The Radius 1000 lets you play digital tracks directly from your computer without using a mouse, giving you a real hardware feel.

In addition to functioning as an 8-channel MIDI controller for music playback software, the Radius 1000 also plays CD, CD-R and MP3 discs. There’s also a Dual Mode that allows you to play a CD or MP3 disc and control your computer software at the same time.

There’s a nice side benefit of this: In the event of a computer crash during a gig, you can switch over to playing discs on the Radius 1000.

Details:

The Radius 1000 is compatible with popular DJ software programs, including Tracktor and Serato (software not included with unit). When in the MIDI mode an external soundcard is required (not included).

The deck comes with 9 onboard digital effects: Scratch (Digital Scratch and Beat Juggle modes), Filter, Echo, Trans, Skid, Phase, Flanger, Pan and Bop. Time & Ratio Adjustment is available for all effects, and a Digital BPM Counter keeps them locked in sync with the beat of the music. The Radius 1000’s big 6-inch jog wheel operates in 3 modes — Normal, Scratch and Auto Cue Scratch, which is ideal for Beat Juggling.

The Radius 1000 features a super-cool design that not only boosts functionality but also looks great in the DJs booth. A bright display shows track and artist ID tags for quick reference, and a red LED visual marker rotates around the jog wheel to show you what point within the track the CD or MP3 is currently playing.

The Radius 1000 offers Seamless Loop, Advanced Track Search, 10-Second Anti-Shock Memory, Fader Q Start, 3 Flash Start Buttons, Digital Output (S/PDIF), Tempo Lock and Instant Start. For DJs who prefer larger, more sophisticated audio setups, a Flip Flop function lets you relay playback between two Radius 1000 CD/MP3 players.

The Radius 1000 measures 10.5″ x 14″ x 4.25″ and weighs 8 lbs. It carries a suggested retail price of $599.99

Hercules Mobile DJ MP3, a prosumer-style digital DJ controller, is now available for $99.99, in black or white.

While it’s a consumer-oriented product, it looks like it provides a lot of functionality for the price.

The mixer is powered by two C batteries and has a dual LCD display that lets you pick tracks and mix them, away from the computer. The Mobile DJ MP3 includes two decks for mixing, scratching and synchronizing the MP3 or WAV files stored on the PC.

Additionally, the mini-controller includes two jog wheels emulating two vinyl/cd decks for scrolling through tracks quickly and scratching, a cross fader slider that allows quick transition from deck to the other deck and two volume sliders, four sound and effect buttons per deck, pitch sliders and 25 control buttons.

Plug in the USB radio receiver key for wireless connectivity. The wireless and handheld Mobile DJ MP3 requires a computer equipped with a sound card, amplified speakers and your music (CD-Audio or MP3, WAV or WMA files). DJing software is included.

“Tascam’s family of MP3 trainers is the world’s first music player for musicians, and we’ve completely designed it to fit your instrument,” said Johnny DeLeon, TascamProduct Channel Manager. “The new MP-BT1 for bass players and MP-VT1 for vocalists and other instruments gives musicians, students, and teachers, the ability to play and learn their favorite songs by slowing down the song without changing the pitch.”

With an aluminum enclosure available in 3 versions, Guitar, Bass, Music/Vocal, there’s an MP3 trainer to match everyone’s individual style. The Intuitive design give musicians the features they look for. The MP-BT1 Bass trainer comes with a Hi-Z Bass input, multi effect for Bass, 7 bands Graphic EQ, Bass cut on MP3 Playback, and Bass range Booster & Enhancer on MP3 playback and more. The MP-VT1 Music/Vocal trainer features a Microphone input, Built-in reverb & echo on input, Input for mic volume and more.

Each TascamMP3 trainer supports 1GB memory (up to 240 songs), Key control, Seamless IN-OUT Loop, Instrument cancellation with selectable pan point and frequency band range, chromatic tuner, and more. By connecting to any Mac or Windows computer using the USB port the MP-BT1 and MP-VT1 features a drag and drop song folder to import your songs and a Lithium Ion rechargeable battery (8 hours of playback time).

Features:

• Pitch Shifting: -1200 to +1200Hz
• Time Shifting: 1/4x to 4x speed
• Opens most audio files
• Opens most video files
• Unique Core Audio + QuickTime hybrid playback engine
• Real-time Audio Units Effects chain
• 10 band Graphic Equalizer
• Looping controls to isolate one or more sections of a track
• iTunes integration with built-in iTunes media browser, or drag & drop direct from iTunes
• Powerful Audio file conversion, exports to AIFF/ AIFC, WAV, MP4, M4A, AAC, SD2, CAF
• Fullscreen mode
• Create and edit your own Visualizations in Quartz Composer
• Made exclusively for Mac OS X 10.4 | Universal Binary for PowerPC or Intel
• Available now as a time-limited beta trial version

It’s designed to let you get your freak on with audio and video, it’s Mac and its free while it’s in beta. What’s not to like?

Description:

MachineHead is an alternative media player for Mac OS X that tightly integrates your media, iTunes Library, Quartz Compositions and Core Audio effects. MachineHead is made for musicians, DJ/VJs, audiophiles and casual listeners alike.

MachineHead enables you to easily create loops and apply real-time Audio Units effects to tracks from iTunes and elsewhere. It is built around a unique hybrid Core Audio/QuickTime playback engine which preferentially plays files with Core Audio.

MachineHead features an advanced Quartz Visualizer module for viewing and tweaking industry standard Quartz Composer .qtz visualisations. Now you have the perfect player for audio-active compositions.

Cortex has released its dMIX-300 Digital Music Control Station, a compact all-in-one iPod mixing solution for the Digital DJ.

Integrating Cortex’s patent pending USB compatible technology with a 2-channel audio mixer and a built-in iPod Dock (suitable for all iPod models), DJ’s can search, cue, play, pitch, mix and even scratch digital music files (MP3 or WAV) directly from their iPod or any other external USB storage device.

Description:

Fully CBR and VBR MP3 compatible and boasting essential features such as iTunes playlist compatibility, two Tri Mode Jog Wheels for search or pitch bend, two 80 character dot matrix playback info displays, a rear mounted USB port for storage device sharing and external CD/DVD-ROM drive option, individual RCA outputs for Master, Booth and Record, and a USB keyboard connection offering faster search and navigation, the dMIX-300 delivers optimum functionality and unmatched control of your digital music files.

The mixer section comes fully equipped with a 3-band EQ per channel with Gain Control, blue “Fluid” diffused VU meters, cue fader, Master/Cue select for headphone output, 1/4″ mic input with 2 band EQ, Auxiliary Inputs for Phono or Line devices, ultra-precise Pitch Control with a range of +/- 24% and a 45mm SuperSmooth Crossfader with selectable cross fader curve.

The dMIX-300 has a MSRP of $999.00 (street price approximately $600.00).

Musikmesse: Stanton DJ introduced the new S.300 Tabletop CD Player w/ MP3 along with the complete DJ DIGIPAK.MP3 package that includes two S.300s, an SMX.211 mixer, a custom road case, and cabling.

The Stanton S.300 is a professional quality tabletop CD player with MP3 compatibility and anti-shock buffer memory.

Features:

• Single table top CD player with MP3 playback
• Anti-shock Buffer Memory
• 10 Key Quick Search
• Instant Start and Auto Cue
• Digital Output
• Fader Start
• Selectable Pitch Control [+/-8%,12%,16%]
• Pitch

The new DJ DIGIPAK.MP3 package is a complete and affordable solution for CD-based DJs that includes two Stanton S.300 CD players w/ MP3, a SMX.211 mixer, and custom road cases with all cabling. The SMX.211 includes a Crossfader Start, two line and two phono inputs, two-band EQ and Gain control per channel, cue section features, cue level and cue pan, mic input with two band EQ, user replaceable crossfader, and a compact size.

HDC-1000 – New Software Update Available

The NAMM show marked the debut of the latest free software and database manager update for the HDC-1000.

V1.8.10 contains new features such as Scratch capability, Playlist Creation ability (using the new Cortex Database Manager V 2.4 (Special Edition for the HDC-1000) software), improved cue functionality and accuracy and even GREATER USB keyboard support.

HDC-3000 – Latest Cortex unit shipping to stores in late February

With the addition of 12 DSP effects, 4 sample banks, 4 loop banks, and 4 hot cues, plus a touch-sensitive jog wheel, BPM counter, Key Adjust, Master Tempo features, and USB keyboard support, the HDC-3000 is the ultimate rack mount digital music controller for the advanced mobile entertainer or professional club DJ.

HDTT-5000 – Digital turntable interface

Set to ship to retailers in May, Cortex debuted the flagship of its revolutionary HD Series of digital music controllers, the HDTT-5000 Digital Music Turntable/Controller at this year’s NAMM show.

Implementing a large touch-sensitive jog wheel platter, the sleekly designed HDTT-5000 puts state-of-the-art power to cue, play, loop, effect, sample, reverse, and even scratch digital music files into the hands of professional club DJ’s and turntablists.

Dmix Series

Making its debut at the show, Cortex’s all-new Digital Music Control Station series, the Dmix Series, integrates the power of Cortex’s USB compatible technology and a 2-Channel mixer into one compact, easy-to-carry, all-in-one digital mixing solution (only 12 lbs). Whether mixing at home, in the club, or at a party, the Dmix Series delivers optimum functionality and control of your digital music files stored on an iPod, external hard drive, or USB flash drive that is perfect for portable set-ups, permanent installations and mobile DJ rigs.

CTRL-R Series

Cortex introduces CTRL-R, a new generation of Digital Music Controllers offering many of the popular functions and professional performance of Cortex’s HD Series in an uncomplicated and easy-to-use table-top unit.

Designed for use by DJs who want that add that digital edge and professional feature set to their current rigs, the CTRL-R Series delivers maximum functionality and flexibility at an affordable price point.

Toto Japan has introduced the ultimate toilet seat/MP3 player, the Apricot series toilet seat.

Not content to settle for the usual high-tech toilet gadgets, such as a seat-heater, automatic washer and robotic action, Toto has added a full-fledged MP3 player with SD card slot.

We’re not making this up.

The control panel can be attached to the wall. 16 songs are included with the SD card. The high-tech seat conserves power by studying the patterns of use and and not heating the seat when the toilet is least frequently used.

The fully-loaded Toto N5A seat costs 180,600 Yen ($ 1750)

Featuring an advanced organic EL display (2 inches on the 20GB NW-A3000 version and 1.5 inches on the 6GB NW-A1000 model), the Sony Walkman features two new shuffle functions.

By selecting ‘My Favorite Shuffle’, the device automatically selects the most listened to 100 songs and plays them at random. The ‘Time Machine Shuffle’ function randomly selects a year and plays all of the songs from that particular year that are currently held on the device.

Once switched on, a mobile phone style ‘Home’ menu appears offering nine different options that can be selected via the four-way directional button. These include ‘Music Library’, ‘Play Mode’, ‘Initial Search’, ‘Intelligent Shuffle’, ‘Favorite 100′, ‘Play History’, ‘Settings’, ‘Playlist’ and ‘Now Playing’.

Music can be searched in a variety of ways, via ‘Genre’, ‘Artist’, ‘Album’, ‘Song’, ‘Release Date’, ‘Rating’ and ‘Recently Transferred’, all of which can be scrolled through to enable users to find their music faster and easier. Sony WALKMAN records three years of playback history that can be searched and also features the first ever ‘Initial Search’ on a hard disc device, allowing the user to scroll from A-Z for ultimate ease of use.

The 20GB Sony Walkman is available in two colours, violet and silver; while the 6GB unit comes in the additional colours of pink and blue. All models are packaged with colour-coordinated headphones.

Sony WALKMAN features ATRAC3plus and MP3 playback and ships with the new “CONNECT Player” that offers advanced music library management as well as providing seamless access to the CONNECT™ catalogue of more than one million tracks and albums available for download.