Now this looks pretty cool. Hercules is perhaps the original MIDI controller company, and has always done things its own way. And this DJControlWave most definitely a welcome progression from a design perspective, the main selling point being a wireless connection to your iPad.
Firstly there’s a video:
Then some words:
Hercules Debuts Unique Wireless DJ Controller specially designed for iPad® – DJControlWave – at the 2014 International Consumer Electronics Show
Honoree of a 2014 CES Innovations Award, Hercules DJControlWave’s Bluetooth® connectivity and rechargeable battery gives DJs complete freedom to mix and rock parties anywhere
Las Vegas, January 6, 2014 – Hercules, a worldwide leader in audio and digital DJing, is proud to unveil the first wireless DJ controllers custom-designed for iPad® at CES Las Vegas.
Inspired by its sleek, wave-shaped design, the new controller is named the Hercules DJControlWave. This truly unique and innovative concept has also been recognized as an honoree of the highly coveted CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award 2014.
With its iPad® control via Bluetooth® wireless technology, total mobility thanks to its built-in rechargeable battery, and its futuristic design, the Hercules DJControlWave is the undisputed “new wave” DJ controller.
Complete mixing freedom
There’s no need for any kind of cable between the controller and the iPad®: the Bluetooth® connection is instant and the control is totally wireless. When mixing at a party, the DJ is even free to take the iPad® onto the dance floor, away from the controller, without ever losing control of the mix! The Hercules DJControlWave’s range is up to 33 feet (10 meters).
The controller’s built-in rechargeable battery is also a huge plus in terms of freedom of movement: say goodbye to the days when a DJ always had to keep the controller connected to a power source. Battery life even allows for a whole night of non-stop mixing (up to 8 hours)!
DJs can either connect speakers to the iPad® via a wired connection or wirelessly if using a Bluetooth® speaker, making it possible to mix without any cables at all for the ultimate in DJing freedom!
The “new wave” DJ design: stylized and futuristic
Extremely lightweight and showcasing an elegant look, the innovative design of the Hercules DJControlWave ripples like a wave, and is perfectly crafted to support the DJ’s iPad®. The iPad®’s angle of support can be adjusted in order to adapt to different DJing positions and styles. All controls are intuitive and ergonomic, including the two jog wheels, two pitch sliders, buttons for effects, samples and cue points, and rotary encoders for EQ settings.
Even the controller’s backlighting, which adds to its futuristic look, has been designed to be both attractive and helpful: it guides the DJ, even in low-light conditions.
DJUCED™ DJW: the free, custom control app
The DJUCED™ DJW app has been specially designed for the Hercules DJControlWave, and was developed to function in perfect harmony with the controller (the app is available for free on the App Store). The app is incredibly simple both to learn and to use to create great mixes, even for those just starting out as DJs.
Multi-talented
Although this new controller has been designed for the iPad® (its “Made for iPad” certification is pending), it is also compatible with both Mac® and PC, via a USB connection and the included DJUCED™ 40° software.
The Hercules DJControlWave also comes bundled with a super-convenient splitter cable – allowing users to connect both speakers and headphones to privately preview upcoming tracks.
The Hercules DJControlWave will be available from spring 2014, at a suggested retail price of $299.99.
Control your iPad® wirelessly
- Built-in Bluetooth® 3.0 wireless technology
- Ultra-fast connection, with no wires between the controller and the iPad®
- Move your iPad® up to 10 meters away from the controller
No need to constantly stay connected to a power source
- Built-in rechargeable battery for 8 hours of continuous use on a full charge!
Just pair and mix: intuitive DJing right at your fingertips
- Mixer controls for 2 separate decks
- 20 control buttons including Play/Pause, Cue, Sync and more
- 5 faders for volume, pitch and crossfading
- 6 rotary potentiometers for EQ controls
- 2 rotary encoders for simple control of loops: push to enable/disable a loop, and turn to adjust the loop’s size
- 2 jog wheels with capacitive touch detection
- 1 large knob for easy master volume control
- Included splitter cable lets you preview upcoming tracks on your headphones
A wave of elegance
- Slim design
- Controller features a glossy black top panel, and metal plating on jog wheel tops
- Elegant backlit buttons and knobs show the status of the different controls, and help guide the DJ even in low-light conditions
- Lightweight and easy to transport: carry it in your backpack, to rock great parties anywhere!
- Adjust the iPad® support stand’s angle of inclination for optimal comfort and visibility
Multi-talented
- Specially designed to control your iPad® via a Bluetooth® wireless connection
- Custom DJUCEDTM DJW mixing app available for free from the App Store
- Compatible with Mac® and PC via a USB connection
- DJUCEDTM 40°mixing software available for free from www.djuced.com
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- 2-deck DJ controller
- Capacitive touch-detecting jog wheels
- Built-in rechargeable battery
- Elegant backlighting
- Bluetooth® 3.0 wireless technology
- Free DJ software for download:
- DJUCEDTM DJW for iPad
- DJUCEDTM 40° for Mac®/PC
- Intuitive, powerful software
- Mix 2 audio tracks on the fly
- Save your mixes as audio files
Mechanical specifications
Dimensions: 40 (W) x 29.11 (D) x 4.5 (H) cm
Jog wheels’ diameter: 10 cm
Weight: 1.5 kg
Splitter cable included for previewing tracks on your headphonesBOX CONTENTS
Hercules DJControlWave
Printed installation guide + instructional poster
USB cable
USB charger (5 V/1 A)
Splitter cableMINIMUM CONFIGURATION
iPad® 2 model or higher
iOS 6.1 or higher
PC
•Windows XP/Vista/7/8 (32/64-bit)
•1.6 GHz CPU or faster / 2 GB RAM
Mac®
•Core Duo CPU
•OS X 10.6/10.7/10.8 (32/64-bit)
A few observations about the DJControlWave
Let’s bullet point this for the hard of reading:
- The DJControlWave (should have just called it The Hercules Wave) is entirely wireless, meaning it can run without USB connection or hard wired power for an alleged 8 hours.
- This wireless approach means that all sound output is handled by the iPad, hence the enclosed splitter cable, or you could pair your iPad with one of Hercules’ wireless speakers. In wired laptop mode with DJuced 40 however you can define any external source.
- It connects to iPads (and hopefully iPhones in the future) via Bluetooth 3, so although we’re talking wireless, it’s not wifi, which is a blessing for setting up, but a possible curse for latency.
- The WeGO-ish layout has a few compromises like horizontal pitch, but does have 3 band EQ. I do especially like the way the rear shelf has been extended and that space used for extra controls.
- Hercules is once again putting their eggs in the DJuced software basket, so I’m not expecting much support from the major software vendors. DJuced is a capable if unpolished product that will perform well enough for the intended market. It didn’t endear itself to me when it took well over a minute to load my small iTunes library.
What we have here is a pigeon step in the iPad and DJ relationship, namely being entirely wireless — they don;t even need to be in the same room or even touch. The whole wireless thing is clever but a bit bogus to me — I’d be much happier knowing that I could plug my iPad into a controller that was being powered as well, and have better latency. But that’s just my more stringent needs talking, but for the target audience, the draw of simply pulling your gear out of a bag and hitting a couple of on buttons is quite appealing.
We’re not at CES, but will be at NAMM. We’ll have more for you then, but I imagine that a few videos will come out of CES anyway if you can’t wait. Summing up – the DJControlWave will be available will be available in Spring 2014 for $299.99.
