Entered CNET Catalog: 09/03/2008
SKU: 0676762284516
Manufacturer: Numark Industries
Manufacturer description
The Numark iDJ2 Mixing Console for iPod is the only iPod mixing console that provides full control of your music with real - time scratching (via two jog wheels), pitch control, seamless looping, and full cueing. The Numark iDJ2 Mixing Console for iPod features a fresh and innovative new iPod docking system that allows users to play two songs simultaneously from a single iPod without the need of a computer. Users can also hook up multiple mass storage devices including additional iPods, Memory Sticks, and external USB hard drives through rear panel USB ports. In addition to USB connectivity, the Numark iDJ2 Mixing Console for iPod comes complete with line inputs for audio sources including a microphone, CD players and turntables. This extraordinary mixing console and portable DJ system is also the perfect "Podcasting" workstation. DJs can easily manage their music library using the Numark iDJ2 Mixing Console for iPod 's highly - intuitive graphic interface: the oversized LCD screen offers visual track - profiling. Numark iDJ2 Mixing Console for iPod supports multiple file formats including MP3, Ogg - Vorbis, AAC, and FLAC. The Numark iDJ2 Mixing Console for iPod also supports iPod docking and charging, to keep the music playing and the party going all night long.Product summary
The good: The Numark iDJ2 provides a professional, one-stop solution for DJing with an iPod MP3 player or USB drive. Features such as XLR output, video output, a built-in color screen, and multiple pitch-control modes can't be found in comparable products at this price.
The bad: The Numark iDJ2's plastic construction doesn't inspire confidence, there's no support for protected-AAC files, and there are no built-in effects.
The bottom line: Rockstar DJs may sneer at the Numark iDJ2's simplicity and iPod novelty, but work-a-day event DJs will appreciate the system's efficiency, keyboard search, sound quality, and portability.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 09/05/2008
Photo gallery:
Numark iDJ2
When Numark unveiled the first iDJ iPod mixer in 2005, the half-baked product required two iPods, and lacked many essential features. After three years back at the drawing board, Numark's iDJ2 ($599 retail, $499 street) finally makes good on the promise of a professional iPod DJ mixer.
Design
Compared with the hodgepodge of laptops, CDJ decks, mixers, and retrofitted turntables today's digital DJs are saddled with, the iDJ2's biggest selling point may be the neatness of its all-in-one system. Numark has managed to fit a two-channel mixer, music library, and DJ control surface all into a space measuring 16-inches wide by 12-inches deep by 3-inches high (including knobs).
The face of the iDJ2 is where all the fun happens. The centerpiece of the system is a slightly angled 4.25-inch color screen used to select songs and view playback status. An adjustable iPod dock above the screen uses a deep well in an attempt to keep your iPod out of harm's way. To the right and left of the screen are an identical pair of mixer controls, including knobs, buttons, faders, and jog wheels.
Like most traditional DJ mixers, all of the Numark iDJ2's audio connections are on the top edge of the console, with the exception of headphone and microphone inputs, which are conveniently located on the edge facing you. The bottom and sides of the iDJ2 are bare.
Overall, we're impressed by the iDJ2's ergonomic layout and attractive onscreen user interface, however, the all-plastic construction does feel flimsy compared to traditional analog DJ mixers.
Features
The Numark iDJ2's plastic design and iPod dock may attract a few chuckles from doubtful DJs, but its useful and professional features are nothing to laugh about.
With the iPod's accessory compatibility always in flux from year to year, Numark was smart to diversify the number of ways to get audio in and out of the iDJ2. Aside from plugging your iPod into the iDJ2's dock (Classic, Nano, and 5G iPods are supported), you can also load audio from a generic USB drive or route external audio through the dual-line and phono inputs located on the back. The iDJ2's outputs are also diversified, with balanced XLR and RCA outputs used for the main mix, a separate RCA-recording output, and an S-Video output for playing iPod video content on an external display.
Whether you're connected to an iPod or a USB drive (or both), all your MP3, WAV, or unprotected AAC music files get displayed on the iDJ2's prominent color screen. A decremented rubber knob beneath the screen lets you browse your music by track, album, artist, genre, BPM, year, playlist, or folder tree. Combined with a USB keyboard (not included), a search option allows you to quickly locate songs in your collection, making requests a breeze. Once you've found a track to play, you can transfer it to either of the two decks using the illuminated buttons below the screen.
After loading your songs, playing and mixing between songs on the iDJ2 is a mostly DJ 101 affair. You have dedicated controls for pitch, EQ, channel volume, crossfade, play, pause, and cue, as well as LED-lit volume meters on each side of the screen for keeping song levels consistent. Headphone controls on the front edge of the iDJ2 have independent tone and gain controls, a cue mix knob for previewing each of the two decks, and a switch that juggles between the program and prefader mix.
At first glance, there's nothing surprising about mixing with the iDJ2, however, Numark did throw in a few neat tricks. For instance, the pitch-adjustment controls include a key lock feature and can be switched between four different modes: 6 percent; 12 percent; 25 percent; and awesome 100 percent mode that can slow playback down to a full stop. The iDJ2 also includes a tap-tempo feature for quickly matching track BPMs between decks, and an LED sync grid above the crossfader, which offers a visual cue for the downbeat for each song. Efficient features, such as an on-the-fly DJ-crate playlist and automatic track loading, help eliminate tedious searching and loading of music.
Performance
The Numark iDJ2 isn't just a fun iPod accessory--it's one of the most impressive digital-DJ solutions we've seen in the $500 range. You don't get the endless tweaking and deep control offered by a laptop-based rig, but you also don't get the sound-card hassles and inherent unpredictability of a piecemeal computer-DJ setup. Think of the iDJ2 as a tidy, lean, and well-conceived DJ system that happens to have iPod support.
Sonically, the iDJ2 fared just as well as a laptop-based DJ rig with a professional-outboard soundcard, but don't expect it to hold up to the luxury of an Allen & Heath analog mixing deck. The three-band EQ for each deck was adequate, and didn't introduce any noticeable distortion or noise into the mix. We wish Numark had included an effects section of filters, flangers, and delays, or at least thought to add an effects-loop output for external effects--but it's not a deal-breaker.
In all, we think the Numark iDJ2 is a fantastic solution for working DJs who need something light and efficient to take out to weddings, proms, or events that typically call for deep and predictable catalogs of music and little in the way of flashy DJ skills. It's also a worthy system for amateur DJs looking for a professional, yet headache-free system.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7out of 7 user reviews
avoid like the plague
Pros: When it worked, it was fun to mix with
Cons: Inferior Akai processor makes this product unusable
The idj2 worked for about ten days and was actually quite fun to mix with. Then, it happened.....I couldn't load a track onto one of the decks. I took it back to the shop and they told me i needed to get it repaired as it was after the 7 days return policy.
What happened next was a total of eight times of taking the controller back for repair. From my experience, i learnt that the product contains two Akai made processors that are responsible for loading your songs from your i-pod/device onto each deck (One per deck). The processors kept blowing/burning out on me. In the end, the distributor told me that they couldn't repair it any more as they had run out of the Akai processors. My idj2 still had 5 months warranty on it but was broken and they wouldn't repair it. The distributor called Numark in Rhode Island and they told the distributor that they had no more chips too! The distributor showed me all the discarded units they had in their store room where customers had given up on them. About 20 that i saw.
A feeling of dread came over me and then fury!!!! I spent the next year emailing Numark in Rode Island and spoke to the returns manager, a guy called Michael. He seemed very nice and promised to help me. After six months of emailing him and getting no replies. He sent me an email saying that "Good News, Numark wil be taking care of you and i think you will be very happy with what we are going to do for you". I asked what that was but the guy wouldn't say. I thanked him anyway and he told me that he understood my situation and that he would be very upset if it happened to him. Cool, result!! So i thought.
That's the last i ever heard from Numark. They blocked my email and my idj2 is still sitting on a shelf at the distributors with the other 20 or so and is unable to be repaired. I contacted the consumer council in my country and they told me that it would be difficult to get a good result as Numark were in the US and i was in Hong Kong and that i may incur a lot of the costs of a legal fight.
I gave up! I paid and wasted about 400 pounds for this kit and all i can tell you from my experience is that i will never buy or touch a product made by Numark ever again in my whole life.
The bottom line; If you are going to buy a controller for this kind of money, go the extra dollar and buy something more well made and professional like the Traktor s4. Time, money wasted and a hard lesson learnt,
BUYER BEWARE!!!!
out of 7 user reviews
Great with some small drawbacks
Pros: Its compact, yet looks very professional. I am new to DJing and found it very easy to use. My partner has been DJing for 30 years and also switched over to the IDJ2.
Cons: The power supply cord that connects to the unit is too tiny and fragile. I've had my IDJ2 for 2 years and I am replacing that cord for the second time this year.
Trying to contact Numark Help didn't work as their 'Contact Us' didn't work.
The power supply cord that attaches to the unit is a tiny guage wire that breaks very easy. Its smaller than speaker wire. I've replaced the cord twice and have to replace it a third time. I was unable to find the part on Numark's web site. I was also unable to complain to them as their 'Contact Us' did not work. I was able to find a supplier that has the replacement part but at $25.00 a pop, its getting quite pricey.
I hope that the next generation of IDJ comes with a stronger guage wire that seperates equipment needed by a working DJ and a toy.
out of 7 user reviews
Awesome for playing at small gigs.
Pros: Good looking unit
Works well
All your music can be on an iPod, flash drive or hard drive
Crate function
Good price.
Cons: No effects
had a fews pauses when playing songs when cueing other song.
Cases are very expensive.
Wouldnt recomment it for big gigs as I've had music pause on me a few times.
Overall I like using this unit. Would suite biginners or home djs.
out of 7 user reviews
ALL IN ONE MAGIC BOX!!!!!!
Pros: Little or no setup time, portability, simplicity, abundance of inputs, awe inspiring design, fantastic sound, INCREDIBLY RESPONSIVE TECH SUPPORT
Cons: Lack of effects, sometimes buggy firmware, inability to record your sessions to an ipod or other USB devices
out of 7 user reviews
Easy to use saves carrying and making all those CD's
Pros: Easy to use layout
Cons: Nothing I Think its ideal
out of 7 user reviews
the most efficient and awesome thing since technics1200
Pros: i like the fact that i dont have to take my $2500.00 lap top to do what i can do with the ipod.
Cons: the fact that some time it gets a little jitter when u use the scratch pads while a song is playing on the other deck, buttons are small.could use an extra chanel for sampler ect, a choice of rotary knobs, some built in effects and extra hot starts
out of 7 user reviews
Ok for amateurs if you don't mind the hiss & hick ups
Pros: It's light (thank God for plastic..) and it has an integrated mixing table. The I-pod fits in smoothly and you can also attach a keyboard to search for songs, bands, bpm, year & files. Also you can connect a USB external HD and 2 cd-players (cinch).
Cons: Plastic, hiss, hick-ups (loading a song to one channel while playing the other gives a hick up in the song that's being played). I had a problem with one external connected cd player and it took 3 months to repair it..
Otherwise it's very cheap looking (but to my opinion not cheeply priced) and the quality of the sound is very bad (unless you play very very loud and you don't mind the hiss after you stop playing or when paused). I used it because I had a gig and had to fly over there (and taking 2 cdj 1000mk3's and a A&H Xone 62 was no option). OK, to compare these products is not fair, but I think it's too expensive for dj's doing a gig for under 300 euro/400 dollars a night and it's too amateuristic for professionals (like me..).
Overall: nice if you are an amateur dj, you have all your music on your I-pod and you have a problem lifting weights.
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