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CME Xcorpio audio interface DJ Product Review

by Marius on Jul.11, 2009, under DJ Product Reviews

Xcorpio has the speed of a scorpion sting for your DJ setup

CME is a Chinese brand making their way into the DJ equipment market, and they’ve come a long way until now. Just check the internet for CME DJ products reviews and you’ll find they have their fair share of them, because they have the DJ equipment to garner those reviews. While "made in China" may sound bad for some of you working DJ out there, I hope you’re beyond these misconceptions or you’ll miss out, at least on DJ products from CME, which are worth your while. CME does have a wide range of DJ equipment, both in the audio and MIDI department, but they seem to be more focused on MIDI. Anyway, their audio DJ products aren’t anything to frown on, as CME audio interfaces are some of the better you can find out there, and probably the top CME audio interface (at least by design) is Xcorpio, which is also out target for a DJ equipment review today.

One of my previous CME DJ product review can also give a little insight into the matter, so feel free to check out the CME Matrix Y audio interface before reading on. The Xcorpio is special indeed, and if through nothing else, then for sure no working DJ has an audio interface in his DJ setup that looks even remotely like a scorpion. Not that that’s necessarily a recognition of supreme performance, but Xscorpio is small, orange and fortunately, CME were right to compare it to the scorpion because it’s also high speed.

Xcorpio is actually CME’s first high speed audio interface that working DJs can connect to their computers using the included USB cable. Xcorpio has an impressive 480 MB per second transfer speed, so it definitely removes any latency or waiting around for your signal to reach the computer. As all DJ equipment reviews about audio interfaces, Xcorpio works great for recording different instruments from your DJ setup straight to the computer for manipulation. For this purpose, CME fitted their cool named audio interface with 2 XLR connectors that are microphone/guitar switchable so working DJ can bring a whole lot of external instruments into the mix.

CME Xcorpio A or Xcorpio I audio interface w/ XLR or TRS inputs, USB high speed connection

Besides high speed, Xcorpio exceeds demands in both portability and quality of sound. Working with professional 24 bit resolution and up to 96 kHz sampling rate audio AD/DA converters, Xcorpio offers the sound DJs have come to expect mentioned in DJ equipment reviews for their studio gear. As with the other CME audio interfaces, mobile DJs can be totally relaxed, as there are basically no concerns as far as portability and flexibility is concerned. Xcorpio is easily adaptable to any DJ setup and it even comes with an included carrying pouch for added protection, and a metallic clasp to clip the Xcorpio to your guitar while playing.

So here are the rest of the features working DJs will be interested in in the Xcorpio audio interface (link to PDF manual) :

frequency response of 20 Hz up to 20 kHz
and a wide dynamic range of 100 dB thanks to the quality audio converters inside
the Xcorpio series has 2 models: the Xcorpio I, which has 2 balanced TRS inputs, and the Xcorpio A with 2 balanced XLR inputs, so you can choose according to your particular needs. They both cost the same
mic/guitar input with preamp and maximum gain of +18 dB
2 RCA line outputs for monitoring through DJ speakers
and even 1 headphone jack letting the working DJ monitor like that
LEDs for both ins and outs, with overloading indicators
compatibility includes most working DJ DJ setup solutions, such as ASIO, Direct Monitoring and WDM

So pretty much all types of working DJs, as long as they record somehow, have a use for the Xcorpio A or Xcorpio I, and it’s so small that it fits anywhere practically, so mobile DJs are encouraged to pick it up and have it with them. Xcorpio is easy to use, to setup, to transport, and even to clip to your guitar or instruments. Which other audio interface you know that can do that?