DIY Editing Remote control for Panasonic DVD Video Recorders

(A guerrilla remote control to make editing on DMR-E80/E85/E100 just a bit more enjoyable.)
The idea works for any other DVD recorders.

Pages: Intro 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Buttons assembly.
First I designed the new layout on computer in a drawing software, then tried it by placing buttons on top of my board and checking the ergonomy. The goal here is so with each hand I should be able to easily press required buttons, without actually moving the hand from position. So for example holding joystick, I should be able to press OK or Return button with thumb without removing the hand from joystick, same with the directional pad.
For the joystick I designed it so left will be|<<, right will be >>, bottom will be pause and top will be play. These are the buttons that are used during editing on the E85 when I want to set mark In or Out. With joystick, I can use all 4 functions without checking my finger position. I will put a stop button above the joystick and record button to the center top where it cannot be activated accidentally.

You have to also make sure you will have enough space in the box for the actual remote control board. So at this moment decide where the board will be and leave enough space there.

Then I created bigger holes for the contacts of each switch and holes for the joystick screws. The conductive side of my universal circuit board will be on the reverse side and I will solder the push buttons to it. I also add some hot glue to the edges around the buttons, just to make sure the bond is strong.
In previous step I salvaged the directional pad from the PS1 controller by cutting around the circuit board and removing the lines I don't need, leaving basically only the four contact pads with some lines to them. I made some holes for the wires and attached necessary wires to the lines. Again, you have to check the matrix of the buttons. In my case as it turned out 3 buttons had common wire.
Then I add screws to hold the rubber pad to the little board. The four-way large plastic button will be placed on top of this sandwich and will be actually held there by the outer box so it can freely move.
The next step is to mount the small board with the directional pad onto the main board. Here is important note, we will need to adjust the height later so I used longer screws.