TECH
get stuck into the more advanced features: the re-sampling and re- editing of audio, things like that. On top of this, the general build of the Nexus is great, everything is very robust and has a great tactile response. It’s very comprehensive and hands-on.”
What are the standout features you most like about the mixer? “Without a doubt the resampling capabilities. This feature alone opens up worlds of creative possibilities that would have usually required an external controller or laptop. The fact that within a few clicks on the touch-screen you can be resampling audio that is playing through one channel, and bring it back up on a separate channel, is amazing.”
What other tricks has the DJM2000 got up its sleeve? “The new FX are fantastic for coloring your mix. A particular favorite was the ‘zip’ effect, which emulates a tape-stop effect. We use this technique frequently when producing, so it’s great to have it there in a live environment now. It is also much more useful to have an EQ section for the FX. This way, for example, you can apply delays and reverb over a busier section of music and simply EQ the low-end out of the FX, so that you don’t cloud up your mix. “We used the Beat Slice mode in the performance video extensively, it is really creative and enables you to build up intricate rhythmic patterns and loops around a sampled section of audio. You can build up a very elaborate pattern and then, should you want to, reset it and start again.”
How does it compare to other mixers that you’ve used? “I think after a few minutes you realize it is far more than a regular mixer, it is also a live performance tool, and in that respect, you cannot compare it to anything else — it sets its own standard as a one-of-a-kind piece of hardware. “Sound-wise, it is incredible, and the pre-amps sound full and do not color the sound. The channel EQ sounds excellent, and the fact you
can switch between different EQ curves/shelves is very cool. But again, it is the extensive performance features of the mixer that we love, as it opens the door for a huge amount of on-the-spot creativity.”
What about the premium price tag? “Although you’re paying a premium price, you are not only buying a flagship mixer, you are also buying a cutting-edge performance tool. With the remixing opportunities it offers, and superior design and sound quality, it feels like a good deal. To buy separate tools to enable the same possibilities would cost far more.”
What are your final thoughts on the DJM2000nexus? “We feel we have only just skimmed the surface. There are going to be some amazing things people do with this mixer, as it encourages innovation. Resampling different live instruments via the line input in the channels could be really interesting, and being able to layer up all the different FX sections onto a loop that is a segment from a tune that you are already playing could let you create an entire section of tune that didn’t already exist, all in real time.”
This is a game-changing piece of equipment, as it goes far beyond what a traditional mixer is. It enables improvisation and on- the-spot composition as well as being a state-of-the-art multi- channel mixer. Above all, it is inspiring to use, and prompts you to try out a different approach to mixing. That’s why we see this as being as much of a performance tool as it is a mixer. It has the ability to change many DJs’ approach to putting together a live performance.
djmag.com 083
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