ION Discover DJ – Turn Your Computer Into a Turntable
ION’s Discover DJ computer DJ package offers budding Pete Tongs an affordable way to start spinning records without breaking the bank on professional gear like turntables and mixers. The controller and software package combine into a virtual DJ rig on their desktop PCs.
MixVibes Cross LE software analyzes music libraries and automatically matches track BPMs for smooth mixing. Virtual decks and mixers come equipped with large performance platters, crossfader, and controls, offering users plenty of features to ensure an excellent DJing experience.
First Impressions
The ION Discover DJ is an inexpensive controller designed to introduce amateur DJs and producers alike to the art of spinning wheels of steel. Acting like a USB MIDI controller, this product turns your computer into a virtual turntable and mixer decks while its software, MixVibes Cross LE, analyses each track’s speed (in beats per minute), then syncs them across both decks.
This device enables you to scratch and cue tracks, move them forwards or backward and mix them like physical turntables. There are basic EQ controls and cueing buttons, but its most impressive feature is its 6″ jog wheels which run extremely smoothly yet touch sensitively; their top, sides, and center spindle all respond when touched – they even offer “scratch mode,” enabling users to turnback tracks by pressing them.
Discover DJ is dominated by an expansive display of matched beat waveforms that you can switch through various views to suit your mixing style. By default, it offers a mixed view with deck/mixer controls at the top and library at the bottom – but you can also switch to a single deck view if preferred.
As a DJ controller, the Discover DJ needs to improve; for instance, there must be a headphone monitor socket to assist cueing and manual fader control for beatmatching. But its automatic track syncing feature works well, provided both tracks share similar styles and tempo.
Features and Specifications
Discover DJ is an amazingly affordable unit, yet it offers impressive value. Its smooth jog wheels and touch-sensitive spindle create a “turntable” experience, while the crossfader excels for such a low-cost piece of equipment, plus all essentials like auto sync for matching tracks’ beats!
This USB computer DJ controller aims to introduce future Grand Master Flash to the art of spinning the wheels of steel. It works with MixVibes Cross LE, which analyses your music collection to ascertain each track’s beats per minute speed before enabling virtual decks similar to vinyl or CD decks for playing your tracks back on virtual decks akin to traditional vinyl or CD decks.
The controls on this controller are easy to use, allowing you to easily modify each track’s EQ settings using its dedicated knobs. Furthermore, stereo line-outs allow for connection to a mixer while there is even a headphones jack so you can listen in.
Take note: if you’re considering purchasing this turntable, read through its manual! It will answer every query regarding mapping and software use. Learning can take some time initially, but it will make music come alive once familiarized! No matter your skill level or experience level, this setup is worth looking at!
Performance and Ease of Use
The Discover DJ is a budget controller intended to introduce budding digital deejaying pros to digital deejaying. Included software MixVibes Cross LE can analyze music on your computer and determine its beats per minute (BPM), enabling it to beatmatch tracks by automatically synchronizing their tempo and key. Hence, they play at precisely the same time when loaded onto any virtual decks.
Virtual decks are controlled by six smooth-running, touch-sensitive jog wheels that work just like physical turntables – as long as you avoid trying to scratch, these responsive wheels control audio flawlessly and audio fidelity perfectly. Unfortunately, when you let go of one wheel, the track reengages at its average speed, which makes spinbacks impossible even with scratch mode active.
Discover DJ provides a visual representation of each track you have loaded onto one of its decks. This can be particularly helpful to novice DJs as it gives total, scalable views of both tracks plus their matching beat waveforms for easier mixing and beatmatching when your tracks have been adequately prepared through iTunes tagging.
Cross also allows you to assign hot cue triggerings directly from keyboard keys for each deck in your set, appearing visually as highlighted waveforms on each track view of their respective decks. This feature can significantly enhance creativity during set performances and is rarely found on low-cost entry-level DJ hardware.
Compatibility
With ION’s Discover DJ controller, aspiring Funk Master Flex DJs can finally test whether they have what it takes to spin the wheel of steel without spending hundreds on new vinyl turntables and mixing decks. Though not perfect for DJing, this device serves its target market well.
This MIDI controller connects directly to your computer via USB, making it plug-and-play for Mac and Windows computers without drivers or power adapters – perfect for easy use with existing music libraries, yet compatible with almost all computers – though headphones won’t work.
MixVibes Cross LE, included with this turntable and mixer set-up, analyses your music to measure its beats per minute and syncs each virtual deck automatically – similar to how traditional turntable and mixer setup works.
The Discover DJ also has basic mixer controls that enable you to manage volume and EQ settings on each channel, slicers, loopers, and samplers, providing ample tools for remixing for professional results.
Worth Your Money
Discover DJ is an enjoyable device looks great and offers newcomers an excellent introduction to digital DJing at an amazingly reasonable cost. However, serious DJs may require more advanced MIDI controllers, while the lack of a headphone monitor socket makes beatmatching by hand almost impossible.
But if you can set aside gear snobbery and see this device for what it is – a cheap dual deck USB computer DJ package that works well enough to justify its purchase by most people interested in learning more about mixing, then go ahead and buy one – don’t expect it to become an alternative to DJ Hero anytime soon – I guarantee it will be lots of fun – have fun spinning! Happy spinning.
