Ideas for a Frequency/Amplitude controller

[crashwg]

After a bit of a hiatus from playing Frequency (I haven't played it in YEARS!) I've gotten back into it and just recently discovered the sequel Amplitude and I got to thinking that maybe I could make a dedicated controller, sort of an unofficial ASC.  Since it isn't an arcade game I'm going to have to start from scratch on this though.

Controls needed:
Full D-Pad to navigate the menus
Square, Triangle and Circle (Three large or semi-large "note" buttons)
X (Similar size to "note" buttons, probably a different shape used for navigation and activation of powerups)
L Analog (only left and right) (used for "scratching" and "axing") <I see this as the biggest issue
Start (to pause)

Of course this will only be usable in regular game mode and not "Remix" due to the need for the right analog stick and perhaps other things I don't know about because I'm not familiar with remix mode, I've only done the tutorial.

Anyone have any input on this?  Suggestions?  Issues you can foresee in the making?

I haven't played Amplitude yet so I'll have to play that for a little bit to make sure there's no other necessary controls...

P.S.
If you have no idea what I'm talking about:
Frequency WIKI
Amplitude WIKI

[crashwg]

I was thinking a slide potentiometer for the analogedness...

Maybe a rubber band to center it?

Anyone know what rating I should look for in a slide-pot?  I'm no expert...

[crashwg]

A quick mockup:

* I probably won't make it an octagon, looks kinda dumb...

[crashwg]

I take it nobody here's played the games...

[SavannahLion]

I take it nobody here's played the games...

I haven't played the games but I'll comment on the slider.

Maybe a rubber band to center it?

Assuming you can adapt the slider to whatever PS2 controller you hack, you will never consistently get the slider to center properly using rubber bands. Ever. Over time, the problem will get worse as the bands age and stretch out or harden. If anything, use metal springs. They'll last longer and you'll likely replace the switch before you worry about metal fatigue.

If you have your heart set on a particular slider, take a que from the old el-cheapo radio dials. Twine a thin metal cable or wire (string would work, it's what they used in the old radios) through the switch underneath the cabinet. Guitar string might work too. Then tie either end to a mounted spring on either side. If you want to get fancy, add a tension adjuster to fine tune the slider centering properties.

Alternatively, a couple of straight metal "springs" scissored onto the switch should force the switch to center and be self centering as long as everything stays aligned. As you slide the switch farther from center, greater pressure would be felt, might not be what you want.

I guess one last option would be to use the stick from a controller and add in some kind of restricter plate.

[Silhouette]

I've wanted to make a custom FreQ controller ever since I first bought the game in 01, so this is a project i'd love to see succeed

I was going to use these buttons for Square/Triangle/Circle, these for switching tracks left/right, one of these for activating powerups, a low profile balltop for the D-pad and standard blue convex pushbuttons for select/start, maybe with decals on them.

For the shape of the controller, i'd go with a slightly curved, almost bean-shaped top with a triangular layout for the main buttons, with the L/R/Powerup buttons beneath them in a straight line. Black and blue color scheme to complete the look.

For Scratch/Axe, i'd probably just transplant an analog stick from a PS2 controller and mount it opposite the balltop.