DJ Box

krooton · 9 Nov 2013 at 14:28

I want to have a mobile system for digital djing, but don't want a laptop.

My idea is a slim case that allows mATX to be used so I can upgrade over time. I will then have a standalone monitor that I can attach to the side of the case.

Here are some lame 3d models.

Coke can for scale, the dj controller I plan to get at the front, the case with screen attached, my gf's current laptop for scale, and a K400 wireless kb/trackpad in front of that.

I will also be able to use this for light gaming

krooton · 11 Nov 2013 at 22:24

The screens I have been eyeing up (Gechic On-Laps) have been tricky to come by.

The models above are based on the 13.3" version, but I managed to nab a 15.6" one on the Bay (should arrive tomorrow), so it won't look quite as sleek, and I will need to think about the mounting lip so I can remove the screen when needed.

Still, it does HDMI natively, and I was toying with the idea of modding a Motorola Lapdock (free keyboard and trackpad) but they are too pricey even on the Bay for an 11" screen.

krooton · 11 Nov 2013 at 22:49

Numark Mixtrack Pro 2, nice cheap controller that will do all I need. Will need some way to navigate Windows though, hence the K400.

krooton · 13 Nov 2013 at 14:47

The On-Lap screen is almost perfect for what I need.

Traktor is perfectly usable with 1366x768.

It comes with a hinge that I can fix to the case and clip it in to, allowing it to be flush or fold outwards. So getting it on the side is a doddle.

The viewing angles are pretty bad though as it's a TN panel, so I'm also toying around with the idea of a tilt/swivel mount. Ordered this to test with. My idea is to fix a carrying handle to the top of the case (pretty common LAN mod), and have the handle's join to the case be similar to the bars in a car headrest, so I can attach the mount to the handle and have a free movement screen to adjust for viewing angles.

It's also white, so will clash hard with the black case, and I'm not looking to sparypaint it black as I won't be keeping it for too long, just until I can get an ASUS MB168B+, 1080p and no viewing angle issues.

krooton · 14 Nov 2013 at 13:54

The starter internals will be decidedly budget, but this is because I couldn't ask for expensive stuff on my Xmas list

Motherboard: ASUS A88XM-A Matx
Cpu: A6-6400k FM2
SSD: Sandisk Pulse 25 64GB
RAM: 4GB Corsair Vengeance 12800
Case: CiT S003B Slim MATX
Screen: Gechic Onlap 1501

krooton · 26 Nov 2013 at 12:44

Headrest mount arrived, screen fits fine and will give me the adjustability to make viewing angles no longer a concern.

Also picked up a Hercules DJ Control Air+ for £115 in Amazon Black Friday sale, will see how I get on with that, and if I don't like and decide to get the Numark I should be able to break even with it.

The only concern is the case I have picked. The top has fan near the rear, so the handle will need to be in the front 2/3rds of the case, and there is a plastic thing over that area. Not sure if I will have a flat surface to attach the handle to.

krooton · 10 Dec 2013 at 15:15

Pow! Managed to source an ASUS MB168B+, this thing is sweeeeeet!

Roll on Xmas when I get the rest of the components and can start putting her together

krooton · 10 Dec 2013 at 15:31

Lol, when did you move to Morden? We might even be neighbours

krooton · 10 Dec 2013 at 15:34

It's ok where I am, are you on the Sutton side of St Hellier Avenue?

krooton · 10 Dec 2013 at 15:46

Rose Hill Roundabout is hell on earth, no wonder you want out!

krooton · 10 Dec 2013 at 16:17

Lol, then you are my neighbour, I'm in the new build development on Central Road

krooton · 10 Dec 2013 at 16:38

Bought with gf, no idea on rental costs I'm afraid

krooton · 3 Jan 2014 at 09:46

So I started with this last night.

Dismantled the case to work out where I can install the handle, will need to dremel a few bits, but then much to my dismay I found that the Asus A88XM-Plus I installed was about 5mm too wide, and prevented the PSU from being installed.

RMA requested, and MITX board ordered instead (handy if I ever want to swap the system out to the RVZ01).

I'll try and get some pics up tonight of what I have planned.

krooton · 4 Jan 2014 at 12:14

Better PSU installed

Removed the top plastic attachment

Handle in the background is going to go across the open square area diagonally (when my gf brings my dremel home).

Heatsink and starter cpu

Just waiting on my motherboard to be delivered.

krooton · 5 Jan 2014 at 17:00

Getting the mobo installed

Next to my main rig

Screen set up on my desk until I can get the mount installed.

krooton · 24 Jan 2014 at 20:06

Update!

6800k replaces 6400k.
7750 installed.
Handle attached.

Mount attached to handle

Almost finished, just need to sort out the hole at the top, and I am adding some better fans for intake and exhaust.

krooton · 7 Feb 2014 at 12:23

Cheers guys!

Traktor runs fine as long as you turn off multi-core in the options and make sure that your latency is set up correctly with the ASIO driver. Not sure how well it would work with a controller that doesn't have a built-in sound-card though.

Basically, the better your controller, the less of a beast your pc needs to be.

Mate has a Traktor S4 controller (£400!) and it work perfectly with his i3 laptop.

Played plenty of Smite on this machine at a LAN party too with no issues.

It's subject to more change though.

Zalman is out, replaced with an AXP-100.
This is only because I plan to move to one of the upcoming Silverstone ITX cases and use the PCIE riser to run a 7950 in it (for mining and gaming).
The Zalman is a bit too big so I didn't want to run in to any compatibility issues.