Numark Total Computer DJ IN A Box

Someone was selling this in one of the forums and to be fair, I only just came across this. DJ controllers are everywhere now and many DJs have at least one controller in their arsenal. his one is no exception. What Numark has done is effectively package a controller, USB soundcard and a pair of headphones as a complete DJ mix-out-of-the-box kit. The controller has no built-in sound card, it has to rely on the supplied USB soundcard

The USB soundcard basically has two 1/4″ phone jacks in the front, one for the supplied headphones and the other for an optional microphone. Outputs at the back presumably for main and record. The Numark site is not very clear on them so I can only presume that is what it is, given the fact that this is what is available on my own controller, which is not a Numark by the way.

The controller itself looks pretty simple. It has all the basic functions with two jogwheels, a crossfader, and EQ knobs all laid-out in a DJ mixer format. The controller comes with Traktor LE so it looks like it is all ready to install in your computer and get rocking!

Will I get this? Probably not. There are other offerings from Numark and this looks like a very basic set. For the up-and-coming DJ that needs a set of tools for Digital DJ-ing, this would probably suit them fine.

PA-100 USB un-named PA system

I came across this rather interesting all-in-one portable address (PA) system and when I googled it, I found out that quite a few sound companies re-brand this and put their name on it. All I know is that the system is called the PA-100 USB. The reason it is called that is because you can use a USB stick as well as an SD card in the system for playback if you do not have any external sound sources like say a CD player or a laptop. I must say that this is the first time I have seen such an addition to a portable PA system and I must say that it is a novel idea. I wonder how much it costs…

Alesis MultiMix 8 USB

In my quest for a small mixer to take around to augment my DJ controller, I came across this mixer on the Internet. I am not too sure about the cost of this Alesis mixer but I am pretty sure that it is around the $300 mark, or slightly less than that. It has a built-in effects unit and it uses potentiometers instead of sliders for the channel outputs. The specs are given below:

• Compact, affordable 8-channel analog mixer with USB
• 4 high-gain mic/line inputs with phantom power, 2 stereo balanced 1/4” line inputs
• 100 28-bit onboard preset effects including reverbs, delays, chorus, flanging and pitch
• Works with iPad via Apple USB Adaptor (sold separately)
• 3-band EQ per channel
• Separate 1/4” balanced main and monitor outs, headphone out
• Integrated USB audio interface
• Mac OS X, Windows XP (32-bit) or Vista (32-bit) compatible
  
• Steinberg Cubase LE included
• Easy to attach rackmount ears available

Not too bad for a mixer, that even be rack-mounted. I have heard that they are pretty clean-sounding mixers. I might keep this in mind.

Audio-Technica AT2005USB cardioid dynamic microphone

I have always liked Audio Technica, but not necessarily their microphones. I have used their turntable cartridges and styli, their headphones, their mixers but not their microphones. I was very pleasantly surprised to hear of this. This is a hybrid microphone…of sorts. Connection-wise, this microphone can accept either XLR or USB connections. USB connections seem to be pretty common nowadays. It can be useful even for hooking this up to your computer to record your vocals. This microphone was unveiled at NAMM. Specs are, according to Prosound:

Element: Dynamic
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 50 to 15,000 Hz
Power Requirements: USB Power (5V DC)
Bit Depth: 16 bit
Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz/48 kHz
Controls: On/off switch; headphone volume control
Weight: 9.5 oz (268 g)
Dimensions: 7.20” (183.0 mm) long,2.01” (51.0 mm) maximum body diameter
Output Connector: USB-type and XLR-type
Headphone Output Power: 10 mW @ 16 ohms
Headphone Jack: 3.5 mm TRS (stereo)

It also has a durable metal construction (don’t you hate those flimsy-feeling plastic microphone cases? I know I do) and the price is pretty reasonable too. Worth checking out

New XENYX iPad mixers from Behringer

I had to do a double-take when I saw this on Engadget. Phew. Looks like Behringer is taking this iPad integration seriously. I do not have too much info on this right now but according to the press release on the Engadget website:

Behringer Introduces Revolutionary iPad Mixers XENYX iX3242USB, iX2442USB and iX1642USB

Three Premium Small Format Mixers with iPad® Docking Station Expand the Renowned XENYX Series

January 18, 2012 Bothell, WA – Just in time for the 2012 NAMM Show, BEHRINGER unveils three small format premium mixers that directly interface with the ever-popular iPad. Drawing on the power of the most ubiquitous mobile digital device, the XENYX iX Series mixers are designed to handle live performance and provide state-of-the-art tools to create professional recordings. Users can also sync performances to video by utilizing the iPad’s video out capability.

iX1642USB
The new XENYX iX Series, which include the XENYX iX3242USB, iX2442USB and iX1642USB, feature a built-in iPad docking station designed to send signal to and from the iPad with a wide range of routing options.

The innovative feature set included in the new XENYX iX Series USB mixers makes it possible to record and mix on a professional level thanks to the built-in, stereo USB audio interface. Connect these mixers directly to a PC or Mac computer via a single USB cable to record any signal source connected to the mixer.

All iX mixers include the new dual-engine KLARK-TEKNIK FX processor with 32 editable, studio-grade presets such as reverb, chorus, flange, delay, pitch shifter and multi-effects. In addition to literally thousands of apps, the iX mixers use the iPad to control the new KLARK-TEKNIK FX Processor App, enhancing the mix by allowing the user deep control of EQ’s, compressors and reverbs and a full spectrum analyzer.

iX2442USB
The iX series mixers also feature high performance XENYX mic pre amps, which represent a major step in the evolution of audio technology. Comparable to far more expensive, stand-alone mic preamps, XENYX preamps offer a staggering 130 dB of dynamic range, with a bandwidth that extends from below 10 Hz to 200 kHz for transparent, crystal-clear performance.

XENYX mixers’ 3-band channel EQ is based on the same circuitry used in British consoles that allows users to create signals with incredible warmth and detailed musical character. Additionally, “one-knob” compression is available on all mono channels. Dial in the perfect amount of compression for instruments and vocals, creating powerful mixes with punch and clarity.

“The new XENYX iX mixers demonstrate the innovation that stems from our massive investment in Research and Development,” says Mark Wilder, VP of Marketing Communications. “These are the first of many more ground-breaking products to be announced at NAMM 2012.”

This is gonna get exciting!

Ferrite core uses

I use a special USB cable for my Hercules DJ controller to my IBM x61 notebook. When I bought that Hercules controller, I was supplied with the afore-mentioned USB cable and all was well. However, I began to think…what happens if the supplied cable screws up? So after digging around my spare parts box, I came across another USB cable except that cable did not come with a ferrite collar like the supplied USB cable. So I went down to the local hardware cum electronics store and bought myself one.

According to Wikipedia:

Ferrite beads are used (in a way similar to inductors) as a passive low-pass filter. The geometry and electromagnetic properties of coiled wire over the ferrite bead result in a high resistive impedance (resistance) for high-frequency signals, attenuating high frequency EMI/RFI electronic noise. The energy is either reflected back up the cable, or absorbed resistively within the ferrite core and dissipated as low-level heat. Only in extreme cases will the heat be noticeable.

So in a nutshell, it prevents interference in the cable from RFI. The last thing you need is a song skipping in the ,middle of the set. So a $3 investment fixed that. Go and get one for your DJ controller USB cable now! It just might save your ass.

Aztech HW550-3G router

I had this Aztech HSDPA router for about a year. It gave sterling service but after I changed to the D-Link portable 3G router, I had no more use for this and gave it away to a friend of mine. The D-Link is smaller…much smaller than this one and much more portable so that is why I gave it away, even though I still think that this router performed brilliantly. I was able to use my HSDPA USB dongle on this…it was compatible with it and also compatible with heaps of other 3G dongles. And if it was not, nothing that a firmware update would not fix. So would I recommend it? I sure would. Its a great machine and worth the money.

Hercules DJ Console MK4

I bought this Hercules DJ Console MK4 MIDI controller today. Cost me less than $300. Pretty well-built unit for the price and performance is pretty good. You get Virtual DJ LE with this and it is more than good enough for what you may put this baby through. I hooked it up to an old Lenovo Thinkpad X61 and it was able to handle the goods. These were some issues with some MP3s but I put that down to the old computer and the dodgy USB port. I was mixing with it for a greater part of this evening. The only downside is that it does not have gain controls. But for the price, you pretty much a have a solid unit. My first foray into the digital world. Lets hope the digital world is kind to me.

Mini USB to micro USB converter

What happens when you have lots of old Blackberry chargers with mini USB connectors but you need to charge a device with a micro USB charging port? Simple. You get a converter, like the one above. I got one for about $5 some time back and it helps me charge my Motorola Defy phone with no issues at all. The only issue I can see is the fact that when hooked up to a mini USB data cable, you cannot transfer data though it. I need to use the supplied data cable that has a micro USB on it. But this little utility is very useful when I need to charge my phone outside my house and I do not have a micro USB charger. Not a bad investment, don’t you think?

Sandisk Blade thumbdrive

Have you ever had one of those thumbdrives that are too big to fit into the USB slots of computers? I used to have a Sandisk Microskin 4Gb thumbdrive but it looked like the drive was on its last legs. So I decided to get a 8Gb thumbdrive, but not any thumbdrive. I then decided on the blade, like the picture you see above. Cost me about $15.90 and I am very please with it. Small, in-obstructive and very light, it fits nicely on my keyring. Hope it lasts longer than the previous 8Gb Microskin I got from Sandisk!