AlphaTheta has come out of the gate swinging with its launch of the Omnis-Duo all-in-one DJ controller and Wave-Eight speaker immediately. These two merchandise are the primary underneath the corporate’s new moniker since altering it from Pioneer DJ, though each model names are anticipated to coexist for now. The launch coincides with the NAMM occasion this week and it’s additionally the thirtieth anniversary of the landmark Pioneer CDJ-500.
Each the controller and speaker are brimming with connectivity and battery energy, making them an interesting possibility for cellular DJs. Rekordbox is a necessity proper now, both for direct play or file prep and the app comes bundled with the Omnis-Duo controller. Serato DJ Lite assist is anticipated later this summer season and the software program ought to already be bundled with the product. The Wave-Eight is extra versatile and might work simply as nicely with any audio supply that has an RCA output.
Omnis-Duo
The Omnis-Duo ($1,499) is constructed to be moveable, but in addition packs in some high-end tech. It’s a 10-pound system with pretty reserved and minimal styling that the corporate says you’ll be able to slot in a “good-sized” backpack given its 20 x 12 x 3-inch in measurement. There’s a two-channel mixer flanked by two jog wheels and eight efficiency pads underneath every, though these solely work for decent cues and have white LED lighting solely. On prime you’ll discover a touchscreen show with an XDJ-style workflow and each mild and darkish modes. The show is flat and never angled up for simpler viewing.
You get important controls for quantity, EQ, playback, pitch and devoted ones for beat bounce and beat loop. There are additionally ones to pick eight forms of beat FX and 6 forms of sound shade FX from, however anticipate some touchscreen coordination to pick which channel to use to.
On the entrance edge you’ll discover each 1/4-inch and three.5mm stereo headphone jacks. The rear panel shows a wide array of inputs for USB-A, SD playing cards and USB-C laptop computer enter subsequent to a USB-C charging port that permits you to use both an influence financial institution to prime up the battery or an AC adapter. When absolutely charged we’re informed you’ll be able to anticipate round 5 hours of runtime and the system has an eco mode if issues are trying grim.
As for wi-fi connections, there’s a novel Bluetooth enter possibility. Folks can discover the Omnis-Duo of their cellular system settings and join. If they’ve information on the cellphone, the DJ ought to truly be capable of choose, load and play information of their set with results and all. It’s not totally clear but, however the different possibility is probably going simply regular playback by the controller from a related Bluetooth system. That is for one person at a time since multipoint just isn’t supported. There’s additionally a wi-fi output possibility for connecting to the Wave-Eight speaker utilizing its SonicLink Bluetooth transmitter which connects to the RCA outputs.
And for Wi-Fi connectivity, you’ll be able to benefit from CloudDirectPlay to entry cloud file storage by a wirelessly related pc or cellular system working Rekordbox. Moreover, you need to use Rekordbox Hyperlink Export to instantly choose and play tracks from a related system working the app.
Wave-Eight
The Wave-Eight speaker isn’t fairly a part of a bundled launch, it’s only a nice pairing with the Omnis-Duo, given its portability, battery energy and wi-fi functionality. This speaker has an 8-inch driver and what the corporate calls a “Vortex Bass Accelerator” for its output. The 28-pound construct consists of an extendable deal with and casters for luggage-style rolling, plus a few handy seize handles for native lugging.
You’ll be able to mount it on a stand with its pole socket, so it’s a correct PA speaker, and it’s IPX4 rated, so it’s good for the outside except rain actually begins coming down. There’s an onboard battery that ought to offer you about eight hours of playtime on a cost and it takes about 4 hours or extra of charging to get again to 100%. Clearly you need to use it as a powered-speaker all night time lengthy if there’s an outlet close by.
What makes this speaker attention-grabbing is the detachable AlphaTheta transmitter with SonicLink know-how. Every speaker comes with a transmitter packed right into a aspect panel. They’ve an RCA enter and a USB-C cable. With one speaker, you’re taking the transmitter out and join it to an RCA output out of your audio setup. Then return to the speaker and set it to attach wirelessly through SonicLink. As soon as related that manner, it ought to show a inexperienced mild on the entrance panel, so you’ll be able to verify the standing at a distance.
You probably have a second speaker, you’re taking that one’s transmitter and pop it into the primary speaker through the USB-C port. That may transmit the audio to the second unit the place you set that one to attach through SonicLink (and so forth). The audio system assist left and proper for stereo supply as nicely through a channel selector button on the again.
To make issues extra attention-grabbing, every speaker has a wide range of audio output settings which embody Music, Music (Low Lower), Flat, Flat (Low Lower), Vocal and Subwoofer modes. This implies every Wave-Eight speaker might be set as a prime or sub. You’ll be able to set one speaker to a low-cut setting and use one other one as its subwoofer accompaniment for those who like.
The SonicLink is claimed to supply a latency-free listening expertise, so there shouldn’t be any delay and you may beat match by ear from the output. After all you can even ship audio to a single Wave-Eight through a standard Bluetooth sign and broaden to extra audio system as you’ll earlier than. This time, nonetheless, you are topic to the conventional Bluetooth sign’s whims when it comes to potential audio delays.
Alternatively, we’re informed there’s additionally an XLR wired enter for the audio system, so you are not caught with wi-fi connections completely. We’re additionally nonetheless curious concerning the Bluetooth vary for these units, however anticipate that it falls throughout the regular vary of about 30 ft.
AlphaTheta has chosen an attention-grabbing combo of high-end options, wi-fi connectivity and battery-powered portability for its premier providing. Whereas they might not be low cost, there’s rather a lot constructed into each merchandise to steadiness out the equation.
The Omnis-Duo all-in-one DJ controller ($1,499) and the Wave-Eight speaker ($899) are each accessible beginning immediately.
Omnis-Duo specs:
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19.7 x 12.1 x 2.8 inches
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Bluetooth 5.2
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Wi-fi LAN: 2.4Ghz / 5GHz, IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
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Audio codecs: SBC, AAC
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~5 hour battery life (47.52Wh rechargeable lithium-ion)
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~3 hour cost time
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Weight: 10 kilos
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Enter:
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Output:
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Grasp 1: XLR
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Sales space Grasp 2: RCA / RCA to SonicLink transmitter (Bluetooth, no latency)
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Onboard Bluetooth output (regular with latency)
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Wave-Eight specs:
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