AlphaTheta or alternatively the corporation previously known as PioneerDJ has been busy with not one, but two new controllers appearing this week as they continue to update the range by introducing the XDJ-AZ and DDJ-GRV6 models.
AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ
First up a new flagship level unit in the shape of the XDJ-AZ. A 4 deck digital club controller with a layout and feel inherited from both the CDJ-3000 with full sized jog wheels with inbuild colour display and DJM-A9 mixer which are already found in many clubs, anyone already familiar with those units should feel right at home here.
The XDJ-AZ is a fully stand alone model offering a 10.1″ touchscreen, allowing you easy access of your audio libary as you can fit up to 13 tracks on screen at once, whilst navigating any one of up to 4 user defined playlists and offering touch preview where you can easily audition from the playlist view, rather than loading the track in.
It also allows you to get a complete overview of the mixers setup and routing.
The XDJ-AZ will of course also work as a controller with the ability to unlock both Rekordbox and Serato, offering you a choice of DJ software to work with. It also includes Wi-Fi connectivity in order to support access to either your own cloud based libraries or stream directly from services like Beatport, giving you plenty of flexibility when in the mix.
In terms of output the XDJ-AZ features a set of high-quality 32-bit D/A converters from ESS feeding your outputs and innovatively also includes an inbuilt SonicLink wireless transmitter to support AlphaThetas latest range of ultra-low-latency professional headphones like the HDJ-F10.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ILemAbVZWQ[/youtube]
AlphaTheta DDJ-GRV6
Also introduced this week the DDJ GRV6 brings a shake up to the lower end of the range as the new replacement for the older FLX6 model. Another 4 channel DJ controller and much like it’s bigger brother the design also looks to follow the layout style found on the flagship CDJ3000 and DJM-A9 combo, helping to ensure that once you’re familiar with one solution setup in the range that you should be able to easily transition to playing across the various setups found within the range.
The DDJ GRV6 has a few interesting tricks up it’s sleeve and across the the top of the controller we find some interesting new features with the introduction of the Groove Circuit when working with Rekord Box, or alternatively if you are working within Serato DJ Pro these dedicated buttons instead give you full your control over your stems when mixing.
The Groove Circuit allows you to quickly deconstruct the track and manipulate the percusion components. Drum parts can be muted, you can add processing to create drum rolls or fills within your transitions or you can chop and change drum parts between tracks playing on different channels allowing you to add your own drums to anything played through Rekordbox. You can also capture the drum audio that you’re currently working with and keep a copy loaded into one of the decks, allowing you to make further use of it throughout your set as and when you wish.
If you’re playing with Serato there are included overlays, which show an alternate arrangement which gives you full control over Serato Stems function, giving you ability to control the 4 component parts (Vocal, Melody, Bass and Drums) much like the Groove Circuit functionality.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3832XEsxX4[/youtube]Since the final change over to the AlphaTheta branding there’s been some interesting kit released, from the portable Wave Eight speaker to the Omnis-Duo whilst these have been fun inclusions they perhaps haven’t been the type of kit that might get the core user base excited. However, here we have two controllers that take the range back to that core user group with both a highly featured, top end stand alone solution and a lower midrange controller which genuinely builds upon the models that have come before it. It’s good to see these new inclusions and we look forward to seeing how AlphaTheta continue to build out the range.