It still works, and I still use it exclusively when I provide Sound/DJ for local events. While scrolling through the directory listing sometimes causes that module to pause or glitch, the PM GO DJ overall hasn't let me down or even been the cause of any unintended silence for quite a while.
Never the less, I continue to surf various vendors for player modules that would add more actual DJ functionality to a possible new version of the Poor Man's Go DJ. For the first time, I can say that I may have stumbled on a module that's worth investigating.
- New Module_01.png (168.78 KiB) Viewed 290 times
A single vendor is selling this module on Aliexpress. I haven't found it for sale, or even mentioned anyplace else.
- New Module_02.png (163.28 KiB) Viewed 290 times
Here are a few other things to note about this board:
- The button board can be left attached, or separated from the player module. Not the more full complement of buttons. (See more about buttons, below)
- It also includes 2 encoders mounted on separate boards that connect to the player board (although it does not come with knobs). The encoders have several functions, and may allow fast scrolling through directories/song lists.
- The other connectors (USB, SD Card Slot, 2 Line inputs, etc.) are also on separate boards, allowing flexible mounting options.
- It plays all the formats, including 16 bit FLAC.
- The listing indicates "Working Current 30 - 150 mA" depending on operating state, which is far better than the modules in the current version of the Poor Man's GO DJ.
- It does not seem to do other functions like Photos or Video, indicating more emphasis on Audio Functionality.
- It looks like it may have been intended for a stand-alone Hi-Fi Player or "Digital Turn Table" based on layout, and completed devices that seem to have a similar layout for the buttons and display.
- Upon watching the video again, it does not seem to show the Wave form Display in USB (or SD) player mode. A workaround for this is to simply use 2 for each "Deck or Turntable", with the 2nd one permanently set to Line in, and doing nothing except for displaying the wave form. Given the $20.00 cost of the module, this is not unreasonable at all. The lower part of the 2nd display may need to be covered so there are not 2 spectrum displays on the same player.
- Do the buttons or one of the encoders allow seeking or Fast Forward within a track?
- Can it show time remaining or time-in-track?
- How smooth is it? Does scrolling slow or become "glitchy" with thousands of songs on an SD card?
- "English" is briefly seen in the menus during the video, but the user does not select English language.
What features would this new player have?
- Separate Microphone channels. In total it would have 4 separate channels, Each with it's own proper linear level control.
- Each channel would have separate analog tone boards, with the Mic inputs also having a reverb pot and possibly a pan pot. I'd like to have compression on the mic inputs, but I have not found a mic board with that functionality. Note that most of the Chinese Mic boards have (2) 1/4" jacks, so it will actually support 4 microphones.
- I will use proper stereo faders/level pots wired correctly, so that there is no sound from the faded out channel.
- The headphone Live/Cue mix will also be implemented properly, with a separate Headphone amp module driving the 1/4" headphone jack.
- I will either forgo the battery completely, or include a larger 10,000 maH battery (Yes, that means I will destroy another phone charger)
- An internal Power supply with a standard IEC power connector is a possibility -- especially of I forgo the internal battery. If there is an internal PS, it will be a pre-made audio grade +/- power supply.
- As mentioned, the possibility of a separate wave form display for each player. (Not for the Mic inputs).
- It will include an output LED VU meter. A level meter for each mic may or may not be included.
- I will possibly remove and not use the included button boards. Instead, USB mini shortcut keyboards will be destroyed re-wired as simple button to ground. This will allow far nicer and more durable operation.
- It will also include a separate sample player as the current PM GO DJ has. I will do the same thing with (2)4 or a single 8 button PC shortcut keyboard(s) so that the samples are played with mechanical keys. The sample player will have just a regular pot for level control, and no tone board. It will have an LED that shows when it is playing a sample.
- With all of the above, the unit will be much larger than even a GO DJ plus. It will be more like a Poor Man's Denon DJ Prime 4.
- It will likely have a steel or aluminum top panel. It's possible that the base will be made of wood since wood is easy to work with, and it will likely be too large and heavy for the thin plexiglass that is readily available to me.
- It probably will still not have XLR mic inputs nor balanced XLR outputs.
Note that given all of the above, I would likely have as much into this project as I would a used Denon DJ Prime 4, so it's likely this project will remain a concept only.