Numark busts out iDJ dueling iPod mixer
posted July 21st 2005 4:45PM
Alright mixmasters, turns out that Numark dueling iPod DJ
mixer we peeped back in April is indeed not vaporware. Numark will be announcing tomorrow the iDJ mixing console
for iPod as part of their summer 2005 product lineup — a two-channel mixer that accepts all iPod models with bottom
connectors and breaks out their controls into its dedicated interface. Both channels sport a 3-band EQ and gain
control, and the unit's got dedicated mic and phono/line inputs for bringing in additional signals. It's also rocking
some USB connectivity, enabling it to converse with your portable rig as a music-loading base. What we don't yet know
is the price, but y'know, if you've already shelled out for two iPods it's probably not gonna break the bank either
way.
[Thanks, Albizu]
Update: we're looking at $399.00 retail/$249.00 street on this thing. Not bad, not bad at all.
thank Buddha for you guys, if it wasn't for your small minded intolerant DJ dogma, the more hyper-visionary creative right-brained types, would never be ahead in the game.
LOL! you are all like immature football supporters!
thanks guys!
thumbs up! :-)
hint for today: use more of your brain. Not less of it! :-))))))
Nobody has mentioned this yet as far as I can tell. In addition to no pitch control as far as I know there is no frame accurate start on an iPod either. Numark has been working on the HDCD1 for a couple of years now. It's basiclly one of their Dual CD units with a built in Hard Drive to store your MP3 files. You can still use the dual CD decks just like any other DJ player out there or you can playback from the HD. I don't know why Numark just didn't focus there efforts on getting that to market sooner. You woudn't have to worry about the problem of your collection being split or duplicated on two iPods either.
amen to martin's comment near the beginning....
some strange comments indeed. if so many of you are against new technology what are you doing here in the first place. obviously this product wouldn't be targeted straight at the club, initially it would be more for home use or mobile djs and the like, kids.. until it gets pitch control i can create basically the same level of playability by running my ipod and laptop in to my mixer and going back and forth.
why make such a fuss about it though. it is just a first step in creating a new product. more and more djs are switching to cd mixers and mp3's. vinyl still has its place obviously, but any touring dj will welcome the opportunity to carry less vinyl, djs always like to take their favourite records as carry on luggage to avoid having them stolen (which happens surprisingly often), after september 11 airlines have got a lot stricter on weight and size restrictions for carry on luggage meaning these vinyl collectors just have to chance all their carefully procured records with general baggage.
plus it takes ages to get stuff on vinyl, so while carrying around a bag of your favourite records you would be stupid (as a dj) to not take the option of playing some of the newest songs available including ones made that very day on cd-r.
at the end of the day 97.5% of punters dont know or care what medium they are listening to as long as it is a good track with good sound. i am a bedroom dj with record players and cdjs. i have an ipod but i dont need to use it in this matter although i have used it with two other friends ipods on 4 channel mixer and laptop when on holiday. not to play a set though just to choose songs.
some strange comments indeed. if so many of you are against new technology what are you doing here in the first place. obviously this product wouldn't be targeted straight at the club, initially it would be more for home use or mobile djs and the like, kids.. until it gets pitch control i can create basically the same level of playability by running my ipod and laptop in to my mixer and going back and forth.
why make such a fuss about it though. it is just a first step in creating a new product. more and more djs are switching to cd mixers and mp3's. vinyl still has its place obviously, but any touring dj will welcome the opportunity to carry less vinyl, djs always like to take their favourite records as carry on luggage to avoid having them stolen (which happens surprisingly often), after september 11 airlines have got a lot stricter on weight and size restrictions for carry on luggage meaning these vinyl collectors just have to chance all their carefully procured records with general baggage.
plus it takes ages to get stuff on vinyl, so while carrying around a bag of your favourite records you would be stupid (as a dj) to not take the option of playing some of the newest songs available including ones made that very day on cd-r.
at the end of the day 97.5% of punters dont know or care what medium they are listening to as long as it is a good track with good sound. i am a bedroom dj with record players and cdjs. i have an ipod but i dont need to use it in this matter although i have used it with two other friends ipods on 4 channel mixer and laptop when on holiday. not to play a set though just to choose songs.
what the "new technology" kids don't realize, is that:
- good vinyl sounds better than cds or mp3s
- procuring music (on wax) used to be part of the art
- mixing is integral
"convenience" is allowing us to forget quality of music and part of the magic in being a dj.
i'll rock an ipod walking down the street, but pay to see someone use it in a club?
Is this for suburbanites or yuppies who want to 'play DJ' .... OF COURSE IT IS!!!!!! That is the point! If the only people into DJin were hardcore vinyl collecting DJs, who buy 1200s and a top of the line DJ mixer. The culture would have disappeared 10 years ago. Sorry guys, but there are people who just want to mix at their house party, bbq or a bar for their birthday!!! And that is just fine!! Hopefully they will download their MP3s from sites like Beatport, Dufflebag, etc. and put some $$ into the pockets of musicians and producers. Because VINYL SALES ARE DOWN!!! VINYL DISTRIBUTORS HAVE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS!! And for the couple of thousand of you left in the worlds who are still buying vinyl every week, you'll be $20 a record in 5 years if you don't encourage 12 year-olds to start mixing on anything even this iPOD toy!!!!
Listen. I know there's been some criticism of people who may own two ipods, but with two comes versatility. Check out --
http://ipod.hackaday.com/entry/1234000653030448/
Bring on the stereoscope!
C'mon people, it's obvious that this thing is a toy. We know it, Numark knows it... but it's a damn fine piece of marketing as far as Numark are concerned. Jumping on the back of the iPod hype is a worthwhile exploit for any company. Numark have never made top of the line DJ gear, but they have pushed out some good mid level / mid priced gear fo years so they must be doing something right. This thing can only do them good as a company and build a stronger brand. It caters to their target market, the hobbyist and bedroom rockers.
As for all you vinyl pundits and purists out there... digital is here and it's staying. I've been using Serato Scratch Live on gigs now for over 6 months and it's the most amazing and robust digital - vinyl bridge system out there. There are too many advantages, no lugging massive crates, every track you have at you finger tip and no wearing rare wax.
When the pro DJs and turtablists start not just endorsing, but using it live on their gigs you know it's the bomb.
A-Trak, Jazzy Jeff, AM, MixMaster Mike...
http://www.scratchlive.net
http://www.dj-am.com/DJAM.mov
WOW!
UNBELIEVIEBLE THING!!!
no pitch... i hope the ipod djmixer2 will get!
Hey
I have seen the Numark kit and its amazing, they also have a deal with ipod so the 2nd Gen Mixer will be able to alter the pitch as well.
They are showing this product off at www.plasashow.com which is some sort of disco show for DJ's well worth a look Im gonna go.
You can pre order this item at http://www.easyipod.co.uk its £229.99
as if they couldnt make it use only one ipod? stupid idea.
btw. skm u cute :P
lol
DJ SKOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM
I am reading all of your comments on here and I can kind of see where everyone is coming from. Vinyls are great and they do have good sound. Cds and MP3s are also a great asset to have as well. I come from a town where there are only 4-5 major DJs and none of them have vinyls. They are mostly digitized. At least with this, it would be a great way to distinguish yourself from the rest of the DJs. Also, whatever happened to just goin to some place where there is DJ and just having a good time and not critiquing about their equipment? I respect everyone in the DJ profession and I don't think it should really matter what kind of equipment they have as long as they play well.
Okay... this could be a great present for my nephews.
In elementary school they would be the kings on the campus, I guess. MicroMachines and ActionMan will be forgotten forever !
I hope, that they both have two iPods each. If not...we will see for the next birthdays.
Thanks, Numark :-)
Who the fuck has two ipods? Karl Lagerfeld usually travels with 40 ipods in his luggage, he had somebody who converted all his cds to mp3s...
The idj is a tool for not-djs who cant get enough of expensive ipod accessories. What about a ipod case by Louis Vuitton ($ 250)?
I will keep on playing vinyl...
I have been a DJ for over 20 years. I use the Dell DJ - not the IPOD for mp3s (I don't use portable mp3 players for gigs, because there is no pitch control). Two things....
1. Is there a pitch control for this product?
2. Will Numark or any one else design a dj mixer for other brands of portable mp3 players (Dell)?
In case people did not know, "Mixing" and "Scratching" are two different types of art forms. It takes a lot of skill to do either on any type of medium, specially on Turntables. It also takes a lot of skill to mix on Professional CD Players, but I must admit that it is easier to mix and scratch on Professional CD Players.
EXPENSIVE Technology does not make you a great DJ. I have seen real DJ's ROCK on two RadioShack Turntables and a RadioShack Mixer. So it is not about the equipment, it is about the "Human Talent" behind the equipment. Talent is one thing you can not buy for yourself. You either have it, or you don't.
In my opinion, this Ipod mixer will eventually be a good product. When CD Players with pitch control came out in the early 90's, DJ's that used Technics 1200's used to laugh at them. Now I see people like MIKE JONE's DJ on MTV using Technic's Pro CD Players.
Like Chris Rock once said, "PEOPLE LIKE TO KEEP IT REAL, YEAH, REAL DUMB." I say this because dumb DJ's will keep using the same old ways, and REAL SMART DJ'S will use every piece of technology to out smart the so called "REAL DJ'S".
I just had to take the time to comment on this hot issue. In my opinion my comments should carry some weight, as I am retired club DJ who mastered the art of mixing records and CD's in the 1990's in order to pay thru college and become a Professional Civil Engineer. I
I have a lot of respect for DJ's who can mix and scratch on vinyl. However, I also respect the DJ's that use their brains to bring it to a new level by using technology. Who wants to hear and use the same shit that was done 30 years ago all of the time. Also keep in my mind that the people that invented mixing and scratching did not have the technology that we have today. If they did, then those smart and talented people like Grandmaster Flash and Jam Master Jay would have probably used it to make better music and beat their opponents. Ask any real DJ, and they will tell you, that its all about beating out the competition.
I completely understand where the DJs who are expressing concern over the iDJ are coming from. However, I think the usefullness of this piece of equipment is highly dependant on what genre of music you spin. Personally, I spin mostly modern rock, dance rock, indie, britpop, etc. I really have no use for beatmatching or pitch control, as the music I spin should sound like its original form. I am used to lugging crates of records around just like most of you. I recently have lost my access to a car, so it makes it nearly impossible for me to move the ammount of gear I once was able to. The iDJ makes it possible for me to put everything I need for a night of DJing in one portable flight case, and take it with me on public transportation.
I am using it tonight for the first time, having previously hooked my two iPods up to the mixer via 1/8 to RCAs. I LOVE that it charges my iPods while I am using them. I'll also be picking up the second generation model of the iDJ if/when it comes out.
"I'm a 21st century digital boy, I don't know how to read but I've got alot of toys"
Why hasn't anyone answered the question that concerns all DJz universaly? DOES THIS THING HAVE PITCH CONTROL??????????? If it does not have it then no matter how good the quality of sound is..... doublebeating will always sound the same..
uh oh are those the horses comin!!!!!
Why all the hate toward new technology from those that profess to love it? A pitch controller would be nice but certainly not a deal breaker for your average wedding jock.
Whether you use an IPOD or Laptop anything that cuts down on lugging a crate of CDs or Vinyl around is welcome. As to other people laughing because your a "Digital DJ" I just don't get nor care. It's nearly the year 2006 and I'm in the business to have fun and make money and don't care about the critics. They can continue to be self absorbed about how cool they think they are while I keep booking more shows!!
I agree with the "no pitch control, No use to club (or even home) DJ" have to say it is just a novelty and not worth the money. I have no problem with DJ's who use CDs, the higher end CD Turntable (even Numarks HDX or CDX) offer virtually the same control and feel of real turntables, and superior sound, versatility and quality to low end vinyl turntables.
The only use I could see for this over priced toy is part of a ULPFM (or Pirate) radio station, BUT you can pick up a really cheap CD DJ package (the Ion iCD02-also a toy but not highway robbery) and a ramsey electronics kit FM transmitter.
As a professional DJ myself, I can safely say that the I-DJ is the best piece of DJing equipment I have ever owned. You don' need pitch control when the secret ingredient is love, damnit.