A couple of weeks ago, the latest version of Traktor gave out the name of the new mixer from Allen and Heath. This is nothing new – we hacks have always pulled apart the innards of new software releases to see what is hidden inside, and sure enough the Xone:96 was skulking around in the code. There were no other details released, and a heap of “oooh I hope” type comments littered the usual haunts.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjLKQwbHIlE/
A teaser has appeared, showing little more than a logo and a date, a very apt 9/6, a date which makes sense for 10 times as many people around the world than it does in the USA. So to clarify — the new Xone:96 is likely to be launched on 9th June.
But even more Xone:96 related teasery has popped up on the Xone DJ Facebook page. It’s the Movement event in Detroit this weekend, and of course this is the perfect time and place to let Techno DJs grope and fondle what is likely to be the natural successor to their Xone:ninety-tool of choice. Ergo, this video appeared in the Xone DJ channel:
https://www.facebook.com/xonedjofficial/videos/1781411941949352/
Of course, I lifted the video and did some screen shots:
Now my Photoshop fu with teasers is strong. I’ve pieced together whole mixers from nanoseconds of blurry video. But after a holiday weekend gazing into my screen creating a client video, I just can’t bring myself to stare at pixels anymore. Besides, there’s another good reason why I don’t want to give too much away.
Now for the disclosure bit — we know a lot more about the new Xone beyond an entry in Traktor. And for this reason we’re saying nothing else. The whole shebang will be unleashed in less than two weeks, but I don’t think I’m giving too much away when I say that I’m pretty sure a tiny tear of joy formed in the corner of Dan’s eye as he gazed upon… now I’ve said too much.
As you might expect, we plan to have more detail than you can handle on launch day. We don’t do video, but we will have plenty of words and pictures for you to pour over in due course.
SPECULATE AWAY
While we’re not leaking anything that we know, there’s nothing to stop you lot tearing the video apart. Considering it appeared inside Traktor and on the official Xone DJ page, it’s all fair game now. So what do you think it is? What do you want it to be? What if it isn’t what you want it to be?
SQUEEEE!
Looks like the changes (barring the on-board interfaces) are fairly minimal. I can kinda see why but I can’t help be a little disappointed some stuff from the Model 1 didn’t make it into mass production like the filters in place of the top and bottom EQs.
I am very pleased that there’s now more space between the filter knobs and the LP selection button! That’s my life made a touch easier! Hahaha
Anyone else notice there appears to be only two buttons above the filter pots? Does that mean no band pass filter?
Actually, in other photos, they seem to be all there. Damn my dodgy eyesight!
96 vs 92. All the Photoshop I’m doing.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/54d6ec9511b52118fe65b489ed39f418ea2a2829813a50d87f3f29f2c1f265fa.jpg
Hang about! Above the left filter controls, are those two controls for the return channels? Meaning the returns and the mic channels are separate, making this an 8 input mixer like the Model 1?
Ok, now you have my FULL attention!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2e2b9a057d0cb4f1aa2bd57eae26b99997783f39395c606765d32e8a6f6fd7c1.jpg
Actually looks like LFO control. Don’t mind me
Saw this on the internet too: https://www.instagram.com/p/BjQTqxSDKRH/
It’s like a dream come true, cue BNH yes I’m that old :)x
Looks like there still is one big faceplate (except for the cf), so probably no rotary kit.
I wonder what keeps major manufacturers from offering that option (Denon DJ also left that out on the X1800).
With a new boutique rotary mixer being released every other week there sure is a market…
Of course, “ohh,a 92 with two certified interfaces, SQUEEEE”! (that’s me priced out of this mixer with that feature alone though, probably) Wild guess : A&H went for 96 instead of 93 because 9 3×2 (interfaces). That or they’re 96khz!
Just hoping Serato Club Kit support comes as well for everyone’s sake.
Thumbs up for what seems to be a near departure of the car tuning aesthetics, most importantly returning to the classic clicky lightpipe buttons instead of the mushy rubber pads – which I’ve seen fail like the cue buttons on a DJM.
More thumbs up for the DJM Nexus-like input selector switches.
It looks like the return channel switches have been simplified from the 92’s three position throw switches.
Not having my hopes up for a built-in innofader, but at least one could expect the 92’s decent Penny & Giles to be carried over.
General Xone disappointment:
Would’ve been nice to do something about the line fader er… passages? rails? – it looks like there’s still more fader left when they’re pushed all the way up/down, which as I’ve experienced on every Xone I’ve touched and seen while trainspotting many DJs, leads to involuntary (and unneeded) tapping of the faders.
does this mean Xone:92s are about to flood ebay for cheaper prices?
Doubtful. 92s should hold their value. Though I do occasionally see one go for £500 on ebay.
sadness