This thing is so cool. There, I did it; I gushed at a pro-sumer iPod DJ gadget. Having been deeply involved in digital DJ technology for the past five years, sometimes things get so techy that we forget in the end it’s all about music. The iDJ2 seems to step aside, give you just what you need to mix and let you enjoy playing music. Several times I completely forgot that I was writing a review and just really enjoyed mixing two tracks together. For a DJ that learned the ropes on vinyl more than a decade ago, that was very refreshing. If you want to cut, scratch, beat juggle and drop insane loops and effects, then the iDJ2 is not for you. However, if you just want to seamlessly blend together your digital music collection without needing a laptop, your search may be over.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
The iDJ2 aims at being a very usable piece of gear and not just a cool concept embodied in physical form. To help achieve that aim, Numark provides all of the outputs and inputs you would need for many typical DJ scenarios. Let’s say you’re a mobile DJ; the balanced XLR outputs can run long lengths directly into a pair of speakers, and the built-in microphone input on the front means you won’t need an extra mixer. With a Record output (stereo RCA) for posterity and two sets of line inputs (also both stereo RCA) for backup CD players (in case your iPod crashes), this powerful package could feasibly give you everything you need to rock any wedding from a single iPod.
If you’re a club DJ and you simply want to incorporate MP3 files into an existing vinyl or CD collection without investing in a laptop, you have two easy options. First, you could run the RCA master output into the club’s mixer and blend the iDJ2 into the mix like a third CD player, or you could even use the iDJ2 as the master mixer, running both turntables and CD players into the onboard 2-channel mixer. Although it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of many modern club mixers, all the basics are here, including 3-band EQ, gain, mic input, headphone cueing and a smooth crossfader with adjustable curve.
Even though Numark may not have built the iDJ2 with pro DJs like myself in mind, I can’t help but think of all the great applications for the concept — for example, the casual DJ invitational. Many times friends will invite you down to a midweek party, a loft or even their home to spin a short guest set. You always want to accept the invite, but that means carting — at the very least — a laptop, or in my case 40 pounds of gear. Imagine being invited over to spin and having to bring only an iPod. That invitation is impossible to turn down.
SCRATCH AND LOCK
The good folks at Numark have tried to keep all of the basic DJ functions available, including scratching. The fact that scratching was even offered with an iPod at this price level was impressive, so I was not expecting a Q-Bert-like performance. Not surprisingly, the iDJ2 is not ready for ITF competition yet. Although backspins and basic wiki-wiki are possible, the jog wheels suffered from significant sticker slip and a pronounced ramp up that made cueing on time difficult.
Even though my expectations were equally low, Numark really surprised me with the key lock performance. For those that are not familiar with this feature, here it is in a nutshell. Most DJ programs, CD players and even some turntables offer the ability to change the speed of a song without affecting the pitch — you can radically speed up files and not get the chipmunk effect. Not to be outdone, the iDJ2 includes key lock on each deck, which can require a lot of processing power to sound good. I was pleasantly surprised that it sounds great even when pitched to extremes. The low end stayed strong when pushed into the range where poor key lock systems would start to break apart and show their flaws.
A LITTLE EXTRA
The iDJ2 comes with a 128 MB USB memory stick equipped with some bonus songs and a comprehensive manual. Sure, the flash drive may not be worth much, but it underscores two important points. One, rather than waste paper, Numark gives you the important information in a modern way. Two, you can use flash drives (or USB hard drives) in conjunction with your iDJ2 through two USB ports on the back panel. That’s a great feature that has a very commonplace use. Let’s say you’re hosting an iPod mix night or you have a series of DJs playing after each other, all with iPods. How do you switch between DJs? Even the leader in digital DJing, Serato Scratch Live, can’t offer an in-house solution to that problem. With the iDJ2, all you need to do is load a few “transition tracks” into the supplied USB stick and mix the next song directly off the flash drive. Then swap out the iPods, and the next DJ is on — no cable swapping or awkward silence required.
The iDJ2, like most digital DJ programs out there, offers the ability to analyze and display a rough view of what each song looks like sonically. That gives you the opportunity to visually scroll through a track and easily find crucial points in the song faster. Although the iDJ2 can perform the analysis itself, Numark also provides a software librarian so you can harness the power of your computer to plow through large collections. Once the program has analyzed each song, small information tags are attached to the files, so the iDJ2 can always pull it up when loaded.
COMPLAINTS DEPARTMENT
Yes, when mixing off an iPod, one can’t get too nitpicky, but there are a few things to know before buying. Before playing a track, the iDJ2 loads it into internal memory for fast, accurate and reliable playback. In order to ensure instant load times, you must build profiles for all your tracks with the librarian software and then update it as you add new songs. That can take all day for loaded iPods. Otherwise, longer tracks can take up to 20 seconds to load.
On-the-fly looping is turning into a must-have for most digital DJs because more and more performers want to create extended edits of songs on the fly. Numark wisely includes the ability to loop sections on each iDJ2 deck, but it turned out to be difficult to use effectively. Technically, there is nothing wrong with the feature; the problem was more a case of reviewer error. Unfortunately, I think most users are also going to find it hard to drop loop in and out points perfectly every time. The iDJ2 advertises “seamless looping,” but in my testing, I had to be very precise with the loop placement; it felt like playing Russian roulette with the timing of a mix.
MIXING IN MOTION
Did I mention this thing even plays video? Yes, don’t let that iPod video go to waste; you can directly stream video out of the S-Video port on the back of the iDJ2. Before you get too excited and start conjuring up images of scratching and mixing music videos, there is a limit to what you can do with video and the iDJ2. For starters, only Deck A can play video — Deck B is disabled for it. Additionally, all of the DJ functions — including pitch bending, tempo adjustment and scratching — are disabled. Don’t lose hope entirely, though. Numark chose to build the iDJ2 on the Linux platform and provided the source code on its Website. Theoretically, some really motivated coders might be able to come up with a way to get the iDJ2 to actually mix and blend videos in the future. Speaking of iPods, with no less than 16 versions out there, you may be wondering if yours will work with the iDJ2. To answer simply, if you own an iPod nano, Mini or 4th-generation or later standard iPod, you will be able to take full advantage of iDJ2. Other iPods support certain features, but you should check the complete compatibility list at Numark.com
Technology seems to move forward in baby steps — quickly, but still at one short interval at a time. Sometimes a product makes a bigger leap forward, combining several developments and redefining the way we look at technology. Just as the iPod did for music, the Numark iDJ2 may also mark a big jump forward for digital DJing. Not ironically, it’s built around the storage device just about everyone has or has access to at this point, possibly solving the problem of a universal product. The jury is still out as to whether the public will accept this new concept in DJing, but the potential is there for the product to make a big impression.
One of your best reviews so far, thanks for the good work. I’m happy to see that the iDJ2 catches you on exactly the same feelings which are directing me out of the midi controllers world: simplicity. It’s all about putting songs together, like when I as a kid with those belt drive TTs.
Now I’m worried about this ramp-up issue on cueing on the jog wheel, is it that bad as it was on the original VCI-100?
Hi Ean, Great Review! i know this isnt on topic but i wanted to know what software do you use to maintain this site? This looks like Rapid Weaver to me but knowing youre a big time writer, you must use HTML? am i correct? The reason im asking is because im planning to maintain a site that im starting on a Mac and im looking for mac software. Thanks for your help
I currently use a Macbook Pro, VCI100, and M-Audio firewire.
The two features of this unit I find most appealing are the ease of setup when playing live, and also the reduction in space required on the DJ Table. I’m constantly dealing with issues of real estate in the booth when making room for my gear.
The more pieces of equipment you add to your setup, the more of a house of cards it becomes with more entry points for failure.
I’ve been very seriously considering making the switch to one of these bad boys. Thanks for the review Ean, it helps me make a better educated decision.
One question though. How is the “Beatkeeper” technology? Are the BPM’s reasonably accurate?
I think just some effects thrown in the unit (like those found in the CDN’s or Axis units) would’ve really enhanced it nicely.
It’s Wordpress and some plugins, like Quoter and Last Comments. You can find out more on Wordpress.org
I agree, but I believe it’s just a matter of time before someone pulls it off the hat - be it Numark itself or some guys using their linux source code. That’s the beauty of the iDJ2: Linux inside, and completely open source. It was made to be modified, but not just modified as we do with configs, settings and black magic on midi. When a modified firmware comes, all you gotta do is update the system, and voil?, it’s ready to go.
I don’t know if the hardware in the unit is powerful enough to run effects, but since it has a very good time stretch as all reviewers are pointing out, like Ean did, I believe it has enough juice to do some basic stuff like flangers, phasers, delays and rolls. To me it would be the perfect machine, specially if you could edit the parameters of these fx according to your liking.
Anyway, if you take the price of any midi controller, a good software plus a laptop, you can but this thing, a huge 160gb iPod classic and a kaoss pad 3, which will make a hell of a setup, portable and ready to do almost anything when it comes to mixing tunes.
good review
I am seriously considering purchasing idj2 specially since I enjoy the i pod platform. Like you said I am tired of the whole turntable/cd set up for its space consuming problem. However I have read some you tube reactions mentiong the problem related to the drm aac protected format that is preety much preventing you to play i tunes tracks bought from i tune store. Apparently , you can only play those i tune tracks on idj2 in ipod mode but NOT in direct mode. This is pointless in the sense that you cannot use any idj2 mixing functions in i pod mode. forget about the pitchbending or the scratch. Thus you are left over with playing the tracks normally. I know you can remove the drm problem by burning you i tunes tracks (bought from i tune store)on a cd, and I wondered then if you could be able to mix properly between the ipod and the external cd player. Can you use the idj2 functions on the external cd player. You could as well burn your itune drm tracks and rip them back on your itune list but this creates sound problems as the drm format is designed to sabotage the sound ripped from drm based cds so it is not an option to play the i tune store tracks back on your i pod for idj2 mixing. I thought that one of the beauty if the idj2 was its compatibility with apple softwares and specially the fact that you could mix with the huge i tune store database which always gets better and saves a lot of my time and money wondering arround the vinyl record shops. The best solution I came up with is to mix with an external cd player linked to the idj2, but then whats the point of having the idj2. I would rather buy a dual cd player. My final question and the most important is whether you can change from direct mode to ipod mode while mixing, or do you need to reset the idj2 leaving a problematic silence?
you could perhpas mix off a FLASH drive between the switch but NO you cant switch between these modes without a silence.
thats spot on. Its word press plus a bunch of plug ins. I have one plug in installed but I cant figure out how to implement it in the Sidebar.
Its called popularity contest and its working fine to show which threads are the most popular- i just cant figure out the right CSS code to display that info in a meaningful way in the side bar so everyone can see whats hot today.
Anyone know, Dudu?
Ean, Hello from russia! Im one of 2 moderators of “dj.ru” - the main dj resource in my country, and I REALLY ENJOY reading your articles. Sometimes i think that you had been reading my mind before typing this article, because i find every answer on my questions about products you introducing here!! keep up the great work!!
p.s. sorry for offtopic but what can you say about numark d2-director. its a similar product.
p.s.s. excuse me for my bad english))))
Ean, I’m going to take a look on this Alex King’s plugin on the next few days and send you an e-mail. I haven’t really tried it myself because I already have the WP-PostViews from Lester Chan. It tracks every view on a post, and then I can easily call it on my sidebar by just placing a tag on the template. Like every plugin from him, it does have a very powerful options page which lets you place the desired html tagging according to your needs.
You can check it out on Submusica’s sidebar, under the “As mais lidas” (which translates to “most read”): http://www.submusica.com
I think you might want to check out Lester Chan’s page: http://lesterchan.net/portfolio/programming.php
They have a wonderful forum and awesome documentation, with nice options. You’ll love his other plugins like WP-Polls and WP-Ratings. Check it out.
Ean,
how fortunate you are to have such an awesome job as such. The information you have provided is great, and I will let others know about this site especially with the iDJ2 information.
I hope that Numark does not abandon this product, but develops the software more.
If they could add simple effects, backspin and tighten up the scratching, the iDJ2 would be almost perfect.
I use itunes trax quite a lot, no problems burning to disk and ripping back to computer with nero 7- sound fine
hey now im undecited what should i pick the vestax vci 100 or the numark idj 2…….right now i have the numark total control is really good for the price i bealieve is the best thing for 250 usd but im willing to upgrade is too plastic and the faders could be a lil better or should i stay with this help to decide plz
Hi,
I am curious. Can I use VDJ pro software with IDJ2?
Can you guys help me out here please.
Thx
JD
Hello there
I am curious to know if it’s possible to connect ONE turntable to the idj2 and be able to mix music from the table into a track playing from either an ipod or a flash drive.
Im guessing it would be like having one CDJ and one turntable where the CDJ is the mixer as well? How would this work?
Would i have to load the track playing on the record to deck a or b like i do when im playing a track off a drive? would it automatically know what channel to to play the turntabe out of?
Sorry, these are rook questions i guess, but i dont have anyone else to ask!
thanks for your time!
Thanks for the informative post.
Hello its me again…
i have successfully plugged in my decks to the mixer and i’m having a blast.
i have a question about cueing up a track on the idj2 now… for some reason i cant seem to figure out how to cue tracks up properly.
If i have chosen a cue point for a track but then want to change it, how do i do it? no matter what i try, it wont let me make a new cue point, it just keeps going back to the original point. what am i doing wrong here?
thanks so much!
HI Amy Leigh, i was wondering if you have managed tp connect your IDJ2 to another mixer and use its effecs on on the IDJ2?
Hi Brad
Unfortunately i have not connected the dj2 to another mixer. Once i have some more money i may buy an additional mixer to connect that has a few more features than the dj2.
But as of now i am totally content with my set up (2 decks and the dj2 )definitely enough toys and fun to keep my hands busy!
If you do successfully connect another mixer please let me know how it goes.. id love to hear about it!
ciao for now
hi mate^^..hey juz wanna ask ya that..can i use a small ipod version i mean the small ipod not this big ipod..