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TechDJ PyQt5 - Native DJ Application

A lightweight native alternative to the web-based TechDJ panel, built with PyQt5.

Features

✅ Lightweight - Uses ~120-150MB RAM (vs ~400MB for Chrome) ✅ Local Audio Processing - Downloads songs from Flask server and processes locally ✅ Low Latency - Instant response to controls, perfect for live DJing ✅ Full DJ Features:

Dual decks with independent playback
Crossfader mixing
Waveform display
Hot cues (4 per deck)
Speed/pitch control
Volume control per deck
Real-time audio visualization

Installation

Install dependencies:

pip install -r requirements.txt

Note: On Linux, you may also need to install PortAudio:

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get install portaudio19-dev python3-pyqt5

# Fedora
sudo dnf install portaudio-devel python3-qt5

# Arch
sudo pacman -S portaudio python-pyqt5

Usage

Start the Flask server (in one terminal):

python server.py

Launch the PyQt5 DJ app (in another terminal):

python techdj_qt.py

How It Works

Library Management: Fetches song list from Flask server at http://localhost:5000/library.json
Song Download: Downloads MP3 files to local cache (~/.techdj_cache/) on first use
Local Playback: Uses sounddevice for efficient real-time audio processing
Caching: Songs are cached locally for instant loading on subsequent uses

Architecture

┌─────────────────────┐
│  PyQt5 Native App   │  (~150MB RAM)
│                     │
│ • Fetches library   │
│ • Downloads & caches│
│ • Local audio mix   │
│ • Real-time DSP     │
└─────────────────────┘
          │
          │ HTTP (library + downloads)
          ▼
┌─────────────────────┐
│   Flask Server      │
│   (port 5000/5001)  │
│                     │
│ • Serves library    │
│ • Serves MP3 files  │
│ • Handles streaming │
└─────────────────────┘

Memory Comparison

Version	RAM Usage	CPU Usage	Latency
Chrome Web Panel	~400MB	High	~50-100ms
PyQt5 Native	~120-150MB	Low	<10ms

Keyboard Shortcuts

Space: Play/Pause active deck
1-4: Hot cues for Deck A
5-8: Hot cues for Deck B
Q/W: Volume Deck A/B
A/S: Speed Deck A/B

Cache Management

Songs are cached in ~/.techdj_cache/. To clear the cache:

rm -rf ~/.techdj_cache/

Troubleshooting

Audio Issues

If you get audio errors, check your audio devices:

import sounddevice as sd
print(sd.query_devices())

Connection Issues

Make sure the Flask server is running on port 5000:

curl http://localhost:5000/library.json

Comparison with Web Panel

Feature	Web Panel	PyQt5 Native
Memory Usage	~400MB	~150MB
Installation	None (browser)	Requires Python + deps
Mobile Support	Excellent	None
Remote Access	Easy	Requires VPN/SSH
Audio Latency	Higher	Lower
Offline Mode	No	Yes (cached songs)
Battery Impact	Higher	Lower

Future Enhancements

Broadcast to Flask server for web listeners
BPM detection
Auto-sync between decks
Effects (reverb, delay, etc.)
Recording/export
MIDI controller support
Playlist management

License

Same as TechDJ main project

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