The pitter-patter of excited chatter has been bouncing across cyber space about a new Dj device called the “pacemaker”. This hand-held player is essentially what everyone wished the I-Pod could do but with more realistic dj controls. Unfortunately it will set you back more than $700 and to be honest, I wonder if anyone will even enjoy using it. Most djs like twisting knobs because it taps into our male psyche in such a powerful way. I just cant see anyone really replacing knobs unless they do so with the one shape we enjoy playing with even more- the phallus. Need proof? Go to your local guitar shop.
Although the non-dj press is raving about how much they love the concept, ”An amazing gadget, this could be one of the biggest hits- Simon Perry, Digital Lifestyles” , it remains to be seen if djs will embrace it. Lately the target market of most digital dj devices seems to be squarely aimed at the bedroom consumer and weekend warriors as they correctly assume that market has the most buying power. While the economics of these designs is intelligent they fail to take into account that this group tends to look to the professional users for purchase guidance. Make a product that is good enough for the pros but cool enough that everyone wants to buy it and then you will have a truly successful offering. To their credit the creators of pacemaker have obviously put a lot of thought and intelligent design into a small package but we are curious to see who will end up using it.
I’d be a bit surprised to see this catch on as anything more than an expensive way to mix while you’re on the tube or a flashy piece of kit for the gadget pr0n guys to show off. Other than the obvious “there’s no actual knobs”, there’s also the looks you’ll get. Sure, people today are a little more accepting of you using a laptop during a mix than they were five years ago, but this just looks like you’re playing a recording off an ipod to anyone who doesn’t know what it is.
This weekend I went to a club were on one floor the dj:s used pacemakers. The crowd liked it but maybe they did understand because the djs made such a big thing out of it.. Pretty fun that the DJ stood in the crowd and danced as he mixed, but also a little bit dorky, like those “wiijays”
The reason for me to buy one is as said to use it while traveling, but I sure wait til my ipod dies first
Hmm, I never liked anyone standing around me while I’m deeJaying.
They tend to either get in the way or get smacked for getting in the way. BTW, marketing is EVERYTHING. And as “P” said, I sometimes get the desire to mix-in few songs while traveling. Too expensive.
yes i agree it’s sort of a bizarre invention but i think it could act as a good backup device in this laptop age. i keep a mp3 player at bay while i’m djing in case anything goes haywire, but if i had something like a pacemaker i’d be less stressed about anything going belly up. of course it’s an expensive backup plan but it’s darn portable. plus as written above, you can mix while sitting on the can which is priceless according Mastercard.
Pacemaker have released an new really cool video on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEP8A9GLk6M
$700 for a device that does all my mixing.If thats the sum total of my costs well thats certainly worth it.Especially with music becoming free.Most laptops Ive seen with DJs in niteclubs have all been Apple Macbooks which tend to cost more than $700 this is value for money if you ask me.Plus its smaller than a laptop.