Hercules DJ Controller with "Touch" and "Air" Controls
The incredible 2-Deck DJ Controller from Hercules offers "AIR Control"--a contactless sensor lets you control the mix from above, without even touching the device. The DJ Control AIR converts the distance to your hand into a MIDI command. The two jog wheels with pressure detection allow users to scratch by pressing on the jog wheels, as naturally as with a vinyl record.
The jog wheels also control pitch bend and browsing within tracks. There are 8 pads with velocity detection--the pads control the sampler, loops and effects, and can be set as binary On/Off controls, or gradual controls. There are built-in audio outputs for mixing and previewing tracks: a 1/8" (3.5 mm) stereo mini-jack output for the mix, and a 1/4" (6.35 mm) stereo jack output for previewing tracks. The DJ Control AIR includes a new, powerful DJ software called "DJUCED" that allows you to mix two audio tracks on the fly and save your mix as an audio file.
"AIR" stands for "Adjustment by InfraRed". It's a contactless control that works when the DJ places his or her hand flat over and infrared beam. The controller calculates the distance between the sensor and the hand, and converts it into a gradual MIDI command. This MIDI command modulates a setting in the DJ software.
AIR control functions under any light conditions. The infrared light beam projected towards the hand is invisible. The sensor captures the infrared reflection on the hand, and uses the reflection to calculate the hand's distance. The reflection is the same in both daylight and low light conditions, allowing AIR to be used during the day, at night, or in places with weak lighting. AIR control functions with all flesh tones. The only incompatibility is the use of black gloves (as the infrared sensor would not be able to detect the reflection).
The Hercules DJ Control AIR features 2 sets of 4 pads to control loops, sampler and effects commands. The DJ taps on the pads with his or her fingertips to send commands such as looping, sampler or effects. The pads light up when touched.
In addition to a binary On/Off command, each pad can transfer velocity information to modulate the command. For example: in sampler mode, the velocity can control the volume of a sample's playback. The playback volume depends on how soft or how hard the DJ taps on the pad.
The jog wheels detect the pressure from the user's hand. With scratch mode enabled, the jog wheels scratch when the hand's weight is detected, and stop scratching when the hand's weight is no longer detected. This allows the DJ to control various functions such as stop and restart playback, scratch by turning the jog wheel while pressing down, and stop scratching by lifting up his or her hand. You can also bend the pitch (if playback is on) or browse within tracks (if playback is off) by turning the jog wheels using their outer ring, to avoid applying downward pressure.
With scratch mode disabled, the jog wheels bend the pitch or browse within tracks when the jog wheels are turned, regardless of the pressure applied.
DJ Control AIR includes a VU meter displaying beats composed of 2 lines of 4 LEDs. Each line displays the beats in a track, allowing DJs to see at a glance whether the beats are in sync, without having to look at their computer screen. In this way, the DJ can stay focused on the crowd: if the LEDs light up at the same time for both tracks, then the 2 tracks are synchronized--and this, of course, is the basis of all mixing.
DJ Control AIR has built-in audio outputs, including a 1/8" (3.5 mm) stereo output for the mix and a 1/4" (6.35 mm) stereo output for headphone previewing.
Hercules DJ Control AIR, installation CD-ROM (PC/Mac) with PC/Mac DJ software, printed installation guide.
Choose Your Mobile DJ Gear | ||||||
| You are a | Beginner DJ | Leisure DJ / Casual DJ | Advanced DJ | Semi-Pro / Pro DJ | ||
| You need | DJ Control Instinct | DJ Control Air | DJ Console Mk4 | DJ 4Set | DJConsole RMX 2 | DJ Console 4-Mx |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Mobility | Ultra-mobile | Mobile | Ultra-mobile | Mobile | Mobile | Mobile |
| Metal casing (intense mixing) |  | | ||||
| Touch-sensitive jog wheels | | | | | | |
| Number of decks / MIDI commands | 2 / 68 | 2 / 96 | 2 / 60 | 4 / 116 | 2 / 124 | 4 / 170 |
| Velocity pads | 8 | 8 | ||||
| Rear view |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Audio interface | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated |
| Inputs: 4-channel / 1 mic. in (MP3 & CD players, vinyl / microphone) | - / - | - / - | / | - / | / | / |
| Stereo outputs: Mix / Preview (speakers, amp, mixer / headphones) | / | / | / | / | / | / |
| Included Software | DJUCED | DJUCED | Virtual DJ 6 DJC Mk4 | Virtual DJ 7 LE 4Set | Virtual DJ LE Rmx2 & DJUCED | Virtual DJ 7 LE 4Mx |
| MIDI Control: PC & Mac (MIDI controlled DJ software compatible) | | | | | | |
