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Ultimately 12 months’s NAMM Present, Pioneer DJ turned heads once they introduced the arrival of a smooth, angled, all-in-one standalone DJ console with 4 decks, however the unprecedented splash it made this 12 months set the stage for triumph throughout the board.
Past music producers and DJs, it shortly caught eyes and ears amongst stagehands, membership house owners, audio engineers and extra. Aesthetically, it’s a supermodel amongst devices with curves that romanticize its attraction. Its appears are complemented with streamlined capabilities that make it a strong device each for residence or on the highway as effectively.
For music and occasion producers who don’t need to sacrifice any efficiency potential or sound high quality in a extra compact rig, it’s an absolute win. That is very true for many who want one thing that may journey effectively.
Whereas it’s an undoubted benefit that the Opus Quad can match comfortably in a small DJ sales space or artwork automobile, the worth, which lands round $3,500 with tax and delivery, we puzzled how it could distinguish itself from predecessors just like the XDJ-XZ and the CDJ-3000.
So we received our arms on an Opus Quad and spent a number of months twiddling with its many knobs and buttons. Right here’s what we realized.
Large screens make a giant distinction
Those that say to not choose a e book by its cowl most likely by no means noticed such a horny cowl. Like a basic sports activities automobile or an Apple machine in its prime, the Opus Quad units a precedent that DJ consoles don’t should be clunky and cumbersome. Really, the place “all-in-one” units from different manufacturers can feel and look inflexible and fragile like these classic movies of Ford’s Mannequin T, Pioneer’s Opus Quad arrives dressed up just like the Batmobile.
Its central 10.1 inch touchscreen indicators large potential with intuitive design in a primary impression that’s sufficient to make any onstage artist rubberneck. Both sides, which homes two decks, has its personal separate, smaller display for added particulars in regards to the music taking part in on every deck. These vibrant, colourful screens serve up a sturdy however easy menu filled with goodies like FX colour management, cloud entry management by way of RekordBox, monitor knowledge and extra.
The truest “all-in-one” but
Its capability to manage 4 channels independently with out 4 separate CDJs additionally contributes to its visible attraction. Whereas it doesn’t purpose to exchange the 4 CDJ setup that artists love, it affords a powerful various that solely occupies about half the area. In distinction, its predecessor the XDJ-XZ, which continues to be an exceptional machine right now, takes up just a bit extra actual property on a desk whereas solely permitting for 2 decks, except exterior CDJs are added. The Opus Quad stands as a more true “all-in-one” on this approach, as a result of it meets the rising demand for 4 decks proper out of the field.
Earlier than four-deck purists run for the remark part, let’s be clear. Clearly, the four-CDJ setup will nonetheless have its benefits so we don’t count on the standard CDJ-3000 setup to fade from our favourite levels anytime quickly, however so far as all-in-ones go the Quad Opus is extra full than its predecessors. And the truth that it is extra compact means it travels higher than 4 CDJs and a mixer too.
Along with shedding the necessity for exterior CDJs, the Opus Quad can function from SSD drives, USB-A 3.2 and USB-C drives. Because of this, it doesn’t have to depend on an exterior laptop computer. Clearly many onstage artists solely journey with a USB drive to carry out so to some this can really feel previous hat, however any poor soul who previously wanted to hold or regulate a laptop computer for a set will virtually actually have a good time this side of the Opus Quad. With no monitor perched on high of the console they’ll most likely relish a greater reference to the viewers too.
Past the CDJ-3000
For individuals who love the CDJ-3000, the Opus Quad will really feel in some methods like its cousin. It sports activities redesigned jog wheels with waveform indicators and rigidity adjusters, that are a agency nod to one of many CDJ-3000s most liked options.
In some methods it goes a step additional too. As an illustration, as a substitute of conventional efficiency pads it’s geared up with scorching cues which are extra intuitive as a result of the RGB colour shows on the jog wheel waveforms could be custom-made, making it simpler than ever to sync up with monitor cues in good type. One other nod to the 3000s could be seen and heard within the FX controls, which have superior a number of steps within the Opus Quad. Throughout all 4 decks the Opus Quad’s mixing toolset affords 14 beat FX with six adjustable colours.
With this characteristic, selecting the right beat impact for the second could be extra intuitive, and even thematic. For instance, face-melting results with thick bass could be displayed in pink, mid-trembling wobbles could be inexperienced and icy, transcendent chills could be blue.
Maybe one of the best half about all these new options is the truth that there are sufficient distinguishing visuals to separate the Quad Opus from its predecessors and friends, however actually not sufficient to forestall a motivated artist from studying all of it in a flash.
It is an audio engineer’s dream
The customarily-unsung “sound man” has a number of causes to go for the Opus Quad too. Specifically, it has separate XLR and RCA outputs, which make it an agile addition for a wide range of venues and soundscapes. It has multi-zone output as effectively so it will possibly operate as a command heart for a wide range of vibes in separate areas. Its extremely compact design makes deploying it a breeze for load-ins, load-outs and setup between units too.
Granted, it’s actually marketed with touring DJs in thoughts, however in its bevy of options and spacey design the Opus Quad appears to open up a world of prospects for nearly anybody who hopes to make, play and carry out digital music. On this article we didn’t unpack the best way it hundreds tracks quicker with SQLite or the best way it stays cooler longer with optimized thermal airflow design proper out of the field, however those that get one will shortly discover these benefits to be a blessing.
Additionally, with options like cloud entry, a LAN port, up to date bluetooth know-how and a direct connection for SSD it received’t take lengthy to note the adaptable Opus Quad comes constructed prepared for marathon units, next-level studying, and absolutely anything else.
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