Personality vs. Technology by Mike Foxx

Thoughts about the appropriate place of tools (toys) and temperamentLike most DJs, I love having cool stuff. Lots of it. Every time I get a little extra cash, I think of a thousand more things I’d like to have. But I’ve come to realize that having cool gear doesn’t get you more work. Cool toys are great, but it’s the PERSONALITY of the jock that seals the deal. After all, there is no better sales tool than someone seeing your work at a gig. Think of it this way: We’ve all seen the dorky guy who can afford the real nice car, but has no clue on how to drive it.
I see so many DJ websites where DJs apparently cannot pass up the opportunity to talk about their gear! I’ve even seen sites that show pictures of their spouse, their kids…and the trailer they use to haul their gear!
But does all this matter to a potential customer?
Let me explain it this way. My 9 to 5 is as a commercial copywriter. Clients pay me to write and produce radio commercials that will get customers into their store. This is done not by appealing to the client, but by sticking to information that will attract the customer.
So, how does the cool stuff you choose affect the amount of jobs you get?

Props
To cut to the chase…I don’t like ‘em! Never did. I’ve had more brides who were glad to hear that I don’t use them. I’ve had few occasions where I was asked to bring blow-up props. They were a big hit with the four-year olds, and I ended up bringing most of them home. I used the same bunch of props for three years. In fact, I think I still have some of them in the garage somewhere. In my experience, a real “party” crowd doesn’t need props to have a good time. (Just a little alcohol.) A quiet and dull crowd will avoid them, and make you regret taking two hours to blow them all up.
Lights
Every time I talk to potential customers (typically brides), they ask if I bring a light show. I have lights. I bring them to every job, except for daytime or outdoor gigs.
I don’t charge extra for using lights; I feel its part of the whole package.
I have enough lights to add a little sparkle, create a little distraction, and make for good pictures. I like my lights because they are simple, easy to load, and light enough to carry. They’re small enough to fit into any space, but big enough to fill almost any hall.
I see pictures on some websites of thousands of dollars in lights, often mounted on huge trusses. They require an extra hour to set up, and most of them wouldn’t fit into HALF of the places I play. I think the only people they are really trying to impress are OTHER disc jockeys.
Besides, most guests would rather act crazy when no one can see them. Light them up with 10,000 watts of power, and they tend crawl into a shell.

Sound
Some websites take the time to list every piece of equipment the DJ owns. Some even go to the trouble to show you pictures, and give the model numbers.
Once again, who are they trying to impress?
In all my years, no bride has ever asked me what kind of CD players I use. No one has ever asked me how many watts of power I can “put out.” And they certainly never made their decision based upon what brand I use, or whether I prefer the “1300 Series or the new “1400 Series!”
As for me, I have equipment that I like to work with. I went to a lot of trouble to pick each item, based upon my tastes, and my budget. I take great care of it, maintain it regularly, it sounds great and works just fine.

Computers
I am still lugging around my CDs. Yes, I’ve decided that my next cool item to buy will be some sort of computer or MP3 player. But I am not sold on “digital” just yet. Most technology is not truly dependable until it’s been tried and tested for LONG time. Think of how often they come out with new video game systems. As for dependability, look at it this way. If computers were dependable ALL the time, we wouldn’t need Computer Guys to fix them all the time. I try to see it from the customer’s point of view. They see a DJ using only a laptop or a couple of iPods® and think, “Heck, I coulda done that!” I feel that if a customer is paying you big bucks, they want to see gear on the table. Then, at least, they can feel that you’ve earned your pay, just by loading it in!
Personally, I still like CDs. I use them as inspiration. When I am stuck for a song to play next, I can look at all the titles on the edge of the jewel cases, and it sparks an idea. Having everything in the computer requires me to have a VERY good memory, which I don’t. (What was I just talking about?)
In the end, a great personality with average gear is still more entertaining than someone with no talent and the best equipment that money can buy. The only thing that really matters to a potential customer is…Can you do the job, have some fun, and make people dance? (And how much it’s gonna cost, of course!)
They need to feel comfortable and confident in YOU, not your gear!
(And in case you care, I’ve always preferred the 1300 SERIES)

Mike Foxx has been in the music business since 1981, beginning his career at WZZO radio (Z-95) in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. He is now a production manager and also remains on the air, besides maintaining a thriving mobile DJ business. After 25 years, he feels like he “seen it all” and “done it all” but somehow still manages to entertain himself as much as the listeners and party guests!

 

QSC Unveils New GX Series

QSC UNVEILS NEW GX SERIES Offering performance, reliability, and an attractive price,
new, no-nonsense amplifiers are now shippingCOSTA MESA, CA-The new versatile GX Series amplifiers are taking aim at the needs of musicians, DJs, and performers of all description. Consisting of two professional models outfitted with feature sets and power ratings designed to meet the requirements of popular passive loudspeakers, the GX Series is as reliable as the day is long and is marked by affordable prices that go easy on virtually any budget.

At eight ohms, the GX3 and GX5 are rated at 300 and 500 watts respectively, offering the continuous power capacity needed for a majority of common passive loudspeakers in use today. Outfitted with roughly 2X the continuous power capacity required by the top-selling non-powered loudspeakers on the market, the GX Series is the simplest and best answer to the question “what power amp do I need?”

Both GX amplifiers are equipped with all the input and output connectors needed for compatibility with virtually any source, loudspeaker, or wiring scheme. The lightweight design of the amps combine with their compact size to make either model easy to move or mount within small, portable racks. Just as easy to use, both the GX3 and GX5 feature straightforward user-selectable functions accessed via simple front-panel controls.

Every GX amp leaves the factory with carefully-tuned GuardRail^TM technology that guarantees full, peak power without harmful levels of distortion. As a result, the only way to get serious distortion from a GX amp is by sending distortion into it.

At the heart of the GX Series lie linear toroidal power supplies similar to those used in QSC’s popular RMX line of amplifiers. Delivering improved thermal stability and efficiency when compared to a number of other amps in its class, the GX3 employs a Class B output topology that squeezes every watt available from electrical circuits often overburdened by other stage gear.

The two-tier Class H design of the GX5 approximately doubles the power of the GX3 using the same size transformers and heat sinks. Smaller size, lighter weight, and more efficient use of electricity follow, along with more accurate peak performance on a short term basis with reduced loss and less distortion.

A market-driven philosophy guided the development of the GX Series from its inception, with QSC engineers dedicating their efforts to producing a product that addressed how users actually configured their systems. Based upon the results of extensive research, the design team determined that very few potential GX users needed bridged operation or an extremely high output capacity at two ohms. By eliminating these capabilities and building the amps primarily for use with four and eight-ohm power, the GX Series ultimately emerged with significant cost and size reductions, while still remaining fully-protected into all loads, and supporting light-duty two-ohm operation for occasions when it might be needed.

The GX Series amps are the smallest in their class at almost half the depth of the competition. They are also the lightest linear amplifiers among competitive offerings at 25 pounds. Housed in a rugged chassis with an attractive front panel that brings a professional appearance to any equipment rack, the GX3 and GX5 are sold exclusively by authorized QSC dealers around the globe.

QSC Audio Products, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of power amplifiers, loudspeakers, signal processing, digital signal transport, and computer control systems for professional audio markets worldwide. For more information, contact QSC Audio Products, Inc., 1675 MacArthur Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 USA. Phone: 800-854-4079 (USA only) or 714-754-6175. Fax: 714-754-6174. E-mail: info@qscaudio.com, or visit www.qscaudio.com.

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PowerLight 3 News Release

QSC UNVEILS NEW GX SERIES
Offering performance, reliability, and an attractive price,
new, no-nonsense amplifiers are now shipping

COSTA MESA, CA-The new versatile GX Series amplifiers are taking aim at the needs of musicians, DJs, and performers of all description. Consisting of two professional models outfitted with feature sets and power ratings designed to meet the requirements of popular passive loudspeakers, the GX Series is as reliable as the day is long and is marked by affordable prices that go easy on virtually any budget.

At eight ohms, the GX3 and GX5 are rated at 300 and 500 watts respectively, offering the continuous power capacity needed for a majority of common passive loudspeakers in use today. Outfitted with roughly 2X the continuous power capacity required by the top-selling non-powered loudspeakers on the market, the GX Series is the simplest and best answer to the question “what power amp do I need?”

Both GX amplifiers are equipped with all the input and output connectors needed for compatibility with virtually any source, loudspeaker, or wiring scheme. The lightweight design of the amps combine with their compact size to make either model easy to move or mount within small, portable racks. Just as easy to use, both the GX3 and GX5 feature straightforward user-selectable functions accessed via simple front-panel controls.

Every GX amp leaves the factory with carefully-tuned GuardRail^TM technology that guarantees full, peak power without harmful levels of distortion. As a result, the only way to get serious distortion from a GX amp is by sending distortion into it.

At the heart of the GX Series lie linear toroidal power supplies similar to those used in QSC’s popular RMX line of amplifiers. Delivering improved thermal stability and efficiency when compared to a number of other amps in its class, the GX3 employs a Class B output topology that squeezes every watt available from electrical circuits often overburdened by other stage gear.

The two-tier Class H design of the GX5 approximately doubles the power of the GX3 using the same size transformers and heat sinks. Smaller size, lighter weight, and more efficient use of electricity follow, along with more accurate peak performance on a short term basis with reduced loss and less distortion.

A market-driven philosophy guided the development of the GX Series from its inception, with QSC engineers dedicating their efforts to producing a product that addressed how users actually configured their systems. Based upon the results of extensive research, the design team determined that very few potential GX users needed bridged operation or an extremely high output capacity at two ohms. By eliminating these capabilities and building the amps primarily for use with four and eight-ohm power, the GX Series ultimately emerged with significant cost and size reductions, while still remaining fully-protected into all loads, and supporting light-duty two-ohm operation for occasions when it might be needed.

The GX Series amps are the smallest in their class at almost half the depth of the competition. They are also the lightest linear amplifiers among competitive offerings at 25 pounds. Housed in a rugged chassis with an attractive front panel that brings a professional appearance to any equipment rack, the GX3 and GX5 are sold exclusively by authorized QSC dealers around the globe.

QSC Audio Products, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of power amplifiers, loudspeakers, signal processing, digital signal transport, and computer control systems for professional audio markets worldwide. For more information, contact QSC Audio Products, Inc., 1675 MacArthur Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626 USA. Phone: 800-854-4079 (USA only) or 714-754-6175. Fax: 714-754-6174. E-mail: info@qscaudio.com, or visit www.qscaudio.com.

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Introducing The Hercules DJ Console Rmx

INTRODUCING THE HERCULES DJ CONSOLE Rmx:The new professional DJing solution designed by the trailblazer in portable digital audio mixing controllers NAMM Show, California, January 17th, 2008 - Hercules, the creator of the first dual mixing deck featuring built-in audio for PC, reveals the Hercules DJ Console Rmx, a digital audio console designed for advanced and professional DJs.

Stellar features include a solid metal casing, broad surface, well-designed, accessible buttons and knobs, precise and comprehensive controls, a built-in audio interface with 4 inputs & 4 outputs and an aggressive price. Get ready to see how the DJ Console Rmx is the most comprehensive digital dual mixing deck in its category!

“The success of our products has helped spread the brand name Hercules throughout the DJing world. We consolidated our experience by consulting with professional DJs and submitting a survey to some 1,300 DJs throughout Europe and US, which enabled us to confirm their needs and expectations” states François Garet, Development Manager of the DJing solutions range for Hercules. “On the basis of these studies and our own expertise in digital audio systems, we designed a next-generation DJ Console: a professional solution offering enhanced performance, comfort, solidity and precision. Hercules is committed to following and supporting DJs as they evolve by offering a digital audio solution worthy of their dedication to music.”
Mobility and stability for production and live performances

The Hercules DJ Console Rmx has been designed to enable mobile DJs as well as club & studio DJs to mix digital music. This “nomadic” device simply connects to the USB port of a PC or Mac® laptop. Broad enough in size to allow DJs to mix with unrivalled ease and precision, it is also compact enough to follow users to any event - its measurements (35 x 25 cm) are equivalent to those of a laptop computer.
For live mixing and seamless integration with the DJ’s professional environment, the DJ Console Rmx features a solid metal casing and non-slip pads guaranteeing perfect stability.
Adding to its stability, the device boasts flawless drivers thanks to the competence of the company’s Canadian R&D division and to the expertise acquired by the team over 20 years of experience in computer-assisted audio processing.
Designed for precise, swift mixing

The Hercules DJ Console RMX offers DJs precision and speed in all their moves, thanks to 2 ultra-precise jog wheels for moving within tracks and for scratching, 12 rotary switches, 46 push-buttons, 6 faders - including pitch faders with a center detent - plus an innovative and convenient general volume fader. The roomy layout of the controls allows DJs to perfect fumble-free mixes. Indeed, the controls are designed for quick and intuitive use; DJs will find their marks quickly, allowing them to focus their full attention and ability to the music and the dance floor.
Built-in audio interface with specialized DJing audio features

As an expert in the design of audio interfaces, Hercules determined that the integration of an audio interface featuring 4 inputs & 4 outputs on the Hercules DJ Console Rmx was both obvious and essential. The interface grants access to unique features such as:
• 4 audio outputs offering:
o Maximum sound over 4 mono ¼ in. jack outputs, outputting +4dBu for PA equipment,
o Audio output levels at -10dBv over 4 RCA outputs, for connecting consumer devices (hi-fi systems, recording devices etc.)
• Simple integration to the DJ’s equipment by means of 2 stereo analog inputs enabling users to mix, via the DJ software, external sources with digital music; the console also features a phono/line-level selector on each input, ideal for connecting turntables, CD or MP3 players and rhythm boxes.
• Microphone (with talk-over feature) and headset (for preview feature) connectors are accessible on the console’s upper face and front face, enabling DJs to use the console with unrivalled ease, whether in a flight case, on a DJ stand or on a tabletop!
Dedicated software for optimum digital DJing control

The Hercules DJ Console Rmx comes with VirtualDJ® 5 DJC Edition, the reference in the DJing world for PC, now also available for Mac. VirtualDJ 5 DJC Edition instantly connects to the console. The software includes features and settings specific to the Hercules DJ Console Rmx, and combines the power of the VirtualDJ mixing engine with the ergonomics of the Hercules DJ Console Rmx.
The Hercules DJ Console Rmx is a MIDI controller and therefore compatible with other MIDI-controlled software applications.
Compatible with standard DJing digital music libraries
The Hercules DJ Console Rmx enables DJs to mix the music files stored on their PC or Mac® in the following formats: MP3, AIFF, WAV, WMA, OGG & CD Audio, as well as the iTunes® library.
The Hercules DJ Console Rmx will be introduced by Hercules at the NAMM Show in Annaheim, California, USA, from January 17-20, 2008 at booth # 6809, in collaboration with Hercules’ North-American distributor. The device will be available from March 2008, at the recommended retail price of $349.90.
It is supplied with a carrying bag ensuring total mobility.

Press Contact Information
Winn Keaten
Marketing Manager
Guillemot Inc.
646-443-8148
wkeaten@guillemot.com

www.hercules.com
About Guillemot Corporation
Guillemot Corporation is a designer and manufacturer of interactive entertainment hardware and accessories for PC and games consoles, and offers a wide and diversified range of products under its Hercules (video, audio and WiFi products) and Thrustmaster brands (accessories for PC and games console). Active in this market since 1984, the Guillemot Corporation Group is currently present in 10 countries, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Italy, and distributes products in over 20 countries worldwide. The Group’s mission is to provide innovative, high-quality products which increase the performance and pleasure experienced by gamers and music lovers alike. Guillemot Corporation is listed on the New Market of the Paris Stock Exchange, code ISIN FR00066722.

NUMARK Intros DDS80 DJ System for CD and HD Media

Cumberland, R.I. (MAR. 12, 2008) - Numark, the world’s leading manufacturer
of products for the DJ market, announces the DDS80 - the new rack-mountable standard for DJ performance using digital media. The DDS80 comes with two components that make it perfect for DJing weddings, clubs or other performances using CDs, USB hard drives, iPod, or nearly any digital media via USB.

DDS80 is the complete DJ system for live performance with the industry’s fastest, most intuitive interface. The DDS80 delivers a powerful next-generation DJ system using two rack-mountable components: DDS and the DDS Drive. Unlike previous DJ gear, the DDS80 delivers everything DJs need so they can perform a set while leaving their laptop at home.DDS
Numark’s DDS is a rack-mountable media player created for DJ performance and is ideal for all DJ environments. The DDS was designed using feedback from professional working DJs and includes all of the essentials like pitch-shift, key lock, scratch, loop and lightning-fast track lookup. Advanced views like track profiling give new dynamic and control to hardware performance. Best of all, DDS is built with the same stunning color screen, powerful DJ engine and has the same unique Crate workspace used in Numark’s popular iDJ2 workstation.

Powerful tools such as the Crate and Profile View offer a digital slant on traditional DJ methods. The Crate can be used to prepare and arrange a set in advance, during performance or a mixture of both. The Profile View offers a fast visual cueing aid, much like looking at the grooves on a record, only better.

DDS Drive
The DDS80 also includes Numark’s DDS Drive media rack, which greatly expands media options by using the simplicity of USB. DJs can connect the DDS to the DDS Drive and access the removable and upgradeable 80GB hard drive, or DVD/CD-ROM drive to play all of their audio CDs.

Live performances are enhanced thanks to the ability to work with nearly any kind of media. DDS Drive connects directly to a computer, allowing quick and easy transfer of a music library for optimized performance. For live performances, DJs can leave their computer at home and let the DDS Drive and DDS do all the heavy lifting. With an iPod, thumb drive or any Mac or Windows formatted USB drive, DJs can connect their media to the DDS along with the DDS Drive and all of their music tracks will be available in one convenient place.

The DDS80 is a powerhouse, cutting-edge system that combines the rock-solid DJ performance features of the DDS, with the convenience and speed of a full-featured dedicated media rack.

DDS80 is due at retailers in Q2-2008.

iPod is a trademark of Apple, Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries.
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About Numark Industries
Numark Industries is the global leader of professional DJ and audio equipment, and is recognized for providing progressive breakthrough technology. Since 1971, Numark has designed and delivered innovative products and numerous music industry “firsts.” For more information, visit www.numark.com; images are available at http://www.numark.com/media.

Pioneer Introduces Revolutionary Media Players

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. Professional Sound and Visual Division unveiled the latest addition to its family of DJ compact disc players, the MEP-7000, Professional Multi-Entertainment Player and the SEP-C1, Professional Software Entertainment Controller. Pioneer’s DJ CD players have established a worldwide reputation for their superior performance for both professional and amateur DJs, continuing to strengthen their status as an industry standard.“Both the MEP-7000 and SEP-C1 correspond to the trend of laptops being utilized by professional DJs,” said Matt Dever, vice president for Pioneer’s Professional Sound and Visual Division. “Recent developments have changed the way mobile and club DJs catalog and play their music. No longer are they carrying crates of vinyl or even books of CDs full of music. Laptops, USB flash media and hard drives are fast becoming the commonplace in the DJ rig.”

The MEP-7000 is a compact, easy-to-transport Professional Multi-Entertainment Player inheriting the basic functions and operability of the popular Pioneer CDJ- series turntables. In addition to playback of conventional music from CD/CD-ROM/DVD-ROM discs, the MEP-7000 enable users to play MP3/AAC files stored on various memory media formats. The dual-player is extremely convenient for DJs performing in an environment where space dedicated for the jock is limited and flexible media playback is a must, such as a café or bar where various parties or events are held. The system also enables DJs to easily create and set up pre-programmed play lists for “gigs” at such times as a dinner hour set or a break.

The SEP-C1 Professional Software Entertainment Controller is a dual MP3 music controller which allows the user to manage and control playback of audio files stored on a PC. It emulates the full-scale DJ performance of the CDJ series operability without the need of a mouse or keyboard.

MEP-7000 Professional Multi-Entertainment Player features:
Flexible Audio Format Playback - As well as playback of traditional audio compact discs, the MEP-7000 supports MP3*1/AAC/WAV*2/AIFF*2 stored in a USB memory devices, hard disc drive (HDD) and CD-R/RW and DVD±R/RW allowing for easy playback of existing music libraries and new digital downloads.
4.3-Inch Color LCD & Intelligent Graphical User Interface - In addition to the high-resolution 4.3-inch color LCD panel, an intelligent graphic user interface and rotary selector enables rapid track search through large collections of digital audio files. A play list function also speeds the track selection process for recalling frequently played songs.
Control Functions for Pioneer’s DJ software (DJS3) and Other PC Applications - The MEP-7000 includes Pioneer’s DJS all-in-one DJ software application for playback from a Windows based computer (PC not included). When the system is connected to the DJS, no mouse or keyboard is required for navigation and DJ performance. The MEP-7000 also supports control of other software, such as SERATO Scratch LIVE*4, without the need of the control discs. It can also act as a full MIDI controller for any MIDI-compatible PC application.
Scratch Jog Effect and Digital Jog Break enhance DJ performance - In addition to traditional scratching, the MEP-7000 also features two patterns of Scratch Jog Effects - BUBBLE5 and TRANS5. Three patterns of Digital Jog Break effects freely control the audio effects according to the rotation of the jog dial - JET*6 / ROLL*6 / WAH*6 broadening the scope of any DJ performance.
Auto Mix Function - An auto mix function automatically mixes playback of the tracks registered on the play list in four modes such as ECHO or ZIP. Audio is seamlessly beat matched and mixed on the fly.
Industry’s First*7 Area-Color Organic Electroluminescence (OEL) Display - Two high-visibility Area-Color OEL displays provide outstanding visibility for the pitch, playback time and position information. Together with its main 4.3-inch color LCD, the OEL display ensures smooth DJ play regardless of lighting conditions.
Other Functions:
Karaoke Mode: Full support for CD+G playback for karaoke performance.
Library Function: Allows selection of tracks from various categories like genre, artist, etc.
Tempo Control Range: The user can choose among four pitch ranges available for the tempo slider: ±6％, ±10％, ±16％, and WIDE.*8
Pitch Bend Button: Enables fine adjustment of the track speed by simply pressing a button.
Seamless Loop: Repeats looped audio without interruption. A loop can be set from as small as one frame up to an entire CD’s length.
Hot Loop: Restarts the loop seamlessly from its entry without interruption of the music.
Memory Cue/Loop: Allows the user to store any CUE/LOOP point to the player’s internal memory.
Auto BPM Counter: Measures and digitally displays a track’s tempo.
Digital Output Terminal: A digital audio output is available for the highest quality connection.
Monitor Out Terminal: Provides a composite video output for karaoke display or larger view of the main display.
Keyboard Support: Users can select tracks rapidly by using an external USB keyboard (sold separately).
Legato Link Conversion: Reproduces richer and more natural sound by up-sampling the audio information lost in CD format.
Vibration Proof Construction: Shock-proof memory plus the same floating mechanism used in Pioneer’s mobile entertainment audio components to prevent skipping and resist vibration.
Rack-Mount Ready: Ready for rack-mount which is useful for mobile/club/studio installations.
SEP-C1 Professional Software Entertainment Controller features:

Control Pioneer’s DJ software (DJS*3) and Other PC Applications - The SEP-C1 includes Pioneer’s DJS all-in-one DJ software application for playback from a Windows based computer (PC not included). When connected to DJS, no mouse or keyboard is required for navigation and DJ performance. Furthermore, the SEP-C1 supports control of other software, such as SERATO Scratch LIVE*4, without need of the control discs. The SEP-C1 is also a full MIDI controller for any MIDI-compatible PC application.
4.3-Inch Color LCD & Intelligent Graphical User Interface - In addition to the high-visibility 4.3-inch color LCD panel, an intelligent graphic user interface and rotary selector enables rapid track search through large collections of digital audio. A play list function also speeds the track selection process for recalling frequently played songs.
Auto Mix Function - An Auto Mix function automatically mixes playback of the tracks registered on the play list in four modes such as ECHO or ZIP. Audio is seamlessly beat matched and mixed on the fly.
Industry’s first*7 Area-Color Organic Electroluminescence (OEL) - Two high-visibility Area-Color OEL displays give the SEP-C1 outstanding visibility for the pitch, playback time and position information. Together with its main 4.3-inch color LCD, the OEL display ensures smooth DJ play regardless of lighting conditions.
DJS Effects Enhance DJ Performance - Eight effects within Pioneer DJS (Delay, Echo, Auto Pan, Auto Trance, Auto Filter, Flanger, Reverb and Pitch Shifter) add versatility to mixing performances. The effects can be synchronized with the music tempo (BPM) at the click of a button.
Other Functions
Tempo Control Range: Choose among four pitch ranges available for the tempo slider: ±6％, ±10％, ±16％, and WIDE8
Pitch Bend Button: Enables fine adjustment of the track speed by simply pressing a button.
Seamless Loop: Repeats looped audio without interruption. A loop can be set from as small as one frame up to an entire CD’s length.
Hot Loop: Restarts the loop seamlessly from its entry without interruption of the music.
Auto BPM Counter: Measures and digitally displays a track’s tempo.
Rack-Mount Ready: Ready for rack-mount which is useful for club/studio installations.
The MEP-7000 and SEP-C1 will be available in June with a manufacturer suggested retail price of $2,299 and $1,199, respectively.

Pioneer offers a complete line of professional DJ equipment through its Professional Sound and Visual Division. Its DJM, CDJ and DVJ Professional DJ equipment is known for its high quality sound and reliability and is considered the industry standard at clubs, studios, mobile rigs and homes around the world. For more information, visit www.PioneerProDj.com.

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is headquartered in Long Beach, California, and its U.S. Web address is www.pioneerelectronics.com. Its parent company, Pioneer Corporation, is a leader in optical disc technology and a pre-eminent manufacturer of high-performance audio, video and computer equipment for the home, car and business markets. The company focuses on four core business domains including Blu-ray Disc and DVD, display technologies, navigation and Digital Network Entertainment^TM.

Giving Your Sound More SPYN

Designed for any audio application, the EFD-814 Professional Graphic Equalizer from Miami based SPYN Audio is the perfect equalization tool to customize your listening environment and keep unwanted feedback to a minimum. The built-in feedback finder circuit allows professionals ands novices the ability to identify the offending frequency and remove it from the mix without the guesswork. “This feature is particularly useful for DJs, clubs, monitor engineers and houses of worship where the person behind the controls is not necessarily an audio engineer who can identify a squealing frequency by ear, but rather a performer or a volunteer”.Other handy features include adjustable fader range, balanced inputs and outputs, high and low pass filters, display threshold controls ranging from -20 to +20 dB and bypass switches. The unit also features a comprehensive 3 year parts and labor warranty.
For more information on the EFD-814 or any of the other fine products in the line log on to www.spynaudio.com

American Audio’s SD Player

Imagine carrying your music library around on a card the size of a postage stamp! Now DJs can put all their digital music on an SD card - measuring a miniscule 1″ x 1-1/4″ — and mix and manipulate tracks just as they would songs on a CD or MP3 disc. American Audio has introduced two revolutionary pro audio units designed specifically for use with SD cards: the SDJ-1 dual SD player; and the Q-SD, a 19″ 4-channel mixer combined with an SD player. Both units have built-in SD slots that allow them to read MP3 files directly from SD cards without any external drives, additional software, computers or separate MP3 players required.

An SD (Secure Digital) card is a highly compact flash digital storage media that’s available with memory capacities up to 4GB and more. To put it another way, you can fit as many as 150 - 1,000 MP3 tracks (128 kbps) on a little square you can hold between your thumb and forefinger! What’s more, SD cards are very inexpensive and they’re widely available. By making it as simple to use SD cards as you would any disc, American Audio’s new SDJ-1 and Q-SD player and mixer units give DJs the ultimate level of mobility.

“What DJ wouldn’t love the ease of carrying around his or her music on an SD card?” said Tom Freret, national sales manager for American Audio. “Until now, most of the existing players’ hard drives had compatibility issues. Other alternatives for using MP3 files directly require you to hook up a bulky and expensive laptop or an easily-stolen portable IPod to your player. Aside from the hassle of an extra component, there were often connectivity problems when you added external hardware.”

The SDJ-1 and Q-SD, on the other hand, were designed from the ground up to read digital music files directly from SD cards, without any additional hardware or software. “We took a look at what people were doing and came up with an easy-to-use solution for playing and mixing tracks from SD cards that was very native to what DJs already do,” said Freret. “The whole idea is that DJs don’t have to learn anything different from what they’re accustomed to doing - just put the SD card into the unit and proceed as you would with a traditional CD or MP3 disc.”

The two new SD-compatible units even look like existing American Audio products. The SDJ-1 has a faceplate similar to AA’s PRO series players, and the Q-SD resembles the company’s Q-Series mixers, making for a smooth and easy transition to SD. About the only difference is that both units have built-in slots for SD cards - two SD slots on the SDJ-1 and one slot on the Q-SD - each of which is capable of handling SD cards up to 4GB capacity. The SDJ-1 and Q-SD are compatible with SD cards up to 4GB and do not accept SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards.

Both units come equipped with a full range of must-have features for pros, including Tempo Lock, Seamless Loop, Auto BPM Counter, and Fader Q Start when used with compatible American Audio products (the SDJ-1 can be used with American Audio’s traditional Q-Series mixers). Like the company’s MP3 disc players, they have advanced cueing with track search by frame. Additionally, you can search the SD card for the next song while the current one is playing.

On the SDJ-1 dual player, music from either SD can be played on either side. The SDJ-1 is ultra fast with no boot up time, and because there are no moving parts there’s nothing to break down, which makes it super reliable. It features Pitch Bend, Pitch Control (+/-4%, +/-8% or +/-16%), and dual RCA outputs.

The Q-SD combo mixer/player has 2 Phono, 4 Line, 4 Aux & 2 Mic inputs, with the capability to assign SD to any of the 4 channels. Among its features are: gain, treble, mid & bass control for each channel (-30dB rotary kills); master output trim control; zone output control; cue mixing, cue level and master level control; balanced XLR outputs; DJ microphone with volume, treble, bass and talkover control; and pitch bend (+/-4%, +/-8%, +/-16%, +/-60%).

For a limited time, with each purchase of an SDJ-1 or Q-SD unit, American Audio is including a 1GB SD card, plus a USB SD card reader that you plug into your computer to transfer files onto the SD card. “This way, consumers get a complete package right out of the box that includes everything they need to take their tunes, drops and loops from their computer to their gig,” said Freret. “They don’t have to go out and buy anything else. Plus, the great thing about SD cards is that you can get them almost anywhere that blank CDs are sold.” Using the USB card reader, files can be easily transferred from the computer to the SD card with a few clicks, without requiring any software programs.

The SDJ-1 dual SD player measures 19″L x 3.46″W x 4.25″H, and weighs 3.96 lbs. The MSRP of the SDJ-1 is $349.95 (includes 1GB SD card and USB SD card reader for limited time).

The Q-SD combo mixer/SD player measures 19″L x 7″W x 4.31″H, and weighs 8.5 lbs. The MSRP of the Q-SD is $599.95 (includes 1GB SD card and USB SD card reader for limited time)

Check out the YouTube video on this player - click here.

Numark TTi Turntable Lands!

Cumberland, R.I. (Mar. 12, 2008) - Numark, the world’s leading manufacturer of products for the DJ market, announces immediate availability of the exciting new TTi turntable. The TTi features a Universal Dock for iPod, USB audio interface, a metal platter and pitch control. As a result the TTi is being heralded as one of the most versatile turntables ever produced.Legendary Numark turntable performance, USB connectivity and the convenience of the iPod are fused together for the first time in the Numark TTi so users can easily transfer old vinyl collections to an iPod. The included software bundle archives records directly to the user’s iTunes Library for transfer to CD or any MP3 player. The software also reduces noisy pops and clicks inherent on some old vinyl recordings, without sacrificing the dynamics of the original recording.

Owners of iPod (Classic or 5th generation) and iPod nano (2nd or 3rd generation) can record from vinyl directly to an iPod without a computer. People with other iPod models can transfer captured vinyl recordings to their iPod by using iTunes to transfer the tracks after recording.

TTi’s integrated Line-level output allows quick, easy connection and instant playback from an iPod or vinyl record. Included ±10 percent pitch control enables adjustment of playback speed. 33 and 45 RPM playback speeds are supported, and 78 RPM recording is possible using the included software. Line-level outputs also enable easy connection to home AV Receivers, without the need for a Phono input on the receiver, making TTi a great match for home stereo setups or a home office.

The TTi includes EZ Vinyl Converter 2 (PC) and EZ Audio Converter (Mac), the simplest way to record and convert vinyl directly to iTunes. This amazing new software features Gracenote® MusicID technology, which analyzes your vinyl recordings and automatically retrieves album, artist and song information from the Internet. EZ Audio Converter also enables easy entering of track information.
EZ Vinyl Converter 2 and EZ Audio Converter software help anyone digitally archive their record collection with just a few mouse clicks.

Numark’s TTi turntable is now available from musical instrument retailers with an MSRP of $449.
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About Numark Industries
Numark Industries is the global leader of professional DJ and audio equipment, and is recognized for providing progressive breakthrough technology. Since 1971, Numark has designed and delivered innovative products and numerous music industry “firsts.” For more information, visit www.numark.com; images are available at http://www.numark.com/media.

iPod and iTunes are trademarks of Apple, Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Gracenote® is a trademark of Gracenote, Inc.

Numark Introduces MixMeister Control

Cumberland, R.I. (MAR. 12, 2008) - Numark, the world’s leading manufacturer of products for the DJ market, announces MixMeister Control. Designed as the world’s first hardware controller for MixMeister software, Numark continues its tradition of DJ innovation.

MixMeister software ignited the DJ world by merging powerful Digital Audio Workstation capabilities and full-featured live DJ performance. MixMeister Control is a hardware control surface for real-time performance and control of MixMeister, or other MIDI-capable DJ software.

MixMeister Control is the only controller designed and optimized to work like a true hardware extension of the MixMeister interface. With this revolutionary new controller, MixMeister DJs can plug in and be performing in seconds. MixMeister Control even comes with a full version of MixMeister Fusion software - the perfect way to get started.

Individual hands-on controls are included for looping by track, EQ, FX and more with complete control for up to four tracks at once. A massive amount of expression is possible with MixMeister Control’s 40 knobs, 53 buttons and a Jog Wheel for fast location management. Finally, automation effects, VST plug-ins and other functions can be manipulated with minimal computer interaction.

The included MixMeister Fusion software frees the DJ from monotonous tasks like beat matching, setting cue points, and counting beats in their head. It gives them the power to unleash their creativity and shape music with live looping and remixing, VST effects, harmonic mixing and more. DJs can manipulate tempo, volume, and EQ in real time, on-the-fly. Fusion even records all DJ actions (not just the resulting audio), so users can go back, listen to their mix, and make precise adjustments with studio-style editing capabilities.

Whether DJs use MixMeister to perform live or to mix custom tracks in the studio, MixMeister Control is a “must-have” companion for any DJ.

MixMeister Control Key Features:

• Hardware control surface for MixMeister and other MIDI-capable DJ software
• USB 1.1 interface - No driver required
• Includes MixMeister Fusion Live software
• Compatible with other MIDI applications
• Works with Windows or Mac OS X

MixMeister Control is due in stores Q2-2008.

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About Numark Industries
Numark Industries is the global leader of professional DJ and audio equipment, and is recognized for providing progressive breakthrough technology. Since 1971, Numark has designed and delivered innovative products and numerous music industry “firsts.” For more information, visit www.numark.com; images are available at http://www.numark.com/media.

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