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Installation |
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Plug it in and
fire it up... |
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As with
most USB products, installation couldn't be easier. When
we installed the drive all we did was toss in the
installation CD into our CD-ROM, selected "Drivers" and
followed the on-screen instructions. One reboot later,
we where up and running. One of the nice features of the
DJ Console is that it can be used in conjunction with
your current soundcard with causing conflict on your
computer. When one connects the Console, it is
automatically recognized as the main sound card.
Similarly, when the DJ Console is unplugged, your
internal sound card will resume its original functions.
As a result, you can connect
and disconnect the DJ Console at any point in time, even
when the computer is turned on, thanks to the
hot-swappable capabilities of USB.
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Click
Images for Full View
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Rear Connections
(note: large
picture)
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Front Connections
(note:
large picture)
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The DJ
Console features multiple connectors on both the front
and back of the unit that will satisfy just about every
feasible connection that the average user would come
across. Referring to the image of the Rear Connections
of the console above, moving left to right; we found an
analog RCA, analog mini-jack, optical and coaxial
digital inputs/outputs, MIDI input/output and lastly the
USB connector. Moving on to the Front Connections image,
again moving left to right; we found, an analog line
input, volume control knob for the microphone, 1/4" mono
microphone input, volume control for the headphones and
lastly the 1/4" stereo headphone input.
Throughout our testing we where able to play with all of
the ports with the exception of the MIDI input/output
jacks. Those two plugs aside, we where very impressed
with sound quality that was produced through each
connection. However, there are two things we would have
liked to have seen. First, we would have preferred to
have seen all the connections gold plated for retention
of signal strength, opposed to the select few that are.
Also, the USB connection that was present on our model
was far from stable. During testing, if the cable
happened to be draped off to the side, much like cable
on a keyboard is, the deck would not function properly
(the deck would randomly speed up and slow down all the
sound outputs while using the DJ function). We would
like to note that this was not an issue while using the
deck strictly as an external soundcard, so we do believe
this was just a minor pre-production flaw that will
hopefully be fixed on all of the final units.
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Update:
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We just
received confirmation for our PR contact at Hercules
that Guillemot had found and corrected the glitch.
Shipments of the product are scheduled to
leave early next week.
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Software |
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The Extra
Goodies... |
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| Continuing
with Hercules tradition of software bundles, the DJ
Console includes quiet the well-rounded suite. Covering
almost every aspect of software that a DJ will need,
various mp3/wma/cda mixing and construction software,
users should not be disappointed with the options they
have to choose from. The install screen above clearly
shows the plethora of full programs the software bundle
includes; DJ Console Drivers, Atomic Virtual DJ, GMixon
New DJ, Ots DJ Demo, Ots CD Scratch, Arturia Strom DJ
and finally a software version of the user manual.
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Atomic
Virtual DJ
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GMixon
New DJ 2003
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Ots Cd
Scratch
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Arturia
Storm DJ
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Note:
Below is a brief summary of the
main aspects that each of pieces of software offers
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Atomic Virtual DJ: |
Is a full fledged DJ
mixing program which supports of multiple audio
formats (mp3/wave/wma/cda/...) and is incorporated
in a very user friendly GUI (Graphical User
Interface) laid out just like two vinyl decks.
Offering full support of Hercules's DJ Console, the
ability to record your live mixes and some very
swank sound FX's this program was the HH Crew's
favourite program that was included in the software
bundle. |
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GMixon New DJ 2003: |
Is another DJ mixing
program which supports multiple audio formats
(mp3/wave/cda) and is laid out like two digital
mixing decks. However, we found this program to have
a ridged feel that distracted us during mixing. It
just seemed that the fluidity of this program was
lacking somewhat. As noted above your are able to
record your live mixes and the program also sports
some nice sound FX's. |
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Ots
CD Scratch: |
You want
to scratch a CD like a vinyl LP? Well this gem of a
program will let you do just that. Offering full
optimization of the DJ Console, one will be
scratching up a storm in a matter of minutes. For
the tacitly inept, one can also use the
pre-programmed scratch patterns by a simple press of
a button.
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Arturia Storm DJ: |
Using Arturia Strom DJ,
one can choose from multiple virtual instruments
(analog synthesizers, drum machines, sample
sequencers, scratch decks, etc.), drag and drop them
onto the interface and you are ready to compose in
real time. We crew did not venture into this
software a great deal because we were more concerned
with putting the deck through a series of rigorous
testing procedures with various types of media.
However, all in all, this is a great program, for
those who wish to move beyond mixing, and wish to
start laying down there own tracks. |
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