Hercules has a booth at the Consumer Electronics Show this year, and is one of the few companies that shows products at both CES and NAMM, despite the two conventions being just a few weeks apart. They’re showing a brand new product, the DJControlWave controller, a wireless controller for iPad DJ softwares. Have a look at the unveiling video below and then scroll down for more specifics on the product itself:
CONTROL LAYOUT
The DJControlWave has a control layout that feels similar to the Pioneer DDJ-WeGO – small and compact, with controls and lights that focus prominently around the 4″ capacitive touch jogwheels (notice the curved Sync, Cue, and Play buttons at the bottom of the jogs). Two channels of control, a crossfader, and three EQ knobs are the expected controls, but there’s also a master volume control knob, flanked by loop encoders and horizontal pitch faders at the top of each deck.
Above the transport layer is a second angled layer that the iPad rests on into – this is where the Bluetooth 3.0 module is located. The numbered labels to each side control FX, cue points, and samples. All of the controls seem to have a simple blue LED backlight,
WIRELESS AND RECHARGEABLE – BUT NO SOUNDCARD
The DJControlWave is just a wireless controller for iPad software, so there’s no soundcard or audio interface on the hardware itself. The only port is a USB charging port, used to recharge the battery which can last up to 8 hours. The controller also has a standard Bluetooth pairing range, meaning that you can pick up the iPad and continue to use it with the controller up to 10 meters (32 feet) away. The only issue is that since there’s no sound card, the iPad will continue to needs to be plugged into the sound system – or you’ll need to pair it to a wireless Bluetooth speaker.
DJControlWave works out of the box with DJUCED for both iOS and for Mac/PC desktops – Hercules’ own DJ software that works very similarly to Algoriddim’s djay. The controller will be available starting Spring 2014, with a MSRP of $299.99.
Learn more about the DJControlWave on Hercules’ site.
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If this controller works on a computer that would be more useful ! imagine the possibilities with that, plug the computer to the sound, sit in the couch and pretend to your friend you can dj while turning the filter 😀
Its a Joke, i would not even reckommend this piece of junk to my worst enemy.
This is the bad side for djs and gearjunkeys, produce a product that only caters to beginners that have no intention or stamina to cope with djn all the same.
And as mentioned before, show a product, ad some “trending” music and slab att sticker or show a moving crowd, dj and viola, instant success.
Im so tired on the cheap bad quality and wear and tear mentality, also the typical computer nerd flaws we have fought for a decade, the “patch”, well was the firmware wrong and your players / computer broke, hmm sorry about that, well patch up next time, and in the meantime we try try to fix your player, sorry again, we changed our warrantypolicy from 3 years to one year, and yeah you players are 1 year and 1 month, so sorry, you got to buy new shiny stuff, again!
Buy. buy. buy, buy
When can we expect hardware with a decent price and a decent shelflife i wonder!
If i buy players for $3000 i expect them to be the pinacle of excellence and to work accordingly, not have to update or get bugs like an infested old apartment.
This selfservice / firmware updating, bugriddled softwares and greed has got out of hand!, sombody call SWAT
always for ipad and samsung c for when
Imagine a controller… With two full decks of high resolution control, a 3 band dj eq, and ios compatible. Just imagine the possibilities…
Think if djs actually knew what they did, would be even better, trying to reach the moon and they dont even got rocketfuel or a rocket.
Soo much technology, and how much do the majority use?
20-30 maybe, for some it would suffice with a Play, cue and a syncbutton, not even use to ad a pitchslider cause that is in the way!
It look so cheap and useless… I really hate the marketing project : Add some bad dubstep, crowd lights from nightclubs and it’s done…
The product itself bring nothing new.
The biggest issue with the video (which took me a third watch to realize) is that it doesn’t show the product functioning at all or doing anything.
I wish companies would do a better job of asking themselves: “who is our target market?” and “What are they looking for in a product?” when creating marketing materials like this style of hero video.
I really don’t know where someone would use this… Maybe in a Gazebo during Summertime? Perhaps a Youth Center? Camping with friends?
the jogs having no depth doesn’t make sense when there are faders and knobs sticking up already. why wouldn’t they give them a little depth?
Probably something to do with cost.
one potential problem would be connecting a sound card the connection cable will be in the way of one of the 2 FX/Cue/sampler parts
Indeed. I’ll be very interested to see how they have it set up at NAMM. The wireless bluetooth speakers option seems promising – but need more information on latency in order for that to be a good solution for DJs
I’m not a fan of wireless audio. Simply turning on a brushed motor nearby causes audible interference. Blue tooth also adds a layer of compression which again is not ok.
Like that would matter or bother someone as many plays mp3s, on real bad soundsystems, so no, i dont think static is the worst problem.
Personally i would never put my rep on the line using wireless systems like this, microphones is one thing, they can be changed out with ease.
where the iPad headphone jack sits will be in the way of the left side FX/Cue/Sampler part…
…and I’d bet that the headphone splitters that are available will be in the way big time…
with these things getting in the way like this it kind of feels like Hercules either did not think this design through completely –OR– they have some very limited use cases that it was designed for.
and that might not be completely Hercules’ fault given the restrictions Apple puts in the way of hardware and app makers in the iPad world.
that bluetooth option for speakers — aren’t there possible fidelity losses as well due to the bandwidth restrictions on that channel?
Couldn’t you simply turn the iPad 180 degrees to have the audio output on the upper right corner?
that is a good point that shows just how your own usage patterns blind you sometimes to other possibilities…
i always use my right thumb to tap the home button when using my ipad in landscape mode. it never dawned on me to flip it like that because of how i use it…
good catch.
with how often apple is likely to change adapters this makes total sense for a casual mixer. plus it can be used as a USB controller for other programs- I like the idea- though the dedicated ipad slot is pretty ugly. maybe they can make one the folds away for the next version.
i think it is way overpriced at $299 for the casual mixer…
for casual mixers, i think half that price is a tad high…
yeah, didn’t notice the price, shame.