Mom with equip questions for daughter with disabilities

[ltstangel]

A warm hello
I am mom to a young lady who is disabled and loves music. I am looking for some help to find/identify a piece of equipment that will allow her to control the pitch and speed of music she listens to on various devices...CD/DVD, MP3 players, PC, etc. I've looked at equalizers and mixers, but can't find quite what I'm needing. It can't be a software program for the PC because she is blind..thus it needs to have dials/buttons and be able to sit in front of her on a table. I don't have a lot of money, so it needs to be reasonably priced as well. I would be most grateful for any help and/or suggestions. Thanks bunches!

[RoJeC]

Let's try to get your daughter have enjoy sound even more.

I know from experience that it may take quite some effort to have equipment/tools that are really useful in helping solve the right problem for disabled despite 'all' technical solutions.

As you've done some research yourself with likely good reason to find non-suiting solutions it might be good to take the question towards more technical approach, so it won't be a solution that works to conditionally.

It will take some back and forth to find out if the community can be of help. Some questions might end up to be not to relevant in the end.

Why would she like to control speed/pitch (only).
What's the approximate age of your daughter
Is her blindness the 'only' limitation (and other functions likely developed above average)

Are there any specific devices she uses; A requirement to control a device is that it has options for external/remote control.

If CD/DVD/MP3 have remote control options in most of the cases you can use a general multi device remote controller (starting at like $€ 10,- until over $€ 100,- for advanced versions (like Logitech Harmony)

Remote controlling a PC is often done by MIDI. A wired device (or multiple) that connects to the PC. The other device often used is a keyboard...
Keyboard allows for programmable options as well. Several programs allow for keyboard control.
I have used infrared controls (as used by TV's) for PC in the past. (win 3.11/95 era) Likely this still exists.

How portable/mobile does it have to be.

Have you contacted other families who might have the same challenge.
Isn't there a program in your country to support in aids like this?

Warm regards,

[ltstangel]

Thanks much for your response, RoJec. I'm open to answering any questions that can help me figure this out. This is a pretty important mission I'm on. I do a lot of rigging speakers, subwoofers, etc for my daughter to set her up for maximum independence and to get effects/options she likes. Most things so far I've been able to find a way to connect via the headphone jacks on her equipment. She is 30, but is around 8 intellectually. She loves and does very well with switches (not disability switches), knobs, buttons, etc. In addition to being blind she also has autism and a moderate developmental delay. Has a great memory and learns placement and effects quickly. She does not use any special equipment really. I do tactically mark a lot of things and She loves changing various aspects of things she listens to. Speed and pitch just happen to be her favorites. She is always having me change the speed of music/videos she listens to on the computer, as well as pitch with her screen reading programs. She also loves bass...especially the vibration of it..and sometimes like an echo.

[wazza]

Hi and welcome to the Mixvibes forums..
I to have a kid with a disability ...my baby boy ( he's 19 and he hate me calling him my baby boy )
He has a slow growing brain tumor deep in his head...
There is not a thing that the doc,s can do

The only thing we can do is love him for the way he is and love him for as long as we have got him around

OK ...back on topic...

I think something like the Numark orbit and Mixvibes Cross
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S7bjN8pyUSs

[RoJeC]

A setup like Wazza mentions is a solution that is feasible. If only as a reference for what it would bring and to see if there is a gap between the needs and options.

Cross has 3 versions. Cross Free, Cross DJ and Cross (Full/DVS).
All version play audio and video.
- Cross Free: no MIDI, so can only be controlled with mouse/keyboard. Keyboard mappings can be modified/added. Only 3 effects.
Only 1 output channel (main out, no preview)

- Cross DJ: + MIDI (fully mappable). upto 8 MIDI devices can be used (controllers, mixers, midi-keyboard, etc) + preview + total 14 effects.

- Cross: + HID control for Pioneers + No watermark in video + video samplers + Timecode use.

An important issue is how your daughter loads the tracks. Digital files are mostly used and can fully be controlled. Also external audio sources can be used (analogue inputs). The external audio does not allow for pitch/BPM/key control; FX can be applied.

The mentioned controller might well function by it being wireless (quick price check: appx € 120).

An issue to still cover later is the hardware setup. Good thing is that Cross supports all MIDI and all soundcards, but still it would have to be setup properly.

The Cross Free version you can download and try for unlimited period.
The Cross Demo has a limited period to try, but offers most functions.

Trying these might give some more info on finding a good solution.

[ltstangel]

Thank you so much, again for your time, insight & ideas. I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm a little lost with the suggestions and fear I may have missed the boat a little in describing my daughter and trying to convey her interests, capabilities and what I'm looking for/needing. Although this will be a bit lengthy, please bare with me as I attempt to offer some clarity. I apologize in advance for any duplication of info I've provided previously. Christi is 30 and in addition to being blind she also has autism and a moderate developmental delay. She is also physically involved and has a trach, uses a vent at night, and doesn't have much mobility. She has been housebound for the past 3 years. She loves people, telling jokes, and all kinds of music from opera, to gospel, to kids, and anything with a loud beat. I've been on a mission for some time to find something that would provide stimulation, a little challenge, and that would hold her attention for more than 2 minutes.( After 3 years stuck in the house, she's pretty bored with all of her toys, games, etc.) She loves and does very well with knobs, buttons, etc. Has a great memory and learns placement and cause &effects quickly. (She's a smart cookie and doesn't miss a beat.) When we're on the computer together, I use a mouse to place the cursor in the appropriate area and then she makes/confirms the selection by clicking on her secondary trackball mouse. For more independence, I start a playlist of some kind, place the cursor on the Next Song icon, and then she clicks the mouse at her leisure to change the selection. She's always having me change the speed of music/videos she listens to on the computer...ranging from fast like chipmunks or slow like...well, a turtle. She also likes me to change the pitch, speed, and type of voice (robot, whisper, adult, child) on the screen reading programs we use on the computer. (These are programs that read out loud whatever is typed or on the screen.) The graphic equalizer we use on the computer, has presets for Jazz, Live, Concert Hall, Rock, etc. that we change often. This would be another neat component of this "device" we looking for, but that's probably pushing it. Anyway, my "mission" began around Christmas when I was racking my brain to come up with just the right gift. I thought about how neat it would be if I could find something that had buttons, dials, etc, that would allow her to interact with/control different aspects of her music and videos by herself, rather than being dependent on someone else to do it for her. She has a couple of different kinds of speakers/amplifiers and set of headphones with a sub-woofer in them that we connect to various devices via RCA or headphone jacks. We also hook one of these up to her 8x8 sub-woofer so she can feel the vibration/air blowing out of the hole at the same time. She's constantly adjusting the volumes to try and get a different effect/sound. The equipment/device that I'm looking for would be for personal casual use at home just for fun not for recording purposes or actual DJing. If I understand what a mixer does....that it combines music from 2 different sources...this is probably not something she would be interested in doing. She plays around on a full size Casio keyboard sometimes, but only uses the demo buttons/songs and the "One-key play" where it plays a whole prerecorded song with her just hitting one key. The accuracy of the rhythm with which she plays the songs is pretty amazing. I don't think she'd be interested in a synthesizer as she's not into creating music, just making it sound different. Also, although a sound fx box? might have some components she might enjoy, I'm afraid she's become bored with it pretty quickly by itself. She also likes to use a microphone on occasion to sing with or talk over what's playing...and being the announcer with her favorite game of Name That Tune! As far as cost, it's probably not feasible, but I'd like to keep it around $100 if at all possible. I hope this additional information been helpful and not muddy'd the water with respect to our need. Please feel free to ask about anything I may have overlooked. I'm also willing to correspond /chat privately if it will be helpful. A sincere THANK YOU for your help!

[Stormcaller]

I might be able to help build a controller here.

How blind are we talking? Totally blind or legally blind? And If the latter, what sort of things can she see? (Light from dark, high contrasting colours etc). If the former I could come up with for ideas on something more tactile.

Is she better at turning dials or pushing sliders up and down? Would pedals be a helpful option too?

[ltstangel]

Stormcaller, Christi is totally blind...no light/dark or shadows. She likes and manipulates dials, buttons the best. She can do sliders, but pushes it all the way up or all the way down. I haven't found a way to demonstrate in a way she would understand or fix a slider so that it stops in intervals yet. Hope this helps. Thanks!

[ltstangel]

Forgot to mention that foot pedals are a no go. She'd kick them across the room. lol

[Stormcaller]

Ok, here's another thought. Various companies sell cheap DJ controllers aimed at parents to buy their kids who want to learn to DJ, but they normally end up in thrift shops and pawn shops when the kid realises that they won't cut it in a nightclub, however, they usually come with a "lite" version of some DJ software. Since you have no intention of going pro and need something really cheap, this might be everything you need.

I had a DJ-tech Mix101 that I was using only for the crossfader to supplement my setup years ago. I sold it last year for a few pounds and if I didn't I would have immediately sent it to you.

Have a look at your local places like that, or ebay in your area, and see if you can find something for less than 20 or 30 bucks, run it by us, and we can tell you more about it. If you stumble upon something reasonably OK like a Numark Mixtrack Pro for less than 50 (it does happen) then snag it.

In the meantime I will keep an eye out for one and can replace all the sliding faders with twisty knobs for you.

If you get a controller, it doesn't come with software and you need it mapping, come back to us and/or PM me either here or on the DJTT forums.