Usually the capacitive sensor plate on the decks is there to disambiguate two kinds of inputs. So when you put your finger on the top, it stops the playback and you can scratch or cue; if you just jog the wheel from the rim, you nudge the playback just a little to keep two playing decks in sync manually, that's the bend. So there are simply two different MIDI events for whether you activate the capacitive sensor or not, and you can just map both so it works in gloves! Also "Vinyl" button usually turns off the touch sensor and just makes the whole jog wheel operate as if it was operated from the rim. In many controllers, it's fully implemented in firmware, so not only is the status of the button relayed via MIDI, but it also changes the control messages for the jog wheel correspondingly, but i can't say whether they do this on this one. There is yet a third control for when the Shift button is pressed. You can use MIDI-Ox to discover the MIDI events that the controller sends so you can adjust or make your own mapping. Oh wait i can just look into Mixxx mappings for the controller. So scratch control is 0x0A and the bend control is 0x09. Either is sent as MIDI CC so command is 0xB and the channel corresponds to the deck, so the left deck should be 0xB1 and the right being 0xB2.

A DJ rig for communications... great ingenuity !

I like that DJ controller for the radio, seems much more natural than using the mouse. I’d just ask the writers of the software if they know if it’s possible to keep the specific frequency in the middle of the waterfall. As you say, it’s probably just an config file change.

Disco got to love it.

I use both the footswitch and the midi controller. I like it a lot and it allows me to control SDR console in the background while the focus remains on my logging program. So I don't need to jump between applications when working on QO-100.

I'm using cheap DJ console DJ2GO2 with quisk and pihpsdr. It is really useful and very useful on contests when you have to react quickly.

I have used a Behringer controller for several years, I as yourself, found it to be a bit clunky. I recently bought a used Elad FDM DUO which came with a TM2 USB Tuning system (TMATE) which is a USB accessory. Simon has done a great job integrating it into the console. I replaced the Behringer MIDI box with it. It is a bit pricey about twice as much a new MIDI controller. Send Simon Brown a note, if you would come up with a USB CW keyer protocol, I am sure he would get it implemented, he has always been very receptive to practical additions! tom, N3LLL

Learned something new about the serial port, thanks Andreas! I think the solution here is definitely in the software. We just need to have SDR software support MIDI natively. Someone with the right programming skills could probably knock this out in a few hours. It is indeed a disappointment that it doesn't work better but I think if we check back in a few months or years this problem will be solved.

Why not just use the pedal's normal cable and phone plug, and just wire a phone jack to the 232 connector? (Edit: I just realized I'd do it that way because I also use the pedal on a synthesizer, etc).

Hi, I recognized the same issue as you did, the touch sensitive Wheel (or Pad on top) destroyed the proper VFO control. I found a simple solution e.g. for Thetis. I store the midimap file (export in Thetis) and manual overwrite the Midi ID. In my case it was Id8 and I could change the frequency by tipping on the pad..... I changed it to Id10 (the wheel) and the store/reload the midi mapping. Now it run smooth and as it should be (only point => it still require my finger on the wheelpad). Hope that helps and could prevent to sell that nice device. vy 73

Interesting and sorry it didn't fully work out. Unfortunately I'm on a steep learning curve here and don't have a solution for you.

I set up my Stream Deck for WebSDR's, it makes using WebSDR's a mostly 1 handed task. Girly confident I could do the same with other non-Web based SDR's such as the Excalibur or even SDRsharp. It doesn't have to be Using a Stream Deck, I have 4 other Programmable keyboards that can be used including 2 different models previously used for retail use. Using a Stream Deck makes life easier as it becomes a one hand task to do more than 85% of tasks with one hand. If I need a variable tuning dial I can use those cheap USB volume controls you can find on eBay for £24-25 as these are Atmel based and contain a secret menu that lets you re:purpose them or if you wish you can reprogram completely using Arduino IDE because they are an Arduino in all but name. These keyboards are all HID hardware, so they are set up to run keyboard macros, hit hotkeys, known shortcuts and other normal multikey functions in one key instead of several. I have other profiles set up for other tasks including 3D printing and design, web development, video editing and anything else I feel like being lazy with 😂

I really enjoy your videos.

I made my own SDR software for raspberry pi and use a Contour Shuttle express, this works quite well, think this also works with SDR Console. I had a DJ console also but it did not work. An other solution I use is a ESP32 and an optical encoder. I have connected the ESP to the USB bus of the raspberry PI. I now plan to connect also a keyer to the ESP32. The sdr software already is able to decode CW quite well. Maybe it saves me learning CW :)

Good day. I came across your video while doing a search for MIDI info, pertaining to the use with SDR Console. The days are getting short, Nov.13-2022, so more time is spent indoors! Time to build stuff!LOL! One project I've been wanting to do, is to interface an optical encoder with a PIC processor and control/tune the SDR Console PGM. Not much details from Simons website (the author). Doesn't like to respond to emails much, and the forum is useless. Anyways about the VFO control. Microchip has a couple of dedicated ASIC that will emulate RS232 with a USB port, or you can use the pic18f4550/pic18f2550, etc. if you like to program, and build from scratch, I do! I have only spent about an hour or so, trying to get things figured out. Not sure what to do about the XML file? or even how to implement any of this, in other words, how in the world does SDR console recognize a MIDI device!? Must be the XML file. I just wanted to touch base with you and see your response, or ideas. And of course more research. On the other hand, my setup here is multiple structures located on my 100 acres, 100% off grid....So the main cabin is apx. 500 feet from the tower building and communications is via 12 fiber cable. The tx building has the Ettus radio's, embedded server to control the tuner, filters, etc. My point here is since the radio is remoted as well the filters, tuner etc. I wrote a GUI PGM using QT5, and one of the features was to implement auto control of the filters, etc.. In other words capture the Ethernet packets from SDR Console PGM with the remote server (PIC controller) and process the data. I did mention this to Simon and asked about the data structure from his PGM, but the response was less than helpful, mind you in order to talk with Ettus radio's and others, the UHD and USRP protocol must be used, so I guess WireSharc will get some use! Also SDR Console is still using UHD ver. 3.15!!! OMG! Two years I've been asking him to update. I was going to email you via QRZ, lookup, but decided this approach for now. 73's Dale ve3aam

I've been thinking about a DJ console for HF listening. I do miss the physical knobs of a hardware radio.

I considered the midi deck but went with a shuttleexpresss from Contour. I programmed one of the buttons for TX. Early days but I think it is a keeper. Only problem is the SDR Console window must be active for it to work. On the Mac I use keyboard maestro scripts to activate the window when I press a button.

Haha, I expected it to be a joke. But looks like an ergonomic and useful interface! 😎

I only use a mouse with an encoder in the place of the scroll wheel. It feels as if you're tuning with a conventional radio.

Andreas you also get ready build midi footswitch? I think you do not need to edit the xml file. I it not possible to assign the midi function to the program function? Midi is not so a complicate protocol to add you morse to the software

I just connected log4om with CAT control on the sdr console Log4om has a ptt hot key so i just stay on my freq and key away. Although i am sure thete is a way to lock the span.

Is it worth it the difference between the price of the original Adalm Pluto vs the Pluto+? 73 from Spain

Would it not be much easier to use a cheap USB foot pedal that look exactly the same as yours, and bind the pedal to a key combination that triggers the sending in the software. Instead of soldering the switch to some usb-modem interface and using the CTS level?

Im going to hamzilla and hopefully im ging to purchase an SDRPlayDX and Im going to try using my shuttle controller with it....

Nice work, but this is not for me, as I don't currently use SDR. I hope that I remember this video if I ever get SDR, maybe years from now. :-)

Hi, still have the console?

It is worth the effort but not the million emails you get after asking how to do it!!