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2 layers68 × 164 mmVController display board, the printed circuit board in 3D

VController display board

sixeight7/VController_v380

Production model of the VController, VC-mini and VC-touch

Size
68 × 164 mm
Copper layers
2
Thickness
1.6 mm
Parts
31
Nets
48
Pads
176
Tracks, vias
649, 53
Pours
2
Routed
Yes
KiCad
KiCad 4
Created
23 Mar 2017
Updated
2 Jan 2024

Overview

VController display board is an open-source printed circuit board by sixeight7, from the sixeight7/VController_v3 repository on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board of 68 × 164 mm with 31 parts on 48 nets, routed with 649 tracks and 53 vias.

It is built around the WS2811, MCP23017-E/SS and JUMPER3. Its parts include 7 capacitors, 7 ICs, 4 switches, 3 resistors and 2 connectors. It belongs with the lEDs and displays boards of this library.

Main components

3

README

README.md

VController_v3

Production model of the VController, VC-mini and VC-touch

The VC-touch is a MIDI footcontroller with 15 buttons and a large TFT touch screen:

VC-touch

The VC-mini is a small version of the VController with 3 buttons, 3 LEDs, 2 encoders and 1 LCD display:

VC-mini

The VController is the original controller with 16 buttons, 12 LCDs and 12 LEDs:

VController

All can be fully programmed both onboard and via an external editor for Mac and PC called VC-edit. All devices share the same code for the Teensy firmware and the editor (Qt)

Device support

A number of guitar modelers and synths are supported, where it actively read patch names and parameter states for the following devices:

  • Fractal Audio Axe-fx 2 (other models may work too, but have not been tested yet)
  • Boss GP-10
  • Roland GR-55
  • Roland VG-99
  • Boss Katana (50/100/Artist - MK1 and MK2)
  • Boss SY-1000
  • Kemper Profiling Amp
  • Line 6 Helix (limited)
  • Line 6 M13
  • Zoom G3
  • Zoom MS70-cdr
  • Strymon Volante
  • TC Electronics G-Major
  • NUX MG-300

General MIDI

The VController, VC-mini and VC-touch are also able to send MIDI PC, CC and Note on/off messages to control any device that is able to receive these messages.

Programmability

The VController, VC-mini and VC-touch support up to 200 user pages, where a total of almost 3000 commands can be programmed. Any button can execute up to 50 commands.

Connectivity of the VController

  • There are two MIDI in/out conenctors and MIDI 2 doubles as an RRC2 connection for the VG-99.
  • Four external expression pedals or eight external switches can be connected.
  • One USB slave connector (also used for programming the VController)
  • An internal or external Raspberry Pi can add four USB host ports to the VController.

Connectivity of the VC-mini

  • Two 7 pin MIDI connectors with MIDI in/out and power in one connector. MIDI1 has a seperate 7 pin connector with MIDI in/out reversed. The 7 pin connectors are compatible with regular 5 pin MIDI connectors.
  • One external expression pedal or two external switches can be connected via a 3.5 mm jack plug (may need an adapter to regular jack.)
  • One USB slave connector (also used for programming the VC-mini)
  • One USB host port

Connectivity of the VC-touch

  • Three 7 pin MIDI connectors with MIDI in/out and power in one connector, MIDI in/out port on 3,5 mm plugs, wireless MIDI through MIDI BLE and WIFI - AppleMIDI.
  • Three external expression pedal or six external switches can be connected via a 3.5 mm jack plug (may need an adapter to regular jack.)
  • One USB slave connector (also used for programming the VC-touch)
  • One USB host port

Hardware

This repository contains the building plans (enclosure and schematics) for the VC-mini, the VController and the optional external Raspberry Pi. Check out the building guides for both projects.

Firmware

This repository also contains the source code for the V-Controller, the VC-mini and for VC-edit. The source code for VC-bridge (the code for the raspberry pi) is in a separate repository called VC-bridge. There are also ready made hex files for the V-Controllers Teensy. There is also special firmware to check hardware of the V-Controller or the VC-mini.

For VC-edit there is a ready to run zip file for windows and dmg-file for Mac. Also the source code of VC-edit is provided.

Webstore

You can buy ready made VC-mini's and VC-touches or seperate PCBs and enclosures at my webstore. https://sixeightsoundcontrol.onlineweb.shop/

Support

Please visit https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?board=277.0 for additional information or for any questions you have regarding this project. Please post any questions on the board, where several users and builders can respond and help.

I have invested thousands of hours in this project. You can support me here: https://www.paypal.me/sixeight

Parts

31
QtyValueFootprintReferences
7100nLibrary:C_small_CFC1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7
4SW_PUSHPin_Headers:Pin_Header_Angled_1x02SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4
3220Resistors_ThroughHole:Resistor_Horizontal_RM10mmR1, R2, R3
3JUMPER3Pin_Headers:Pin_Header_Straight_1x03A0, A1, A2
3LCD16X2RGBSocket_Strips:Socket_Strip_Straight_1x18DISPLAY1, DISPLAY2, DISPLAY3
3NEOPIXEL_LEDLibrary:NeoPixel_CFU5, U6, U7
3WS2811Housings_SOIC:SOIC-8_3.9x4.9mm_Pitch1.27mmU2, U3, U4
1DDiodes_ThroughHole:Diode_DO-35_SOD27_Horizontal_RM10D1
1INSixeight's library:Pin_Header_Angled_1x08P1
1MCP23017Housings_DIP:DIP-28_W7.62mmU1
1OUTPin_Headers:Pin_Header_Angled_1x08P2
1POTPotentiometers:Potentiometer_Trimmer-Suntan-TSR-3386PRV2

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Questions

How big is the VController display board PCB?

It measures 68 × 164 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.

What parts does the VController display board use?

31 parts, built around the WS2811, MCP23017-E/SS and JUMPER3. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.

Where can I download the VController display board KiCad files?

From the sixeight7/VController_v3 repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is VController hardware/Display board/KICAD/VController display board.kicad_pcb. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.

Can I use the VController display board design in my own project?

Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask sixeight7 before reusing the design.