Casio XW-DJ1 and XW-PD1 — portable play and performance

The new Casio XW-DJ1 and XW-PD1 certainly come at the DJ and performer market from a different angle, and offer something a tad different to both.

casio trackformer XW-DJ1 XW-PD1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZZPKoMf6fc

Casio has tentatively dipped its toe in the DJ market via a relationship with Vestax. They’re already showing a small selection of what one might class as conventional DJ products in the current state of play. But then they go and announce a couple of seemingly insane units that are either dead from day one or utter genius. At CES, they have announced the Trackformer series, a couple of units that… well you decide for yourself. The XW-DJ1 is an algoriddim djay for iOS powered DJ device, and the XW-PD1, a potential finger drummer’s dream.

casio trackformer XW-DJ1 XW-PD1

Let’s pour over the PR first:

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Casio America, Inc. is pleased to announce its Trackformer series of new DJ products, which enables individuals to emulate their favorite DJs and producers, during the 2015 International CES in Las Vegas, NV, from January 6-9, 2015. With the XW-DJ1 DJ Controller and XW-PD1 Groove Center, dance music fans can create, mix and play or produce their favorite tracks on their own. Casio will be located in the Central Hall, booth #11006.

“Electronic Dance Music is here to stay and with its ever increasing popularity, we wanted to offer fans a way to become part of this epic music movement,” said Stephen Schmidt, vice president of Casio’s Electronic Musical Instrument division. “Casio’s new Trackformer series offers a variety of easy-to-use features that are ideal for aspiring DJs and musicians who are ready to set the stage at a party, produce beats and perform.”

XW-DJ1 DJ Controller
Designed with a large 7-inch platter that provides the feel of an analog turntable, filter controls and cross fader, Casio’s XW-DJ1 DJ Controller allows users to enjoy the popular ‘scratching’ DJ style when mixing and creating tracks. The XW-DJ1 is compatible with Algoriddim’s djay2 apps for iTunes, which were chosen as an Apple Design Award winner. The XW-DJ1 integration with djay2 provides direct controls for cue points, tempo sync, effects, looping and more providing users a tactile experience for mixing and performing music. Users can also connect to Spotify, a leading commercial music streaming service, and mix along to their favorite songs. Additionally, the compact XW-DJ1 is extremely portable because it is battery-powered and offers a built-in-speaker for enjoyment anywhere, anytime.

XW-PD1 Groove Center
The XW-PD1 Groove Center is equipped with the sound engine from Casio’s widely-popular XW series of synthesizers, which features preset patterns produced by professional beat makers that cover dance music genres like Trap and EDM. The XW-PD1 design includes 16 velocity-sensitive pads and 4 knobs for fast real-time music production.

The XW-PD1 features an outer ring containing 16 buttons, allowing the user to check the current rhythm pattern at a glance. Users can create powerful rhythms and phrases with the pads as well as apply DSP effects such as roll, filter, bit crusher, break, and pitch shifter. The XW-PD1 includes drum sounds for a variety of styles such as Hip Hop, Trap, and House. Since the XW-PD1 is equipped with a synthesizer engine and a variety of effects, it can manipulate various sounds. Pad tap sequences can also be recorded in real time. Moreover, sampled sounds from the mic or music player can easily be played on the pads.

The audio output of the XW-DJ1 can be connected to the audio input of the XW-PD1 so the two units can be used in tandem. This allows users to do live remix performances utilizing the unique capabilities of each product.

The XW-DJ1 DJ Controller will be available at select retailers nationwide beginning January 2015 for an MSRP of $299.00; and the XW-PD1 Groove Center will be available beginning March 2015 for an MSRP of $399.00. To learn more about the Trackformer series or Casio’s full portfolio of electronic musical instruments, please visit www.casiomusicgear.com.

 Casio Trackformer XW-DJ1 XW-PD1 (1)

Paradigms bite the dust

Just when we were all thinking that the DJ scene had got rather stale, along comes Casio with a couple of devices that challenge convention once again. I have been lucky enough to glimpse these before, and was definitely intrigued by both of them. I’ve wanted a mobile scratch unit for the longest time, and the XW-DJ1 looks like it could be that device. Basically it harnesses the power of djay into a go-anywhere device, with a clear emphasis on scratching, which for some reason Casio’s PR puts in inverted commas. I’m still getting my head round how I would adapt to a single deck unit for a conventional setup, but I guess we’ll be getting one in due course.

The XW-PD1 is a different concept altogether. It seems to be part synth, part sampler, and part MIDI controller, allowing you to program beats or aimlessly drum freestyle. Why must it be red though?

Imagine a DJ with the XW-DJ1 jamming with another knocking out beats on the XW-PD1. Or herds of roaming wild DJs jamming just about anywhere — that’s where these devices will win friends. I don’t think anyone would put these in the pro-DJ arena, but at first glance, these have potential for fun in the right hands. I’ll certainly be making sure that review units end up in the hands of people who can do then justice.

Picture credit: Synthtopia

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Mark Settle
Mark Settle

The old Editor of DJWORX - you can now find Mark at WORXLAB

Articles: 1228

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55 Comments

  2. Looks fun, but not sure how I feel about the price of the XW-DJ1. More than an Akai AMX… which doesn’t have a platter, I know, but it does have a 24bit 192khz 4×4 soundcard in it. Just sayin. Ready to see some videos of it in action for sure though.

  6. Curious things aren’t they? I can’t see many serious DJ’s picking them up due to their design style, however Algoriddim DJay hasn’t matured enough to be taken seriously in clubs etc. (yet) so I can see a niche market for them with kids and their iPads. My main concern is the launch price, it’s more Vestax than Casio, Casio has always been inventive but cheap. The second hand market is always full of Casio keyboards, many of which I’ve bought to circuit bend (VL tone is a personal fave) and of course some of them become collectable over time like the FZ, so maybe in a year or two I’ll get one for fun. By the way have you noticed the XW-J1? Isn’t that a Vestax Spin ?

    • Casio did some rebadging of Vestax gear. The Spin 2 really is a consumer level DJ device, and Casio’s retail penetration is strong, so it makes sense to put a Casio branded DJ product into the high street than a Vestax one.

  9. I really like the idea of portable scratch machine, there’s clearly a market for it based on all the other products that have tried (qfo and the drum shape one who’s name eludes me at the moment all at great expense)
    Looks like great fun – can’t wait to see someone test it properly & djay is a half decent bit software which will only ever get better. It’s not at a pro level yet but I’m not sure it has to either.
    (It also reminds me of the vestax guitar scratch device… stick a neck on it and your there really…vestax were and in some way still are the most creative dj company ever)

  10. The XW-DJ1 is the controllerist QFO. It won’t sell now but in two years will be $1000 on eBay due to hipster DJ demand. It will also be hacked to run DJ Hero (yay).

  14. Groove Turntable has born! The day that becomes one only unit (and ttm1 or dvs support) will be GREAT!
    There are a bit expensive but for sure I will look at they when become released.
    Perfect companion for Volca series…

    I’m very excited (and once again my spider sense is fine tuned…) :}

    • MSRP puts these at $300 & $400. What is expensive? For what they are (toys) sure but big picture these are dirt cheap………….. I think at least.

      • Expensive related to Volca and so… but I expect they drop 100$ (due the few love they are getting from users) and then it will be a affordable price (in my country the basic income is less than 800e/1000$). The unemployment is around 25%…

      • I say let them WORK for it, let them try and impress me. Isn’t it enough that I express exactly what I want in a clear, concise way, so that the guys who can get the factory assembly lines turned on know exactly what to make. Besides, all the hacking in the world isn’t going to make something better that a round piece of vinyl with grooves of sound cut it in, so why bother. All this fuss, and still nothing better than a nice crossfader and a scratchy seal record has been produced.

        • Different concepts for sure. I see this more for portable scratching jamsessions outdoors, make some friends and get them into home for real turntable experience.
          Also see this with neck and handytraxx motor for some guitar scratch fun ala Stars wars cantina band…
          ;)

  23. the XW-PD1 looks like it could have been great if it was just a midi controller, as others have said put a neck on these things and you’ve got instant gimmick appeal for a live show! Putting the synth engine / sampler etc in there just makes me think it’s probably a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none jobby. Could easily see Numark and Cut Chemist whipping these out during their giant turntable / wearable beatbox machine skit at the J5 shows. the XW-DJ1 looks like an immature product, however if it sells, i can imagine a second or third generation of this thing being pretty good!

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