There are now so many different DJ products on the market for interfacing with computer software, and while many seem to be just an answer to market demand, some go that extra step and give the users features they can utilise to improve their performance. The American Audio VMS4 is one of those products. This unit manages to give the DJ more options and flexibility than just about anything else on the market. Let’s take a look at what it has to offer.
UNIVERSAL CONTROL
The VMS4 is a DJ controller designed to integrate with any software, and in doing so make it possible for the user to set it up to their liking. It comes with all the features you would expect from such a unit; tempo control faders, volume faders, cross-faders, jog wheels and rotary controls for gain, as well as high, mid and low EQ. But it also gives you more where other units leave you wanting. All four channels have their own gain, EQ and volume controls, so there is no need to switch between two sets. The front panel gives you all sorts of options, such as cross fader curve adjustment and channel assignment, headphone cue, mix and volume controls, and also gain and EQ controls for the two microphone inputs supplied.
NOT JUST A MIDI CONTROLLER
The VMS4 goes one step further than being just a controller for your software. It is actually an analogue mixer with two microphone inputs as well as both line and phono inputs for each of the four audio channels. As this is combined with the USB interface for MIDI control, the VMS4 also acts as an audio interface for your computer, giving you 16-bit 44.1 kHz audio transfer via USB. That means you can use it to record mixes from analogue devices, use it to control your DJ software or, in the unwanted event that your computer should crash mid set (which they so often can), it will operate as a traditional DJ mixer for other audio sources. Not to mention you can have two vocal signals running along with your mix from the microphone inputs.
MIDI MAD
The VMS4 gives you complete control with whatever software package you choose to run with it, whether it be the bundled Virtual DJ LE or any other software with MIDI learn capabilities. With 62 assignable MIDI buttons, four assignable rotary encoders, 34 assignable rotary controllers and five assignable linear fader controllers, there is not much within your software that will require you to go to the mouse. And even if you do, there is a mouse touch pad built into the centre of the console. So, plug it in and let the computer do the processing. You get to control the VMS4. That’s where the fun begins.
By Rob Gee
via Mixdown.com.au