Pioneer DDJ-WeGO2 goes iOS

[yizzle]

Just one year ago, Pioneer surprised the DJ world with a daring design departure in the decidedly wedge-shaped DDJ-WeGO. And now coming up to the BPM Show 2013, they’ve done a bit of a remix, shifted focus, and bring you the Pioneer DDJ-WeGO2, a refreshed controller aimed at embracing iOS with an eye on laptop DJs too.

What Pioneer say - Aspiring DJs can mix on the move with the compact Digital DJ WeGO2 (DDJ-WeGO2) console, which boasts all the easy-to-use features of the original Digital DJ-WeGO (DDJ-WeGO) plus the ability to access and mix with tracks on their iPhone/iPod touch/iPad.

DJs simply use the cable provided to connect the DDJ-WeGO2 to an iOS device running Algorridim’s djay 2 app, and get hands-on with the console’s jog wheel, buttons and dials to mix and scratch their favourite tracks straight from iTunes. Or they can choose to mix with other DJ software, including the Virtual DJ Limited Edition software for PC and Mac.

The DDJ-WeGO2 inherits all the exciting features of the original DDJ-WeGO, including Pulse Control lights to guide beginners through performances by showing when beats are matched, which effects have been activated, and when tracks are loaded.

There are also plenty of advanced features from Pioneer’s pro-DJ products to explore – including Beat Sync, pre-loaded samples, amazing sound effects and loops, and even four-deck mixing.

DJs can choose from three different all-over body colours – black, white or red – and customise the colours of the jog wheel lights, so every DDJ-WeGO2 is a unique reflection of the user’s style. Plus the light and compact DDJ-WeGO2 easily fits into a backpack, and has a handy grip that doubles as an iPhone/iPod touch/iPad stand – so DJs can take it wherever the party leads them.

The DDJ-WeGO2 is available from October at an SRP of EUR 349/GBP 299, including VAT.

Supported Software Information

• DDJ-WeGO2 users can download djay LE free of charge from Algorridim’s website

• djay2/vjay (full version) can be purchased at the App Store

• Virtual DJ LE software is included in the DDJ-WeGO2 box

• Traktor pro2, Virtual DJ Pro and djay for iPhone/iPad can be purchased from the App Store

KEY FEATURES OF THE DDJ-WeGO2

Intuitive, hands-on control of a variety of DJ software for iPhone/iPod touch/iPad or PC/Mac

The DDJ-WeGO2 puts the fun into learning to mix, liberating DJs from the trackpad to give a more realistic experience. Dedicated buttons and dials give DJs intuitive control of scratching, and triggering samples, effects and loops.

DJs simply use the Lightning to USB cable provided to connect the DDJ-WeGO2 to an iPhone/iPod touch/iPad running Algoriddim’s djay 2 app, and use its ergonomic controls to mix and mash up tracks straight from iTunes. Or they can connect to a PC/Mac and use the included Virtual DJ Limited Edition software, or another software package of their choice.

NEW! Grip doubles as an iPhone/iPod touch/iPad stand for even better portability and ease of use

The light and compact DDJ-WeGO2 now has a grip to make transporting the console and setting it up even easier. Plus the grip can also be used as a sturdy iphone/iPod touch/iPad stand, putting the screen in constant view during a set.

Pulse Control lights add a visual element to learning to mix

Inherited from Pioneer’s popular Digital DJ-ERGO (DDJ-ERGO) controller, the Pulse Control lights add an exciting visual element to DJing.

• Mix Pulse: lights around the jog wheel show the beat of tracks in play. The lights lose intensely as the beats go out of sync, giving novices a visual aid to beat matching.

• Launch Pulse: a red light travels from the Load button to the jog wheel when a track has loaded successfully so DJs know when a track is ready to play.

• FX Pulse: LED light patterns ­around the jog wheel show which effects and filters are engaged.

Three colour options and customisable LEDs for a personalised controller

The DDJ-WeGO2 is available in black, white or red so there’s a console to suit every personality. And the jog wheel LEDs can be customised, with nine stunning colour options to choose from.

Multiple power options for ultimate flexibility to play out

The DDJ-WeGO2 is compatible with USB battery packs for DJing outside or when out of reach of the mains. As well as mains power, the DDJ-WeGO2 can also be powered via a USB connection to a PC/Mac.

Other features

• Built-in sound card

• High quality sound design for clear sound reproduction

Pioneer DDJ-WeGO2 — what’s new?

To be honest, not much. I’ve overlaid old and new images, and found some subtle cosmetic changes. What have gone are the eclectic colours. The green I could just about handle, but the violet? Let’s be happy that particular variant has been despatched to the gear graveyard.

The real new addition is the grip/stand. Not that the WeGO2 is difficult to move around of course — it’s already about as transportable as any DJ gear gets. But incorporating a grip into a stand is clever. Digital DJs are used to having a laptop screen angled up for optimal usage, whereas iPads seem to be treated as a more horizontal affair because you need the stability to prod and poke the iPad screen. But this combined stand and grip does at least offer choice and makes the WeGO2 an optimised and aesthetically pleasing workflow.

For me, the point of the WeGO2 is to embrace the emergence of iOS as a DJ platform. The original WeGO was pitched head on at the lifestyle DJ, but with the iPhone being in the pockets of an obscene number of kids, and the iPad being an equally dominant platform, the combination of WeGO2 and iOS is an extremely compelling and mobile combination. And it’s not exactly lacing in aesthetic appeal either.

While many of you seasoned pros reading this will baulk at the allegedly limited storage space of an iPad, it’s more than enough for the latest tunes doing the rounds in clubland. The target audience doesn’t need every track ever created just in case they get a request, and most likely need to be able to play quite specific tracks to the captive small crowd.

Of course, the WeGO2 is still an ideal companion for laptop DJs too. It comes with a tailored edition of Virtual DJ LE, and is compatible with Traktor and Serato DJ. Regarding the latter, there’s no mention of Serato DJ Intro in the PR, so time will tell if it will ever work with the less able 2 channel sibling of the full fat Serato DJ. But given the focus of WeGO2, I doubt that Pioneer expect many DJs to use Serato DJ at all.

Source: djworx.com

[yizzle]

i honestly cant get past how ugly this thing is. It looks like it was made by Mattel.

[RogerLogan]

It is awesome product.. I have been using it for a while and you can surely not get a good product like this...

[ThatPartyGuy]

kinda reminds me of something like this: