Binding: Electronics
Brand: Hercules
EAN: 0663296205315
Feature: Portable controller for DJ mixing on a computer via the USB port
Is Autographed: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: Hercules
Manufacturer: Hercules
Model: 4780288
Publisher: Hercules
Special Features: Today?s digital technology is creating a new type of DJ. A great selection of fun DJ software now lets you mix MP3s just like a nightclub DJ or turntablist. Hercules? goal was to bring the tactile aspect of vinyl DJing to the digital world, resulting in the development of this groundbreaking new MP3/WMA/CD interface. DJ Console gives DJs a great sense of control, providing the ultimate mixing experience with endless creative possibilities and opening up the field of DJing to a huge new audience.
Studio: Hercules
MPN: 4780288

• Portable controller for DJ mixing on a computer via the USB port
• Plugging DJ Control to your laptop makes a mobile beat DJ machine
• High precision wheels and buttons for DJ mixing
• DJing is easier with real DJ controls than with a mouse or a keyboard
• User-friendly software

DJ entertaining gets better and easier with this mixer that hooks up to a Windows PC. Suddenly, DJing is more fun, easy, and powerful. 3 Faders 6 Equalization Filters System Requirements Minimum Configuration - Pentium III and Athlon 850 MHz and higher / USB 2.0 or USB 1.1 port / 256 MB RAM and higher / Microsoft Windows XP, 2000 or Me / Sound card with headphone

Customer Rating:
Summary: Begining DJs
Comment: When I recieved this product I really didn't know what to expect. Since I got it, it has been so fun mixing and playing with songs. If your a beginner or new to it I suggest that you get this to start out with. Then work your way up the line.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: want to be a dj? get some real dj equipment!
Comment: let me guess...you want to be a DJ? so Do I. I ordered this product few month ago, and realize..what that hell am I doing? look this unit does not have a sound card so all you can do is mix music and it's hard to do that without a sound card, because you might need headphones to preview the next track. Not only that, but you cant play it on loud speakers or connect the unit to an amp. So go head and spent 100 dollars more on the MK2, its worth it. You will still not be stratified because you can't do much with the MK2. you want to do scratch? boy thats going to be hard to do with that small jog wheel. so my advise is get you some real dj equipment like mixer and 2 cdj or turntables

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Fun to use, good value
Comment: After using the virtual DJ software for a long time now, I felt I needed something to help me use multiple functions at the time (you can do only so much with the keyboard). I wanted something easy to use but functional, since I like to mix for fun. This one appeared to be nice fit. The reviews expressed before me are accurate as well. (As a footnote, I have a laptop running VDJ v5, one internal sound card with headphones for monitoring and one Creative External USB Soundblaster for main output)

Straight out of the box you get the mixer, a strap, user manuals, drivers and a special edition of Virtual DJ. Installing the drivers and software it's pretty straight forward. The Virtual DJ version you get is specially designed to work only if you have the Hercules controller connected, and all other options will be locked down. I guess this is ok, but I highly recommend getting a newer version of the software available on their website or other third party sellers, especially because of the fact that you cannot modify the way sound comes out of your PC. As I noted before, I have two sound cards in my PC, and it only allowed me to use one, which makes no sense.

As far as the mixer, the only real advantage I've seen is that it allows you to crossfade tracks more easily, since you have control of multiple knobs and levers at the same time (as opposed to the mouse). It has basic functions available, and some buttons map more than one action, so you'll be finding yourself pressing them several times to get something that you could do with your mouse in a second. The joystick located in the center is utterly useless, it's solely purpose is to select tracks from your list, but you can do it way faster with your mouse.

In summary, it's a very decent mixer, it grows on you, looks very cool, and it's ok if you plan to play with it for a while. Plus, you don't have a lot of options in the market in this price range. Yes, there a cooler and more precise mixers out there, but you'll be spending more than you really need to, since this mixer is just for fun. Don't think it will replace your keyboard or mouse, you will still use them because its faster sometimes. I was considering a slightly better piece of equipment for 129.99, a little extra buttons wouldn't have hurt.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Good for it's price
Comment: This works well enough for what it's worth. It's small and light, so can fit in a bag with a laptop pretty easily. The control response is a little laggy, but not too badly so. The biggest problem is that its Linux support is quite lacking. The Mk1 and Mk2 are easier to get working completely, although this can be made to behave with some effort. Hopefully the manufacturer will deal with this some time.

For an intro-level DJ console, this does the job well enough, and is probably ideal to see if you're willing to spend money on a more professional setup.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A lot of fun, but lacking pro (precise) features...
Comment: First, for you mac users out there, this is mac compatible (and works nicely with VDJ).

Second, you can stratch, and it will sound pretty good, but you sacrifice precision with these janky jogwheels. In order for them to be anywhere near to vinyl like, they would need to be touch sensitive and would have to spin. They do neither. So as excellent as this idea is, they really need to implement that in future generations. Also, the jog wheels could be a little farther apart. As they are you can easily accidentally hit one while messing with the crossfader (thus pausing the sound for a moment).

Next, the chosen feature set of this model perplexes me. Why the h does anyone need the joy stick with the two mouse buttons? Its not like laptop djs are going to use this instead of their excellent laptop touch pads to control VDJ or Traktor. Also, why have pitch controlled in such an un dj-friendly way on a little knob and not just throw in another set of sliders? Their design aim should be to make this thing as similar to he vinyl experience as possible.

Well thats all the criticism I have to speak of, although if I was on the design team, I'd definitely have more to say about how this box could be better.

And I am sure these little boxes will get better.

For its handful of irrational (arguably) design flaws, this dj box is a great way to start DJing or to be a nice little bedroom party DJ for your friends.

I wish they existed 10 years ago. They would have saved me a ton of money I wasted on vinyl.

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