Wicky wicky wicky.
DJing has changed dramatically since you destroyed your parents’ Boston albums emulating Jam Master Jay. The Numark iDJ2 lets you embrace the digital path of DJing without spending thousands of dollars on equipment and vinyl albums.
The mixer adds an iPod dock to a self-contained DJ rig. DJs-in-training import their music into the device’s library from an iPod or USB thumb drive. Navigating the file system and sending songs to their appropriate “turntable” on the easy-to-read display is intuitive, and after about 15 minutes, you’ll be swapping beats back and forth like a pro.
The top of the device contains myriad knobs, sliders, lights, and displays. At first glance it seems overwhelming, but you’ll soon realize you need them all to attain optimal def-ness on the turntable. Faders, pitch control, tri-band equalizer, gain and jog wheels give you incredible control over your tracks. The pitch control allows you to change the tempo of your selection for easier blending of tracks with slightly differing beats per minute. The biggest drawback is the actual scratching you can do on the iDJ2. The rubber jog wheel, while easy to grip, doesn’t replicate the feel of vinyl, and we found it difficult to consistently get a track back to speed after “scratching.”
The light, yet rugged, plastic case won’t take the same beating as a metal mixer, but it’s still sturdy enough to give users years of service before taking any serious damage. Numark gives you audio ports aplenty, and the sound quality is spectacular.
A great prosumer DJ rig with all the bells and whistles you need to bring it. Just don’t expect to become DJ AM with its less-than-stellar scratching capability
Unprecedented control of your music. Intuitive navigation system. More audio ports than you can shake a booty at.
Pricey for hobbyists. Scratching on the device is difficult.