14 DAY TRIAL // It only took what was a seemingly wacky idea in the first place to turn a computer HDD into a music instrument; and thinking a bit outside the box, the metal box of the HDD, most likely. Being a DJ means more than simply hitting the Play button every now and then; in fact, there is a very creative side to being a real DJ, especially useful when it comes to actually controlling the music you’re working with. And since creativity and imagination go hand in hand, here's one of the neatest DJ controllers we've met during the last months. And it's DIY!
A group of students from various universities across UK, Austria and New Zealand have worked together on a very interesting project aiming to create a unique piece of controlling technology destined for DJ use... built from an actual HDD.
This digital interface is now ready and functional and indeed it looks nothing like the usual similar things you'd expect to find on a DJ's desk. And that's because an HDD was dissected and disassembled only to receive some new electronic modules that allowed it to be able to send signals other music equipment could interpret.
The students went for the HDD plate because they simply loved its firm weight and the very high quality of the bearings, ensuring a smooth and precise operation, which was exactly what they needed. Adding in some operational amplifiers, resistors and a programmable micro-controller has gotten things closer to the end result. And since there still were a lot of improvement possibilities, 8 additional buttons have been installed to alter the signals and the data the new HDDJ produced.
Interaction with other gear can be achieved using a proper computer, via a USB port and with minimal settings needed; yet there are a lot of things this controller could possibly do, and there is also a lot to explore and experiment. You can visit this webpage for detailed construction specs and a more technical story about the HDDJ.
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