So yesterday I was thinking of all the problems I had with pcs/macs/tablets (not just in djing) and then the idea of a dedicated pc/hardware for the dj came to my mind… Why? In my opinion we need something that has been built FOR the software, not the software built for the os (in my imagination it should gain a lot more reliability), with specs that are suited for the musician/producer/dj. I like to think that many of the things we use today are capable of doing too many things (which is great for every day use of course) but lack on the professional level, at least for what I’ve seen in the past years.
This introduction sounds like a Kickstarter preview but here is the project:
3 touch screens with a customizable layout for the bottom & right one (with some controls maybe?)
Integrated 10 channel souncard (basically an a10 sticked inside if it with fx snd/return)
6 usb ports for controllers and/or mass storage
midi in/out
grounding
aluminuim chassy for its strenght and heat dissipation properties
another usb port to connect to another pc for updates and transfer music
single/double 1Tb ssd drive
In addition to these I was wondering if it could be possible to have the screens to split and have on the first Traktor for example and Ableton on the second one…
Sooo yeah what do you think about it?
Cheers
(the photos below are just a quick sketch of what i had in mind, sketchup skills over 9000 slight_smile:
its a cool idea, but i think the market for such a thing is fairly small.
most people buy a computer and then get software, not buy software and then get a computer. I imagine this computer would cost somewhere north of 3k, and at that point in time im not sure most people would buy something that does one specific thing very well while sacrificing the ability to do multiple other things (email, web browsing, excel, etc).
Maybe you could sell the shell of the unit, like a DIY project, and let users source their own materials. It does make sense to have something that is optimized, but that optimization should be user dictated not manufacturing dictated (and now we’ve looped back to the beginning of the problem.)
If I were starting out again I’d purchaase a Intel NUC as SSD and some memory and a decent screen. I’d like a purpose bult computer that didnt cost me a arm and a leg. Even what I want above cost more than the laptop I purchased several months ago. If I could get a computer that was $55 that could run Traktor and Serato I’d be happier than a pig in slop. Until miricles happen I’ll have to stick with my laptop.
[quote=“bc6, post:5, topic:71298, username:bc6”]
If I could get a computer that was $55 that could run Traktor and Serato I’d be happier than a pig in slop.
[/quote]I wouldn’t even need it to run those softwares. Just a track selector, nudging, and pitch shift would get my $55. I would rather buy two standalone units, as well.
This is something I’ve been longing for for years. Nothing fancy like the OP suggests - just a CD-J without the CD player.
Round about the time CD-Js started having USB functionality, and when the Raspberry Pi was released, I started becoming increasingly frustrated that the DJ market was dominated by a “CD-J or laptop” mentality.
Well, i thought it would be cool to also have the touch controls… in case a controller fails. But anyway I can’t argue with any of you, you all have a good point I was just “dreaming” (kind of)
Most people don’t actually have that many issues with computers, unless there is actually something wrong with software installation or OS. Hardware is actually very rarely the problem.
I think you need to come up with a compelling reason why your computer would be any more reliable than a $1500 custom built gamer laptop.
Basically it sounds like you want a black box computer that will run just about any audio app that you throw at it ?
And basically its just a High Spec computer with a ton of screens that cannot be utilized in an efficient manner by any current software … hmm ?
And then have Traktor (in your drawing) running in a way that it is not designed to run, so your hardware is now useless in that configuration unless you can convince NI / Ableton etc that your unit is worth re-designing their interface for … hmm ?
And then there’s the reliability question. I don’t think there will be any reliability gains over this than using a decent spec Macbook, Custom built PC, or Laptop.
Ask yourself, in the real world, on a half decent machine, how often has your equipment crashed? I don’t know about anyone else, but I use to have more problems with records and CD’s skipping than I have ever had with laptops or software crashing.
Sorry to say, I think you are trying to create a solution to a problem that really doesn’t exist… and a big box that is going to be more difficult to fit in the DJ box too.
Remember this ridiculously expensive monstrosity from a few years back that was being touted as THE dj laptop ?
It wasnt “actually” any more reliable than anything else, was impossible to place in many DJ booths, and there was still issues with software working correctly, despite it being “designed” to work as an audio workhorse.
slight_smile:
