BOOM! Reloop grabs the DJ scene by the throat, slaps it around, and shovels an amazing turntable under its nose. Yes, you read right, and the Reloop RP-8000 MIDI turntable is THAT turntable you’ve wanted for the longest time — looks like a Technics, feels like a Technics, but has something very current that Technics don’t have, namely MIDI.
Here are the official words:
RELOOP RP-8000
NEXT GENERATION TURNTABLE CONTROLLER
Muenster/Germany, 14.09.2013 At Birmingham’s BPM Show Reloop will present the new turntable generation: Reloop RP-8000.
The Reloop RP-8000 combines modern DJ technology in an advanced turntable. This hybrid high torque turntable does the balancing act between approved direct drive technology and a digital control section for your DJ software. The RP-8000 is able to communicate with any midi compatible DJ software – an additional modular controller is not necessary anymore. Serato Scratch Live mappings are also available with which the worldwide most popular and stable DVS system can be controlled. With the Trax encoder it is possible to scroll through your playlists and comfortably load tracks onto the decks. The RP-8000 disposes of 4 combinable performance modes. This way creative features are available such as access to 8 hot cue points. This means whole new possibilities for beat juggling. As the 8 drum pads are also multi-functional, loops can also be set and triggered. Even access to sample decks is very easy with the RP-8000. A further bank is available for your personal requirements because in user mode the pads are freely assignable – which by the way also goes for the turntable’s all other MIDI compatible controlelements. This way drum rolls and instant effects can be controlled – various presets can be downloaded from the product website. The Dual Performance mode is especially clever: when two modes, such as cue and loop, are pressed simultaneously, the first 4 trigger buttons are assigned to cue and the other 4 buttons are assigned to loop mode. The Turntable Link Mode is also quite smart: via USB up to 4 turntables can be linked. The single devices assign themselves automatically and consecutively to the next deck – this way only one turntable has to be connected via USB to your PC/Mac.
Besides the indestructible and sturdy construction, the turntable does not only cope with the hardest club surroundings, its technical features are as powerful: an ultra powerful, quarz driven direct drive with precise even speed and digital correction emphasizes the Reloop RP-8000’s class. The high-resolution pitch (+/- 8%, +/- 16% and +/- 50 %) with a resolution of 0.04% is shown on the LCD and facilitates exact beat matching with long mixes. Sophisticated and fast turntablism showcases can also be realized without a problem, thanks to the additional start/stop button for vertical positioning and a variable torque from “Classic” to “HiTorque”. More variety in the mix: with the reverse button and an adjustable start/stop time from 0.2 to 6 seconds, individual and creative impulses can be set with the RP-8000. As the turntable is equipped with a line/phono switch, it can even be connected directly to line inputs of mixers or amps – grounding not necessary.
Features
– Advanced Hybrid Torque Turntable
– Digital DJ turntable with upper-torque direct drive
– MIDI compatible control section consisting of Trax encoder, 8 backlit drum pads and 4 combinable performance modes (cue, loop, sample and user)
– Large Trax encoder
– Auto deck-assign feature
– Turntable link USB port
– Digital LC-Display for pitch display, deck assignment and firmware settings
– Adjustable start/brake (0.2 – 6 seconds) & torque (2.5 kg/cm – 4.5 kg/cm)
– Metal top panel with metallic finish
– Phono and line output (no grounding necessary)
– Direct connection of turntable and motor for best possible stability
– Especially heavy finish
– High end tonearm
– Pitch range ±8%, ±16%, ±50%
– High resolution pitch fader
– LCD pitch display
– Easy to exchange, freely revolvable needle illumination with super bright LED
– Quarz lock
– Safety power switch
– Reverse switch
– 2 start/stop buttons for vertical positioning
– Smart USB linkfor up to 4 turntables
– Rubber inlay for reduction of vibrations and ambient noise
– Removable mains and RCA cables
– Sunk-in connection cavity for easy case installation
– Shock proof feet
– Vibration-resistant base
– Serato Scratch Live mappings available
– Typ: 3 speeds, fully manual
– Type of drive: quarz driven upper torque direct drive
– Speeds: 33 1/3, 45 und 78 rpm
– Initial torque: 2500 – 4500 g/cm
– S/N Ratio >= 55 dB (1 kHz, 4mV input)
– Applicable cartridge weight: 6-10 g
– Anti-skating range: 0 – 3 g
– Dimensions: 450 x 160 x 353 mm
– Weight: 11,0 kg
– Incl. slipmat, headshell & tone arm illumination but without stylus
At this time, I’m just going to let that all sink in for a moment…
So it’s a super OEM turntable (think Stanton, Reloop etc) but painted with a very big Technics brush (even down to recessed pitch) but with MIDI controls. It does go beyond the superficial level and integrates on a secondary controller level with Serato DJ and all other MIDI software too. Not the platter you understand — that still requires analogue or control vinyl, but the buttons are tailored more for Serato’s features.
There are 4 modes — 3 obvious ones being cue, loop and sample. These work exactly as you’d expect, albeit waiting for Serato DJ 1.5 to fill all 8 buttons with hot cues. User mode is even smarter — press 2 mode buttons at once and the 8 pads split in have, giving you 4 of whatever 2 buttons you’ve pressed. 4 hot cues plus 4 samples, 4 loops plus 4 hot cues etc.
But it gets smarter still — each deck has 2 USB ports, one for MIDI and another for daisy chaining on their own MIDI channel so that you only need link the first to your laptop. To be clear — the USB port is for MIDI only. You can’t rip audio through them.
The pitch, just like the last Technics is digital, but has a very tight resolution of 0.02%, something that will please a lot of DJs who bemoan the loss of analogue pitch. And finally, let’s not forget the track browse and load rotary, which if your wished, could be mapped to something else, like maybe a filter if your mixer doesn’t have it.
The big question is the price. In the UK, this particular deck is going to set you back a pretty lofty £585. For a turntable, that could be considered steep, but with the additional built-in controls and solid build, I feel that this is a fair price in this climate, especially for those who want something more Technics-ish than other turntable offerings.
Apologies for the lack of photos at this time. Tomorrow will see this little faux pas fixed in style. We’ll have a lot more to discuss about this quite unexpected but very exciting turntable.
Your Thoughts
So… a turntable. Did you think you’d ever see such a thing again? What do you make of the Reloop RP-8000 MIDI turntable?