Reviews
Allen & Heath’s Xone:43C: Quality Analog Mixer With Excellent Digital Features
Back in April, Allen & Heath announced the Xone:43 and Xone:43C mixers. The former is an analog-only mixer built for a range of skill levels, while the latter expands upon this framework with USB functionality, X:LINK capabilities, the ability to handle the Serato DJ Club Kit, and a DVS option [...]
Reloop Beatmix 4: A Good Starter Controller
Even beginner and intermediate-level DJs deserve quality gear, and Reloop, who has been introducing pieces in recent years that compete with Pioneer and Numark, has put out the Beatmix 4 for this purpose. A performance-oriented four-channel pad controller specifically for Serato DJ Intro, the Beatmix 4 presents a layout and [...]
Native Instruments’ Maschine Studio: A Bunch of Features Right at Your Fingertips
Out for nearly five years now, Native Instruments’ Maschine has set a new industry standard as a hardware-software beat-production workstation. Its functionality bypasses Akia’s MPC, while serving as a high-quality studio hub (but not a full DAW) with built-in sequencing, sampling, and loop slicing. Now considered Native Instruments’ top-tier groove [...]
Komplete Kontrol S-Series: Quality Feel, Excellent NI Software Integration
Announced in September 2014, the Komplete Kontrol S-Series, a line of three MIDI controllers, essentially supersedes Native Instruments’ flawed Kore line with an entirely new set of features and functionality. Three sizes – S25 for a 25-key keyboard, S49 for 49 keys, and S61 for 61 keys, all with a [...]
Komplete 10 Ultimate: More Sounds and Effects from One Software Package
Native Instruments excels in two regards: One, how easy its devices are to use, and two, the extensive palette its software programs offer. For the latter point, the variety and quality don’t just benefit the producer making a dance track but further prove to be an asset to those in [...]
Cerwin Vega’s P1000X: P-Series Power in a Smaller Package
Cerwin-Vega created a definitive product line with its P Series last year, and as of this past summer, they expanded it with the P1000X, a two-way, bi-amped full-range bass-reflex speaker. Out of the P-Series, this new model resembles the P1500X the most. Although smaller in size, and thus more portable, [...]
Reloop Neon: Getting Full Access to Serato
Serato’s one of the most popular DJing software programs out there, but frankly, the regular updates, the lack of compatibility, and the compromises you make with your controller sometimes make it a pain in the neck to use. These are just some of the reasons behind the development of the [...]
Denon Aims High With MC6000MK2
Denon introduced its DJ MC6000MK2 controller/digital mixer as a successor to the MK1. While it’s being advertised as being fully integrated with Serato, it enters with a slim yet solid steel design, plenty of features (you might even say too many, given its size), and multiple upgrades. To start, Denon [...]
Blend at Machine: Unpretentious Underground Dance Music in Boston
When you look at the decades of music coming out of the city of Boston, across multiple genres, it’s not particularly impressive. Rock’s relegated to group Boston or the Dropkick Murphys. Hip-hop’s face is Marky Mark, who won’t even talk about his brief rapping career, or one-hit-wonder House of Pain. [...]
Fostex PM0.3 and PM-SUBMini: Best Speaker and Subwoofer Pair for Your Money and Space
Not everyone has an expansive amount of studio space for recording and listening to their productions afterward. As well, not everyone has a huge budget to spend on gear or an endless amount of help to take supplies to a gig. But even when these factors appear to limit what [...]