The project aims to control digital DJ systems with tiny microcomputers.

For all the convenience digital DJing offers, it still requires bringing an expensive laptop into a DJ booth. A new project from scratch expert DJ Qbert’s Thud Rumble company and microprocessor experts Intel is aiming to change all that, by creating tiny computers that can replace the laptop as the hub of a digital DJ setup.

As DJTechTools reports, the project is based around Intel’s affordable Edison processor, which has developed applications for that can control both audio playback and production hardware.

The applications were debuted at this weekend’s Bay Area Maker Faire, where they were seen plugged into Native Instruments’ Maschine controller and Kontrol S25 keyboard, as well as controlling a digital DJ setup with a Vestax PDX-2000 MkII turntable and Native Instruments Kontrol Z2 mixer.

Costing just $55, the Edison is Intel’s answer to the Arduino and Raspberry Pi microcomputers, and has a dual core 500MHz CPU and additional 100 MHz Quark microcontroller together with onboard memory, USB ports, and wireless connectivity. According to Thud Rumble, the artist simply plugs the microcomputer into their device of choice, and inserts a USB drive containing the music or samples they want to use in their set.

Thud Rumble has also developed a new type of turntable sensor technology capable of digitising all record, platter, and tonearm movement. Unlike standard digital vinyl (DVS) technology, this new technology allows sound wave data to be captured and manipulated by the user in whatever experimental manner they wish.

This isn’t the first time Qbert has used technology in innovative ways – last year he released an album whose sleeve doubled as a DJ controller.