DJ Equipment Reviews

Two iPods, the trusty iDJ from Numark and you’re ready to mix

Numark really likes to keep the pace of newer years, and even set it in some parts, as they like nothing more than to have all the other DJ equipment brands think "Ohhh, why didn’t we think of that?…". Trend-setting isn’t a new thing for Numark, and any DJ product review about one of their major DJ products will reveal this, however, this review is about how Numark takes a totally different trend and turns it into a working DJ matter. This fashion is started by Apple and undoubtedly everybody head of the iPod by now (if not everybody already owns one). Numark took the iPod and started their Made for iPod DJ equipment series, sort of previewing the effect this little device will have on the world and on DJs similarly. The Made for iPod DJ product review for today is about the iDJ, Numark’s first try at making the working DJ mixing with iPods a true profession.

Fortunately, I did a DJ equipment review a while back about another Made for iPod DJ product from Numark, and it’ll give you a nice continuation for this one, so feel free to go check out the Made for iPod iDec here. Even if related, the iDec isn’t nowhere as important to working DJs as iDJ (link to PDF presentation request page)could be, because iDJ is a first step towards replacing an entire DJ setup with just this DJ product anc some iPods. I say first step because probably next post I’ll talk about the second step Numark took in this direction, the iDJ2, but that’s for another DJ product review.

Right now, iDJ aims at giving working DJs the possiblity of doing their entire mix from one place and with tracks loaded straight from the iPods. iDJ is basically a 2 channel mixer that has two universal iPod docks that will act as music sources for your mix. Sort of like DJ turntables in a regular DJ setup. iDJ is made to be the only DJ product that a working DJ has to touch for a great mix, so the inputs support pretty much any audio source a DJ could use, from microphones to other DJ turntables or even CD players. Just plug them all in and start mixing, with the downside that iDJ’s only 2 channels may prove an annoyance with this many input options. Like a real DJ mixer, iDJ doesn’t forget that monitoring and outputing is just as important as mixing, so working DJs can then direct their mix to a PA system for the crowd to enjoy, and the headphones outputs provide the means for professional monitoring, in the club or elsewhere.

iDJ works pretty much like the iPod it so comfortably docks, and it has a USB connection for quickly setting it up fom your PC or Mac, as iDJ works on both. When I say set it up, I actually mean plug it in and get ready, because iDJ works seamlessly from the first second, with no drivers or other software required. As for specific DJ mixer functions, iDJ keeps it fairly simple, providing mainly a 3 band EQ for each channel, gain control, level controls and a microphone tone adjustments, which are all nicely layed out onto a simple white chassis that seems like a natural evolvment of the decked iPods. Let’s check out the some tech stuff, because no matter how good of an idea iDJ is as a DJ product, it still has to meet certain requirements to even be considered for serious DJ equipment reviews:

• the breakdown of the inputs on iDJ includes 2 iPod universal decks (from 3rd generation or higher), 2 line RCAs and a 1/4" mic input
• and the outputs: a RCA master, RCA record, and 1/4" and 1/8" outputs for headphones for monitoring the mixes
• easy connection to other computers and DJ equipment for audio signal and to PA systems or recorders for completing the DJ cycle
• main 3 band EQ with gain controls per channel, with a crossfader for added control
• the iDJ is even mountable on a DJ turntable with its spindle receiver on the bottom, if you feel like trying it out at some gigs without relying solely on it
• and the package also includes iDJ’s power supply

Of course there are many things a working DJ could want more in a DJ product that aims to replace the entire DJ setup and wants to be reviewed as one, but hold your horses (clichee, I know…) until my next post, when you’ll be able to see what Numark made of its second generation iPod DJ mixer. See you there…

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