numark

Numark NS6 review: Pro gear melds analog and digital for DJs

We typically don't review pro audio gear at CNET, but once in a while a product will come our way that is such an obscene piece of gadget eye candy, we simply can't resist. Such is the case with the Numark NS6, a four-channel audio mixer and USB DJ controller with so many buttons and blinking lights that it feels like a control panel ripped out of the Death Star.

To see how well it performs and whether it holds up to the legacy of 2009's big, beautiful Numark NS7, check out our full CNET review of the NS6. … Read more

Top tech for real DJ heroes

With the upcoming release of the video game DJ Hero set to retread the path of the Guitar Hero phenomenon, you can bet on seeing a surge in amateur DJing. But unlike guitars, most people are pretty clueless when it comes to DJ tools. Strings, frets, and whammy bars are one thing, but crossfaders, EQ kills, and cue points are a different beast.

Local music stores have been doing a brisk business selling electric guitars and drum sets to ambitious Guitar Hero and Rock Band prodigies, but the game-to-reality upgrade path for DJ Hero isn't as cut and dry. … Read more

Battle of the Video Game DJ Rigs: Introducing Numark's Scratch Deck

If plastic guitars were 2007 and drums 2008, then the 2009 plastic-peripheral throwdown of choice is definitely the turntable. Whereas Activision showed off their goods in a Twitter leak a few weeks ago, Genius Products waited to spill the reveal of their Numark-designed rig, the Scratch Deck, until the days before E3. It's the centerpiece peripheral for the upcoming Scratch: The Ultimate DJ. First impressions suggest it's more compact than Activision's plasti-turntable, while also bearing greater similarities to the old Konami Beatmania controller.

The Scratch Deck has a spinning, "touch-sensitive" turntable, as well as a … Read more

Numark NS7 is God's gift to DJs

Over the years, thousands of DJs have made the transition from turntables to laptops, lured by the idea of carrying less equipment, and cramming huge music libraries onto their hard drives. Along the way, though, the physical act of DJing--cueing, scratching, beatmatching--became about as dull as pointing and clicking through a spreadsheet.

To solve the problem, manufacturers and DJs have been struggling to find the perfect recipe for blending the advantages of digital audio with the feel and spirit of analog DJ gear. The results have been a Doctor Moreau-esque island of misfit hybrids, ranging from retrofitted analog turntables (a … Read more

MP3 Insider 127: Prize patrol

Donald and Jasmine announce the winner of the Gears of War II Special Edition Zune 120, but first you have to listen to them talk about Apple's new In-Ear Headphones, some pricey single-minded iPod accessories, Donald's one year Zuniversary, a roundup of the top budget headphones, and a cool and creative reason to have a Rhapsody subscription.

Also this week: think up a creative Twitter alias for Jasmine for CES and get a chance to win a JBL On Stage Micro.

Listen now: Download today's podcast… Read more

Numark TTi rips vinyl direct to iPod

Need a quick way to rip your vinyl collection to your iPod? Well, that's exactly what the Numark TTi turntable is designed to do. Just plug in your iPod, get your vinyl spinning, hit a few buttons, and you're making a 16-bit, 44KHz stereo recording directly to your iPod--no computer required.

Before you start pulling your dusty record crates out of storage, you might want to read over my full review of the Numark TTi, where details such as construction quality, software usability, and overall performance are shown for what they are: mediocre.

Still, a turntable with a … Read more

Numark takes you from vinyl to digital

We covered the Numark X2 Hyrbrid turntable back in 2007. Now, after adding some killer features, Numark announced that the PT-01USB turntable is now available for a MSRP of $149.

Chief among the new features is the ability to convert songs on vinyl straight to digital. You'll also get:

Plug-and-play USB connection to Mac or PC Protective dustcover and integrated carrying handle Fits inside a standard 12-inch record case Wall-powered with included AC adapter or battery-powered (six "D" cells, not included) Built-in monitoring speaker Belt-drive motor with 33, 45 and 78 RPM settings +/-10 percent pitch control … Read more

Numark iDJ mixer sheds novelty, goes legit

The first Numark iDJ wasn't just half-baked, it was downright unusable for DJing. The thing needed two iPods and lacked basic DJ essentials such as pitch control.

By comparison, the Numark iDJ2 is hands-down one of the best digital DJ products we've tested. With its large color screen, responsive jog wheels, balanced XLR outputs, and support for iPod video playback, the iDJ2 performs like a champ and packs in more than just the basics. Like any sub-$1,000 digital deck, the iDJ2 still won't get you much in terms of DJ cred, but it also won'… Read more

Stanton announces battle-worthy USB turntable

Turntable manufacturer Stanton recently announced its new T.90 high-torque turntable with built-in USB and S/PDIF digital outputs. Even if you're not an aspiring DJ scratch battle champion, the ability to record your vinyl collection directly into a computer is big convenience. While USB-capable turntables such as the Numark TTUSB have been around for a while, the Stanton T.90 is the first to include features that today's DJ really want, namely digital key locking (the ability to change a song's tempo without changing pitch) and a high-torque direct drive motor that puts an unholy amount … Read more