We first heard of Qbert’s Thud Rumble working with Intel over a year ago, with the goal to bring microcomputers into the DJ booth and eventually replace laptops. Yesterday, at Intel’s IDF keynote, Qbert showed off a prototype of their Invader mixer – with a touchscreen display showing Traktor Pro on the mixer. Keep reading for what we know so far.
Thud Rumble Invader Mixer With Intel Inside
- Gear: Invader mixer (prototype)
- Designer: Thud Rumble
- Expected Price: $ 1,699
- Availability: Shipping end of 2016
![Thud Rumble prototype](https://11234-presscdn-0-32.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/0815-thudrumble-11-1-640x360.jpg)
[Photo credit: AOL, Roberto Baldwin]
Say hello to Qbert’s dream laptop-free mixer? These prototypes units are still very much basic test runs – but so far the feature set seems to be:
- touchscreen display (looks to be about a 10″ screen)
- two-channel mixing section
- EQ / browse encoders / knobs still seem to be in development
- 8 cue buttons (arcade buttons) for each deck
- Windows 10 / Intel processor
- currently no soundcard, although they are “working with Native Instruments” to have an audio interface made
- additional HDMI out for video mixing
In terms of size, the final Invader mixer could be “as thin as two centimeters” with feet to adjust it up to standard mixer/turntable height. But with a smaller surface area touching the DJ booth, it’ll be critical for those feet to be super grippy, especially since so much lateral motion (cutting on the crossfader and channel faders)
![The back of the Invader prototypes. Photo credit: AOL, Roberto Baldwin](https://11234-presscdn-0-32.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/0815-thudrumble-5-1-640x366.jpg)
The back of the Invader prototypes. [Photo credit: AOL, Roberto Baldwin]
For now, these prototypes are very much just that – it’s not a final mixer by any means. Check out the above photo – at this stage, the Invader mixer is appears to just be just a MIDI controller with a built-in touchscreen to the faceplate, and a computer sitting underneath. There’s not even a back I/O section yet – in these prototypes they’re using external Traktor sound cards.
But Is A Mixer With A Computer Inside It Really Better?
![Invader mixer screen](https://11234-presscdn-0-32.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/0815-thudrumble-7-1-640x360.jpg)
The touchscreen on one of the Invader prototypes. [Photo credit: AOL, Roberto Baldwin]
“[…] the Invader negates the need to drag your personal data around with you. Fainer points out that you already have to carry a mixer around. “You don’t want to be carrying your laptop around too. You have your whole life on that thing,” he says.” – Engadget
We’re not entirely sure that this type of logic works for many DJs who aren’t dedicated touring professional turntablists. Most working DJs:
- buy new songs that live and are organized on their laptop without transferring them to a second computer (maybe a USB stick for CDJ users)
- tweak and adjust their DJ software settings on their laptop without needing their mixer nearby
- use their laptop for multiple purposes
- often use other people’s mixers and don’t carry their own to each gig
The other drawbacks to having a mixer with a computer inside include:
- needing to always have a keyboard and mouse ready if anything goes wrong
- it’s only really useful for DJing having a big mixer in the way means it’s nearly unusable as a normal machine
- always will need wall power as it’s a desktop computer – not a laptop with a battery (a power glitch will mean a complete restart)
Share your thoughts in the comments;
Would you want a dedicated computer inside of a DJ mixer?
Other Similar Mixer/Computer Projects
While Thud Rumble might be the first company to successfully get a mixer with a built-in computer to market, we’ve covered a number of other similar projects right here on DJ Techtools.
It’s very much worth nothing that the OBMFLM4 mixer that we covered last November, designed by Sean Ober – looks very similar to Thud Rumble’s Invader prototype – built-in screen, and a plethora of arcade buttons all over the face. Very different purpose – but very similar concept.
[header photo and additional photos of the Thud Rumble prototype via our friends at Engadget in their full article on the Invader]
Autore: DJ TechTools