What if you didn’t have to bring your laptop to the gig, just your controller? Sure, we’ve had a few real and concept offerings over the last few years, including Stanton’s SCS.4DJ (released but never got the user interface/software dialed), our Kontrol S4 MK3 mockup, a few others – but today we got wind of a few controllers that could make the concept a reality.
Spotted over at Create Digital Music were two new controllers with embedded Windows operating systems, being teased at Microsoft’s 2014 Build developer conference. There’s an Akai MPC Renaissance with a built-in computer (not too much of a stretch) – but also a mockup of a Numark NS7 MK2 DJ controller that packs three screens of Serato DJ. Watch the highlights revealed in the video below:
De:Bug also shared some interesting additional insight from a developer on the details of the MPC model shown:
The prototype was running an Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC) with a core i5. It did not require any external PC. TBD what the final device runs, nut I’d expect something similar. Performance was excellent because the device is optimized to so one thing, not to also serve as email device, etc. You can even hook a keyboard, mouse, and external display to the MPC if you want. That said, I was able to do all the sample loading just using the touch screen and a thumb drive.
Other companies: I’m not going to name names, but we’re working with several tiers from most of the big names that produce software and hardware down to a selection of some of the smaller companies that create unique or impactful software. I’ve been in the room or on the phone with each of these. InMusic (Akai/Numark) was included when one of our field folks pointed out to me that they were doing cool things with embedded and their next gen of products.
It’s a hood enough sample to make sure we have feedback covering the spectrum of requirements for creative/pro audio.
These might be prototype units for now – but hang on to your seats over the next year as we suspect we’ll see other DJ manufacturers mark this as a sign of the future of all-in-one DJ and production controllers.
Share your thoughts – would you prefer to have your controller be the only piece of kit on the booth? Or is this just CDJs with a different exterior?
[…] originally saw Numark teasing at a DJ controller with integrated screens a few months ago at a Microsoft developer conference – and now it looks like that product will […]
[…] originally saw Numark teasing at a DJ controller with integrated screens a few months ago at a Microsoft developer conference – and now it looks like that product will […]
[…] originally saw Numark teasing at a DJ controller with integrated screens a few months ago at a Microsoft developer conference – and now it looks like that product […]
[…] Forget The Laptop: Numark/Akai Tease Software-Embedded DJ Controllers […]
This will be a disaster I believe. What about the fragmentation of the platforms when multiple manufacturers distribute something like this? Now, we can count on CDJs and a DJM, but what in the future?
not practical for serious gigs…
I’d like to see something like that but in a modular setup. Something the size of an X1 with a screen like the one on the maschine studio. It could control 1 deck still on your computer (you would have the traktor deck view on the unit) and would use the computer for browsing only.
Sure you would need 4 units instead of 2 but it would be awesome I think!
Dont wanna bring a laptop with you to a gig? You wanna bring that big thing to a gig then?! I dont see this catching on at all! I see more and more people going back to/ switching to regular cdjs and usb because its too much stress bringing all these things, unless you’re an actuall performer and not “just” a dj. Dont get me wrong, this is a cool idea, but i do not see this as a thing people would bring around to their gigs…and lets be honest…Pioneer is the industry standard in the clubs, so we wont be seeing this product as a permanent installment in any club dj booth. On a personal note tho..i would love to see an iPad in the future that is capable of running the normal traktor/serato and also maschine software…that’d be awesome ..not that it will happen anytime soon tho 😉
I have a tablet that runs traktor pro. Its a dell venue 8 pro.
http://youtu.be/iJ3UPgnF8BY
cool, it looks like they have a little 1.8Gb intel atom. it would serve as a quick fix, but the i3 they are proposing wouldn’t “chug” as hard. to be honest, it is my opinion that an i7 would serve the full features of traktor a bit better. especially considering that loops are held in volatile memory.
tbh, i got this tablet thinking it would run vdj pretty well, but the sound is distorted. i was really surprised to find it would run traktor pro so well. no problems so far, loops, fx, scratching, controllers, all of it ????
Even if you’re willing to bring this big setup which booth on earth will have enough space …
If Numark and Akai want to do some market research, they should check out CraigsList every once and a while. People take huuuuuuge losses trying to sell NS7 style controllers. The cost and size are simply undesirable. Many controllers, IMO, suffer from sizing issues – either too small & cramped, or so big they need a flight case…and then also you have to bring a laptop? Basically I’m saying there isn’t really a market for that kind of stuff – sure, it’s a halo product (how many people actually can afford / use a Corvette ZR1?) but unlike the BMW 1M which is selling for more than new and wasn’t a top-end of pricing unit, Numark has a pretty solid track record of putting out, well, dumb ideas.
Dislcosure: My go-to controller is a Mixtrack I and the only thing I’d change is to get a Pro so I could use Serato DJ instead of my trusty Traktor 1 Pro with perfect stock mapping. If I want to go back to doing more interesting DJ mixing instead of using the two decks, I jump into Live 9 and use an APC40, which is a very different dynamic and a lot more powerful. YMMV.
Don’t be limited by the examples they’re showing – remember that all tech innovation starts out huge and then gets smaller. What if your Mixtrack had integrated Serato DJ and didn’t change the form factor? What if the APC40 had the ability to run Ableton Live sessions directly inside of it?
Then they’d be priced out of the range of the target market, Dan. Considering the steady stream of updates that come out from NI, Serato, Ableton et al, unless they can promise rock-solid updates (and how to deliver – still plug in to a PC? Built in Wi-Fi?), basically all-in-ones open so many cans of worms it’s bound to be compromises everywhere. I think Akai’s most innovative work is in their mobile division. I got the XR20 and it was nice. Their little 8 pad sampler looks even better. My point is that anybody can build overkill devices, and then try and create a market, but it’s a stupid business decision. Staton’s line was innovative but I have yet to ever see one in a club, and the only guys who haul around NS-sized devices are wedding DJs, at least that’s what they look like when they’re posting pictures of their gear for sale on CraigsList.
Know what I would like to see? A google glass HUD. No more serato face, you can engage the crowd and take however long you like to find tracks. And all controllers should have a USB slot that you can store tracks on in case of a laptop failure. It could even have an auto takeover mode for minimal disruption. Just a thought…one can dream you know.
I have a feeling that the ns7ii + a windows laptop will be less than that.
I still fail to see why people get excited about ‘all-in-one’ controllers…now especially with a OS running inside them. From a redundancy point of view, theres more to go wrong, and less options to recover. With a modular setup, i.e. CDJs (or TTs), a mixer, laptop and controller, if something dies mid set, you should have enough working to keep going
redundancy aside, i’m thinking that if something did go wrong A+ knowledge won’t help you when you get the unit home. if they adopt a Mac attitude to compact the size by soldering things like memory modules to the board it’ll be junk as soon as something “burns out” due to use. not too many people have an SMD station in their studio.
the other factor that concerns me a bit would be the price with a unit that has on board computing… why spend that much, when most of us have a laptop for producing and everyday life with more real estate on the screen than 7″ to 10″.
i agreed, modular set-ups are more versatile and easier to recover from hardware failure… the show must go on.
Well put; considering what I’ve read, complaints-wise regarding updates from any of the big players (Serato, Ableton, NI), often they release software with bugs in it. Sometimes fatal ones. Trusting them with a larger chunk of money with spurious reliability and upkeep isn’t very appealing to me and probably a lot of hobbyist / serious people in this field.
Not necessarily on the modular setup… If your mixer goes down, not much you can do with RCA outputs from a CDJ and XLR Mains. Not much of a show you can put on with only 1 CDJ either. At least most all in one controllers cost less than a CDJ. You can afford 2 all in one controllers for the price of 1 CDJ. I agree a MacBook is better than on board purpose built screens & computer. But some will want it because they will think they are buying a CDJ like setup vs a ‘disgusting’ laptop system. We do it to ourselves the more we allow DJs to judge each other based on their equipment and not on their ability to select good music and entertain a crowd.
I’m not worried, considering I can bounce deck A to deck B in Traktor if one of my CDJ’s go down or just bring my X1. If my Z2 goes down, I always have my trusty Audio 10. If I really need a mixer to patch into until I pick up a new one, my studios’ sound hub (an A&H ZED 10FX) will fit the bill nicely.
Here’s the thing, I can solder. My hardware goes down, I have the SMD solder station and the know how on how to fix it. It’s only 1 piece of equipment. I can make it through 1 night with barely any problem. Your controller goes down, where do you start? A new controller? Parts are cheap, controllers are not in comparison.
Besides, running a flexible set up means that I can book people to my radio show or a night that I am promoting at a club. With the means for them to play too. Controllers can get pretty tough to hand off to the next guy without any down time… all they have to do is bring a USB stick.
“The prototype was running an Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC) with a core i5. It did not require any external PC.” wtf? NUC is an “external pc” sure it’s smaller than laptop since there’s no screen, but it’s still external. Of course it’s less wires if you just hide it inside the controller but what stops you from getting a flight case and just stuff all your gear in there, oh right the reason why people use laptops is because they need the screen, so let’s just add screens to controllers and that’s it.. so people can actually choose the software they want to use. How about a case with NUC & Kontrol Surface, now that’s awesome.
“The prototype was running an Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC) with a core i5. It did not require any external PC.” wtf? NUC is an “external pc” sure it’s smaller than laptop since there’s no screen, but it’s still external. Of course it’s less wires if you just hide it inside the controller but what stops you from getting a flight case and just stuff all your gear in there, oh right the reason why people use laptops is because they need the screen, so let’s just add screens to controllers and that’s it.. so people can actually choose the software they want to use. How about a case with NUC & Kontrol Surface, now that’s awesome.
“The prototype was running an Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC) with a core i5. It did not require any external PC.” wtf? NUC is an “external pc” sure it’s smaller than laptop since there’s no screen, but it’s still external. Of course it’s less wires if you just hide it inside the controller but what stops you from getting a flight case and just stuff all your gear in there, oh right the reason why people use laptops is because they need the screen, so let’s just add screens to controllers and that’s it.. so people can actually choose the software they want to use. How about a case with NUC & Kontrol Surface, now that’s awesome.
“The prototype was running an Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC) with a core i5. It did not require any external PC.” wtf? NUC is an “external pc” sure it’s smaller than laptop since there’s no screen, but it’s still external. Of course it’s less wires if you just hide it inside the controller but what stops you from getting a flight case and just stuff all your gear in there, oh right the reason why people use laptops is because they need the screen, so let’s just add screens to controllers and that’s it.. so people can actually choose the software they want to use. How about a case with NUC & Kontrol Surface, now that’s awesome.
“The prototype was running an Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC) with a core i5. It did not require any external PC.” wtf? NUC is an “external pc” sure it’s smaller than laptop since there’s no screen, but it’s still external. Of course it’s less wires if you just hide it inside the controller but what stops you from getting a flight case and just stuff all your gear in there, oh right the reason why people use laptops is because they need the screen, so let’s just add screens to controllers and that’s it.. so people can actually choose the software they want to use. How about a case with NUC & Kontrol Surface, now that’s awesome.
“The prototype was running an Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC) with a core i5. It did not require any external PC.” wtf? NUC is an “external pc” sure it’s smaller than laptop since there’s no screen, but it’s still external. Of course it’s less wires if you just hide it inside the controller but what stops you from getting a flight case and just stuff all your gear in there, oh right the reason why people use laptops is because they need the screen, so let’s just add screens to controllers and that’s it.. so people can actually choose the software they want to use. How about a case with NUC & Kontrol Surface, now that’s awesome.
“The prototype was running an Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC) with a core i5. It did not require any external PC.” wtf? NUC is an “external pc” sure it’s smaller than laptop since there’s no screen, but it’s still external. Of course it’s less wires if you just hide it inside the controller but what stops you from getting a flight case and just stuff all your gear in there, oh right the reason why people use laptops is because they need the screen, so let’s just add screens to controllers and that’s it.. so people can actually choose the software they want to use. How about a case with NUC & Kontrol Surface, now that’s awesome.
“The prototype was running an Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC) with a core i5. It did not require any external PC.” wtf? NUC is an “external pc” sure it’s smaller than laptop since there’s no screen, but it’s still external. Of course it’s less wires if you just hide it inside the controller but what stops you from getting a flight case and just stuff all your gear in there, oh right the reason why people use laptops is because they need the screen, so let’s just add screens to controllers and that’s it.. so people can actually choose the software they want to use. How about a case with NUC & Kontrol Surface, now that’s awesome.
“The prototype was running an Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC) with a core i5. It did not require any external PC.” wtf? NUC is an “external pc” sure it’s smaller than laptop since there’s no screen, but it’s still external. Of course it’s less wires if you just hide it inside the controller but what stops you from getting a flight case and just stuff all your gear in there, oh right the reason why people use laptops is because they need the screen, so let’s just add screens to controllers and that’s it.. so people can actually choose the software they want to use. How about a case with NUC & Kontrol Surface, now that’s awesome.
“The prototype was running an Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC) with a core i5. It did not require any external PC.” wtf? NUC is an “external pc” sure it’s smaller than laptop since there’s no screen, but it’s still external. Of course it’s less wires if you just hide it inside the controller but what stops you from getting a flight case and just stuff all your gear in there, oh right the reason why people use laptops is because they need the screen, so let’s just add screens to controllers and that’s it.. so people can actually choose the software they want to use. How about a case with NUC & Kontrol Surface, now that’s awesome.
“The prototype was running an Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC) with a core i5. It did not require any external PC.” wtf? NUC is an “external pc” sure it’s smaller than laptop since there’s no screen, but it’s still external. Of course it’s less wires if you just hide it inside the controller but what stops you from getting a flight case and just stuff all your gear in there, oh right the reason why people use laptops is because they need the screen, so let’s just add screens to controllers and that’s it.. so people can actually choose the software they want to use. How about a case with NUC & Kontrol Surface, now that’s awesome.
“The prototype was running an Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC) with a core i5. It did not require any external PC.” wtf? NUC is an “external pc” sure it’s smaller than laptop since there’s no screen, but it’s still external. Of course it’s less wires if you just hide it inside the controller but what stops you from getting a flight case and just stuff all your gear in there, oh right the reason why people use laptops is because they need the screen, so let’s just add screens to controllers and that’s it.. so people can actually choose the software they want to use. How about a case with NUC & Kontrol Surface, now that’s awesome.
If it’s inside the chassis of the unit, it is internal.
“The prototype was running an Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC) with a core i5. It did not require any external PC.” wtf? NUC is an “external pc” sure it’s smaller than laptop since there’s no screen, but it’s still external. Of course it’s less wires if you just hide it inside the controller but what stops you from getting a flight case and just stuff all your gear in there, oh right the reason why people use laptops is because they need the screen, so let’s just add screens to controllers and that’s it.. so people can actually choose the software they want to use. How about a case with NUC & Kontrol Surface, now that’s awesome.
this is next level… also this would mean tighter hardware and software integration which will result in lesser problems like software crashes and failures.
Numark can hit the jackpot if this gets into production.
Shut up and take my money!!
snaaap! This is a good first step to something that will be awesome when it reaches generation 3.
The laptop and cables is what is holding allot of people back from the whole digital thing, things like this is where its at! If a tiny phone and an ipad can do all sorts of amazing things why can’t a much bigger dj console do similar things for music?
Units like the iPad and the iPhone use an ARM processor. These processors are low power consumption processing units. Windows users on a laptop usually change their power management settings to “high performance” to increase the power that their processor can use. Traktor running on iOS (Traktor DJ) is nowhere near what Traktor pro is in function and feature.
So to answer your question… it’s all about power.
What I meant by my comment was that I can’t believe there is so much power in ‘smart’ devices, surely a bigger DJ device that has its own integrated software and processing power is a no brainer. A bigger DJ device could be plugged into wall power and can basically be a computer with one application installed, or even better an OS that Traktor Serato can develop for so a DJ can bring their own software.
Is it really the cables though that bar entry? As an entry level person, today you can buy a nice Windows tablet for $500, have that be your touch interface, and go stereo out to the (heavy!) powered speakers you lugged to your uncle’s 4th marriage wedding reception. And then once you do start getting paid, spending $2k, $5k, or even $10k on a setup and a flight case to hold it ceases to be even remotely important.
I would however, like to have something like dedicated support in my OS to send arbitrary graphics to an embedded display on my X1’s. Then I could have context aware graphics on my midi controller, which is what I really want, and it would still be flexible enough that I could use it with Serato, Traktor, or whatever. Maschine Studio sort of has that now, but it needs to be cross-platform and software agnostic.
In terms of club DJ’s, its allot easier to grab a usb and plug it into a CDJ (which is pretty much this technology in simple form) than it is to fiddle around with a sound card and rca’s into a mixer in the dark. If you aren’t doing more than phase/beat mixing its a bit of a waste of time.
I agree there is definitely some benefits with using your own set up if you’re a mobile DJ like an ipad or laptop and controller, but imagine how much better it would be again if you had a unit that could fit into a back pack and had screens and the software built in. You would have proper hand s on controls and fully functional software/sound card in one unit.
What excites me the most about this is what the future could hold with hardware and software being so tightly integrated. I hope high quality consoles will be in clubs that have pads/touch screens etc that can make the experience more expressive and fun.
humina humina humina. I like the idea of a true all-in-one because it means one company can control all the variables. Much like Apple with the iPhone.
Well, not quite. Apple’s iPhone (as well as their computers) deliver a cohesive experience because they control the hardware and the software. In this case, Numark wouldn’t control the software if it’s Serato DJ.
That being said, InMusic (Akai, Numark, M-Audio, etc) is constantly growing and buying up new partners – acquiring a software company might be in the cards.
The variables I meant were hardware and drivers. It’s the same as if you could use the NS7II but ONLY with a 15″ MBP. Takes so much crap out of the loop.
M-Audio was acquired by Avid.
they were bought out by InMusic about two years ago now…