There are a few companies out there that have a solution for computer DJing. One of those companies is a major audio equipment company like ADJ and has just released a hardware/software solution. Another one is ready to release a hardware solution that contains a harddrive.

Should ADJ get into this race? The answer to the poll is a simple yes, no, or who gives a s*&^? You can qualify your answers in the text.

In my own opinion, ADJ/AA already has their niche in the market, and with all the new products they just realeased, including dual MP3 decks, the market is saturated enough with computer based-DJ programs, along with pro hard disk MP3 players.

It seems a little late for them to release some 2-3 yr old technology right now, but if they looked ahead at new innovations, they could be very succesful

just my .02...

I don't think American DJ/Audio should go back into the Harware/software realm again. They made a great controller before, but wasn't a big enough seller to recoup R&D and be an overwhelming success, do to competition and other factors. What I would like to see is a complete hardware solution. Windows is to unstable to trust, would you want a surgeon operating on you with a robot that is controlled using windows? I would like to see a piece of single hardware (basically a CDI with built in HD) and a friendly interface for searching through 10,000+ tracks. I feel a pure hardware solution is the future. leave the fragile PC's at home. Make a rugged DJC to handle the rigors of the road, with the feel and control we love. I would also like to see it support OGG or some other better than MP3 compression algorythm for the best sound quality.

^^ cdi with built in hd... wow... nice

quote:

Originally posted by dj fobster:
[qb] ^^ cdi with built in hd... wow... nice [/qb]

I like that idea too.

The built-in Hard disk is definately a great idea and one that Adj should be looking at. Remember it is always the Pi0neers who end up making the profit and in the end its all about clever marketing. Noone thought they needed an Ipod until it was actually out. Similarly noone thought CD players could mimick Vinyls until they actually came out and now every club has a pair of Cd digital turntables along with the vinyls.

The pros of this is that no other company has ever thought of this as yet. The cons is that it might have some legal issues, but then again that is none of the companies concern and doesn't affect adj whatsoever. What is of concern is the fact that does the company have enough capacity and technical emphasis on undertaking a cheap and reliable product (i.e mp3 table with a builtin Harddisk). If we look around, hardisk are extremly cheap and djing features from current products could be used in the implementation of this product. The only hard part would be is to design an interface that would allow the player to read tracks off the hard drive and perform the various effects, functions on them. Once again if we look at normal mp3players, with added effects and equilisers etc, doesn't seem that difficult. Should be a very intresting project for any company esp. Adj.

In the end it all comes down to the project manager and his leadership, R&d team , the company and its vision. One thing i can definately say is that this thing can earn alot of $$$. Cd players have been taken over by mp3players and this one seems like a no-brainer. A builtin harddisk (2.5 or 3.5" dont take alot of space or weight) can really revolutionize and aid the mobile dj of tomorrow (wont be as popular in clubs at first).

The real challenge remains in the interface and the company might look into hiring some developers from China, India or Pakistan who can make the same software at 1/10 of the normal wage (no kidding here, i have worked with quite a few and have relatives owing software houses in the US). It would be intresting if they can have a small menu where djs can actually arrange their songs in folders by artist or year, genre etc etc... possibilites are endless and once again i think the first company to take a stab at it and get that damn patent will make the most profits. In the end the free market will force competition due to abnormal profits and the industry will be a level field for all (that is why it is Key in any industry to be the first and do a damn good marketing job to brand the product before competitiors step in) Just my 2 cents

A PS2/CDI-500 with a built-in hard drive. I asked for that a long time ago! Now, if I can just find the post...

I'd rather have a dedicated hardware solution too. I would not want any robot operating on me.

lol.... yeah, i had an idea of somthin too.... but skilz had to kill the moment and say

quote:

someone somewhere has already thought of what ur thinking of

darn u skilz

but yeah.... if ur the first one to get it patten and built then the other person doesnt matter right??....

Guys,

The built-in hard drive is a great idea. Isn't that what the New Mark HDCD1 is? CDI 500 with a hard drive...I like it. This is great, keep the dialog going!

Brian

But Brian,
There's don't work, or they can't figure out how to mass produce it for under the cost they want to sell it at. It was announced 2 years ago at DJ times, and still hasn't seen the store shelves yet. I also believe there is no seemless loop, effects or scratch. I want a tabletops deck with all of the CDI features but with an internal HD. and like a 5" touch screen for easy track search and such.

It would also be nice if it could make me a pizza on the side as well

Stevie, i think that pvdj has just released something like that, or at least has almost released soemthing like it.

Truthfully, i would have no problems with a computer/hardware solution. My iBook is just rock solid, but you can only do so much with simple programs (although for basic mobile work, iTunes is more than perfect).

I remember the controller/software mentioned, and, yes, it didn't seem to go very far. There's got to be something we're missing...

CDI with a HD... hey, i'd get one, asuming it had a categorizing system ass well made and efficient as iTunes, with the ADJ simplicity and power under the hood, too.

Seriously, we should think of something... there might be something here!!

maybe a CDJ with an HD, about double the size, with the same controls, a larger LCD w/ touch sensitivity, and USB for the use of a keyboard and/or mouse (maybe a specially designed one, like the laser keyboards ) that would be something... anything else?

Okay, we've got the hard drive and we've got the CDI. Now, how do we get MP3's into the thing? My suggestion is a USB port (well, duh, right?). You hook it up to your computer and load the MP3's.

Now, I'd want it to take a pretty good load of MP3's, so I'd like to see a drive in the 300 Gb range.

The software itself can be placed in a flash memory. Upgrades to it can be loaded through the USB port.

The same controls for effects from the CDI should apply to the MP3 as well as CD. Since digital scratch can already applied to MP3's then that should be available.

Now, the next thing is this, suppose you have a CD you want to rip to the drive, wouldn't you want to be able to get the track listing from Gracenote or FreeDb? This would mean that a software to software connection would have to be made between the computer and the player so that the connection to the Internet could be made. Or, you just type the tracks in yourself, but that is a PITA.

OK, last but not least, what would this thing sell for? Hopefully, under a grand. I volunteer to beta test.

BTW, anybody from ADJ paying attention to this?

quote:

Originally posted by Good Knight DJ:
[qb] OK, last but not least, what would this thing sell for? Hopefully, under a grand. I volunteer to beta test. [/qb]

lol, yeah.

I think someone with some photo editing ability should look this over and see what they can doctor up, just to get an idea of what we're looking at

Also, if we're dealing with tabletop decks (like a CDI-500), then there should be a provision to link two units together to share or transfer data. So if you ripped all your stuff to one drive, you could easily transfer it to the other unit.
Definetly connectivity to the computer to transfer any existing MP3s/WAVs/WMAs. Make it show up as an external hard drive. Drag n' drop file transfers. And you could edit file names & tag info right there.