Today marks the first day of NAMM 2016, and Hercules is coming out strong with the P32 DJ controller, designed for live remixing, sample triggering, and slicing. It’s essentially 32 three color pads with a MIDI mixer in the middle, a design that many live performance-focused DJs will find enticing and unique. Read on for the details on the Hercules P32 controller.
Hercules P32 DJ Controller
- DJ Gear: Hercules P32 DJ
- Manufacturer: Hercules
- Price: $249.99
- Availability: March 3, 2016
Pads As Decks For Everyone
We first saw a preview of this controller in a performance video (embedded at the end of this article) entered into our holiday fingerdrumming contest. The P32 DJ’s design is simple and brilliant, it’s an all-in-one controller with:
- effect racks control
- central mixing section
- 32 three color backlit pads for samples, slicer, loops, etc
- loop size dual digit displays
- built-in audio interface (two master out RCA and 1 stereo headphone out)
The P32’s array of controls make it pretty exciting for someone who wants to play loops, samples, and slices as their primary DJ workflow. It’s a really simple workflow, which we love (don’t overcomplicate DJ gear!) – with big chunky knobs as the filter/beat move control, a loop size encoder with display, and four FX knobs at the top of the unit.
Our open questions (which we’ll answer in a few hours on the NAMM 2016 show floor):
- How do all of the knobs and pads feel?
- Does the unit have easy-to-map functionality for other non-Hercules software?
- Velocity sensitivity on the pads?
- (add your own questions in the comments!)
DJUCED 40º DJ Software
Alongside the launch of this new Hercules P32 hardware comes an updated new DJ software from the company, DJUCED 40º. While for many DJs who are already entrenched in their own software, it might not be immediately appealing to move to DJUCED 40º, but considering that the new P32 DJ comes with the software, it’s likely to be a solid starting point for users starting out on this controller. It’s also designed to be plug-and-play and a completely integrated solution, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see many MIDI mappings popping up on DJTT’s Maps database from enterprising controllerists who want to use the P32 DJ with their software of choice.
Have thoughts or questions about this new controller? Hit us up in the comments below and we’ll ask the Hercules team for details. See all the NAMM updates here, or follow us on Twitter or Instagram for up-to-the-minute updates and unique insights.
Looks cramped, but I supposed they were kind of going for that.
I instantly thought about mapping for the remix decks and fx in traitor but that’s just me
looks like my new controller. too bad the pads aren’t full RGB. but for this price I’d even be ok with 1 color.
“Does the unit have easy-to-map functionality for other non-Hercules software?”
indeed. that’s the big question.
I plan to use it with a puredata config, like I do withh all my controllers. can pad LEDs be easily updated via midi message just like NI, livid, or midifighter hardware ?
BTW : pads as decks = future
This is maybe probably a more sensible controller for me than a DDJ-SP1 or a Reloop Neon in combination with my DJM850 vinyl setup…. More buttons, more versatile, and can use it stand alone. How big is it?
i feel like this is the most noteworthy thing to come out of namm so far, except maybe the pioneers. for me at least.
The mixars mixers seem pointless and theres not been much DJ related stuff so far.
Are the pads velocity sensitive?
Damn no inputs/soundcard this was always my reason for my Hercules purchases. I think I’ll stick to my old DJ Console RMX and MK2 😛
It’s a pretty control though.
You could use a different sound card with it.
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With some clever mapping, this could be great for Stems o.O
It looks kinda like a rearranged, small version of the Electrix Tweaker. At only $250, I think it will sell better than the Tweaker did at its launch (the Tweaker is only $100 now btw).
How did i not know about this?! And only a hundred dollars with a free case!
up till now i’ve been using a quneo and a mixer, but this is both!
Here you can find the “Factory Performance” made with DJUCED40 and the P32DJ : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS_cToCwxSc
It was done with the demo samples and tracks inside the software.
YO! HERCULES! HERCULES! HERCULES! https://youtu.be/PxYQQoYfMtQ … So where do I sign up! … Yeah depending on how reliable + user friendly the software is this might end up being my new live performance controller… Definitely one of the most innovative and original things I seen come out of NAMM 2016 so far.
I love your video ! I’ll sample it for the office 😀
Haha cool. Have fun 🙂
If only it had inputs and was a stand alone…
It would probably not be $250.
I’d be good with 3-400 with those features
how would you make it standalone ? the stand alone version of this is an MPC
While you are checking things, would love to know which knobs are also buttons and which are endless encoders. Also, do all 4 of the bottom transport buttons light up? I have some very cool mapping ideas in mind!
The 5 encoders on the top are endless and push buttons.
The FX and EQ are regular Knobs.
The All transport button lights up, but the “SHIFT” one can’t be midi mapped 🙁
What? The SHIFT button can’t be MIDI mapped? What do you mean? Does it not send a MIDI signal when the SHIFT button is pressed or do you just mean the software it comes with doesn’t have a way to remap it?
The Shift button send a Midi message, but the LED inside this button can’t be controlled by software.
That’s unfortunate. Hopefully they fix that before releasing it. However, it wouldn’t be much of an issue because shift buttons are typically active while held down rather than being used to toggle a persistent state.
YO! This looks real promising. How tight is the sample and sample deck integration with syncing with the rest of the decks and software? And yeah how are individual sample volumes and decks controlled.
I’m fully invested with Ableton, Traktor, & Serato software and libraries, but would switch to that DJUCED 40 with the quickness if it was reliable and did what I needed…
Ableton is ALWAYS on point, but I want the ability to play and loop random tracks on the fly without all the pre planning. Traktor’s remix decks are hit or miss. I wish NI would have developed the remix deck technology more or done a Maschine integration before jumping into stems.
Besides hoping for standard MIDI implementation for mapping, the question I have is power – USB only or AC adapter required? This and a Surface would make for an extremely capable, tiny setup.
It’s only USB powered !
And no drivers required.
One other thing. Are there only 16 sample slots available on each deck or is there a toggle function where you can have 64 samples on each side like in traktor and the f1?
Theres only 16 per deck with the brand new DJUCED40 update.
Maybe more in the future ?
Are the remix sets or whatever Hercules’ software calls it easy to change? I’ll definitely be changing samples mid performance
You can build sample by drag’n’drop loops from the “normal” decks, and save and export sample packs.
So if I understand you correctly, I should be able to change samples on the fly without any problems
Yes
Hopefully I can map this in conjunction with traktor to control both the remix decks with one controller.
Two questions
1. Can you run one deck as their “remix deck” with the pads and the other just a regular track at the same time?
2. Can you assign different colors to the pads like you would be able to with Traktor and the F1?
1- Yes you can !
2- No because it’s not RGB pads.
Only Red,Blue and Purple for different states.
Victo, thanks for all your answers here. Shame about no RGB. Are there brightness levels / blinking or exactly four states?
RGB are really expensive, to hard to be at 249$ with Rgb.
They are brigthness level on the pads and no blinking.
I for one would rather have more colors for pads than a mediocre built in sound card.
Very cool idea. Quite original take on it 🙂
Damn that price is awesomely low. Really looking forward for the pads quality…
A good question would be, “does the effect knobs control volume of the samples with shift or does the main master volume with the shift function controls volume of sample deck C and D”
You can control the sampler volume in SHIfT with the FX amount knob.
And you can control the Deck volume C&D with the SHIFT + Volume Fader too