When DJ’s started, gear was very expensive, so getting your own personalized gear was a difficult task. Nowadays, electronic apparels are much cheaper and this makes DJs work easier providing them with iPod compatibility, USB and MIDI ports, etc.
We will talk about 4 DJ consoles, Hercules DJ Console, Kontrol DJ, Behringer B-Control Deejay BCD2000 and M-Audio X-Session. All models costs less than $350, so they are quite affordable.
The Hercules DJ Console is a computer-based console that can be used as console and controller. With 2 vinyl-style jog wheels, it allows scratching but also song searching, crossfading to mix from two decks, knobs to control real-time bass, medium and treble levels and 2 rotatory encoders and 2 sliders to change volume, pitch or master tempo, also at real-time. It also has a a soft rubber for controlling DJ effects or emulate mouse.
It can record audio from instruments or audio devices with its inputs that include stereo line, mic stereo, digital (coax/optical) and MIDI. Outputs include 5.1 RCA + Jack 1/8″ headphone (with volume button) and digital (coax/optical) and MIDI outputs. It connects to any computer with USB port and it’s USB powered. Is compatible with almost all audio software applications.
Its price is approximately $230 and works with Mac and Windows.
Kontrol DJ is a console with less i/o ports than Hercules DJ, it only has MIDI and USB in and out. Its controls include 2 jog wheels, a crossfader, 4 faders, 2 encoders, 2 lever switches and 8 rotary dials. It also has 14 assignable buttons + 6 assignable special function buttons (midi cc number or midi note number and midi channel out). Buttons are high output illuminated. All actions made by the above controls are applied in real-time and all controls can be assigned to MIDI actions.
It connects through USB port with a public domain protocol and it’s USB powered. Open source drivers and SDK are available for Linux, Mac and Windows. It seems the most appropriate for DIYers or geeks.
Its price is 340€ (Spanish company) plus shipping and it’s available on its own website.
Behringer B-Control Deejay BCD2000 is a console similar to Kontrol DJ but much bigger. It has a 4 channel audio interface (2 master out and 2 1/4” headphone out) and comes with 2 phono preamps (one switchable to line) and mic preamp. Can work with MP3, OGG, and WAV. Its controls include 2 upfaders, 2 pitch controls, 2 jog wheels, 13 assignable rotary controllers and 37 assignable buttons in total.
With BCD2000 you can run up to 4 effects simultaneously in real time. The EQ is independent for each channel as loop buttons, pitch and level faders.
Its price is $150 approx, and you must take in consideration Behringer’s quality.
Last console is M-Audio Evolution X-Session. At first look, you can’t see any jog wheel and that’s strange for a DJ console but Evolution X-Session allows scratching too.
Evolution X-Session is a full assignable USB powered DJ console. It has 16 assignable MIDI control knobs, 10 assignable MIDI buttons, an assignable 60mm crossfader (for mixing and scracthing) and LCD screen display.
Works with Mac OS X and Windows and it seems more focused on mixing than on DJ tasks, but it’s an interesting tool. Price is $120 approx.
- Hercules DJ official site
- Kontrol DJ official site
- Behringer B-Control Deejay BCD2000 official site
- M-Audio Evolution X-Session official site
You can purchase at Amazon this reviewed products:
Wow man it looks very cool, I think the Hercules DJ consule sucks btw