At PLASA, I asked about the DB4's X-link potential and was told that something for the X-link would likely be revealed at BPM 2011 and then the Xone God, himself, added to this info by eluding to something like a "Master FX unit" (on the side - he was gesturing).

Latest info is this new Teaser video on A&H's Youtube channel.

We already know A&H are revealing some new Xone product(s) at BPM 2011 and you CAN see something in this video but there may be several things mixed up in the video (including a glimpse of a DB4 like 19" mixer with two FX channels). I'm curious though because the X-link capable unit he was eluding to should not require additional faders. Also, the unit he elude to should have MIDI control (99% chance) and hopefully Pan control (minor but major) bu the faders could mean a mixer or also hint at replacements for the 1D/2D?

That new thing for sure has a two-channel FX unit because of the the "FX-X" and "FX-Y" on the channels? The monitoring on the left side vice the right is peculiar to me because it might imply a 19" mixer with two FX channels instead of the component unit and...the Filters at the bottom of the unit have me believing it's a 19" Xone DB? and may'be not not the component I was looking for, or it's a bunch of images of different products, merged together.

NAH, the world will know in a few days and we can only be confident that omething for the X-link connection is coming eventually.

Hopefully it is a great reveal at BPM (and for the complainers that already have gripes about DB4's price...good luck trying to catch up! It's getting bigger.)

See you at BPM!
See you at BPM!

That first thing is most likely a 19" horizontal mixer with some of the DB4 FX tech. The FX-X and FX-Y are low to the bottom end of the unit and not above the channel faders, which are to the left of that section and the headphone section was probably placed on the left because of space issues or avoidances.

I was so hoping for a replacement of the Xone 2D & 1D and this 2nd product featured in another tease video is killing me: Another Xone Product in a 2nd tease video The Xone God mentioned a good idea so we have grasped it all. Yet the 2nd video verifies that X-link IS coming. A bit less tease with the Abelton like lights but what is it? Those lights change but what if that button lay-out is the evolution of the 1D/2D buttons which now you can do more.

I'm even challenging my thoughts about the first thing being a 19" mixer but...

Anyway, three days to go and for the most part, they've promised new Xones so getting a bit of DB4 tech in lesser-priced mixers would be good because already, having two FX options on an A&H mixer beats out what Pioneer's got.

Getting an Abelton controller?? Oh Snap! I can sell my 1Ds or 2D soon.

-break-
I also didn't see sampling on the possible 19" Xone so ....hmm?

(coughs, clears throat) may'be not a 19".

its a 4 channel mixer .... http://www.djstuff.fr/2011-09-allen-heath-xonedb2/

two new Xones Yeah, kind of figured it out DB2 wasn't a 19" before the image release. The EQ above the 4-channel faders and the leds above the two FX hinted to me that the low placement of the FX controls didn't necessarily mean it was a 19". 19" have mostly gone out of style (unless you are a rotary house head) so it made sense to me that it was a regular sized mixer when I saw the four channel faders next to the two FX, the headphones next to that (not that wide!), the LEDs above the FX and the EQ above the faders. The left headphone controls will take about a day for some users to get used to but it will work in terms of keeping your headphone adjustments from bumping the FX controls.

The K2 is nice but I'm a bit concerned by it's low profile. That's low like the X-1, which will need some sort of box/carry case to raise it up (again, like the X-1)? And I'm not lodging complaints before I even see it in action, I will just say that what is good for some who use the X-1s makes me a bit uncomfortable. X-1 didn't feel right to me - atleast if a fight breaks out I can hit someone with a 1D or maim a thug with my 2D. (JUST KIDDING) IMHO, the move to make slimmer controllers works in terms of portability and hopefully, functionality supercedes the slimness issue. I guess I'll be keeping my 1Ds/2Ds for the time being but I'd be damn stupid if I denied myself of getting two K2s once I find out about the mapping and soundcard capabilities. The soundcard is a step in the right direction and if A&H's DB4 had Scratch Certification (hint), then I wouldn't need the TA10 and 2D anymore but the X-Link double-up is interesting enough all by itself.

Can't get enough control of my absolute craziness.

GOT TO BPM Today.

The K2 looks really nice next to the DB4 and DB2. (Sorry, I didn't take photos of the DB2).











Mixarchitekt, super nice dude in person, gave me the download on K2. K2 is definitely a must have for me and other DB4/DB2 owners (X-Link mixers). Atleast two K2s are a must for me and with X-link using network protocols, the daisy chaining possibilities of more than two K2s might extend well beyond the set-up diagrams (until you run out of midi channels). The K2 soundcards can also be aggregated and that is great news too for me and other advanced DB4 users who are also routing Abelton & Maschine alongside Traktor Scratch Pro 2 on the same computer.

DB2 is no chump but me being a DB4 owner, I was only interested in checking out K2s in dual K2/DB4 Traktor Scratch Pro 2 set-up with sample deck controls. The deck mapping is great and you can see from the skin they had that the default mapping already does more than the basic Native Instruments X-1.

For me, the Mixarchitekt TSI works brilliantly with DB4's midi control so I wonder how well the new K2s will integrate for DB4 users. I intend on swapping them for my current three soundcards routings which include paths for Abelton & Maschine alongside Traktor Scratch Pro 2.

When the K2s come out (est. February), I'm likely to remove the TA10 that I had connected for Scratch timecode and the Xone: 2D that I had for Abelton. The K2s will serve as the separate soundcards for Maschine (that I had on the DB4's USB) and Abelton (on the 2D). I think that will require the USB connections because you get no audio with just having the network cables connected (you do get the midi control though). The K2 RCA cables then go to the mixer (analogue) and I can connect the phono turntables back on DB4 fader channels 2&3 inputs. Hopefully, we'll have Scratch Certification of the DB4 by then but I won't hold my breath on that one (NI politics!).

K2s will likely be out early next year and priced economically too..so will have a while to think about this.
--------------------------
I got the chance to hear the new DB4 FX that are still in the works. Mixarchitekt got straight to the point and showed me how the changes and additions can be used in play rather than giving more info what is actually coming. Not 100% sure what is coming but I saw and heard some things there are a step above in terms of functionality and perfection of the FX execution and modifiers.

Also, the Master FX unit concept Andy Rigby-Jones mentioned at Plasa may become a reality with having the K2s added to DB4. More to come on that, the DB4 isn't using it's full DSP power and not sure, but supposedly the Master FX thing may be a controlled parameter within the DB4 that resides on the K2.

I'm sure but the K2 is very promising and not like a toy as I first feared.

-MoMo

Also, I got around to all the NI Scratch Certified product manufacturers exhibiting at BPM and a big bird at one of their certified partners told me something that is very discouraging about the Scratch Certification hopes for DB4. Even Pioneer isn't extremely happy with the deal they are getting and we'd think they are. All I can say that it's all politics that are preventing the DB4's certification and if a deal between NI and A&H could even get the ear of one man that stands in front of the process, we'd have a transparent process but there's not a real review panel or a bunch of faceless nameless individuals at the NI DJ Division that make the decision. It's one man and his company decisions are stifling me of other DB4 users who also love Traktor.

Although, I didn't take photos of DB2, I can say that the DB2 will be a good addition to the right priced mixer options on the market. DB4 may be too expensive for some but the DB2 will deliver farther than all that Pioneer has on the market.