DIY DJing offers a promising avenue. This article delves into five innovative DIY DJing projects that guide you in building unique and versatile DJ gear. These projects cater to those interested in technology and innovation, as they provide the opportunity to personalize DJ setups and potentially save on costs. Through detailed instructions and accessible materials, these projects invite you to explore the fulfilling process of crafting your own DJ equipment, while also enhancing your technical skills.

The article presents five engaging DIY DJing projects designed for building custom DJ gear. The first project, the DIY USB DJ Controller, uses parts from the Numark Mixtrack II, offering MIDI compatibility with popular software such as Virtual DJ Pro and Serato, all for approximately $75 in total costs including a TI MSP430 Launchpad.

The XDJ100SX is an open-source media player integrating Raspberry Pi 3b+ and Arduino/Teensy microcontrollers with the Mixxx application. This project features modifications like a USB port for rekordbox track imports and repurposed CD eject button functions.

Mark Monka’s Pioneer CDJ-100S modification transforms an older deck into a standalone unit featuring a touchscreen. Like the XDJ100SX, it uses Raspberry Pi 3b+ and Arduino/Teensy for enhanced functionality, including USB connectivity for rekordbox.

ATGR DJ Touch 1 focuses on touchscreen controls, available in three variants (X-FADER, HOTCUES, STEMS) supporting a range of DJ software. It utilizes the ESP32-2432S028R touchscreen, facilitating compact and versatile control.

Lastly, 3D Printing Your Own DJ Gear leverages 3D printing to create custom parts for the Numark PT-01 Scratch. Resources for 3D files and printing services are available from sources such as Beat Shelter and Scratch City. Additionally, the Prototype Scratch Fader and 3U Modular Tape Deck from Beepboop Electronics includes a modular design with unique features like the uTape Scrubber.

The DIY USB DJ Controller project is built around the Numark Mixtrack II as its hardware basis. The design is presented as a USB-based controller that connects to a computer for performance and control. The project includes step-by-step instructions for assembling the controller from Mixtrack II parts and related components.

The total cost of the build is estimated at around $75. That estimate includes the TI MSP430 Launchpad, which is priced at approximately $10. The TI MSP430 Launchpad is described as a microcontroller development platform used in the controller’s electronics.

Software compatibility for the DIY USB DJ Controller is provided via MIDI mapping. The controller is reported to work with Virtual DJ Pro, Serato, Traktor Pro, Ableton Live, and Image-Line Deckadence through MIDI mapping. The project documentation lists these applications as supported targets for configuring the controller’s MIDI messages.

The XDJ100SX is described as an open-source media player project. It runs on a Raspberry Pi 3b+ and incorporates Arduino/Teensy microcontrollers as part of its hardware platform. The project uses MIDI libraries alongside the Mixxx application for playback and control. The description presents these components as the core software and hardware stack for the open-source player.

Hardware modifications for the XDJ100SX are documented in the project description. The build includes adding a USB port to allow importing tracks via rekordbox. The CD eject button on the original unit was repurposed to act as a control that sends the deck to the library. A new browser encoder was also added to provide navigation and browsing functionality for the modified player.

The ATGR DJ Touch 1 project is a touchscreen-based DJ controller released in multiple editions: X-FADER, HOTCUES, and STEMS. The hardware uses the ESP32-2432S028R microcontroller touchscreen platform, also referred to as Cheap Yellow Display or CYD, described as a budget-friendly color touchscreen. ATGR released a series of software packages for the platform to enable touchscreen control of DJ functions.

The DJ Touch 1 is reported to support Algoriddim djay Pro, Serato, Traktor Pro, rekordbox and Virtual DJ. Each edition focuses on a different control set—X-FADER for crossfader functions, HOTCUES for cue triggering, and STEMS for stem-based controls—implemented via the touchscreen software. The project documentation presents the ESP32-2432S028R and accompanying firmware as the technical foundation for interfacing with the listed DJ applications.

These five DIY DJing projects demonstrate practical methods for creating customized DJ gear and modifying existing equipment to add functionality. The documented builds make use of microcontrollers, single-board computers, touchscreen platforms, and 3D-printed parts. Project examples include a USB-based controller built from a Numark Mixtrack II, an open-source XDJ100SX running on a Raspberry Pi 3b+ with Arduino/Teensy, a touchscreen-focused ATGR DJ Touch 1 using the ESP32-2432S028R, and Beepboop’s Prototype Scratch Fader and 3U Modular Tape Deck.

Readers are invited to explore the individual project documentation, technical resources, and community contributions to learn more or share their own builds. The article also provides cost and compatibility details for specific builds, such as estimated pricing and compatible DJ software.