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Allen & Heath Launches First Universal Dj Controller
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| D@VE! |
A significant leap forward has been taken in DJ technology with the launch of Allen & Heath’s pioneering mixer/controller, the Xone:3D. The unique design is the amalgamation of a high performance DJ mixer, a top spec multi-channel USB soundcard, a comprehensive MIDI control surface, offering a performance workstation that integrates all the tools of the modern DJ.
The mixer section is derived from the industry-standard Xone:92 and Xone:62 designs, featuring 4 multi-input stereo channels, 3-band total kill EQ, a comprehensive cue system, 2 stereo returns, headphone monitor with mix/cue control, and high quality dual rail faders. 3D contains the Xone range’s trademark VCF filters, offering low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass selection; resonance and frequency filters; plus there is an assignable LFO with depth control. The master section has 2 FX sends with pre/post fader selection, and there is a VCA crossfader.
The USB soundcard has eight channels, arranged in stereo pairs, which can operate in two modes - 6 channels from a PC and 2 returns, or 4 channels from a PC and 4 returns. Using individual professional audio standard 24bit stereo converters with an audio sampling rate of 48kHz, the card’s design guarantees the best possible sound quality from laptops and PCs. The soundcard can be fed from the main mix, FX1, or direct from the channels, and features a SPDIF optical and coaxial interface. Also, the USB connection sends and receives both audio and MIDI data to and from the PC, and can be used to update firmware and set mixer configuration data.
There are dedicated MIDI control sections either side of the mixer, with a total of 8 dedicated control faders, 16 rotary controls with centre detent, 10 encoders, 50 switches, and 2 custom jog wheels with micro switches, which can be mapped for use as navigation controls for DJ software such as Ableton Live and Traktor. Xone:3D can send a total of 105 different MIDI control messages from the dedicated control sections, audio channel faders and crossfader, to the 3D’s MIDI out socket and via the USB interface to the PC.
An automatic beat detector synchronises the MIDI clock to the main mix, the FX2 mix buss, or can be disabled to allow the beat to be manually tapped-in. The 3D also has connections for a footswitch controller and a gameport socket for a standard analogue joystick that can also be used as a second MIDI output.
The progressive DJ’s, Chris Liebing and Richie Hawtin, have been consultants and beta testers during development of the Xone:3D.
“Technology is leading us into a very exciting and new form of DJ’ing,” comments Chris Liebing. “Allen & Heath’s Xone:3D is a huge step forward into that future. More fun for the DJ, more fun for the crowd!”
The Xone:3D will be shipping later in the year, pricing TBA.
Learn more at the Xone Website
http://www.xone.co.uk/3d.htm
taken from www.allen-heath.com |
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| dinoXpress |
i want i want!! traktor+fs2+this mixer =omg heaven
prolly gonna be hella expensive |
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| Cosmic Realm |
yeah i agree.... more then likly as bad as a rotary 92 :wtf:
looks cool, but i highly doubt ill get one |
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| Vlad |
If I get this mixer... I might just have to seriously consider getting Ableton.
But Im not quite getting the function of those 2 outer parts. They look so similar to the Pioneer EFX model - are they FX?
BTW, Ill only get it if it comes in a rotary version. :p |
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| r5a |
Jesus christ, I will have to sell of my arm, leg and a kidney just for half the cost of it.
Looks ing hawt though, very nice. |
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| failsafe |
I'm surprised it only does 105 midi signals. By the looks of it I was thinking much more than that. I think my NUO 4 does 70-something different signals. So it's really not as far ahead as I thought upon first inspection. That said it looks soooo much cooler.
(= |
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| Trogdor |
| quote: | | Originally posted by Vlad But Im not quite getting the function of those 2 outer parts. They look so similar to the Pioneer EFX model - are they FX? |
Nope. They are assignable software controllers, for programs such as Ableton Live. |
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| DJ RJT |
| Anyone hear anything on price? |
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| Vlad |
| If this mixer costs anything more than $2500, its not worth the money... Just get a Xone:92. I dont know why you would need special controllers for Ableton and such, especially when youre running it through a laptop. |
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| failsafe |
| Well the Nuo 4 costs $1000, and does nearly the same amount of MIDI control. I wouldn't imagine there's a whole lot of sound quality difference between the nuo4 and the xone 3D. So it the price was anything over $1750 I'd say you're better off with the NUO4. |
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| Ryan0751 |
This mixer is in a whole different class than the Nuo 4. This mixer is essentially a commercial version of what Sasha uses (the Maven) with a Xone 92 attached! Rather than having to fiddle with Midi assigns and such, you'll be able to have separate controls for all of your ableton functions as well as having all your standard CD/TT sources in one unit. I don't see how this would be any good for something like traktor really, it's definately geared at ableton.
Very cool. I want a rotary version of it :)
And yes, it'll probably be at LEAST $2500 by my guess. It contains a soundcard in the unit, remember, and if it's allen and heath it's probably top notch.
| quote: | Originally posted by failsafe
Well the Nuo 4 costs $1000, and does nearly the same amount of MIDI control. I wouldn't imagine there's a whole lot of sound quality difference between the nuo4 and the xone 3D. So it the price was anything over $1750 I'd say you're better off with the NUO4. |
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