DJ Equipment Redesign: Senior Project

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B

bspyrison

New DJ
Feb 22, 2010
2
0
Hey everyone, I was hoping I could tap your expert knowledge for a project of mine. A little back ground I guess would help first. I'm currently a student studying Industrial Design (Product Design) at the Milwaukee Institute if Art and Design. For my senior thesis I'm working on redesigning a line of DJ equipment, so that is more easy to use for people interested in learning more about DJ'ing but are too intimidated by the complexity of existing equipment. I'm hoping to simplify or simply better organize the button layout while still producing something that more experienced DJ's would enjoy as well. I’m thinking something similar to the Vestax Spin series (as seen in the attached picture)

The equipment I'll be focusing on covers: speakers, an amplifier, a mixer/turntable combo, and a set of headphones . So I'm trying to interview DJ's to get some user feedback on what’s important and what needs fixing. My primary challenge will be reorganizing the button layouts on a digital media controller / slash mixer. I want to make this more user friendly so people interested in learning about DJing might be able to pick things up a bit easier. If you'd like to help please take a second to briefly answer these questions.

1. Name:
2. Age:
3. How long have you been DJ’ing for?
4. How did you get into DJ’ing?
5. Were you self taught or did you take lessons/ training?
6. What was the hardest thing about getting started?
7. What is your favorite feature on your mixer/turntable?
8. What do features do you hate?
9. What buttons/features do you use the most?
10. What buttons/features do you use the least?
11. What would you like to see better incorporated in new technology?
12. What could be done to make to make your job easier or more enjoyable regarding the design of your DJ equipment.

Thanks for your help; you will be credited in my research process!
Ben
 

Attachments

  • vestax-spin-11-11-09.jpg
    vestax-spin-11-11-09.jpg
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Sounds interesting. Can you post a link to the school program that you are taking? I'm curious about how Industrial Engineering topics are being treated at a school of Art and Design.

Are you looking to improve the ergonomics, or are you looking to fully redesign the workflow?

I think one interesting approach could be to compare & contrast the workflow of the "computer DJ" against the "dual deck DJ". Do you think that a different though process and workflow should be considered when moving from a phycial controller to a computer? How, if at all, do you think the workflow of a DJ will change when large multi touch computer screens are commonly available?
 
Going off that last post, maybe something else to consider are the differences between the following:

- traditional turntable DJs
- cd DJs
- laptop DJs
- media controller DJs
- and serato type DJs

I personally know that from vinyl to cds alone, there is a difference in how one DJs.
 
I edited the post as the link was invalid. I did an I.P. search and the I.P. is valid as it originates from a Wisconsin based provider - Green Bay to be exact.

I also took the liberty of adding the pic of the Vestax unit for the poster. Although I don't exactly agree with adding one's name to his list of likes/dislikes, I can see his reasoning, if in reality he is wanting to give credit where due.

We (the moderators) will keep an eye on the thread and subsequently the poster for other related threads/posts.
 
be carefull with this one!
 
DjDennis said:
be carefull with this one!
Click to expand...

Ok,

I'll ask the obvious question. Why?

What red flags are you seeing?

He's asking for input for a research project. What are you reading into?

Thanks,

joe
 
From the few things that I could find by this user, (I love Google!) he's not someone from a gear company, but really is designing stuff for a senior project. He claims to be only actually building the speakers. I'd answer the questions on this, but there is nothing that I'd want improved in my gear that I can think of right now.
 
I'm just a student trying to gather as much research as I can, to help me make a more informed, intelligent design. Trying to get an idea for the hiearchary of mixer features so I can better organize them, and make it easier to use. This includes improved ergonomics, as well as styling. I'm planning on designing this mixer to be a digital media/MIDI controler that would connect to a computer to be used with DJ software.

You can check out or ID program here at MIAD's website: http://www.miad.edu/content/view/173/121/

I'll be happy to answer any more questions, just looking to get as much feedback as I can.
 
bspyrison said:
The equipment I'll be focusing on covers: speakers, an amplifier, a mixer/turntable combo, and a set of headphones . So I'm trying to interview DJ's to get some user feedback on what’s important and what needs fixing.
Click to expand...

Ben,

The components you mention exist in a large variety of configurations already. You would have to select a particular model in order to determine a need for improvement. In that case, such input could be found in the customer feedback section of the product website.

Since so many products are available, most persons in the field have already
put together the system that works best for them. Individual opinions on what's important or needs fixing are just that.

Regards



.
 
Hank Davidson said:
Ben,

The components you mention exist in a large variety of configurations already. You would have to select a particular model in order to determine a need for improvement. In that case, such input could be found in the customer feedback section of the product website.

Since so many products are available, most persons in the field have already
put together the systems that works best for them. Individual opinions on what's important or needs fixing are just that.

Regards



.
Click to expand...

+1 Exactly my point
 
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