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April 15th, 2013 News & Opinion

Musikmesse 2013: Numark iDJ Flex Controller

by Phil Morse
Numark iDJ Flex

The Numark iDJ Flex adds iPad options to the mix, meaning it can work with iPad software or with PC/Mac DJ software as required.

iPad controllers were everywhere at Musikmesse 2013, and Numark slipped a new one under the radar, showing the Numark iDJ Flex for the first time.

“Flex” stands for “flexible”, and this controller is designed to work with both iPad and PC/Mac DJ software. They were demoing it with Algoriddim’s djay software, but it’s not clear which PC/Mac software – if any – it will ship with.

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April 14th, 2013 News & Opinion

Musikmesse 2013: Numark Orbit Demo

by Phil Morse
Orbit DJ

The Numark Orbit wireless Midi controller now comes with Orbit DJ software, so you can play with your music using the controller right out of the box.

Announced at the NAMM show but still forthcoming, the Numark Orbit is a technologically neat little product. But being a box of coloured buttons connected via Midi wirelessly to DJ or music software, I think it’s fair to say that a lot of people who like the look of it at the same time have less of an idea of how they might use it than Numark would ideally like.

Maybe that’s why Numark has added software to the unit now. This helps the company to show the Numark Orbit off, but also ought to give people ideas about how to map it. So in this video, Numark’s Chris Roman dials some tunes up and shows off what the unit can do.

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April 10th, 2013 News & Opinion

Musikmesse 2013: Numark Mixtrack Edge

by Phil Morse
Numark Mixtrack Edge

The Numark Mixtrack Edge breaks new ground at the portable consumer end of the DJ market, and is surprisingly fun to use.

I got my hands on the Numark Mixtrack Edge today, a DJ controller in a form factor nobody else has attempted yet – that, basically, of the iPad. (Indeed, with its built in case, this looks a lot like the iPad with Smartcase attached.)

I confirmed that the unit uses 1/8″ jacks for its headphones and master outs, and has a micro USB to connect to a laptop (wouldn’t it be great for it to connect to an iPad? Surely that’s coming…), and was working with Virtual DJ on the Numark booth.

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April 10th, 2013 News & Opinion

Musikmesse 2013: Numark Mixtrack Quad

by Phil Morse
Numark Mixtrack Quad

The new Numark Mixtrack Quad has a bit more going on than just two extra channels, as we find out in this exclusive video walkthrough from Musikmesse 2013.

Having exclusively brought you the news of the new Mixtrack Quad at the weekend, we’ve now tracked one down here at Musikmesse 2013, and have a video talking you though this new controller from Numark.

In a nutshell it’s a four-deck version of the Mixtrack Pro 2, with Virtual DJ LE in the box instead of Serato DJ Intro – but there’s a little more to it than that, as you’ll see.

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April 8th, 2013 News & Opinion

Musikmesse 2013: Numark Mixtrack Edge Previewed

by Phil Morse

The iPad-sized Mixtrack Edge is potentially going to find its own niche, because nobody has made a controller with a built-in audio interface in this form factor before.

The size of an iPad or a QuNeo, with a built-in case, built-in audio interface and all the controls you need for two-deck DJing, the new Numark Mixtrack Edge looks set to carve out its own niche at the ultra-portable end of the DJ market.

Announced in time for this week’s Musikmesse show (from where we’ll bring you a closer critical appraisal of the unit) the USB-powered Mixtrack Edge comes with Virtual DJ LE and Algoriddim’s djay LE in the box, has a built-in protective case, a brushed aluminium control surface, metal platters, and backlit buttons.

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April 7th, 2013 News & Opinion

Musikmesse 2013: Numark Mixtrack Quad DJ Controller Previewed

by Phil Morse
Mixtrack Quad

The Numark Mixtrack Quad is a four-channel take on the Mixtrack Pro 2. Numark claims better LED feedback and build quality, although the unit loses Serato DJ Intro as an option, going instead with Virtual DJ LE.

Numark will announce the Mixtrack Quad – a full four-channel version of its Mixtrack Pro 2 controller – at the Musikmesse show this week, we can reveal in our second exclusive Numark story today. The Mixtrack Quad will ship with a four-deck version of Virtual DJ LE, but will also be compatible with Traktor, djay and MixVibes via built-in or downloadable mappings.

As well as the option to simultaneously control four software channels, the unit offers “a stunning array of colours on its platters and pads”, according to Numark, including user-definable colours. The company also says that the Mixtrack Quad will feature a higher grade of components that the Mixtrack Pro 2, resulting in its build quality approaching that of higher-end DJ devices.

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April 7th, 2013 News & Opinion

Musikmesse 2013: Numark CDMix Bluetooth Previewed

by Phil Morse
Numark CDMix Bluetooth

To the age-old dual CD/MP3 player, Numark has added a new twist… Bluetooth streaming audio.

Musikmesse, which starts this week in Frankfurt, Germany, is the biggest music show in the world. All the DJ gear manufacturers will no doubt have announcements to make, and getting the ball rolling this year is Numark, which we can exclusively reveal is launching a dual CD/MP3 player with a twist – the CDMix Bluetooth.

Now, while our core readership of laptop DJs won’t be anything more than curious about this (they’ll be more interested in the Mixtrack Quad, which we can also exclusively reveal today), believe me there are millions of DJs all over the world heavily invested in DJing with CDs. I’m talking here especially about the mobile guys, the wedding DJs – working people whose DJing lives and livelihoods rely on CD units very much like this one.

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March 23rd, 2013 Training

Controller Clinic #22: Can I Use A Numark M101USB Mixer With My Kontrol X1?

by Phil Morse
Numark M101USB

The Numark M101USB is a traditional two-channel mixer, but the USB means you can also run two digital sources through it.

Digital DJ Tips reader Brad writes: “I’ve been in the market for a new set up to replace my current budget kit (Mixtrack). I stumbled upon this Numark M101USB two-channel mixer for cheap!

Can I use this mixer in combination with the Traktor Kontrol X1 (as I have no use for jogs) for a better yet cheaper alternative to my Mixtrack? Does USB mean that it can map to Traktor? And will I need a sound card?”

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February 17th, 2013 Training

Controller Clinic #19: Mixtrack Pro Vs Mixtrack Pro 2

by Phil Morse
Mixtrack Pro II

The Mixtrack Pro 2: Those performance pads look nice, but in reality don’t offer a massive amount of extra functionality over the original model, so if money’s tight, we can still recommend Mixtrack Pro.

Digital DJ Tips reader Rhowell writes: “I’ve been following your free digital DJ course for a time now, and I thought now it’s time to buy a controller and start for real. I’m on a very tight budget, and was looking for something decent for a low price.

“I’ve read your review on the Numark Mixtrack Pro, and was considering to buy that one, but now that the Numark Mixtrack Pro 2 is out, I’m not really sure what to do any more. I was wondering what you will recommend me doing, and if the Mixtrack Pro would be a decent enough controller to show up at a small gig with.”

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January 24th, 2013 News & Opinion

NAMM 2013: Numark iDJ Live II Video Talkthrough

by Phil Morse

We grabbed a video talkthrough from Numark’s product guy Eric, looking “in the flesh” at the features of the new Numark iDJ Live II.

While unashamedly a budget product, this adds dual-action jogs (scratch and nudge) which are also illuminated – something unusual at this price point.

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January 24th, 2013 News & Opinion

NAMM 2013: Numark Mixtrack Pro II Video Talkthrough

by Phil Morse

So here’s our video of the Numark Mixtrack Pro II from the floor of the NAMM Show 2013, with the unit explained by one of Numark’s product guys, Eric. We’ve got lots of close-ups so you can get a better feel for the quality and so on. (Update: Read our full Numark Mixtrack Pro 2 review).

We liked it – it’s appreciably better looking, the pads especially feel nice. It’s got an almost Apple-esque feel with the bevelled edges, and it’s certainly a lot more attractive that its predecessor, the rather boxy Mixtrack Pro.

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January 23rd, 2013 News & Opinion

NAMM 2013: Numark NS7 II Serato DJ Controller Video Talkthrough

by Phil Morse

So here it is – a world first video of the new Numark NS7 II, straight from the press preview day at NAMM. (Want a still picture and the details? They’re in our earlier Numark NS7 II Serato DJ Controller Announced piece.)

It is as you’d expect from the pictures, with the notable addition of “capacitive knobs”. That means, as is explained in the piece, that the knobs “know” you’re touching them.

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July 2nd, 2012 Reviews

Review & Video: Numark 4Trak Traktor Controller & Mixer

by Phil Morse
Numark 4Trak review

The Numark 4Trak is a substantial Traktor controller, that comes with its own custom version of the software and a distinctive FX and filter strip that attaches to the back of the unit.

The Numark 4Trak is a big, chunky, semi-portable four-channel Traktor controller and standalone mixer, with a distinctive detachable filter and effects strip along the back edge, that’s tilted towards the user.

Roughly the Traktor equivalent of Numark’s NS6 Serato controller, which is itself roughly the non-motorised platter equivalent of the Numark NS7, the 4Trak is finished to a professional standard, with high quality faders, knobs and jogwheels, and a similarly impressive specification to boot. Let’s take a closer look…

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July 2nd, 2012 News & Opinion

Avid Drops Torq – But Is It End Of The Line?

by Phil Morse
Avid Torq

First introduced in 2007, Avid's Torq hardware has never been upgraded, and looks likely to have now reached the end of the road. But what about the software?

As first reported on Digital DJ Tips, Avid has officially announced it is to drop its Torq DJ software and hardware. All of its consumer electronics operations including Torq are to be sold on to inMusic, the parent company of Numark, who get “M-Audio brand keyboards, controllers, interfaces, speakers and digital DJ equipment and other product lines”.

That, however, raised the intriguing question of whether Torq software will continue to be developed.

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June 29th, 2012 Reviews

Review & Video: Numark NPM5 Studio Monitor System

by Phil Morse
Numark NPM5s

The Numark NPM5s: A low-priced, complete monitoring system for DJs - but is the sound quality up to scratch?

A couple of readers have asked if we can look at the Numark NPM5 studio monitor system, and Numark has kindly provided us a review pair of these entry-level powered DJ monitors.

We weren’t expecting audiophile quality at this price, but we were interested to see what is possible when you’re spending under US$100 for a pair of speakers, complete with built-in amplifier – and whether ultimately you’d be better off spending a little more.

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April 3rd, 2012 News & Opinion

Video: Numark iDJ Pro Working Demo

by Phil Morse

When we broke new of the first-of-its-kind Numark iDJ Pro back at this year’s NAMM, it was a non-working prototype on display.

A couple of weeks ago at Musikmesse 2012, however, we got to actually see a working version. We made this video to show you what all the fuss is about.

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January 25th, 2012 News & Opinion

NAMM 2012: Our Top 5 Picks Of The Show

by Phil Morse
NAMM 2012

NAMM was chock-a-block with controllers, decks, software, headphones, speakers, mixers and all the rest. Here are the five things that we think deserve special attention this year.

Digital DJ Tips has been closed for the last week. In Europe, that is. The whole office debunked to Los Angeles to set up shop in an Anaheim hotel that hastily became press room, video room, studio and office for a whole week, as we brought you our daily coverage of NAMM 2012.

We’re now back on our side of The Pond, and having had a transatlantic flight to think through all the stuff we saw, filmed, wrote about and played with on the NAMM floor, here are out top five things that we think every DJ needs to know about from NAMM 2012:

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January 19th, 2012 News & Opinion

Exclusive Video: Numark IDJ PRO DJ Controller For iPad

by Phil Morse
Numark iDJ Pro

The Numark iDJ Pro offers full onboard iPad integration, the first DJ controller to do so.

Numark has today announced the first DJ controller to truly integrate the iPad and ditch the laptop entirely: IDJ PRO.

The controller was on show at the Media Preview Day of NAMM 2012, and has most of the usual DJ controller features, but with a great big slot in the middle where the iPad takes centre stage, providing music library, effects control and other features.

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