Abstract:
A combined computer media player and computer controller is disclosed. The apparatus includes a main housing with media controls thereon and a processor therein. An input port for connecting a mass storage device to the processor so the processor has access to media files thereon. An optical disc reader located in the housing and connected to the processor so the processor has access to media files thereon. The media files are playable, controllable, mixable and modifiable by the media controls. The apparatus further includes media output ports on the main housing that are connected to the processor to output a media files for listening or viewing. An input port for connecting the apparatus to a computer is included so the apparatus can control software running thereon.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/743,877, filed Mar. 28, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to media players and controllers for controlling other devices, namely, computers and software loaded thereon. In particular, the present invention relates to a combined media player and computer controller devices that can operate in various modes depending on the needs of the user.  
         [0004]     2. Background of the Related Art  
         [0005]     In the prior art, it is well known to play back and control media files, such a audio and video files, using various devices. For example, such media may be played back in an analog fashion where a turntable or VCR is used. However, today, such media files are typically stored and played back in digital form. The disclosure will be addressed in connection with audio files, however, it should be understood that the present invention can be employed to play back video files with the appropriate modifications.  
         [0006]     Digital files are commonly stored on optical media (e.g. CDs); hard drives, RAM and other digital media. Users, particularly disc jockeys have particular needs as to how these files can be managed and played back. Most importantly, disc jockeys need flexibility in how these files can be played back and managed.  
         [0007]     In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a media player and controller than can play back and manage digital files in any form. There is a need for a media device that can access, play and modify (e.g. digitally scratch) digital files stored on optical discs. There is a need for a media device that can access, play and modify (e.g. digitally scratch) digital files stored on mass storage class devices, such as external hard drives, RAM devices and portable media players that can function in a mass storage class device mode. There is a further need for a media device that can access, play and modify (e.g. digitally scratch) digital files stored on a computer connected thereto as well as control software on a computer that controls media thereon.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The apparatus of the present invention provides a new and novel combined media player and computer controller that is more flexible and functional than prior art devices. Moreover, the apparatus the present invention includes the ability to modify the played back signal, such as by mixing, equalization and digital scratching and others.  
         [0009]     First, the apparatus of the present invention can play back optical discs (CDs). A slot is provided for receipt thereof where an internal CD player is provided that can read audio CDs as well as data CDs with encoded files thereon, such as mp3, wma, aac and ogg, for example. The detailed description includes additional details concerning full control and playback of audio read from optical CDs. The large central wheel can be used for control and scratching of the played back signal. A full feature set of controls are discussed in detail in the detailed description.  
         [0010]     Second, a mass storage class device, such as an external hard drive or portable media player, operating in mass storage class mode, can be connected to the apparatus so that the apparatus can gain access to media files stored on the attached mass storage class device. In this case, the apparatus, similar to above, can playback, modify and manage files thereon, including digital scratching thereof, mixing and sound enhancement.  
         [0011]     Still further, the apparatus of the present invention can operate as a controller for another device. For example, the apparatus can operate as a MIDI controller to control software on a computer, such as a PC, via a USB, IEEE-1394 or other interconnection with the appropriate PC drivers. MIDI control data can be sent by these protocols directly to the I/O subsystem of the PC for use by software running thereon. When used in this mode, the apparatus can replace keyboard and mouse actions on the PC for a given software application running thereon. For example, a disc jockey or digital audio workstation (DAW) software application may be running on the PC that plays back, manages and modifies media files. Many of these software applications include transport control and the ability to digitally scratch files available on the computer or on a storage device connected thereto. As a example, the central wheel can be used to digitally scratch a media file that is being controlled by the DAW. Such operation is virtually impossible to carry out effectively with a mouse or keyboard. Also, there may be a desire to control cue location in a given track loaded into a DAW application. The central control wheel of the apparatus of the present invention can be employed to easily move the cue or current time point in the current track. This is an alternative to using a mouse or keyboard which is awkward for this purpose. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is top view thereof;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a front view thereof; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a rear view thereof. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of the combined media player and computer controller of the present invention is generally shown at  10 . The combined media player and computer controller  10  of the present invention includes a housing  12  having a top surface  14 , a front panel  16  and a rear panel  18 . The top surface  14  of the housing  12  generally includes all of the controls for operating the combined media player  10  and the display screen  20 . On the rear panel  18 , the combined media panel includes all of the various input and output connectors to enable the combined media player  10  to be connected to a personal computer and other disc jockey audio and visual devices (not shown). The front panel  16  of the combined media player  10 , best seen in  FIG. 3 , preferably includes a slot-loading optical drive  22  for optical media such as CD or DVD discs.  
         [0018]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , on the top surface  14  of the housing  12  of the combined media player  10  is an LCD display  20 , which displays all the status information and functions related to the operation of the combined media player  10 . For example, CD text (if available), ID3 tag information and effects settings are all shown here.  
         [0019]     Located prominently in roughly the center of the top surface of the housing is a large jog wheel  24 . The jog wheel  24  includes an inner portion  26  and an outer portion  28  that are separately movable from one another. The inner portion  26  of the wheel  24  can be used for scratching, cueing and searching through media tracks. The outer portion  28  of the wheel  24  can be used to apply a temporary pitch bend effect to a selected media track.  
         [0020]     Adjacent to the jog wheel  24  is a play control  30 . The play control  30  invokes the combined media player  10  to start playing a selected media track. Upon activation of the play control  30 , the media track will begin playing from either the cue point or the last point of pause. Activating the play control  30  while the combined media player  10  is playing will restart the media track from the last set cue point, which can be used to create a “stutter” effect.  
         [0021]     Further included is a pause control  32 . The pause control  32  stops a playing media track while in play. Activating the play control  30  following activation of the pause control  32  sets a new cue point. Activating and holding the pause control  32  while using the jog wheel  24  to apply a scratch or stuttering effect to the media track stops the media track at the current position, allowing the disc jockey to capture a loop in or cue point.  
         [0022]     Further included is a cue control  34 . The cue control  34  returns and pauses the media track at the last set cue point. The cue point is the last place in which the combined media player  10  was paused and then the play control  30  was activated. Activating the cue control  34  a second time allows for temporary play of this point. The disc jockey can easily edit the cue point by using the jog wheel  24 . As the disc jockey rotates the jog wheel  24  the media track plays. By stopping the jog wheel  24  and activating the play control  30 , a new cue point is set. The jog wheel  24  is encircled by a ring of LEDs  25  that can light in various patterns depending on the function of the jog wheel  24  and the beat of the media track currently playing.  
         [0023]     Further included is an eject control  36 . Activating the eject control  36  ejects the optical media, if any, currently loaded in the optical drive  22 . If a media track on the optical media is currently being played by the media player, this control  36  has no effect. If the combined media player  10  is currently in USB Master Mode, described further below, activating the eject control  36  allows the disc jockey to safely remove a USB device (not shown) connected to one of the USB ports  92 .  
         [0024]     Further included is a brake adjust knob  38  and a start time adjust knob  40 . These knobs  38 ,  40  are used to adjust the speed that the media track starts play when the play control  30  is activated or the speed that the media track stops when the pause control  32  is activated, respectively.  
         [0025]     Further included is a bleep/reverse switch  42 . The bleep/reverse switch  42  allows the combined media player  10  to play a media track backwards in one of two modes; “bleep” mode and a reverse mode. In “bleep” mode, the media track will play in reverse while the media continues to advance normally. When the disc jockey releases the switch  42 , the media track continues to play where it would have been if the disc jockey had not engaged the switch. In “reverse” mode, the media track plays in true reverse. After the disc jockey release the switch  42  the media track resumes forward play from where the “reverse” mode play ended.  
         [0026]     Further included is a scratch control  44 . The scratch control  44  turns scratch mode on or off, respectively. If scratch mode is on, the scratch control  44  will light up and the inner portion  28  of the jog wheel  24  will allow the disc jockey to apply a scratch-like effect to the media track as if it were a turntable when the inner portion  28  of jog wheel  24  is rotated. If scratch mode is off, the inner portion  28  of the jog wheel  24  functions as a pitch bend when it is rotated.  
         [0027]     Further included is a tap control  46 . Activating the tap control  46  in time with the beat of the media track aids a built in beats per minute (“BPM”) counter detect the proper tempo of the media track. Activating and holding the tap control  46  for approximately two seconds causes the BPM counter to reset and recalculate.  
         [0028]     Further included is an F/X selector switch  48 . This toggle switch  48  is used to choose from a variety of pre-programmed effects to apply to a media track, which are further described further below.  
         [0029]     Further included is an F/X control  50 . Activating the F/X control  50  turns effect mode of the F/X selector switch  48  on or off. If the F/X control  50  is illuminated, effects mode is on.  
         [0030]     Further included is a wet/dry fader control  52 . The wet/dry fader control  52  adjusts how much of an effect is mixed into the final mix of the media track that is routed through the outputs. The 0% or “dry” side of the fader control allows less of the effected media track and more of the original media track, while the 100% or “wet” side of the fader control adds more of the effected media track and less of the original media track to the final mix.  
         [0031]     Working in conjunction with the F/X control  50  and F/X selector switch  48  is a parameter knob  54 . The parameter knob  54  has multiple effects depending upon the settings of the F/X selector switch  48  and F/X control  50 . By default, turning the parameter knob  54  adjusts a parameter of the effect currently selected with the F/X selector switch  48 . The F/X selector switch  48  is used to choose a desired effect. The F/X control  50  activates and deactivates the F/X selector switch  48 . The wet/dry fader control  52  is used to adjust the effect presence in the mix. Most effects can by synched to a ratio of the BPM counter by holding down the parameter knob  54  while turning it, or controlled manually by turning the parameter knob  54  without holding it down.  
         [0032]     There are six special effects available. The first effect is an isolation (band pass) filter that lets you play only a specific frequency of the music. Rotation of the parameter knob  54  moves the filter frequency. Pressing down on the parameter knob  54  while turning it performs a coarse adjustment to the frequency. Just turning the parameter knob  54  without holding it down performs a fine adjustment of the filter frequency.  
         [0033]     The second special effect is an echo, which creates a reverb effect. The rate of the echo can be adjusted with the parameter knob  54 . Holding down the parameter knob  54  while turning will allow you to synch the effect to a ratio of the BPM counter.  
         [0034]     The third special effect is a chop, which simulates turning a mute button on and off in time with the music. The speed of the effect is controlled by turning the parameter knob  54  and can also be synched to a ratio of the BPM counter by pressing down on the parameter knob  54  while turning it.  
         [0035]     The fourth special effect is a pan, which alternates playing the right then left speaker channel based on either the tempo of the BPM counter or the speed selected manually. To set the rate, turn the parameter knob  54 . Synchronizing the speed of the effect to a ratio of the BPM counter can be accomplished by pressing down on the parameter knob  54  while turning it.  
         [0036]     The fifth special effect is a phaser, which applies a sweeping phase shifter effect to the media track. It is similar to the flanger effect, described below, except that the phaser is enharmonic, and has a more “swooshing” sound. The speed of the effect is controlled turning by the parameter knob  54  and can also be synched to a ratio of the BPM counter by pressing down on the knob  54  while turning it.  
         [0037]     The sixth special effect is a flanger, which causes a sweeping effect with a more pronounced harmonic sound than the phaser, reminiscent of a jet engine passing overhead. The speed of the effect is controlled turning by the parameter knob  54  and can also be synched to a ratio of the BPM counter by pressing down on the knob  54  while turning it. Other settings can be adjusted by holding down an appropriate button while turning the parameter knob  54 .  
         [0038]     Further included is a time control  56 . The time control  56  toggles the display  20  to show elapsed time, time remaining on the current media track, or time remaining of the entire play order.  
         [0039]     Further included is a program control  58 . The program control  58  is used to specify the play order or “program” of the current media loaded in the optical drive  22 . Activating the program control  58  enters program mode. The disc jockey can then manipulate a track selection knob  60  to choose the first song for the program. The program control  58  is activated again to store that media. These steps are repeated in the same manner to assemble a complete program. Activating the play control  30  begins playing the selected media tracks, in the order you chosen for the program. Activating and holding the program control  58  while turning the parameter knob  54  invokes a list of menu options.  
         [0040]     The first option is a Next Track Fade Time option that includes five user-selectable settings (On, Off, 1s, 2s, 3s). This option allows the disc jockey to automatically fade from one media track to the next. After turning this option on, the disc jockey is prompted to enter the desired fade time from about 1 to 3 seconds using the parameter select knob  54 .  
         [0041]     The second option is a Scratch Delay option, which activates a slight or momentary delay to applying the scratch effect to the media track when releasing the jog wheel  24  in scratch mode.  
         [0042]     The third option is a Remote Start option, which enables the combined media player  10  to be started by another device using a remote start cable (not shown).  
         [0043]     The fourth option is a Power-On Play option, which causes the optical disc player  22  to begin playing as soon as the power is turned on to the combined media player  10 .  
         [0044]     The fifth option is a Memo All Clear option, which clears all stored cue points and loop point information previously stored or set.  
         [0045]     The sixth option is a Sleep Mode, which, when engaged, puts the combined media player  10  into a “sleep” state after approximately a few minutes of inactivity.  
         [0046]     The seventh option is a Preset Clear, which resets all global parameters to their default settings.  
         [0047]     The firmware version number may also be displayed by pressing the parameter knob  54  while simultaneously activating and holding the program control  58  as an eight option.  
         [0048]     The ninth option is a Power-On Demo, which, when this option is on, the combined media player operates in a “demo mode” where the jog wheel LEDs  25  illuminate in a pattern as soon as the unit is powered on.  
         [0049]     Further included is a source control  62 . The source for media tracks may be selected by activating and holding source control  60  while simultaneously turning the parameter knob  54  to choose an input source. In particular, the optical disc drive  22 , an optional device connected to the USB ports  92 , or the combined media player  10  can be put in a computer controller mode, described further below. However, the source control  62  does not function if the combined media player  10  is currently playing a media track.  
         [0050]     Further included is a recall/restore control  64 . Activating and holding the recall/restore control  64  for about two seconds allow cue points to be stored for media tracks of a particular optical disc. More than one cue set can be stored per optical disc. Cue sets are numbered sequentially per optical disc. When an optical disc with stored cue points is inserted, the display will indicate that there are preset “Cue Points Available”. To recall stored cue points, the disc jockey activates the recall/restore control  64 . If more than one set of cue points has been saved for a particular optical disc, the disc jockey may use the parameter knob  54  to cycle through the stored cue sets and select the desired cue set.  
         [0051]     Further included is a back control  66 . When navigating an optical disc loaded in the optical disc drive  22  or a storage device connected to one of the USB ports  92  that include a file system organized with folders, the back control  66  enables the disc jockey to navigate back and up to the previous level (or folder).  
         [0052]     Further included is a play mode control  68 . The play mode control  68  sets one of four playback modes. Single mode plays the selected media track, then pauses and cues the next track. Single/Replay mode repeats the current song until manually stopped. Random mode plays all media tracks on an optical disc loaded in the optical disc drive  22  in a random order. Continuous play mode plays all songs on an optical disc loaded in the optical disc drive  22  in order then repeats play from the beginning.  
         [0053]     Further included is a track select knob  60 . The track select knob  60  is used to skip from media track to media track and for folder navigation and as an “enter” button.  
         [0054]     Further included is a shift control  70 . The shift control  70  is used with the looping features of the combined media player  10 , described further below. The shift control  70  allows the disc jockey to cut a loop in half or double it. If the smart loop feature is on, a minimum length of one beat is required, however.  
         [0055]     A set of loop controls is further included. In particular, a loop in control  72 , a loop out control  74  and a reloop control  76  is provided. These buttons  72 ,  74 ,  76  are used to define the beginning and ending loop points (Loop In and Loop Out) or to replay or restart a previously defined loop (Reloop).  
         [0056]     By default, a “loop in” point is automatically set at the beginning of the media track. To define a new “loop in” point within a media track, activate the loop in control  72  when the media track reaches the desired point. An indicator in the loop in control  72  will light, indicating a new “loop in” point has been set. An indicator in the reloop control  76  will also illuminate, indicating that the disc jockey may also activate it to immediately go back to the “loop in” point. A loop in point may be changed by activating the loop in control  72  again.  
         [0057]     Activating the loop out control  74  for first time while a media track is playing, causes an indicator in the loop out control  74  to blink and the combined media player  10  to play the media track in a seamless loop, starting from the “loop in” point and ending at the “loop out” point. To release, or end the loop, the loop out control  74  may be activated a second time. Play resumes forward when the media track passes the previously set loop out point. The indicator in the loop out control  74  remains continuously lit, indicating that the loop is now in memory for re-looping purposes.  
         [0058]     Activating the reloop control  76  repeats play or “stutters” (if repeatedly tapped) from the loop in point. If a loop has previously been set, it plays and repeats that loop, until the loop is released by activating the loop out control  74 .  
         [0059]     Further included are a set of three trigger buttons  78 . These buttons  78  are used for three user-selectable modes, chosen by holding the record button  80  and turning the parameter knob  54 . Additionally, the record button  80  is used in conjunction with the three assignable trigger buttons to record samples and set hot start points. By pressing the mode button  82 , the desired mode for the three trigger buttons  78  can also be changed. In particular, the modes may be cycled between LOOP-2, HOT CUE and SAMPLES.  
         [0060]     In LOOP-2 mode the three trigger buttons  78  act as another set of loop buttons that behave in the same way as the loop controls described previously above. This gives the disc jockey the ability to set two completely separate sets of loop points.  
         [0061]     In HOT CUE mode, up to three “hot cue points” may be set, one for each trigger button  78 , respectively. These are similar to regular cue points, except that when the trigger buttons  78  are pressed, the combined media player  10  instantly jumps to the defined hot cue point and begins play.  
         [0062]     To define a hot cue point, activate the record button  80  to arm recording, then press the desired trigger button  78 . The combined media player  10  records the media track from that point onward and assigns it to a memory buffer connected that that specific trigger button  78 . To end recording and instantly start playing from the hot cue point, the disc jockey merely presses the same trigger button  78  again.  
         [0063]     In SAMPLE mode, an audio sample up to about five seconds long may be recorded on each of the three trigger buttons  78 .  
         [0064]     To record a sample, press and release record button  80  to arm recording and then press one of the three trigger buttons  78 . The combined media player  10  then begins recording until either the selected trigger button  78  is pressed again to stop recording or the buffer runs out of sample space.  
         [0065]     To play back the sample, the appropriate trigger button  78  is pressed. Buttons  78  with samples assigned to them have a lit indicator, whereas with unassigned trigger buttons  78  the indicators while remain dark.  
         [0066]     There are also three playback options you can choose for each of the three sample trigger buttons  78 . To choose a mode, the disc jockey presses and holds the record button  80  and the desired trigger button  78 , while simultaneously turning the parameter knob  54  to select the desired option. To modify the selected option, the disc jockey presses down and releases the parameter knob  54  then turns the parameter knob  54  to the desired setting. Pressing down on the parameter knob  54  again, locks in that option choice.  
         [0067]     The first sample option is Sample Insert, which determines whether the sample will override the currently playing media track source or if it will be mixed together with the currently playing media track source. With the Sample Insert option ‘On’, the sample will override the playing media track, and while ‘Off’, the sample will be mixed in with the playing media track.  
         [0068]     The second option is Sample Reverse, which when on, plays the sample in reverse.  
         [0069]     The third option is Mix Value, which includes setting of 0-100. This setting controls the volume of the sample when played back.  
         [0070]     Further includes is a search control  84 . When engaged, the combined media player  10  is placed in search mode, which allows the inner portion  28  of the jog wheel  24  be used to quickly scan through the current track. If the jog wheel  24  is not touched for about ten seconds, search mode will automatically exit. Search speed can be adjusted by activating and holding the search control  84  and turning the parameter knob  54 .  
         [0071]     Further included is a pitch fader  86 , which is used to control the speed of the media track. Moving the pitch fader  86  towards the “+” speeds the tempo of the media track up, while moving towards the “−” slows it down. The percentage of pitch adjustment is shown on the display  20 .  
         [0072]     Further included is a pitch/keylock button  88 . The pitch/keylock button  88  controls the range of the pitch fader  86  as well as enabling and disabling key lock mode. Pressing and releasing the pitch/keylock button  88  to cycles through pitch fader  86  settings of +/−6%, 12%, 25% and 100%. The pitch fader  86  may be disabled by pressing the pitch/keylock button  88  again after selecting 100%, which effectively sets it to 0%. To engage key lock mode, the pitch/keylock button  88  is held for about two seconds. This feature allows the speed of the media track to be changed without changing the key. The key of the media track locks to whatever position the pitch fader  86  was set at when key lock was engaged. The key of a media track may be manually changed by pressing and holding holding the pitch/keylock button  88  while turning the parameter knob  54 .  
         [0073]     Further included is a pair of pitch bend buttons  90 , which allows brief adjustments to the speed of the media track, faster or slower, for as long as the up or down button  90  is held, respectively. The pitch bend buttons  90  are useful for quick speed adjustments to help match the beats of two media tracks that might be at the same tempo but have beats that hit at slightly different times.  
         [0074]     Turning now to the rear panel  18  of the combined media player  10  shown in  FIG. 4 , a USB input port  92  is further included. The USB input port  92  permits USB storage devices (not shown) to be connected to the combined media player  10  to read and play back additionally media files stored on these optional USB storage devices. These optional devices could be external hard disc drives, additional removable media drives, and portable/personal media playing devices.  
         [0075]     Further included is a USB slave port  94 , which allows the combined media player to be connected to a personal computer (not shown). The combined media player  10  can be used as a USB controller device using the USB Human Interface Device protocol. However, this port could also be configured as a standard serial port and implement the MIDI protocol also.  
         [0076]     Further included is an output port  96 . The output port  96  is preferable a pair of RCA jack to permit the combined media player  10  to be connected to a speaker system or to any device that is designed to accept an RCA line level connection.  
         [0077]     Further included is a digital output port  98 . The digital output port  98  is preferably also an RCA type connector to allow a digital signal to be sent to a device designed to accept a S/PDIF (Sony/Phillips Digital Interface Format) signal. The digital output port  98  may also be connected to a karaoke decoder to reproduce the graphics from CD+G compatible discs.  
         [0078]     Further included is a fader start connector  100 . This connector  100  is used to plug into a fader-start compatible mixer or remote switch. Every time the crossfader on a fader start compatible mixer is moved to the side that the combined media player  10  is on, it will start playing. When the fader is moved away from that side, the combined media player  10  stops playing. Foot switches can also be attached to this connector  100  for creative mixing techniques. There are two types of footswitches that will work with the combined media player  10 . The first is a typical on/off pushbutton switch and is generally used for switching channels on a guitar amplifier. The second type is a momentary footswitch commonly used as a keyboard sustain pedal.  
         [0079]     Further included is a relay connector  102 , which allows two compatible media players  10  to alternate play from one unit to the other and back as the media tracks end on each respective player  10 . Relay mode may be turned on and off by holding the mode button  68  and turning the parameter knob  54  to the desired setting.  
         [0080]     The rear panel  18  also includes a standard power plug connector  104  and a power button  106  to turn the combined media player  10  on and off.  
         [0081]     It should be understood that the various connectors, knobs, buttons and sliders are indicated. However, these are preferred configurations and other configurations are contemplated by the present invention. For example, USB connections are preferred but it is possible to employ IEEE-1394 (also known as Firewire or iLink) connections. Similarly, RCA connectors are preferred, however, optical connections, for example, may be used. While sliders are preferred for fading, such operation can be carried out by knobs.  
         [0082]     All of the controls are centrally operated by a central internal microprocessor. The microprocessor resides in the housing  12  and handles processing of media files. The controls on the top surface  14  of the housing of the combined media player  10  are electrically interconnected to the microprocessor. Similarly, the microprocessor is electrically connected to and controls the internal optical drive  22 . A media storage device or devices (if multiple ones are connected) are also electrically interconnected to the microprocessor through the USB ports  92  or other interconnections provided for on the rear panel  18  of the housing  12 .  
         [0083]     Therefore, it can be seen that the present invention provides a unique solution to the problem of providing a combined media player and computer controller for a disc jockey that is easy to operate by a disc jockey and includes many of the controls and features that disc jockeys have become accustomed to and rely upon when performing.  
         [0084]     It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be within the scope of the present invention except as limited by the scope of the appended claims.