Why You Need an InnoFader

The crossfader is at the very heart of the DJing experience. So why do so many mixers come with faders that feel like an afterthought? The feel of the crossfader is as important as any other feature of your mixer, so you deserve to have the best at your fingertips.

 The Audio Innovate innoFADER has been designed to completely change the way you feel about the crossfader. Having studied the habits and requirements of today's DJs, the innoFADER series offers unparalleled levels of quality and adjustability that you just don't find in other crossfaders.

We recently had the ultimate pleasure of speaking with Elliot Marx, the man behind the innoFader, on how it works and why so many DJs have come to know and love this replacement crossfader.

Electrix Tweaker is a Work of Art - NAMM 2013

Last year, we shot video of the Electrix Tweaker, which wouldn't come out until Q4 of 2012. This year, the Tweaker has clearly received an upgrade, which looks unbelievable compared to the prior prototype. Check it out the video below, then grab your own Electrix Tweaker, because this bad boy is shipping!

Alto Stealth is Going to Stick Out - NAMM 2013

To say that Alto did a great job with their new Stealth Wireless Speaker System is certainly the understatement. All too long, people have been searching for a ZERO latency wireless transmitter and receiver. Believe it or not, even a few milliseconds can make all the difference at your gigs. The stealth system is small, works on 2.4Ghz, and can transmit a signal as far away as 200 feet, making it the perfect tool for almost any venue.


Add wireless audio connectivity to any active loudspeaker. This self-contained kit can quickly add wireless connectivity to any installed or temporary sound system—with no compromise in fidelity—replacing or eliminating the need for lengthy and unsightly console-to-system cable runs of up to 200 feet that may otherwise interfere with the dance floor, patrons, or staff of the venue. It can transmit a signal as far away as 200 feet, even through walls, making it the perfect tool for almost any venue.

To further up the ante, the receivers are easily mountable, coming with either velcro to mount up, or a universal rigging system that will hook the receiver onto any speaker. The initial pack of the transmitter with two receivers will be $399, while expansion packs of two additional receivers will be $199. Can't wait for this to show up.

 

Vestax's SPIN2 Is An Epic iOS Solution - NAMM 2013

Check out the SPIN2 from Vestax, with full audio and video capabilities for any iOS device!

American DJ Flexscreen - NAMM 2013

We've heard it called lots of thing...Flex Panel, Flex Rollup and so on. The actual name per the catalog is the ADJ Flexscreen. The system features RGB SMD LED Chips and allows you to wrap the panel around truss, light bars, or just use it as a Facade. Not only does it come with a controller, but you'll have the capability to put in your own programs, creating scrolling text and more for your DJ facade. This was quite the buzz around ADJ. MAP $599.

 

What's Nekkst for Behringer? - NAMM 2013

Behringer has released an array of new products this year, all maintaining the standard that Behringer has for creativing innovative products with high-quality and amazing price points. The Nekkst K5 and K8 studio monitors hold Behringer to that higher standard. Developed with the help of Keith Klawitter, the gentleman behind the KRK design, the end result of the work put into this is a stunning monitor with lots of connectivity. We're sure this will be a huge player once it's on the street.

Monster Rejuvenates Our Inspiration - NAMM 2013

Now that Beats headphones are no longer being distributed by Monster, they realized it was time to see what they could do with their own line of headphones. While the DNA line is certainly a looker, it's a consumer model. As a provider of top of the line DJ equipment, we couldn't help be revisit the Monster Inspiration headphones. These headphones aren't totally fresh to the market, but they've been slightly underrated. The thunderous bass that comes from these headphones makes your ears vibrate. While the crisp highs and serene mids are enough to impress even the most experienced ears.

 The Inspiration is available in a variety of colors, and the $299 price tag is exactly where it should be for the quality of these.

NAMM 2013 - Gemini's G4V 4-Channel Controller [VIDEO]

Since Gemini's G4V was announced during NAMM 2013, there have been a variety of mixed reviews. It's not our job to compare one brand to another, but to look at things from the perspective of price point and the value and quality at that price point. Frankly, for $399, you're not going to find a better controller with such size, a metal housing, XLR outputs, and four channels of mixing.

We invite and welcome all opinions on both sides of the spectrum, but what Gemini has done is created opportunity, and that's tough to find in this business. I don't know about you, but my first car wasn't a Ferrari. It wasn't new. I towed it more times than drove it. But since then, I've slowly worked my way up the line (I'm still not driving a Ferrari).

If you're on a budget and need versatility, this is the perfect choice. The price is solid, the build is excellent, and we think this is a great chance for the bedroom DJ to get their look at what four-channels can do for them. Gemini has been in the business for a long time, and their veteran experience has played big into the development of the G4V DJ controller.

 

Electro-Voice ZLX Series Video - NAMM 2013

Mike, aka "Dookie", gives us what we think is one of the most informational videos we've gotten at NAMM this year, adding the credibility to what is already a popular line of speakers.

 Electro-Voice's ZLX series is due out in a few months, and with no price point above $499, this speakers delivers quality and affordability from a reliable brand in the business. Anyone who know their speakers wants to take the time to watch this video and discover why the Electro-Voice ZLX speakers, though built in a plastic box, will do the job while you're on a budget.

 

NAMM 2013: American DJ Flexes Their Muscles

LED has given DJs a lot of reasons To love lighting, and American DJ is taking it a step further with the FlexScreen. Loaded with SMD Chip LEDs, this flexible screen kit is a pretty rad solution for those in need of booth decoration. The screen can wrap around truss, mount to the front of your booth, and twist in ways we can't begin to describe.

The FlexScreen is loaded with dozens of patterns full of color. The tightly knot LEDs create motion that's sure to make it a hit for the mobile folks. $599 is a rock solid price point for this.

Gemini Just Stepped Up to the Plate

Gemini has always been a familiar name in the DJ Industry. Last year's CDJ-700 was turning heads, but remained slightly underrated in our book (FYI, they're still epic and have a lower price). The NAMM show brought big things for Gemini, and the price is unbelievably awesome.

The G4V is a fresh mixer coming soon from Gemini. This bad boy is fully mappable, and is bundled with Virtual DJ. The 4-channel controller is the first from one of the most experienced companies in the DJ industry. What's better? It's a metal housing. What's best? You're looking at a price of $399.

American DJ Unleashes Battery-Powered Quad Phase

American DJ's Quad Phase was one of 2012's best-selling effect lights. Now American DJ is raising the bar with one of the first battery powered effect lights in the industry.

First released in October at LDI, the Quad Phase looks to have plenty of brightness and color to it. $399 for this bad boy and its wireless technology.

NAMM 2013 - Chauvet is Awesome to the Core

Chauvet is bringing a smaller version of the Chauvet Pro Nexus light to their DJ lighting series. The Chauvet Core 1x3 and 3x3 was released this morning. These multi color LED beam panels are looking sweet as can be. Even cooler? Grab a few of these and stack em up for a world of brightness.

Price on these is looking to be about $280 for the 1x3 and $500 for the 3x3. Sweet.

NAMM 2013: ElectroVoice's ZLX Is Music to our Ears

We could only imagine how difficult it would be to follow up on a system like the Live-X. But to not only impress us with sound but with price as well? Sounds impossible to us. Boy, were we wrong.

ElectroVoice has introduced the ZLX-12P and the ZLX-15P. These 1000 watt powered speakers aren't only filled with crisp highs from the 1.5" drivers and thunderous lows, but the price point is competitive with lower end products on the market.

Keeping our attention a little longer is the rear control panel, which lives by the KISS law (Keep It Simple Stupid). With a single knob and a user-friendly LCD screen, you can fully configure the DSP engine and how you want your speaker to sound.

Price on these? Pretty amazing if you ask us. The 12" version is only going to run you $399 each, while the 15" version runs $499, putting them both at a competitive price level for those on a budget.

NAMM 2013: Chauvet's Catches Our Eye

Chauvet recently posted a photo on their Facebook page, showing off a good amount of their booth. While it still looks like they're piecing things together in the minutes before NAMM 2013, we're quite attracted to something in top right corner of the picture you see here.

At the LDI show in Las Vegas last October, Chauvet Professional revealed a 4x4 set of beams known as the Nexus. Look closely and you'll see two 3x3 beam panels mounted to the ceiling truss.

While it's still speculation at this point, we have good reason to believe that people have taken a liking to the 4x4, so Chauvet developed a smaller version for the DJ industry. Stay tuned...we'll be on top of this, along with several other interesting goodies in this photo.

NAMM 2013: Behringer says "Game Over"

Behringer has claimed it's "Game Over" for their competition and they just might be right on this call. Last year the X32 was released, and to date, it's sold more than 24,000 units around the globe. It's become quite clear that the X32 has been a game changer, and what better way to show it than building on the success with four more X32 Units.

X32 Compact:

The X32 Compact delivers the best of the X32 in a smaller package for smaller venues. Ultimate connectivity is still the name of the game, with 40 inputs, 25 buses, 16 mic preamps, FireWire and USB 2.0 capabilities. The X32 includes a 7" color TFT screen for the same great viewing needs of workflow components.

X32 Producer:
The X32 Producer packs a boatload of the X32 capabilities into a smaller form factor, allowing you to handle nearly any project. The producer is rack-mountable and equipped with 16 MIDAS designed mic preamps.

X32 Rack
RACKMOUNT USERS WILL LOVE THIS. The X32 Rack has all of the power of the X32 in a 19" rack-mountable unit. This is 3U digital mixer for live and installed applications. It's essentially a revolutionary new product that combines the best analog I/O and powerful digital connectivity with ample processing for 40 channels, 25 buses, and 152 signal sources. Get ready rackmount users...this. is. sick.

X32 Core:
"Get all of the power into a single rack space!" they said. "It'll be fun!" they said. Whether or not it was fun to build it, the X32 Core is epic. Combine the X32 Core with digital snakes to easily run sound with high I/O counts in multiple locations. The Core features a 32 x 32 channel USB 2.0 audio interface, along with iPad and iPhone apps for remote operation...free of charge!

NAMM 2013: OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - Avid to be Bundled With Akai and M-Audio

inMusic, the umbrella of Numark, Akai, Alto, Alesis, and most recently M-Audio has broken the boundary that often seemed to separate Akai from Avid Pro Tools. They have recently announced that an abridged version of the popular software, to be called Avid Pro Tools Express, will come bundled with certain Akai Professional and M-Audio Products. It's the first time that the software has ever been included with hardware from an outside manufacturer.

M-Audio was acquired by inMusic in July of 2012, allowing the 5 sister brands to create collaborations that have made them all an integral part of the DJ and music production industries.

Starting this year, a handful of M-Audio keyboards and Akai Professional products will come with the Pro Tools Express, which is a lesser powerful version of Avid Pro Tools 10. We're almost positive we'll know at least a handful of the products when we walk into the NAMM 2013 show.

NAMM 2013: OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Numark's Orbit Is Out of this World

Time to hold the power of DJ'ing in the palm of your hands. Numark has announced the Orbit Wireless Handheld MIDI DJ controller, complete with a 2.4 Ghz wireless control device that's going to allow you to control nearly any DJ software at the push of a button. The single jog wheel allows you to control the music depending on the channel you need.

Enhancing your "remote control" is the 16 backlit pads that will give you a little more flexibility with cue points and sampling where necessary.

The lithium-ion battery that's included should give you at least 8 hours of power before you need to re-charge, but that has yet to be confirmed by Numark.

Relatively speaking, this is a simple controller that's going to prove useful to mobile DJ's. We're thinking price could be as low as $99. Rumor has it is that it's super fun to play on, so while it's not an advanced controller, there's some playtime to be had. We'll definitely be shooting some footage at NAMM 2013.

NAMM 2013: OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - Numark Unveils NS7-II

We've been waiting for a new controller similar to the NS7FX, and that's exactly what we're going to get a NAMM 2013. The NS7-II is the latest of Numark's powerhouse controllers. All DJ's wanted from Numark was to see another motorized platter on their controller.

The MPCDJ that was previously announced appears to have taken some of the role in this controller. Each deck is outfitted with Akai style MPC pads that are velocity sensitive, which is surely going to make this a competitor to the Pioneer DDJ-SX.

Each motorized pad is complete with 33 and 45 rpm options, and offers 3600 ticks of resolution.

Icing on the cake? This is a controller with metal housing, which we have all come to love in our controllers. The Numark NS7-II comes complete with an integrated laptop stand (YES!) and Serato DJ software.

This should be an awesome video once we get in front of it, so make sure to stay tuned for prices and release dates.

NAMM 2013: Numark, Alto, Akai and Alesis to Announce Releases Wednesday

For the last week, sister companies Numark, Alto, Akai, and Alesis have all been teasing their fans with up close and personal looks at some of the new product that's going to be hitting the market. Today, all four of the companies officially announced that they would be declaring their new products tomorrow, one day ahead of the official opening of NAMM 2013.

We've never been let down by these four powerhouses in any way, shape, or form. Their desire to move technology forward and bring about unique ideas to the sound and DJ industries is uncanny. Personally, we've signed up for all of the releases, and we'll keep you posted as soon as we hear more.

NAMM 2013: OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Chauvet's Freedom Series Grows

While it might only be a peek into the 30 or so products that Chauvet is going to be bringing to NAMM 2013, they might as well be our favorite's already. Over the last year the FreedomStrip Mini and the FreedomPar have been huge sellers in the DJ & stage lighting industry, so it's only fitting that Chauvet continue to grow on that success.

With the Slimpar64 RGBA being released midway through the year, it became quite clear that the RGBA version of both the FreedomPar and FreedomStrip Mini would soon be released, and it's time. The The fourth color in the LED mix allows you to better create amber-tinted colors, which can be a bit difficult to achieve with just an RGB light. The build comes at what seems to be an influx of feedback from mobile DJ's that are finally going to get what they want.

Additionally, the Freedom Quad 5 series will also take the stage at NAMM 2013. With the same great wireless functionality as the originals, Chauvet is serving up what appears to be 5 Tri-LEDs (Could they be Quad-LEDs??) in both a Strip Mini and Par format, with the Par also available in a sexy white, which decorators will surely enjoy.

This makes 5 products that we know about from Chauvet...only 25 to go.

NAMM 2013: OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - Pioneer XDJ-AERO White

While the XDJ-AERO might have seem slightly underrated in the last year, the fact is that it's an epic controller with amazing wireless functionality. It actually creates a password protected network for your phone to connect to, and lets you load music right from your phone. Surely, we've seen this thing in action and believe that it's one of the best tools for the mobile DJ.

Now, Pioneer has announced that they will officially be releasing the XDJ-AERO at NAMM 2013. As if the layout of this controller wasn't sleek enough, we're almost certain that the Pioneer XDJ-AERO will have the same great look as last year's CDJ-2000/DJM-900 White Setup.

NAMM 2013: Ultimate Support's NAMM Digs

Last year, Ultimate Support was one of the few pro audio accessory manufacturers to produce an impressive NAMM booth. With the release of the HyperPad and the HyperStation, Ultimate Support came out strong, and we think that this year is going to be no different. While we're uncertain what Ultimate Support will bring to the table, we think they're going to have an impressive lineup of gear for both musicians and DJ's alike, so make sure to follow us as we head over to their booth at NAMM 2013. 

NAMM 2013: OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Pioneer Platinum Edition

The teaser was just the beginning. Pioneer has officially released a video debuting the Pioneer Platinum Edition for NAMM 2013, which consists of (2) CDJ-2000nexus, the DJM-900nexus mixer and the RMX-1000 controller. The LEDs on each have been enhanced with blue and white LEDs while the tops of each piece of gear have been resurfaced with a platinum chrome face that gives it a reflective look.

While we loved the white series last year, these things are going to blow them out of the water. This is officially one of our first stops as we head into NAMM. The gear has already stood out in the past as a standard for DJ equipment.

We're particularly attracted to the CDJ-2000nexus, which is given a platinum chrome jog wheel, while the sides appear to have a flat, metallic look to them. Check out the video below and drool away. These are also a limited edition setup. Our guess is there will be 1,500 complete setups worldwide.  As soon as we have more details, we'll get them to you, but something tells us these will go faster than the white. Gorgeous.

NAMM 2013: American DJ Going Big Again

Last year, American DJ commanded one of the largest areas on the main NAMM floor. At Namm 2013, it appears that the same will certainly hold true.

In most cases, American DJ has a team of people that go from show to show, creating epic setups that more than adequately show off what ADJ has in store for fans. The lineup of new products from American DJ includes new products already out, including the Matrix Beam, some amazing Tri-LED lighting and a few other goodies.

Make sure to stay tuned to the NAMM 2013 blog as we continue to bring the awesomeness during the show.

NAMM 2013: What's in the Box, Korg?

NAMM 2013 doesn't officially kick off until Thursday morning. However, manufacturers are already in the house getting their set ups ready. Some manufacturers spend big bucks to promote new products, including artist signings, major performances, and elaborate setups that captivate the audience all weekend long. To put things into perspective, while we're simply planning out the several days that we'll be at NAMM, Korg is already hard at work, as you'll see in this picture to the right.

Korg has been pretty tight-lipped about new products, as are most manufacturers. However, past experience tells us that they'll be sure to please both dealers and NAMM guests with their shows and presentation. Making a big statement is part of Korg's history at NAMM, and we don't expect this year to be any different.

We can almost taste NAMM, it's so close. Make sure to keep watching our blog.

NAMM 2013: Pioneer's Time to Shine

While our predictions aren't spot on, they're often close. Pioneer has unveiled this image on their Facebook page. Forget the brilliant white that you know about. Make sure to wash your hands before you touch these beautiful pieces of DJ equipment. Needless to say, we're drooling already.

The entire set up appears to consist of the (2) CDJ-2000 Nexus, (1) DJM-900 Nexus, and the RMX-1000 in an amazing, reflective shine. We're not going to jump at saying that it's chrome, but it certainly looks that way. We'll get a little more info on that when we're in front of this amazing setup.

You'll also notice that while the area surrounding the job platter of the CDJ is reflective, the sides appear to be silver, which is going to complement the entire set up quite well.

We're assuming that this will be a limited edition release, much like that of the CDJ/DJM Whites from NAMM last year, so if you want one of these, make sure you contact us to keep you informed as much as possible. If it is a limited edition release, you can bet that you'll have to buy the whole set.

For now, we'll just keep drooling over this photo.

NAMM 2013: X-Laser is feeding us Scraps

As if the NAMM 2013 hints weren't obscure enough, X-Laser has recently released an image regarding their new products...the leftovers. X-Laser's line of lasers have been mind-blowing as it is, with several releases over the last year that would stun any crowd.

We're not even going to begin to guess exactly what they're releasing, but we will venture to say that it's going to be epic. Clarity, color, and epic laser patterns have all been a part of X-Laser, and they aren't going to disappoint at NAMM 2013. Whether you're looking to plaster your logo against a wall or simply create an intense beam of light, there's most likely an X-Laser with your name on it.

Needless to say, this image simply isn't fair to us or to our customers. X-Laser owes us a drink. We'll collect at Anaheim. Thanks guys.

NAMM 2013: Chauvet to Release Nearly 30 New Products

Mobile DJs and musicians alike have something to celebrate about when it comes to their lighting and stage effects. Chauvet has announced that they will release more almost 30 new products at NAMM 2013 in Anaheim, CA. 

The Buzz Words...

Chauvet recently posted an event invite to NAMM 2013 on Facebook, with the following description. We've gone ahead and highlighted the words you should probably pay attention to. 

"To best showcase the latest gear, the 60-by-30 foot Chauvet booth will be constructed using nearly 300 pieces of TRUSST® — the versatile, easy-to-use trussing system backed by Chauvet. In addition to the launch of the new CORE™ series of high-impact fixtures, new additions are set to join the Intimidator™ series of powerful moving heads and scanners, the Freedom™ series of wireless, battery-operated fixtures and the SlimPAR™ series of low-profile wash lights. Headliners such as Intimidator™ Beam LED 350, Geyser™ RGB, Scorpion™ Burst GB, MegaStrobe™ FX12 and the SlimPAR™ Quad IRC series will also be on display. "

If you didn't already know, the Intimidator series and the Freedom series have been big movers for Chauvet, particularly, Freedom has helped them lead the way in wireless LED lighting technology. So while the FreedomPar and the FreedomStripMini were big hits, we think that they were just testing the waters, and we're preparing to have our minds blown. Stay tuned...in the meantime, we're going to go ahead and accept the invite. 

NAMM 2013: The Gemini Insider

Gemini has long realized that they offer a competitive price point for some pretty rad DJ gear. Their ability to remain competitive while still keeping up with the technology that is digital DJing is simply uncanny. As with most manufacturers, they've got more fresh gear for NAMM this year, and they've been quite quiet about what it is...to the public. While we can't reveal all, we can offer up some goodies as to what to expect from Gemini at NAMM 2013. Gemini has, like many other manufacturers, been teasing fans with images like the one on the right.

Fill 'er Up ... Special
After the success of the Firstmix and Firstmix Pro, we think Gemini finally realized that it was their time to shine in the mid-grade DJ Controllers. We'll see lots of more features coming out of these bad boys, with some of them being things we usually only see on more advanced controllers.

4 Channels of DJ Controller Goodness
We've been impatiently waiting for a 4-channel controller from Gemini to see how they'd get the job done. From what we've seen so far, they're hitting the bull's eye. The 4-channel layout looks almost impeccable, and we can't wait to see these things in person to get a more hands-on feel for them.

PADS! FINALLY!
Gemini! Thank you Gemini! We're stoked to check out the look and feel of pads on Gemini DJ Controllers. The modestly priced manufacturer is going to give us a first-hand look at a DJ controller with pads, the first for these guys. Based off the production quality of the CDJ-700 and the CDMP-7000, we think they're going to bring us something that's as good, if not better than some of the competition out there.

That's all we're going to say for now. We're not ready to show off the goods, we'll do so at NAMM. Something tells us that pictures aren't going to do it justice.

NAMM 2013: Akai Shows Color

Akai Professional appears to have shown a little bit of color in their next line of successful controllers, err, beat production stations, err...whatever it could be. The fact is that they appear to have brought multiple colors into their pads, and their already sleek design appears to be taking a turn for the even better. The picture to the right was recently posted on Facebook, and leaves us wondering what they have up their sleeves.

Akai's sister company, Numark is said to be bringing the "next revolution in DJ equipment" to NAMM 2013, so we won't be surprised if Akai shows off a little bit of WOW factor as well.

We can only watch and hope that their new series is as sweet-looking as the MPC controllers from last year.

NAMM 2013 - Numark Drops a Hint

Numark has put out their first hint of what they're going to unveil at NAMM 2013. The image depicted on the right is said to be just a portion of their "next revolution in DJ equipment".

While they aren't giving the house away, we've got a couple of guesses as to what Numark has up their sleeve.

An Akai Partnership
Those pads look awfully familiar. While we can't see it looks anything like MPCDJ that was in development last year, we do believe that there's going to be some correlation here. We may be seeing the first pad-based controller come out of Numark.

We're Still Thinking Wireless
Numark and their sister companies proudly stood by some wireless technology last year, and we think that Numark is going to do the same this year. But just how wireless can you get with a DJ Controller?

It's Not a Game of Simon
Jokes are quickly being passed around about this image looking a lot like a game of Simon. We jumped at that too, but then we realized we're dealing with a DJ equipment company.

NAMM 2013: Crown's New Line of Amplifiers

While we can't tell much from the pictures, Crown appears to be unleashing a new family of amplifiers at NAMM 2013. Posted on the Crown Audio Facebook page on 1/15, the image is just dark enough for us not to be able to read the darn model number on the amplifier. 

Crown Audio only goes on to say, ""Coming Soon: The latest additions to the Crown Family. Stay tuned for more details over the next two weeks!" Coincidentally, NAMM falls smack dab in the middle of the next two weeks.

From the trends that have been coming out over the last year in terms of amplifiers, it's easy to believe that we may see some sort of wireless compatibility in relation to amplifier control. We've got a few other ideas, but, it's all speculation at this point.

• Ultra Lightweight Technology
• Color Touchscreen

In the meantime, Crown has just become a prime stopping point for us in the maze that is NAMM 2013. We'll keep you updated on this one!

Crown Audio has become a world-wide leader in the audio industry. Crown amplifiers and microphones are in use in all different aspects of audio. Major touring acts, local bands, commercial, church applications and recording all turn to Crown for uncompromised performance.

Pioneer DJ to Enhance Their Products at NAMM 2013...We Think

Making calls more than a few days before NAMM isn't something that anyone is actually that good at. Unless you're willing to risk your job with a manufacturer, most reps and product managers are fairly tight-lipped regarding what's going to come out at the biggest show of the year. Many of our guesses are based off of releases that occur during the year, as well as what a manufacturer has done in the past.

In 2012, Pioneer DJ made a decent splash with the CDJ-2000 and DJM-900 system in a brilliant white finish. There were only 1500 full sets available worldwide, and it only took a few weeks for them to get out. With the recent success of the DDJ-SX, we wouldn't be surprised at all if we see aDDJ-SX in white come forward for the taking.

However, one controller that has been highly underrated this is the XDJ-AERO. Touted by pioneer as a wireless controller for skateboarders, it seemed the marketing department of one of the largest DJ equipment manufacturers in the world took an odd direction for one of the most useful tools we've ever seen in DJ Controllers. The XDJ-AERO gives the mobile DJ the opportunity to be in full control, even while away from their controller. Connectivity is seamless and works unbelievably well. But the promo video below simply masks that, and that's where Pioneer missed the mark. NAMM 2013 would be the opportunity to stir some more buzz into an ingenious product. This would be the perfect opportunity for redemption.


While we'd love to say that there's definitely going to be something new up Pioneer DJ's sleeve, we're not fully confident on that...but we've been wrong before.  

Trusst Announces Two New Products Ahead of NAMM 2013

We're not going to let the ink dry before publishing new products when it comes to NAMM, so when we heard about Trusst's new portable Truss systems nearly 10 days before the show, we jumped on it.

Trusst, a sister company to Chauvet Lighting, has released details on the Goal Post Kit and the Arch Kit portable truss systems. The triangular style trussing makes the system even smaller than most "mobile" setups, while still being able to hold a ton of weight. Rumor has it that these new systems will fit conveniently into a Prius. We're sure your have a larger car, but we're out to get photos to make sure we get that point across. Portability, with a capital P.

Goal Post Kit

Trusst's new goal post kit was designed to hold Chauvet's MotionDrape LED, but can provide the perfect alternative for mounting lights and other backdrops as well. The simple numbered section system allows any entertainer to get this truss up in just a few minutes, and allows you to have a height of either 5.5 feet or 7.8 feet. As a portable system, it holds a beefy 600 pounds of weight, so while it's fresh to the scene, we're stoked to check this one out at NAMM 2013 for the first time.

Arch Kit

The Arch Kit is going to be quite the setup for enhancing the backdrop of any DJ or band, mobile or not. The quick release pins make this truss system a breeze to setup and tear down. You'll have 660 pounds of freedom for your lighting, provided you know what even distribution is (we'll assume you do). The arch feature lets this piece go higher while still being able to support your lighting needs.




For the non-believers, triangular trussing is the perfect alternative to make sure that you've got both portability and an amazing backdrop support for your lighting or drapes. From our point of view, we're looking forward to checking out both of these pieces.

Make sure to check out the rest of the Trusst product line as well.

NAMM 2013 - Numark Announces "Revolution"

Numark has recently announced "The Next Revolution in DJing". While we've seen some epic "revolutions" in our time, we can certainly say that we're excited to see what Numark has to offer. Coincidentally, that revolution is said be announced on January 24, 2013, which is the same day as the opening of the NAMM show in 2013 in Anaheim, CA.

Rumors have been circulating about the MPCDJ, which was, as of NAMM 2012, a product that was still in development. However, with the recent release of the hot-selling Pioneer DDJ-SX, we think that Numark is going to have to step it up a bit to really declare their new product a "revolution".

Our first instincts would tells us that the revolution would consist of wireless technology, which has been at the forefront of product development for Numark's sister company, Alto, with their bluetooth compatible speakers. But we still think that with the Pioneer XDJ-AERO out and about for a couple of months now, there's still going to be something stronger coming from Numark if they want to truly create a buzz at NAMM 2013.

Numark has had its share of ups and downs in 2012. While the Mixtrack Pro continued to be the best-selling DJ Controller, and the Numark NS6 and Mixdeck Quad remained wildly popular, the Numark 4TRAK seemed to have a "flopping" trait, with the price quickly dropping after only a few months of being on the market.

All in all, we're excited to see what new technology Numark has to offer, and we're sure that their lineup of new products are sure to please those in attendance at NAMM 2013.

Check out Numark's current lineup of dj controllers at Planet DJ - Numark.