Julien Bayle created the Protodeck – an impressive DIY MIDI controller for Ableton Live 8 + Max For Live.

The Protodeck features:

• 87 potentiometers
• 90 buttons
• 81 rgb leds
• 2×20 LCD
• 2 PIC 18F4620 (20MHz RISC processors)
• fully custom rgb led drivers
• fully custom firmware
• 2 MIDI IN/OUT interface
• power supply unit included in the box

http://vimeo.com/11091676

Bayle explains why he built his own custom controller:

I need a big hardware without multifunctional knobs, sub-menu you have to choose to change the function of this button etc etc : I need to have ALL under my eyes and I need that EVERYTIME.

I looked for the perfect controller, but I didn’t find it. only monochrome stuff or 2/3 colors leds, only few pots with a billion of sub-sub-menu to change encoders function etc.

So, I guess … I have to think, read, code, test, build, learn to solder better… to create my OWN hardware.