Novation Launches New DJ Performance Controller, Dicer
Novation recently announced its new (coming out soon) DJ performance controller, Dicer, which integrates seamlessly with the cue-point looping features of Serato Scratch Live. Designed especially for the digital DJ and supplied in pairs, Dicer is a compact USB-powered device which is compatible with any Scratch Live setup, whether using turntables or CDJs. See video below!
Dicer!
With a pair of Dicers in your DJ setup, you can mash-up your beats on the fly, and create a unique performance every time you play. Dicer is coming out in late June / early July 2010 and will be priced around $100.
According to Novation, these are the notable features and specs:
Multi-colour backlit soft-touch ‘dice’ buttons provide real-time visual feedback from the software, and Dicers are so small and rugged that they can be dropped into your laptop bag at the end of the night.
Their compact form factor and versatile mounting options enable them to be fastened securely on the corner of turntables, CDJs or a laptop: Dicer mounts into the 45RPM-adaptor hole on a Technics 1200-series turntable, or on to any flat surface using Novation’s removable DJ putty. Battle-style or standard, Dicer fits ergonomically into any turntable setup, and one-deck configurations are fine too: just use the reusable DJ putty to secure the second Dicer to your laptop.
With Dicer on the corner of the turntable, CDJ or laptop, you have instant control of Serato’s Cue Point, Loop Roll and Auto Loop features at your fingertips, allowing you to throw tricks into your set without touching the computer. In addition, two shift layers on each Dicer allow you to assign pad commands to any MIDI parameter in software.
Pair 'o Dicers
A pair of Dicers requires just one USB socket; an included mini-jack cable provides data connection and bus power to the second unit. Dicers are class-compliant MIDI controllers, and they can be used straight out of the box on a Mac or PC without installing any custom drivers or additional software.
As standard MIDI devices, Dicers can be programmed to control any MIDI-compatible software, such as Native Instruments Traktor, Ableton Live or Propellerhead Reason. And, using Dicers’ shift functions, up to 60 MIDI assignments can be made, to control everything from effects plug-ins to software samplers and instruments.
Full integration with Serato Scratch Live (including LED feedback) requires version 2.1 of the software (available soon). Now, check out the Dicer in action…