Xone:3D Universal DJ Controller from Allen & Heath
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(Click for a close-up) |
September 12, 2005
Allen & Heath is moving DJ technology forward with a new
mixer/controller, the Xone:3D. The
design is the amalgamation of a high performance DJ mixer, a
multi-channel USB soundcard, and a MIDI control surface, offering
a performance workstation that integrates all the tools of the modern DJ.
The mixer section is derived from the Xone:92 and Xone:62
designs, featuring four multi-input stereo channels, 3-band total kill EQ, a
comprehensive cue system, two 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 two effects 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 - six channels from a PC and two returns, or four
channels from a PC and four returns. The 24-bit stereo converters run at an audio sampling rate of 48 kHz. 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 eight dedicated control faders, 16 rotary controls with centre
detent, 10 encoders, 50 switches, and two 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 Xone:3D will be shipping later in the year, pricing TBA.
Further information on the company's DJ products can be found on the Xone
web site: www.xone.co.uk.
For more information, visit their web site at . |
