Vestax keeps calm and carries on

Vestax as we know it has closed down, but that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel has been revealed by Mixware, their US distributors.

vestax keep calm and carry on

First there was the rumour, then the semi-official bankruptcy news, and then came yesterday’s wonderful post from the former president of the company. But new word has emerged from Vestax’s US distributor that confirms what I’ve wanted to share for ages — while Vestax as we know it may well be over, a new Vestax is about to emerge.

Gerard Cohen from Mixware has just sent this out to the industry, and here it is for you to read:

“The bankruptcy procedure was a necessary first step into the rebuilding of Vestax Japan and Vestax brand. Measures, engineering team, new product designs and financial support are already in place to support the rebuilding process and more information will be published by Vestax Japan during the course of the first semester 2015.

This process will definitely take some time before the first new Vestax products reach the worldwide markets but we’re confident that once again under the leadership of its original founders, Vestax will soon reemerge as a strong innovative brand as it has always been.”

Again, while I was aware of the fuller picture, this was news for Vestax to tell. I did try to hint at bankruptcy not being the very end of the road for Vestax, and now the good news is out that it actually isn’t. Now, what form new Vestax will take is unknown. I have seen drawings but I don’t know if what I’ve seen will be made, nor am I going to tell you what I’ve seen either.

As far as the original founders goes, they mean Hidesato Shiino, a figure always there in the background but now back front and centre of the original Vestax name that he founded in 1977. So the first three months or so will hopefully see Vestax reborn and ready to take on the challenges of the modern DJ era. And we’re very happy to be able to report that too, as I suspect a great many of our readers are too. Fingers crossed for some cool new products and ideas from the new Vestax.

Mark Settle
Mark Settle

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

Articles: 1228

30 Comments

  1. I think their future will be determined by how they treat their old customers with support and spare parts etc.

    If they leave the old customers hanging without firmware updates and such, internet forums and comments will hurt their sales really bad but if they do support us there will be support from the community as well. A new launch without that will be a PR disaster.

    Owning a business must have been so much easier before forums, google searches and every customer being allowed to speak their mind.

    • good lord, I hope not. why, on earth would they want to deal with all the products that led to their demise. that sounds ridiculous. i’ll absolutely have nothing to do with the new vestax unless they jettison all of their old products and only focus on new “Scratch Only” products. I’m not buying anything from them, if their attentions are going to be divided between new products, and trying to “update” old stuff.

        • agreed. just hearing the word “mixware” makes me doubtful that this new company will do well. they have that vaporware sort of feel to them as a company, if they are anything more than one due(Laurent cohen)..who knows.
          But on the chance that anyone who can make real product decisions reads this, I hope the recognize that there are several VERY desirable products out there, that could be made in limited runs and sell out easily 1)handytrax with a scratch fader 2) something like a frisk fader, but a little larger like the size of a phone 3)the faderbox, which I’ve already described in detail 4)turntables..straight arm, strong motor, and if you can sell it “with” a nice needle you are ahead of the game 5)10″ turntables, again straight arm with a needle (7″ is too small for hydroplanes) THESE ARE PRODUCTS PEOPLE WANT Not bullshit the Native Instruments hype machine convinces newbies to THINK they want. These are the products wanted by the guys who have been doing this for 20 years, and have no plans to “change hobbies” Vestax, look at how people are using the products you’ve already made and add some nice new modern improvements. Personally, I don’t care how you add loopers to the mix, but JUST DO IT! Vestax is synonymous with SCRATCHING, and here’s your chance to solidify that for another decade. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
          Peace..Platinius

  2. For as shi**y as Serato did Vestax legacy users, I’m praying for options that don’t force me to pay Serato for a license. A 380mk2 would be a welcome addition to my home; Traktor edition.

  3. Toshi said “I would like to sincerely apologize to you for not being able to continue our business.” but Gerard said “The bankruptcy procedure was a necessary first step into the rebuilding of Vestax Japan and Vestax brand.” So who are we supposed to believe?

  4. Still nadda as we are about to roll into 2016. Sadly I may have to move on my VCI-380 as I just don’t know how long software support will stick around. And sadly nothing replaces it perfectly. It had all the hardware I could ask for, add DVS and I would have been very happy. I keep looking at the MC6000mk2 but it just doesn’t sing to me. Modular and Akai AMX may be my future.

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