https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzFEa0Oeu68
Allen & Heath’s xone:23c is the xone:23 with a bit more stuff. The just announced x0ne:K1 controller however is the original xone:K2 without stuff, and that stuff being the audio interface. Essentially via the x-link, the xone:K1 brings a lot of vital MIDI control to a basic mixer.
A short press release from A&H’s Cornwall HQ:
ALLEN & HEATH ADDS XONE:K1 TO DJ RANGE
Allen & Heath has introduced the Xone:K1 to extend the MIDI controller range of its elite Xone DJ line, joining the successful Xone:K2 controller. The K1 has a flexible layout allowing users to define and customise an individual workflow and mixing experience, and works with all leading DJ software. The Xone:K1 is easily configurable to allow fast access for setting levels, triggering hot cues, adding effects and instant looping to relieve the DJ from focusing on the computer screen.
Featuring 6 endless rotary encoders with push switch, 12 analogue pots, 4 linear faders, and 30 backlit performance switches with three-colour illumination, the Xone:K1 allows comprehensive mapping to leading DJ and production software, such as Traktor Pro, Ableton, Virtual DJ and MixVibes, offering a total of 52 assignable hardware controls, more than any controller of its type.
Powered over USB so that a separate power cable is not needed, Xone:K1 can be mixed n’ matched with other Xone:K series controllers and daisy-chained using Allen & Heath’s proprietary X:LINK protocol without the need to carry a separate USB hub. X:LINK also enables DJs to expand their set-up by connecting directly to Allen & Heath’s Xone 23C, DB2 and DB4 mixers.
Xone:K1 is both lightweight and hard-wearing, with a steel front panel and employing Allen & Heath’s nutted pot construction. A black padded case is available as an accessory, which doubles as a stand, bringing the K1 up to the same height as most pro DJ mixers.
“Xone:K1 is a valuable and key addition to the Xone family, providing vast control of popular software programs, slotting into multiple DJ hardware set ups across the range with simple plug ‘n play connection, and constructed to withstand life with the travelling DJ,” comments Xone product specialist, Greg Ibbotson.
As pointed out before, the xone:K1 does seem to be a K2 without the audio interface, but that doesn’t make it any less desirable or relevant. It does however make it cheaper at £159 — only ten quid, but cheaper nonetheless.
But this definitely an exercise in making the xone:23C into a more useful mixer. The regular xone:23 has no link or USB, but with the K1 and USB, software like Mixvibes Cross can deliver a powerful package for a reasonable amount of money.
Out of the box, there’s a lot of support for key software, including Traktor Remix Decks, something that wasn’t possible when we pitted the Kontrol F1 against the K2 a couple of years ago. But while the audio interface has gone, the use case is slightly different as the comparison included having the audio ins and outs against the lack of them on the NI unit.
We are lucky enough to have the xone:23C and a factory fresh K1 in the worxlab right now, so expect a review pretty quickly.
Summing up, the Allen & Heath xone:K1 comes in at £159 and is available in August.
Which one is better for track selection, fx, cues in traktor pro? X1 mk2 or k1?
I think that would depend on the mapping really. The K1 certainly has more controls to map.
Yeah, so that’s the gadget i’ve been waiting for
The X1MK2 is great, but it is extremely limited to what it is programmed to do. The K2 has FAR more commands and could be reconfigured to fit your individual workflow.
I foresee myself using two of these with an AMX running Traktor.
I think for Traktor an F1 would be the better choice. Kind of a skimpy update….
Only £10 cheaper than the K2?? Is it really worth it?? Plus, I’m sure I read somewhere that you don’t get the case/stand with this one either….
There’s no stand with the review one I have here.
Yeah i read that the case is separate as well, very useful for the K2 in transporting it, mine still looks as good as new….
Same. I can imagine the case is going to cost at least £10, so why not just buy the K2 and get an added soundcard as well??
Agreed, but then i’ve never used the sound card and a tenner is 12 bottles of Budweiser at the moment….
Good point, I’ve never used the soundcard either, but it’s always nice to know I’ve got a spare soundcard at a gig if needed!!!
Seems daft to me as well. For another tenner why not just get the K2? It’s a good backup & could get you out of a jam.
Exactly. Extra tenner, get a case and a soundcard for backup! Unless there’s anything different/extra in the K1 that we don’t know about?? None of the articles I’ve seen on it say that though, they say it’s exactly the same as the K2 minus the soundcard….
According to this video that someone posted on the DJtechtools forum, the K1 doesn’t have the latching layers of the K2 either, just a shift button…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1KiwkZ4I7I
No it doesn’t, I wouldn’t use them anyway as my k2 works like an apc40 in Ableton…..
Ahhh ok, maybe I’m getting myself confused, I thought by no latching layers it meant there was only 1 layer, but now thinking about it I had forgotten that it already has a shift button… I don’t ever use the shift button as a shift button so I had forgotten it was there!
A mail has just gone off to A&H to get some clarity on this.
In the video it’s clearly stated… “case is available as an accessory”, which means sold separately :(
Cross by MixVibes all the way!
It already works perfectly with Xone 23C, wanna try it out with this controller!
I’ll be testing out with MixVibes directly to see how well it works.
UPDATE:
A&H has explained that the current street price of the K2 is £169, whereas the recommended price is actually £199. So while the price of the K1 only appears to be £10 cheaper, £159 is the recommended price, so there is a chance that shops might actually do it cheaper. Time will tell.
I’ve got a bet with a mate that this ends up at the £120 mark, which might not be too far off the mark…
£120 sounds more reasonable. Even if you buy a case on top of that at £10, that’s still £30 cheaper than the K2, which makes more sense.
it’s nice to see this … if it’s more than a tenner cheaper than the K2.
I got the K2 when it came out, and still use it all the time (custom mappings…traktor, ableton, vjing, lights etc) but I finally had enough of the issues with the low volume output soundcard and got a real soundcard (NI A6 … A10 to come if I get another K1/K2)
These are sturdy controllers, the case is perfect.
2 Audio Technica lp1240 1 Allen & Heath Xone 23c mixer and 1 Allen & Heath K1 running Mixvibes Cross. This all equals one bad ass economical DVS beast!!!
Can you use the mappings for the K1 remix decks for the K2?