Bren F
Review by Andre Cato – 12am.com.au gear reviews:
"If there were annual awards for the DJ market, I am sure that Innovation of the Year would once again be given to Numark for their new range of products available for turntable, CD and digital performers. Over the past 3 years, I think I have written more articles about Numark than any other company and there are, in my opinion many good reasons for this.
Firstly there is the fact that they have just released 11 new products in their Spring launch. Add this to the research and development Numark is undertaking to create new functionality and features for their users and you have one very exciting brand to talk about!
The iCDX, (the product which we are looking at today) is a perfect example of Numark’s dedication to advancing in both software and hardware features in every model it builds. It is an audio player with a drive that accepts both CD and DVD discs, it is a controller for your favourite DJ software, but it is also has an iPod dock, DSP effects and a sampler!
So why are all these DJ companies building more and more versatile CD decks instead of traditional turntables? These days, we DJs are receiving more and more promotional tracks to play to our audiences and over the past few years Record Labels have been looking for more economical ways to get their tracks out to more and more DJs. This has resulted in CDs and digital download files becoming more and more popular, hence the growth in their popularity by DJs and therefore DJ companies!
I have always been a fan of seeing more features on DJ tools and the iCDX has loads of ‘em. Whether you store your digital files of music on a computer, a hard-drive, a USB pen or the traditional CD and DVD, the iCDX will take them all, just like a highly paid prostitute.
The back of the iCDX has not one, but two USB slots. One USB slot is to input an iPod, hard-drive or USB pen and the other to output to your computer. There is even a mount available for the unit that docks your iPod directly onto the back of the iCDX.
The second lead is so you can control various software programs such as Ableton’s ‘Live’ and Native Instrument’s ‘Traktor’ software. Many people are currently wondering which software will work with the iCDX and this is still an unknown. As the hardware components exist in the iCDX, it will work with more and more programs - and software updates will enable more and more out of your machine in the coming year.
At the front, the iCDX boasts a blue-lit slot loading drive that accepts both CD and DVD media. Now, with this many mode-options for input and output functionality of the iCDX, they had to also add a button to switch between modes at the top left of the machine.
There are many buttons, switches and knobs that allow you to access the various functions of the iCDX. As mentioned above, the top left of the unit is where you will find the mode button to switch between disc and hard-drive audio or controller mode, but it is also where you will find the parameter knob that adjusts the set-up and playback options so this becomes a very vital part of the iCDX infrastructure. The push-button knob allows you to select various modes and set-up features for all the main sections of the iCDX including effects, looping and cue-point modes as well as selecting the input mode.
One very necessary feature of professional CD decks is the scratch wheel. This is what you use to emulate the action of a vinyl DJ, but with great advantages. As you are in the digital realm, the scratch wheel becomes a very precise way to scratch and to mix, but also to create greater expression in your effects. The scratch wheel on the iCDX is different from any other that Numark has created before, but is most like the Axis 9 design. The middle of the scratch wheel on the Axis9 used conductive sensitivity whereas the iCDX is more like a large button that smoothly presses into the outer wheel by just a few millimetres. This new scratch wheel feels great. Smooth and easy to control, it really does give you more of a vinyl feel than the conductive sensitivity scratch pad which in all reality was way too sensitive.
Now, one new innovation that Numark has picked up on from the CDJ1000 is the 3 cue start buttons, but Numark has taken these buttons to the next level. Cue start buttons allow you to set-up sets of 3 cue points that you can instantly jump to at any time. This is great for re-mixing your tracks live and allows you to lengthen tracks by jumping back to earlier verses or melodies throughout the track. These cue points can be stored internally in the iCDX memory that has an astounding 1533 memory points in which to store cue points, loops and samples.
You may be wondering what the difference is between a cue-point and sample, so here is a very simple explanation. With a cue-point, you simply store a marker that tells the iCDX to instantly return to that exact point when you press the button. With a sample, you will hold the button down in order to playback the recorded sample within that button and as you release your finger, the sample will also cease to play. The sample mode is great for accapellas that you can lie over the top of other melodies or base lines.
Once you have laid down a sample, set up some loops and cued all your points, you are going to want to finish off your re-mix with some live effects and the iCDX has a host of ‘em! DSP effects on the iCDX include Phaser, Filter, Flanger, Echo, Chop, and Pan. All control of the effects happens at the top left of the iCDX unit. There is a great wet/dry fader to change the amount of effect you want coming through and all of the effect names and parameters will appear on the huge display when selected (as do all the features of the iCDX). There is also an on/off button for the effects so you can set up exact parameters on the effect before you let your audience hear it.
Numark’s reverse/bleep grab switch makes another appearance on this model. You either move the switch upwards to reverse the audio while the time-code keeps moving forward or move it downwards to reverse both the audio and time-code simultaneously. The two-direction switch will spring back when pushed upward to bleep out words or beats, but will stay in reverse direction until manually moved back to the forward direction. This is great as it allows you to flick the grab switch to bleep in time with the music and especially sounds awesome when you bleep with a syncopated rhythm.
Other great feature effects of the iCDX include start/stop time and a pitch fader that lights up at 0% just like a new 1200MK3. The huge screen of the iCDX contains every bit of track and playback information and is backlit in a bright ice-blue coloured backdrop. All relevant track information is here including the MP3 ID3 tag information, pitch increment and which input you are currently using! A new play-mode has been added to the iCDX which is Random… Much like a home stereo, it will randomly scramble the program play-list. The digital output is also a new must for clubs with a digital mixer."
More informative than an actual verdit, but you probabally didn't know all that.
Add your iCDX Reviews here:
"If there were annual awards for the DJ market, I am sure that Innovation of the Year would once again be given to Numark for their new range of products available for turntable, CD and digital performers. Over the past 3 years, I think I have written more articles about Numark than any other company and there are, in my opinion many good reasons for this.
Firstly there is the fact that they have just released 11 new products in their Spring launch. Add this to the research and development Numark is undertaking to create new functionality and features for their users and you have one very exciting brand to talk about!
The iCDX, (the product which we are looking at today) is a perfect example of Numark’s dedication to advancing in both software and hardware features in every model it builds. It is an audio player with a drive that accepts both CD and DVD discs, it is a controller for your favourite DJ software, but it is also has an iPod dock, DSP effects and a sampler!
So why are all these DJ companies building more and more versatile CD decks instead of traditional turntables? These days, we DJs are receiving more and more promotional tracks to play to our audiences and over the past few years Record Labels have been looking for more economical ways to get their tracks out to more and more DJs. This has resulted in CDs and digital download files becoming more and more popular, hence the growth in their popularity by DJs and therefore DJ companies!
I have always been a fan of seeing more features on DJ tools and the iCDX has loads of ‘em. Whether you store your digital files of music on a computer, a hard-drive, a USB pen or the traditional CD and DVD, the iCDX will take them all, just like a highly paid prostitute.
The back of the iCDX has not one, but two USB slots. One USB slot is to input an iPod, hard-drive or USB pen and the other to output to your computer. There is even a mount available for the unit that docks your iPod directly onto the back of the iCDX.
The second lead is so you can control various software programs such as Ableton’s ‘Live’ and Native Instrument’s ‘Traktor’ software. Many people are currently wondering which software will work with the iCDX and this is still an unknown. As the hardware components exist in the iCDX, it will work with more and more programs - and software updates will enable more and more out of your machine in the coming year.
At the front, the iCDX boasts a blue-lit slot loading drive that accepts both CD and DVD media. Now, with this many mode-options for input and output functionality of the iCDX, they had to also add a button to switch between modes at the top left of the machine.
There are many buttons, switches and knobs that allow you to access the various functions of the iCDX. As mentioned above, the top left of the unit is where you will find the mode button to switch between disc and hard-drive audio or controller mode, but it is also where you will find the parameter knob that adjusts the set-up and playback options so this becomes a very vital part of the iCDX infrastructure. The push-button knob allows you to select various modes and set-up features for all the main sections of the iCDX including effects, looping and cue-point modes as well as selecting the input mode.
One very necessary feature of professional CD decks is the scratch wheel. This is what you use to emulate the action of a vinyl DJ, but with great advantages. As you are in the digital realm, the scratch wheel becomes a very precise way to scratch and to mix, but also to create greater expression in your effects. The scratch wheel on the iCDX is different from any other that Numark has created before, but is most like the Axis 9 design. The middle of the scratch wheel on the Axis9 used conductive sensitivity whereas the iCDX is more like a large button that smoothly presses into the outer wheel by just a few millimetres. This new scratch wheel feels great. Smooth and easy to control, it really does give you more of a vinyl feel than the conductive sensitivity scratch pad which in all reality was way too sensitive.
Now, one new innovation that Numark has picked up on from the CDJ1000 is the 3 cue start buttons, but Numark has taken these buttons to the next level. Cue start buttons allow you to set-up sets of 3 cue points that you can instantly jump to at any time. This is great for re-mixing your tracks live and allows you to lengthen tracks by jumping back to earlier verses or melodies throughout the track. These cue points can be stored internally in the iCDX memory that has an astounding 1533 memory points in which to store cue points, loops and samples.
You may be wondering what the difference is between a cue-point and sample, so here is a very simple explanation. With a cue-point, you simply store a marker that tells the iCDX to instantly return to that exact point when you press the button. With a sample, you will hold the button down in order to playback the recorded sample within that button and as you release your finger, the sample will also cease to play. The sample mode is great for accapellas that you can lie over the top of other melodies or base lines.
Once you have laid down a sample, set up some loops and cued all your points, you are going to want to finish off your re-mix with some live effects and the iCDX has a host of ‘em! DSP effects on the iCDX include Phaser, Filter, Flanger, Echo, Chop, and Pan. All control of the effects happens at the top left of the iCDX unit. There is a great wet/dry fader to change the amount of effect you want coming through and all of the effect names and parameters will appear on the huge display when selected (as do all the features of the iCDX). There is also an on/off button for the effects so you can set up exact parameters on the effect before you let your audience hear it.
Numark’s reverse/bleep grab switch makes another appearance on this model. You either move the switch upwards to reverse the audio while the time-code keeps moving forward or move it downwards to reverse both the audio and time-code simultaneously. The two-direction switch will spring back when pushed upward to bleep out words or beats, but will stay in reverse direction until manually moved back to the forward direction. This is great as it allows you to flick the grab switch to bleep in time with the music and especially sounds awesome when you bleep with a syncopated rhythm.
Other great feature effects of the iCDX include start/stop time and a pitch fader that lights up at 0% just like a new 1200MK3. The huge screen of the iCDX contains every bit of track and playback information and is backlit in a bright ice-blue coloured backdrop. All relevant track information is here including the MP3 ID3 tag information, pitch increment and which input you are currently using! A new play-mode has been added to the iCDX which is Random… Much like a home stereo, it will randomly scramble the program play-list. The digital output is also a new must for clubs with a digital mixer."
More informative than an actual verdit, but you probabally didn't know all that.
Add your iCDX Reviews here:
Posté Sun 15 Oct 06 @ 4:34 am
xeon
"Many people are currently wondering which software will work with the iCDX and this is still an unknown."
Well.. if that guy had VDJ, he would know the answer ;)
Well.. if that guy had VDJ, he would know the answer ;)
Posté Sun 15 Oct 06 @ 3:14 pm
l_rids
I guess no one is getting the icdx yet huh... too bad i cant afford it till after xmas :(
Posté Mon 16 Oct 06 @ 11:27 am
Rune (DJ-In-Norway)
I just bought one.. almost...
Numark Norway is going to grant me a promo deal on a new iCDX, and will call me back later for what price they can offer. If the price is good, I'm a new iCDX owner (November, as its not in Norway before that).
So maybe iCDX powered soon... ;)
Posté Mon 16 Oct 06 @ 3:07 pm
gulker
Hi DJ in Norway and Bagpuss,
Since you guys have some exposure to iCDX. I have a question. Since I sold some of my equipment. I can efford ( with a mimimum loss) 2 of the iCDX. But before even attempting to buy 2, I would like to know.
Is it possible to use 2 iCDX with VDJ, having each of them control the each deck? One for Player A, one for Player B.
I know there is a setting in VDJ 4.1 to enable iCDX but since I don't have one (let alone 2 hehehe) I don't know if there is a advanced setting to assign separate iCDXs to each player.
Thanks for your help.
DJ Palamuth
Since you guys have some exposure to iCDX. I have a question. Since I sold some of my equipment. I can efford ( with a mimimum loss) 2 of the iCDX. But before even attempting to buy 2, I would like to know.
Is it possible to use 2 iCDX with VDJ, having each of them control the each deck? One for Player A, one for Player B.
I know there is a setting in VDJ 4.1 to enable iCDX but since I don't have one (let alone 2 hehehe) I don't know if there is a advanced setting to assign separate iCDXs to each player.
Thanks for your help.
DJ Palamuth
Posté Mon 16 Oct 06 @ 4:06 pm
Rune (DJ-In-Norway)
gulker wrote :
Is it possible to use 2 iCDX with VDJ, having each of them control the each deck? One for Player A, one for Player B.
Is it possible to use 2 iCDX with VDJ, having each of them control the each deck? One for Player A, one for Player B.
Yes, thats possible ;)
http://dj.airone.googlepages.com/ambiancetp06
Posté Mon 16 Oct 06 @ 4:27 pm