Is The All-In-One iPad DJ Console Coming?

Take a look at these pictures we’ve found, that show a prototype iPad synth controller from boutique Midi gear manufacturer Livid, complete with built-in iPad dock/shelf system.

It’s easy once you’ve seen this picture and the one below to make the mental leap from synth controller to DJ controller – especially as Livid already makes the frankly gorgeous Ableton Live and DJ-friendly Ohm64 Midi controller. If Livid don’t do it, we think someone else surely will.

Why? Well, just imagine a well-built controller similar to this but with the crossfader of the Ohm64, controlling DJ software such as djay for iPad. You’d have the ultimate tabletop all-in-one DJ unit with no visible leads, and the screen tucked out of the way where nobody could see it. There’d be no typing on a keyboard – from the audience, swiping, tapping and even using the touchscreen keyboard for search and the like would appear simply like you were working a mixer. The combination of big, colour touchscreen and pro Midi controls seems like a win-win to us.

For mobile DJs, bar DJs and home DJs who want a stylish-looking slim set-up that is just at home in their living room as in a gig, something like this could really hit the mark. You could prepare your set, download your tunes, beatgrid and so on using your iPad anywhere you wanted, then slot the same item in to your DJ console for seamless switching from preparation to performance.

These pictures – of a product called the Livid Code Station – are from Jay Smith of Livid’s Flickr photostream, and are only a prototype, but we think there’s definitely something in this for digital DJs.

What do you think? Could you see yourself DJing from an all-in-one console that you just slot your iPad into? Do you think a set-up like this could be the fix for some of the screengazing/”checking your emails” criticism sometimes levelled at laptop DJs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.