The picture reveals transport controls, a touch-sensitive modulation wheel, cross-fader, EQ controls, output meters and a mic input. It is unknown exactly what the silver embossed discs do, but suffice to say this looks to be for manipulating the tracks' speed for beat matching and/or scratching.
The Numark iPod Mixer, in this mock-up, has no screen for viewing the waveform's transients or for visual mixing. Also absent is a view of the rear panel which would indicate if the mixer can attach to a computer via USB or Firewire. Considering the reliability and performance problems of iPods in general, it is also unknown whether the mixer will contain internal buffers for preloading the tracks from the individual iPod's respective hard drives. Rumors abound that the Numark iPod mixer will come in two flavors, a consumer version and a pro version.
The iPod has piqued the interest of DJs around the world who took one look at the first generation model and wondered aloud if the moving scroll wheel could be hacked to modulate the internal track's speed for mixing purposes. With over 5 million iPods sold last quarter alone and over 200 ancillary products by third party manufacturers, an iPod mixer has been a long time coming. Its amazing this is the first actual serious prototype that has made the online rounds. Kudos to Numark if they do bow the mixer at Summer NAMM, it's been quite a productive year for the Rhode Island concern.
R@MS UR MISSIN OUT A LOT!
