The Vinyl Album in 2015: Free DJ Controller Provided!

Phil Morse | Founder & Tutor
Read time: < 1 min
Last updated 1 January, 2015

Qbert
The world’s first album packaging that doubles up as a DJ controller, courtesy of Qbert and Algoriddim.

How’s this for a novelty to start our 2015 coverage? DJ Qbert has gone back to the future with what is surely the world’s first DJ controller that’s also part of a traditional album’s packaging! Could this be the shape of things to come?

The innovation – as part of the launch of Qbert’s Extraterrestria album – sees Qbert’s Thud Rumble collaborate with Algoriddim’s djay app and Novalia’s touch technology to transform the album’s gatefold cover into a Bluetooth DJ controller. When the album (or any MP3) is played through the djay app on an iOS device, the user is able to manipulate and effect the songs with the use of the built-in controller.

This feature will be available for the limited vinyl and CD packaging that was pre-sold through Kickstarter when Qbert croudsourced the album last year, although a limited number will apparently also be put on sale here.

The video

Do you find it refreshing to see vinyl and DJ controllers literally sold in the same packaging? Does this poke fun at the continuing DJ “format wars”, or is it just a curious novelty – or both? Let us know your thoughts below.

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