Mom with equipment questions for daughter with disabilities
A warm hello to the group,
I am mom to a young lady with multiple disabilities who’s a music lover. I’ve been trying to find a piece of equipment with a couple of specific functions and thought someone here might be able to point me in the right direction. Basically I’m looking for something that she can use with whatever music device she’s listening use…CD/DVD, MP3, PC, etc. that would allow her to control the pitch, speed, etc. and for not too much money. I’ve looked at a lot of mixing equipment and some have the things she needs/wants, but they require a pc and she’s blind, so I need something that has dials and knobs that can sit on the table in front of her.Does such a thing exist and if so, what would I look for? A gracious thank you for any help! P. S. If I posted this in the wrong place, please let me know.
hello and welcome to the group, im not aware of any specific pieces of kit that cater for people for with disabilities although devices that can play several different types of media are making it to the market these days, they can cost you as much as you want to spend and then some with varying levels of build/sound quality. I dont know anything about your daughters disability but id guess from what you have said you would be looking at a typical 2 decks and mixer combo as most dj controllers require software and a pc/laptop screen, a mixer would also give you good options to plug and play other devices (with the right leads) could you give us an idea of your budget? we could then provide some options within your price bracket
The problem about this is that genuine hardware equipment (which does not require a laptop) is usually very expensive since you somewhat pay for a small computer inside it as well. The cheapest examples I found right now include something like a Stanton SCS 4, which costs 259€ and looks like this: http://www.stantondj.com/pics/products/controllers-systems/lg-controllers/scs4dj-front-lg.jpg
However this one for example also has a display, which will be used for track selection etc. I’m sure that it is possible to remember the exact menu and buttons, but this definitly is not made for blind people. Also the build quality of this is not very good, but similar units with better quality can reach up to a few hundreds or even more.
Have you thought about other musical equipment? Maybe something like a synthesiser or drum maschine could be fun for her too.
How old is the young lady and is this meant to be a fun toy for musical experiments or are you looking for something that is more a classical DJ-console with two players and a mixer so that you can create mixes of two songs?
He also suffers from vision loss, although I don’t believe it’s complete loss. You might be able to reach out to him and ask him for some advice if he doesn’t chime in here?
I don’t know if the OP is necessarily looking for a Dj unit. If your daughter is wanting to just manipulate the music or sounds she is listening to. There are some not too highly priced effect units that you could plug online to an iPod, or other source.. Something like
Is around 150 bucks.. It doesn’t have knobs but it does have a fun touchpad, and can be used Record her own voice etc, or It can apply a bunch of effects to whatever plays thru it. I’m not sure if something along these lines would work, or if she actually wants to blend 2 songs with each other?
just wondering would a single CDJ player be a help? Something like a CDJ 350 can play USB/CDs and CDs with MP3s on if they’re burnt to the disk.
There a pitchfader for slowing down/speeding up the track, plus you can hit Master Tempo which can keep the pitch at the recorded level while speeding up/slowing down the track (so it doesn’t go all ‘chipmonk’ or deeply doom sounding)
and theres also the jog wheel for spinning back/forwards the track
you can likely get one quite cheap 2nd hand (well, ‘cheap’ for a CDJ - likely looking at a couple of hundred sadly) and tbh they mostly come in pairs online, but many other CDJs of various makes have these features.
here’s a few other CDJ units that are similar features but more cost effective
If your daughter wanted to mix, maybe consider getting an single unit that’s got a mixer built in (the XDJ-R1 can play CDs/USBs and also has a very nice mixer )- again you could likely get one 2nd hand but these are a lot more expensive than a single CDJ player. An XDJ-R1 is a standalone unit that doesn’t need a laptop (though it can work with a laptop or tablets/iphone etc if wanted)
OK…as previously mentioned, that is going to be difficult to find.
You mentioned that “no laptop” was desirable. There are solutions that involve a physical controller that connects to a laptop with USB. Once you start the program on the laptop, all the changes are made on the physical controller.
The Numark DJ2GO is about $60, includes the software that it needs, and can be put on a table, or held in her lap. All the “essential” controls are on the physical device.
There are some solutions that involve an iPad. If that is possible, post that here and we can offer additional suggestions.
The real “no laptop” solutions cost more money.
The Numark CDMix Bluetooth for $400-ish is one option that might work. This is an “all in one” unit that includes physical CD players. This can play CDs, mp3 CDs, but not DVDs. This can also connect with bluetooth to various music players. I am not clear if the tempo of the bluetooth inputs can be changed. Look at this, and see if the features are close to what you need or not.
If this is in the ballpark, there are used options of previous models that only play CDs (including CDs you burn yourself) available for about $100 on eBay. The bluetooth and iPhone/iPod integration is only on the later models.
It’s wonderful what you’re doing for your daughter. I would definitely echo the recommendation of other members and suggest you reach out to Lance Blaise. Please let us know what you eventually get!
What about the Tonium Pacemaker? They have physical tactile buttons and a very innovative touchpad use for the effects. Once you learn the interface I could see mixing on it without any actual need to see with the exception of loading the actual tracks. They never really took off for whatever reason you can pick one up for roughly $220
lucky you I taught special needs and severely disabled kids for 5 years back when i was in ottawa… If you send me a note we can probably figure something out
here is a video of what i did with my friend (the old drummer)…
That makes $20 already, feel free to chip in guys 'n girls
Let’s make that little girl and her mom happy and prove we can do more that talk gear all day !
Ps. I’ll wait a few days for possible donations and check if the OP has paypal or something
I really appreciate and am blown away by all the support and offers to help “our cause”! YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME! You might regret asking for more information, but I’m going to share a little about Christi and try to clarify what she likes, and her capabilities to give you a better feel for what I’m needing/looking for. Christi is 30 and in addition to being blind she also has autism and a moderate developmental delay. She is also physically involved and has a trach, uses a vent at night, and doesn’t have much mobility. She has been housebound for the past 3 years. She loves people, telling jokes, and all kinds of music from opera, to gospel, to kids, and anything with a loud beat. I’ve been on a mission for some time to find something that would provide stimulation, a little challenge, and that would hold her attention for more than 2 minutes.( After 3 years stuck in the house, she’s pretty bored with all of her toys, games, etc.) She loves and does very well with knobs, buttons, etc. Has a great memory and learns placement and cause &effects quickly. (She’s a smart cookie and doesn’t miss a beat.) She uses a trackball mouse on the computer to give her some independence. I start a playlist of some kind, place the cursor on the Next Song icon, and then she clicks the mouse whenever she’s done listening to the current selection. She’s always having me change the speed of music/videos she listens to on the computer…ranging from fast like chipmunks or slow like…well, a turtle. She also likes me to change the pitch, speed, and type of voice (robot, whisper, adult, child) on the screen reading programs we use on the computer as well. (These are programs that read out loud whatever is typed or on the screen.) The graphic equalizer we use on the computer, has presets for Jazz, Live, Concert Hall, Rock, etc. that we change often. This would be another neat component of this “device” we looking for, but that’s probably pushing it. Anyway, in racking my brain to come up with just the right thing for Christmas, I thought how neat it would be if I could find something that had buttons, dials, etc, that would allow her to control these different aspects of her music by herself, rather than being dependent on someone else to do it for her. This is where my “Mission” began. She has a couple of different kinds of speakers/amplifiers and set of headphones with a sub-woofer in them that we connect to various devices via RCA or headphone jacks. We also hook one of these up with her 8x8 sub-woofer so she can feel the vibration/air blowing out of the hole at the same time. She’s constantly adjusting the volumes to try and get a different effect/sound. The equipment/device that I’m looking for would be for personal casual use at home just for fun not for recording purposes or actual DJing. If I understand what a mixer does…that it combines music from 2 different sources…this is probably not something she would be interested in doing. She plays around on a full size Casio keyboard sometimes, but only uses the demo buttons/songs and the “One-key play” where it plays a whole prerecorded song with her just hitting one key. The accuracy of the rhythm with which she plays the songs is pretty amazing. I don’t think she’d be interested in a synthesizer as she’s not into creating music, just making it sound different. She also likes to use a microphone on occasion to sing with or talk over what’s playing…and being the announcer with her favorite game of Name That Tune! As far as cost, it’s probably not feasible, but I’d like to keep it around $100 if at all possible. I hope this additional information hasn’t muddy’d the water. Please feel free to ask about anything I may have overlooked. I’m also willing to correspond via email if it will be helpful. I’m confident we’ll come up something …There’s clearly a great deal of creativity and expertise and heart here! A sincere Thank You!! **I thought you deserved and might like to know who you’re helping, so I’ve attached a collage of pics of Christi in all her glory that I put together not long ago.
Sounds like these may be more what your looking after
You’ll need something that’s straight forward not too many steps to access a setting or change preferably something that could provide touch cues for controls similar to a brail style system
Although a media player such as a recordbox compaitable CDJ would work I think it would be short lived or not as full as say a mpc style system is more what would be a long term tool
I missed the $100 budget but will still post as I think these would be ideal if weren’t a monetary limitation
After reading your needs I really feel that a Korg Mini Kaoss Pad 2 is what you’re looking for. It has the ability to be used as a MP3 player and has a "pad"with a insane amount of built in effects. Get bored with the MP3’s you’ve already loaded on it? Hook it up to your PC and morph the audio to YouTube music videos or even change the sounds on her favorite movies. Bored with that? Use the built in MIC and change your own voice. I can’t think of anything that wouldn’t require a PC aside from this that is in that price range… Geeze now I want one.
P. S. If I posted this in the wrong place, please let me know.
I taught special needs and severely disabled kids for 5 years back when i was in ottawa… If you send me a note we can probably figure something out 
)
You might regret asking for more information, but I’m going to share a little about Christi and try to clarify what she likes, and her capabilities to give you a better feel for what I’m needing/looking for. Christi is 30 and in addition to being blind she also has autism and a moderate developmental delay. She is also physically involved and has a trach, uses a vent at night, and doesn’t have much mobility. She has been housebound for the past 3 years. She loves people, telling jokes, and all kinds of music from opera, to gospel, to kids, and anything with a loud beat. I’ve been on a mission for some time to find something that would provide stimulation, a little challenge, and that would hold her attention for more than 2 minutes.( After 3 years stuck in the house, she’s pretty bored with all of her toys, games, etc.) She loves and does very well with knobs, buttons, etc. Has a great memory and learns placement and cause &effects quickly. (She’s a smart cookie and doesn’t miss a beat.) She uses a trackball mouse on the computer to give her some independence. I start a playlist of some kind, place the cursor on the Next Song icon, and then she clicks the mouse whenever she’s done listening to the current selection. She’s always having me change the speed of music/videos she listens to on the computer…ranging from fast like chipmunks or slow like…well, a turtle. 
