Entered CNET Catalog: 04/20/2005
SKU: 4780380
Manufacturer: Hercules Computer Technology Inc.
Manufacturer description
Mix, scratch and control digital music in real time: AIFF, WAV, CD-Audio, MP3 and MP4/AAC. Solid design with phosphorescent keys for use under low-light conditions and parties. Tactile controls for vastly superior DJ mixing than with a computer keyboard. Play simultaneously 1 stereo mix for the audience while playing another stereo file in the headphones for the DJ to prepare the next mix. Add voice with a microphone while music is playing with Hercules DJ Console talkover attenuation and the volume button dedicated to the microphone input.Product summary
The good: Includes full versions of DJ software; wide selection of inputs and outputs; no external power required; controls can be assigned to other audio programs using MIDI.
The bad: Joystick is unreliable; digital scratching doesn't sound like vinyl.
The bottom line: Budding laptop DJs will appreciate the way this compact portable device turns any laptop into a DJ rig, but for pros, it doesn't come close to the sound quality and tactile nature of vinyl.
Average user rating: 
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 User Rating:
0.5 stars
out of 1 user reviews
This product sucks
Pros: Hardware is fine once the system is set up.
Cons: Impossible to get any support from Hercules.
Review: From the moment we opened the box, this product has been nothing but trouble. We have the same console for the PC and were very pleased with it. It was easy to install and set up. For the Mac, it has been a nightmare. A complete waste of time and money. I'm fairly savvy at installing software, so I thought it would be a snap. I followed the directions for registering the software and just when I thought I was done, got a message telling me the username was invalid. Tried everything I could think of but nothing worked. Then, lo and behold, there was an email in my box congratulating me on successfully registering the product! The email contained the username (which I had been told was invalid during the registration process) along with a password. When I tried to get tech support, using the password and username in the email the company had sent me, I was told both were invalid. The kicker here is that only registered users can get tech support. So I'm sitting here with an email saying the software is registered but can't get anywhere because I can't get tech support. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. Now the message pops up telling me I have 29 days left to register the product or I can't use it!!! This sucks to the max. I encountered the same scenario when registering the Hercules console itself. I tried calling the tech support number for Hercules and what a joke that is. All that happened when I called the number was that elevator music came on immediately--no message that said thanks for calling, hold while we are serving others, none of the stuff you normally hear when you call a tech support line.
Well, we decided that even though we couldn't get any support, we'd print out the manual and go ahead and load our music into the program. Ha!! That's another joke. I followed the instructions exactly as written and could not get the music from our iTunes Library into the program. If I'd had a problem setting up the Windows version or if I had problems with other software installation, I'd be blaming myself. This is just a poorly designed product that is user unfriendly. I have no way to reach either Traktor or Hercules. Even email fails. I hope someone from one of these companies reads this review because I am putting it on every site I can find until I hear from one of these jerky companies. This is a piece of trash and I am sending it back and hopefully will get a full refund. DO NOT SPEND YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY ON THIS ROTTEN PRODUCT.
Well, we decided that even though we couldn't get any support, we'd print out the manual and go ahead and load our music into the program. Ha!! That's another joke. I followed the instructions exactly as written and could not get the music from our iTunes Library into the program. If I'd had a problem setting up the Windows version or if I had problems with other software installation, I'd be blaming myself. This is just a poorly designed product that is user unfriendly. I have no way to reach either Traktor or Hercules. Even email fails. I hope someone from one of these companies reads this review because I am putting it on every site I can find until I hear from one of these jerky companies. This is a piece of trash and I am sending it back and hopefully will get a full refund. DO NOT SPEND YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY ON THIS ROTTEN PRODUCT.
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