New Emulator Touchscreen DJ Control Surface

This is a preview of the Emulator – a giant multitouch MIDI controller, from the Amsterdam Dance Event 2010.

It’s basically a giant rear projection multitouch screen controller for DJing – or an iPad on steroids.

It’s available now in The Netherlands via Soundfreax Amsterdam.

Check it out and let us know what you think of the idea of the Emulator as a multitouch DJ control surface.

30 thoughts on “New Emulator Touchscreen DJ Control Surface

  1. "even has a cross fader if you mix like that" wow.. even a cross fader? *blinks slowly*

    looks cool-ish, but also looks laggy as all hell, and the lack of physical controls has got to hurt.

  2. Pretty sure the ECC did something similar to this (albeit with Live 7 rather than a enlarged custom version of Traktor) several years ago. Still pretty cool though.

  3. The ‘even has a crossfader’ comment made me laugh too.

    I wonder how responsive this is? Seems like that could be a problem.

    Sexy as hell, though. Could you run Live on this?

  4. looks like a regular old internal-reflection multitouch screen running touchOSC.

    maybe the first sold as a commercial product that's this specialized, but there's nothing new here.

  5. Pressing buttons isnt even remotely a performance, it is just sad that people think it is and there are enough stupid people to stand and stare at a DJ pressing a button now and again. Oh well at least it is better than just playing a record and pretending to do something, like most DJs these days.

  6. i saw the emulator demo'd at moog audio in toronto last month and got a chance to talk to the distributor & a company rep. here are some tidbits:
    – website: http://www.smithsonmartin.com/
    – pc-only & only works with traktor…but developers are currently working on an ableton control template and porting the software over to macs
    – estimated street price is CA$2,000 for the 42" display, stand & software; doesn't include the projector
    – i believe there are 6 simultaneous touch points (seems like an odd number so i probably misheard the rep)
    – the workflow is nice and makes me wonder if this technology can be applied to other multimedia tasks (ie. visual art)…makes me feel like tony stark or tom cruise in minority report
    – you need a lot of space for the hardware so i imagine this will be limited to concert/club/theatre/gallery environments

  7. I tested this great piece of gear in canada store, and is absolutly responsive, the developers say latency is 7ms.
    I can confirm really feel like low latency.
    Is a little expensive, but i hope complete my order at the end of november.
    Is just awesome, cant wait.

  8. Apple Vs PC?
    Vinyl Vs Digital?
    CD Vs Laptop Vs Vinyl Vs Ableton Vs Apple Vs Pc ? ………..lol ….stop!!

    Talent not have any relation with the medium used lol ! if you are a pathetic dj………..you are a pathetic dj………..end of dicussion.
    This impresive touchscreen not save your gigs, but if you are good…..certainly can improve your gigs adding awesome visual show.
    I really like the evolution , i cant imagine Daft Punk shows, with they just performing over 2 cd players, or 2 turntables lol : )
    This is really nice futuristic system, but the discussion for few dinosaurs Djs…….. will be eternal ……….CD Vs Laptop Vs Vinyl Vs Ableton Vs Apple Vs Pc Vs the World? ………..lol ….stop!! STOP !!!!

  9. I think the scale of the control surface is what interests me the most. I don’t know how interesting it would be to watch someone control traktor live. I’d really like to see them add the ability to build your own controls, and connect them to whatever software you want, with direct access to OSC. Something tells me that’s not the way they’re going, though. Otherwise, as a fixed UI device, control of abelton live with would be more useful for me.

  10. I just want to thank you for your opinion because it makes complete sense… if you are a rubbish DJ you are still going to sound like rubbish despite the small light show. I hope to purchase one of these because I want to be more interactive with my set. Digital DJing is great and all but nothing like getting your hands dirty and having the feeling of complete control! If your crowd is only interested in a light show then that's not the crowd I'd like to play for anyway. It's only a plus.

  11. I just want to thank you for your opinion because it makes complete sense… if you are a rubbish DJ you are still going to sound like rubbish despite the small light show. I hope to purchase one of these because I want to be more interactive with my set. Digital DJing is great and all but nothing like getting your hands dirty and having the feeling of complete control! If your crowd is only interested in a light show then that's not the crowd I'd like to play for anyway. It's only a plus.

  12. I just want to thank you for your opinion because it makes complete sense… if you are a rubbish DJ you are still going to sound like rubbish despite the small light show. I hope to purchase one of these because I want to be more interactive with my set. Digital DJing is great and all but nothing like getting your hands dirty and having the feeling of complete control! If your crowd is only interested in a light show then that's not the crowd I'd like to play for anyway. It's only a plus.

  13. I just want to thank you for your opinion because it makes complete sense… if you are a rubbish DJ you are still going to sound like rubbish despite the small light show. I hope to purchase one of these because I want to be more interactive with my set. Digital DJing is great and all but nothing like getting your hands dirty and having the feeling of complete control! If your crowd is only interested in a light show then that's not the crowd I'd like to play for anyway. It's only a plus.

  14. I just want to thank you for your opinion because it makes complete sense… if you are a rubbish DJ you are still going to sound like rubbish despite the small light show. I hope to purchase one of these because I want to be more interactive with my set. Digital DJing is great and all but nothing like getting your hands dirty and having the feeling of complete control! If your crowd is only interested in a light show then that's not the crowd I'd like to play for anyway. It's only a plus.

  15. I just want to thank you for your opinion because it makes complete sense… if you are a rubbish DJ you are still going to sound like rubbish despite the small light show. I hope to purchase one of these because I want to be more interactive with my set. Digital DJing is great and all but nothing like getting your hands dirty and having the feeling of complete control! If your crowd is only interested in a light show then that's not the crowd I'd like to play for anyway. It's only a plus.

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  17. People who would use this are not DJs, people who rely soley on laptops and serato are not DJ's. It takes absolutely no skill to program a set that is beat-matched for you by a computer program. In a perfect world People/party goers would educate themselves and be more discriminating and only support the DJs who are actually talented. Not going to happen though, put this thing in front of a guy with a Jersey shore haircut and a sparkly shirt and the general public will be mesmerized, SAD. Support actual DJs not glorified jukeboxes.

  18. Guys let’s face it in the age of digital there are gonna be many new inventions would you rather to a DVD backup of your movie or VHS tape backup where u pretty much watching the whole thing unfold before your eyes there will always be haters sometimes because its not the way they would do it who cares how u get there as long as you do.
    We are moving forward in the world not back word we don’t have to get water from the well at lease most of us so shouldn’t we be glad that technology is moving ahead inside of stagnent.

    PS don’t hate save up and get one and be creative with it go outside the envelope

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