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| Hercules DJ Console RMX
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It was over three years ago that I reviewed the first Hercules DJ Console software controller and audio interface. It was one of the first devices to combine mixer and playback controllers with a soundcard in one USB compatible unit, offering an affordable one-stop solution for DJs looking to move cautiously into the world of digital DJing. Although it was ground breaking, even in that review I suggested that for professional use a more robust casing and less crowded layout would be necessary. The latest offering from Hercules has been named the DJ Console RMX and has been developed as a professional version of the original DJ Console. In the years since the release of the first DJ Console a host of other similar products have been unleashed, some from well established professional DJ brands, and I was very interested to find out how the latest Hercules hardware fits into the current climate of DJ technology.
The DJ Console RMX operates as a controller for any MIDI compatible DJ software application and also functions as a four channel USB sound card. The device can be connected directly to a PA system and a set of headphones allowing the user to blend together music with the on-board mixer controls, but it can also be connected to two separate stereo channels of an external mixer for integration into an existing setup. The console also supports the connection of two external music sources and a microphone.
Having opened up the retail packaging I was pleasantly surprised to find the DJ Console RMX presented in a padded transport bag complete with a shoulder strap. The bag is similar in size, shape and style to a laptop carry-case; it certainly won't offer the same level of protection as a hard-body flight case, but it does make the DJ Console RMX easy to carry while protecting it from light bumps and scrapes. The unit is also supplied with a printed manual, a software CD and a USB cable.
The CD contains a simple installation interface offering DJ Console RMX drivers and Virtual DJ DJC for PC and MAC. The DJC version of Virtual DJ is a specifically configured version of Virtual DJ Light with a screen layout to match the DJ Console RMX and with each control mapped to an appropriate function. Although the supplied software is the 'Light' version of Virtual DJ, it offers all the features required by the majority of mobile DJs, however a 20 day trial version of the PRO version is also provided to allow users to decide for themselves if it is worth paying for an upgrade.
I found the installation process to be quick and painless, taking no more than five minutes from opening the box to playing my first track. The setup programme prompted me to connect the device half way through, which was detected straight away and I was soon playing digital music files from Virtual DJ and manipulating them using the console.
The DJ Console RMX is around 50% larger than its predecessor and a fair bit heavier due to its solid metal construction. The plastic fader and rotary control caps are silver to complement the brushed metal finish of its casing, giving the unit a professional look that is worlds apart from the previous DJ Console. This professional appearance is completed by the cool blue LEDs that have been used to backlight some of the buttons. As with many of the current crop of DJ software controllers, the DJ Console RMX is designed for tabletop operation, with large rubber feet on the base plate.
Written By Eddie Short |
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The full article can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 31, Pages 52 - 54 |
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Copyright EJ Media 2003 - 2010
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