A Peacetime Boom Rarlab. Reviewer: Gizmo • Date: November 2011 • Price: £50/$60/€59• Link: Introduction Recent times have seen me playing the reviewer version of Snakes and Ladders. It wasn't so long ago that I was mingling amongst the highest echelons of Numark's product line when I got to fiddle with the spacious and highly specced NS6. And now, here I am, right down at the bottom of the food chain with their diminutive in price and stature DJ2GO. If you're aware of it from NAMM 2011, you'll know that it's about as basic as it comes - stripped down MIDI DJing with just the bare minimum needed, squeezed into the tiniest of boxes. So as you can imagine, this isn't going to be the usual epic tome of a review.

Numark DJ2GO review. It comes with a USB cable - type A to a mini type B (like a camera cable), and that's all you need to connect it up to your computer of choice. It also comes with Virtual DJ LE Lite, which like the DJ2GO itself is a bare bones version, that does just enough to make the DJ2GO operate. Installation of VDJ.

So let's get cracking. In A Nutshell The Numark DJ2GO is a 2 channel MIDI controller. This is almost a complete DJ experience, albeit lacking EQ, but other than that offers the majority of controls needed for mixing tracks back and forth. You're also going to need an external audio interface to be able to hook it up to a sound system and use your headphones. It comes with a specially skinned version of Virtual DJ LE, but being MIDI should work with other MIDI software.

First Impressions The packaging of a product is often a giveaway to the perceived quality. I'm used to DJ equipment coming in lavish boxes, but the DJ2GO comes in a blister pack. It doesn't scream pro, and maybe not even quite beginner - more throwaway stocking filler. But there is more to it than the first impression gives.

It's small - perfectly designed to fit right at the front of any laptop, and equally low profile too. It fits better with smaller laptops, and is a great fit for the new 11' Macbook Air (that's a 13' in the picture). Indeed, the black and silver stylings are a perfect match for each other. But despite the bargain basement price, the build is like a slab of solid plastic. I'm sure it's hollow but it feels like a block.

The controls are a mixture of hard plastic and regulation Numark rubber buttons too. It definitely feels like it'll take a beating, but given the price I think it doesn't really matter too much if it doesn't. You certainly shouldn't buy one thinking it'll survive a regular professional level thrashing. Hooking It Up It comes with a USB cable - type A to a mini type B (like a camera cable), and that's all you need to connect it up to your computer of choice.

It also comes with Virtual DJ LE Lite, which like the DJ2GO itself is a bare bones version, that does just enough to make the DJ2GO operate. Installation of VDJ LE is a doddle, as is operation.

It comes with a skin to make it look and feel just like the hardware. It can also be used with any MIDI software, and Numark have a link to a TSI file for Traktor that works pretty well, although unlike the supplied VDJ LE, there's no scratching. Features This will be a short section won't it? Sarcasm aside, the DJ2GO has just enough to get you up and running. Starting with what we will nominally call the decks. The jogwheels are 40mm across and free-spinning, but are neither touch or pressure sensitive. They simply respond to movement in either direction and instantly release when the wheel stops moving.

With practice, you can scratch a little and even juggle. Can't work out why Numark didn't optimise the surface area by losing the angled wheel edge. I also wish it tracked faster. Mixer controls are there - a somewhat lively and low profile crossfader as well as volume knobs for each channel, as well as master and headphone cue levels. Yes, it would have been very nice to have EQ, but on something so small, there's only so much room. And let's remember that this is for fun rather than pro use, which is backed up by having a sync button.

You will of course need to load your tracks in. And as is stanadrd these days, library navigation controls are front and centre. These are really good for such a cheap unit, and much easier to use than many costing several times more. There's a short pitch control as well as pitch bend buttons should be prefer the manual approach, or indeed when VDJ LE fails to sync the beats. Hfss Linux Cracking. Auto sync is a tool, but isn't the answer to every mixing situation of course. There is the regulation play/cue button arrangement too, which can yield some fun when scratching and juggling.

But even with this slimmer than slim feature set, mixing is very easy and surprisingly slick. Regardless of your preconceptions about this unit, you can rock a set on the DJ2GO. You just have to want to and adapt your workflow. But equally, beginners can cut their teeth on this and easily step up to a larger unit without feeling overfaced with a heap of new controls. In Use Getting this out of the way, and underlining for those who keep asking on Youtube and forums - DJ2GO needs an audio interface to work properly.

Be it the internal audio on your computer, or a designated external interface like Numark's (unfortunately costing more than the DJ2GO) or perhaps a Behringer, which does a pretty good job but is a lot cheaper. You'll need this to split master output (what the crowd hears) from headphones (what you hear). Given the extremely limited feature set, it wasn't hard to get to grips with the DJ2GO.

I was expecting a a bit of a fight to be honest, but the combination of optimised hardware and software controls had me mixing in minutes. VDJ makes short work of correctly analysing tracks, making various flavours of House music easy to sync at the press of a button. You'll also be amazed to know that scratching and juggling is possible.

It's a stretch of course, and you'll need to adapt your technique to suit the jog wheel limitations, but it is nonetheless doable. TIP: Use the jog wheel to scratch and then hit the cue or play buttons to nail the release. One downside with the size - I found that if I got a little too busy with the DJ2GO, it was very easy to knock the wheels and spoil the flow of the mix. Just be careful when pushing the limits. As for Traktor - download the TSI file, install and you're off. Because you're dealing with the often imposing interface, it's actually not as much fun to use as the VDJ version, and interestingly isn't as fully featured as it misses scratching and back-cueing from its repertoire.

That said, it's perfectly possible to pull off regular mixing, but you'll be reaching for your mouse if you want the more advanced features that Traktor has to offer. But if that's what you want, then clearly you've bought the wrong controller. But something is missing, but it's something that Numark are doing elsewhere in their range with their budget controllers. I would love for this to work with algoriddim's.

Given that the iDJ Live works with iOS devices, for such a tiny controller to require a laptop to work feels wrong. It's screaming out for some djay love. Make it happen people.

Summing Up DJ2GO is a hoot - a pocket sized dynamo that delivers way more than I'd expected. It's times like this that you realise that mixing tracks together with a little hands-on backcueing is just as much fun as having a bevvy of bells and whistles at your disposal. This is the perfect christmas present for all DJs everywhere.

Whether you're an aspiring noob wanting to toe dip the digital world, or a skilled DJ wanting some fun while out and about, DJ2GO adapts to suit a multitude of scenarios. It also makes for a really cheap and compact emergency controller too. View it for what it is - a dirt cheap controller costing the price of a night out and you'll be rewarded by just how much it gives back.

Ratings Build Quality For the price, it's surprisingly sturdy. Features and Implementation It does just the absolute basics of DJing with no frills and bar missing EQs, it does it pretty well. Value For Money It's $60/£50 and gives you a solid performance from a laptop.

Worth every penny. Bottom Line The DJ2GO has no delusions of grandeur. It knows it's a frills-free bite sized controller, but gives solid performance for the bargain basement price.

• Videos • • • With a name like DJ2Go, it's not hard to figure out that this USB DJ controller was built to be portable. DJs love to perform but it isn't always easy to set something up on a moment's notice. Most DJ software controllers are designed to save DJs from having to lug around crates of vinyl or CDs. Just grab your laptop loaded with your music library, bring your controller and you're off to the gig. However, even the smallest DJ controllers range from being luggable to requiring their own set of wheels. Numark has changed all that with DJ2GO.

Now DJs can throw their entire rig into a backpack and have room to spare. DJ2GO is a portable, affordable, and highly capable DJ controller that allows you to control your favorite DJ software with a tactile feel that can't be matched using a computer mouse and keyboard.

DJ2GO weighs just 13 oz. But provides a layout familiar to DJs that includes two platters, a crossfader, pitch, and level controls as well as Deck A, Deck B, Master and Headphone gain controls.

In addition, you can load and assign tracks to either of the two included deck control sections without ever touching a mouse. Sync and headphone buttons allow you to instantly sync two tracks and monitor either deck section. Included with DJ2GO is a special edition of Virtual DJ software, designed to mate perfectly with the capabilities of the controller, so you can pick up DJ2GO and literally start performing on the spot. Because DJ2GO is MIDI-compliant, it can be used easily with virtually any DJ software by simply re-mapping the controls in the applicable application. You need only to connect the included USB cable to their Mac or PC and install the software to be up and running. DJ2GO Great The unit appears cheap and plastic but as you pick it up it feels solid.

The buttons are well made and quite stable. I was running a full copy of Virtual DJ and when. The unit appears cheap and plastic but as you pick it up it feels solid.

The buttons are well made and quite stable. I was running a full copy of Virtual DJ and when plugging the unit into the USB it picked it right up. I bought this to get around my USB mouse that was having difficulty in getting around in the program. The knob and access to and from the directory is easily accomplished and very reliable. It stores easily in a bag and uses a mini USB to link it to the the unit and the computer. Buy One Today!!!!! I would use the slides carefully and becareful not to abuse the unit.

Good Quality Good Price! BEFORE YOU BUY.

The idea of this gadget is great. I've been around music for years and tinkered with dj stuff but never had the money to buy the right equipment. Figured I try this. The idea of this gadget is great. I've been around music for years and tinkered with dj stuff but never had the money to buy the right equipment.

Figured I try this. If I like it I would buy something nice.

But this was a total bust. Opened it up.loaded the drivers I was on my way to being Avicci or David Guetta (HA!) but reality struck shortly after unboxing. Seems DJ2GO is not USB 3 compatible.(yeah, I said the same thing!) my service agent from musiciansfriend told me. So if you're running XP service pack 2. This is for you. If you are running Win 7. Why they don't add this VERY IMPORTANT FACT to the page is beyond me.

I'm a first time customer and have a real bad taste in my mouth over a piece of novelty equipment. All this headache could have been avoided with just a line or two on the item description. Hopefully they'll listen and do that. But I doubt they will. Why discourage business with info to make an informed purchase when it's so much easier to have unhappy (first-time) customers? We'll see how long it takes me to get my money back.

Comments about Numark DJ2Go USB DJ Controller: The unit appears cheap and plastic but as you pick it up it feels solid. The buttons are well made and quite stable. I was running a full copy of Virtual DJ and when plugging the unit into the USB it picked it right up. I bought this to get around my USB mouse that was having difficulty in getting around in the program. The knob and access to and from the directory is easily accomplished and very reliable.

It stores easily in a bag and uses a mini USB to link it to the the unit and the computer. Buy One Today!!!!!

I would use the slides carefully and becareful not to abuse the unit. Good Quality Good Price! Comments about Numark DJ2Go USB DJ Controller: The idea of this gadget is great. I've been around music for years and tinkered with dj stuff but never had the money to buy the right equipment. Figured I try this. If I like it I would buy something nice.

But this was a total bust. Opened it up.loaded the drivers I was on my way to being Avicci or David Guetta (HA!) but reality struck shortly after unboxing. Seems DJ2GO is not USB 3 compatible.(yeah, I said the same thing!) my service agent from musiciansfriend told me. So if you're running XP service pack 2. This is for you.

If you are running Win 7. Why they don't add this VERY IMPORTANT FACT to the page is beyond me. I'm a first time customer and have a real bad taste in my mouth over a piece of novelty equipment. All this headache could have been avoided with just a line or two on the item description.

Hopefully they'll listen and do that. But I doubt they will.

Why discourage business with info to make an informed purchase when it's so much easier to have unhappy (first-time) customers? We'll see how long it takes me to get my money back.