The Mixdeck in all its glory. But can this thing do what it claims?
Features:
Numark really went all out with the MixDeck, they obviously set out to create something that would satisfy as many types of DJs as possible using the existing technology they had available. And by existing technology, I'm referring to the actual left and right decks. These decks are, essentially, identical to the NDX800 players Numark released more or less simultaneously. The feature set is identical, though the platters are somewhat smaller.
Each player has a CD drive with the usual MP3 functionality, a USB port for USB sticks and hard drives (make sure your USB hard drives are powered by an external power supply, however) and each deck acts as a standard MIDI controller. Mappings are provided for Traktor LE and Traktor Pro. Virtual DJ 6.07 and above has built in midi maps for the MixDeck.
In the center, you have a standard mixer with a switch on each side for external/phono input, CDJ/USB input or PC mode. Where this differs from your run of the mill mixer is the inclusion of an Ipod dock.
MIDI Functionality: Rating: 7.5/10
As a controller, the MixDeck is very competitive at this price point. You have full loop editing controls, dedicated effects slider and parameter knob, your start/end knobs, large platters, pitch control, a song selector knob and all the usual controls. I would have liked to have seen more cue point buttons, but I wound up using the keyboard (1-9) for cue points anyway, so it's not a big deal.
NOTE: The MixDeck has to be set to MIDI mode on -EACH- deck. Each deck acts as an independent controller, even though they share the same USB connection. It's very easy to do this, you hit the source button and move the source parameter to the mode you are looking for (Called 'USB MIDI'). There are other modes (For using it as a CDJ system, or as a USB Stick/Drive player).
The downside in MIDI mode is that the mixer itself is NOT MIDI enabled. For some, this could be a serious downside. However, whether it's the computer doing the fading/EQ work, or the mixer itself, it still works well enough. Some might not like the lack of customization (especially for the crossfader) that you lose here, though. Also, some compatibility issues cropped up, and required a firmware update, though Numark made this a relatively painless process, and already has the fix on their website.
The Good: Powerful controls on each deck, almost everything you could want. Great price, looks awesome.
The Bad: Mixer is NOT MIDI enabled. Might be an issue for some. A firmware update was required out of the box. I would have rated this controller a 9 if the mixer had been MIDI enabled... it's disappointing, but not necessarily a game-killer.
The Ugly: Has to be switched into MIDI mode, instead of automatically dropping into it. This is a minor inconvenience. BPM display on the actual PLAYER LCD is not always accurate. This is also a minor inconvenience, as it does not effect how the controller operates Traktor and Virtual DJ in any way.
