DDJ-WEGO

[Cupe]

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The battle of the budget controllers has really hotted up, with news from Pioneer of their latest controller to hit the market, the DDJ-WeGo. Fantastic news for anyone who is looking to buy such a controller at the moment.

The ultra portable DDJ-WeGo is aimed at new DJs who are keen to start learning the trade or anyone else who is looking to take home a nice quality as well as nicely-priced two-channel DJ controller.

With the release of the new unit, Pioneer have ensured that all budgets and styles of DJing are accommodated for within their range of DJ-orientated products, and proved that starting out down the path to DJing glory doesn’t need to cost thousands of pounds.

It's a compact two-channel mixing machine the size of a 17” laptop and weighs just 1.6 kg, which makes it absolutely perfect to throw in a bag and take from gig to gig.

The build quality is the kind of solid workmanship we have come to expect from Pioneer, so many years of service can be expected from the WeGo even with a heavy touring schedule. An onboard soundcard and USB power mean that the only connection the DDJ-WeGo needs to get things fired up is a USB lead straight into a computer. The WeGo gets its power directly from a laptop — this cuts down on cables and power supplies that would otherwise need to be carried with this controller.

A custom version of VirtualDJ LE is shipped along with the DDJ-WeGo, which has been designed to plug-and-play with this software with the least amount of hassle. Of course, being a MIDI controller, it will work with any DJ software and MIDI maps for Traktor along with a hardware diagram for Traktor Pro are available to download from Pioneer’s website.

Available in four different colours, with the choice of black, white, violet and red, the DDJ-WeGo has managed to pack a great set of features and controls into the box despite its diminutive size. A two-channel mixer with three-channel EQ and crossfader sits at the centre of the control surface with two four-inch jog-wheel platters sitting either side. Surrounding the platters are a bank of four buttons which are dedicated FX controls, with a further five buttons at the bottom of the platter for hot cue or sampler duties.

The DDJ-WeGo’s control surface has managed to stay uncluttered and very user-friendly, while also being very functional, offering a good range of controls.

In a first for Pioneer, the DDJ-WeGo will be available to purchase through Apple stores, but Pioneer and Apple’s co-operation does not end there, because mixing tracks from iTunes directly using the DDJ-WeGo is also possible thanks to the availability of a free download of Algoriddim’s djay LE software. The latest release of the full version of djay also now supports DDJ-WeGo integration.

It is a fantastic time for any new up-and-coming DJs or hobbyists to be in the market to purchase a professional-style DJ controller. The market has lots of great products at various price ranges and the DDJ-WeGo has just made the range of choices even better. It oozes Pioneer quality without the usual high price tag associated with their products and it will rock a crowd just as hard as their most expensive equipment (if used in the right way). Fresh beat DJs would do well to get hands-on with a DDJ-WeGo before making any decisions to purchase a controller in the near future.