USB Turntable

Intro: USB Turntable

Hello !!!

Lately, I have become very interested in everything having to do with DJ's. I have downloaded plenty of Digital DJ softwares and have grown to like a few of them. After looking at some real DJ gear.......I was dissapointed that most of them were at least a few hundred bucks.(even the cheaper stuff).

So instead I decided to break out my handy dandy Lego collection and make my own Lego DJ Turntable.

Let's Get Started !


And Please!  If you liked this instructable at all please vote on it in the USB contest. I really does mean alot to me! Thank you!

STEP 1: Getting Started

Before you start you are going to need a few things.

First download Virtual DJ Home Free .  As the name suggests this is totally free software and it's really easy to use.

Here's A link http://www.virtualdj.com/download/free.html

After you download that, play around with it a little bit. It's alot of fun and even cooler when you have a Lego Scratcher.
You will notice that this software allows you to "Scratch the record" (AKA. The WIKI WIKI WIKI)  when you use your mouse wheel over the playing record.   This is the key to our entire project.


Now,  As far as materials go. You are going to need the following:


-An old USB mouse that still works.

-A blank CD, or any other disk you don't care about.

-A decent amount of Legos.

          Around  20 - 30,   2x4blocks
          Some Smooth  1x2 plates
          One Spinning Thingy ( See Picture)
          A few long thin plates for the bottom

-A  Glue Gun, (Or some Super Glue)

-A  Small screwdriver

-A little Creativity

STEP 2: The Mouse

Go ahead and take apart that mouse.  Usually there are just a few small screws on the bottom. Then It should just split in half.

STEP 3: The Box

Alright now we are going to start forming the box around the mouse.

Do one layer all the way around the mouse just to get the size right. Depending on your mouse it may be bigger or smaller than my box.

After the first layer go ahead and build the second one to keep everything together and strong.

After finishing the second layer, flip the box over and place the thin plates underneath to make a little floor for the mouse.

STEP 4: The CD

Now, Set the mouse and box aside for a moment and grab your CD disk.  We are going to place the smooth blocks on the Spinning Thingy like in the picture.  And then Hot Glue the smooth blocks and Spinning Thingy to the center of the CD.  Be careful not to get any glue on the Spinning Thingy or our DJ Scratcher wont work very well. 

Let that Dry and make sure it spins.

STEP 5: The CD Top

To add a little style to my Scratcher, I Printed out a CD sticker to put on top. I also Hot Glued a  2 x 2 Lego on top.  Just for Looks

STEP 6: Finishing the Box

You will of course want to finish up the remaining portions of the box. Make sure that the mouse doesn't wiggle around and it stays nice and secure.

Also if you want to, go ahead and add a cover to the top of the box, just to close up the mouse and make it look a little better.

STEP 7: Placing the CD

Alright, We are almost there. We need to line up the CD on the side of our Box with the mouse wheel. Depending on your mouse you may need to add a few thin plates on the edges.  It's a little bit of Trial and Error.  Your CD should lay on the Mouse Wheel and stay level.  It's important that you place it carefully and take your time on this step.

You may also want to add a little CD support to keep the CD from falling off of the box.

STEP 8: All Finished!!

Add any decorations or additions you desire. You should be able to plug in your USB mouse into your computer.

To use:

-Open Up Virtual DJ Home Free
-Begin Playing a song
-Move the mouse over the record. (Use a different mouse for this part, Remember, You can have two plugged in at a time)
-Unleash your inner DJ wizard.


Note: This is made of Legos, so Anything thing is possible. You are free to create, improve, and design and version of this any way you can imagine.   Be creative. Be imaginative.

Please Post pictures if you do decide to make it !!

Comments

[sannisinas]

Do you know how you can get the actual scratch effect you get with the normal left click and moving the mouse?

[peter_jude321]

How did the mouse pointer Didnt move while u Turn the Cd?

[kilber17]

Could you figure out what the name of the spinny thing is

[Demon4511]

do you need the lego or can you use something else?

[Trainguyxx]

Well this is pretty handy. What I'm wondering is: have you managed to get two working at the same time?

[coolwithpie]

If you used glovepie with fake mice that could work

[jrad7000]

can you slow the scratch sound to more of a wub wub sound, you know what i wanna do, and i want to eventually make a synthesizer but im clueless right now

[coolwithpie]

I am using a mouse with a PS/2( regular) mouse and it isnt working. can someone reply and help me please.

[TheLegoDJ]

hmmm. as long as the mouse wheel works and you're using Virtual DJ it should work fine. Are you sure the problem is with the mouse?

[sanagol]

i used the motion sensor part of the mouse and for software ots turnables its realy good and its free put u must pay to go pro.

[coolwithpie]

i got it working i didnt have it set up right. thanks

[cool457]

is it possible 2 use a shoe box instead of legos

[cool457]

can u help me pleaz

[mattfixall]

nice work!!!!!!!!!

thnx sooooooooooooooooo much

u da best man

[coolwithpie]

I am working on a turntable that you dont need to glue woohoo!

[BrefelanDesigns]

This is a neat idea... I personally use Virtual DJ (for now) and I have been trying to figure a cost effective way to actually scratch... this might actually help... I currently have Virtual DJ set up using a keyboard mapping... if you want the mapping just pm me... also if you don't know how to set up a keyboard mapping, I can do a tutorial if need be...

[2hot2hack]

cool.have you entered this beast in a compition?? coz i will vote

[TheLegoDJ]

Haha. Thanks. Yes it is in the USB contest right now. Please vote on it, that would make me Happy.

[Tux0r]

Nice job, but for the record its called a turntable, not a "scratcher".

[TheLegoDJ]

THANK YOU!!! that's the word I was looking for!!!.....turntable. Thanks! If you liked it, do vote on it please. Every vote counts.