Backlighting would be a nice addition as I usually edit in a darkened room.

Instead of different colors (or in addition to), it would be helpful to adjust the brightness and also have the ability to turn the backlighting off, if desired.

Still working on dimming or not. Lights on or off is easy and may be as simple as removing the power supply. I'm thinking of two different modes.

Mode one is powered by USB and no lights possible.

Mode two is powered by external power and has lights.

It would be simple to put in a switch to turn the lights off in mode two.

The key caps I can get for the switches that don't cost a fortune are not going to work with a back light, so that idea went out. Cuts the cost but would have been nice to have backlit keys, also means it should be able to be completely USB powered.

Turns out it is a little cramped but I can't get any other chassis unless it is huge and expensive.

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Greg_E wrote:


While backlighting would be nice, a user can always put a little gooseneck LED over the top of the console for use in darkened rooms.

Looks promising, keep it up!

If it goes farther than one or two units, I was thinking of putting the proper connectors on the box and a place to plug in a 12 volt supply for the standard flexible lights.

If it goes a lot farther then I'll investigate a larger box and use larger illuminated switches. This probably won't happen until after I learn to program my own controller which should offset the cost enough to use more expensive illuminated switches.

And now that I have the box I can finish the circuit boards for the switches, which only leaves the latching circuit for the Shift Lock key which needs parts to experiment. Then send all the board designs out for manufacture which will add another couple weeks while I machine the aluminum.

The mockup looks good but I don't like that back row of keys set 90 degrees from the control surface. Looks awkward to press (you have to use the tips of your fingers and anyone with long nails won't like it). Maybe these should just be set at a slight angle to the main surface or just make the main surface larger.