My New Setup

Well, I did it. I made the switch from standalone to software-driven DJ hardware. Numark had a rebate deal on the V7 over the holidays and I couldn't pass it up. Not only am I getting a check for $200, I'm also getting a free case valued at $200.

I sold my Denon DN-S1000 setup on Craigs. I bought a V7 and then went after an X5. The X5 is Numark's companion mixer for the V7 and typically sells for $400+ but some dude had one on Amazon marketplace — in brand new condition — for $300. I got real lucky with that one.

Now I am left with having to pick up a second V7 and a laptop to run it all. These purchases are probably not going to happen for a while; I've got lots of other financial priorities to block me on that front. But hopefully in due time.

Numark's V7 runs Serato Itch and provides a whole mess of effects options, definitely more than my Denons gave me.

Here's the V7 in action:



In the meantime I am running this setup through a dual core Pentium tower. Not very portable but until I can get myself a decent laptop it will have to do. Also, a single V7 unit is like having two decks in one — there's a second "virtual" deck in the unit — but it is a little unnatural for me. I miss the feel of being able to put my hands on two separate decks at any given time. This "Deck A" and "Deck B" switching is kind of obnoxious. So yeah, I will be hunting for a second V7 at one point.

I am hoping that by summer I will have everything in place so I can get back out there — 100% digital from here on — to do some gigs.

The Numark NS7 Is Sick

Wow, I would almost give my left nut for this.

Numark just released its brand new NS7, an all-in-one digital DJ system. Real motorized turntables made of metal with actual vinyl platters on top, a 2-channel mixer section, damn-near zero latency (via USB 2), more than 100 LEDs for thorough illumination and way more than I have time to mention here. One very unique feature is something called "Strip Search"... a touch-sensitive strip that lets you quickly zero-in on a particular point in a track, letting you pull a virtual needle drop! As if all that weren't enough, it also comes packed with Serato ITCH software. ITCH is reportedly an awesome interface, organizing song files, providing waveforms, and even analyzing all your tracks to calculate their BPM! Amazing.

The NS7 retails for $1,299 — which may seem steep — until you consider that buying two decent digital decks, a mixer and software would be significantly more expensive. As in the neighborhood of two or three grand. Here you get everything. All you need is a laptop and you're set.

Looks like Numark got it right.



Here's a video of DJ Getdown using the new NS7 (can the boy scratch or what):