Icon iDJ controller review

Newcomers Icon step up with the iDJ, a snazzy little controller that injects some fun into compact digital DJing.

Rather than cramming every perceivable control function into the smallest possible space, they’ve given us the essentials in a solid (12.78″(L) x 3.78″(W) x 0.75″(H) 0.81kg), bus powered-tablet that will sit flush against any standard Macbook. It’s got two adjustable Opticsen multi-functional jog wheels, four sliders and a cross-fader (with adjustable curve), seventeen back-lit rubber buttons and fourteen knobs.

The controller ships with Deckadance DJ software, but we tested it with the new Traktor Pro, only needing to install the .TSI file for plug and play use. The layout is just as you’d expect, with the pitch-control on either end. Moving inwards, you have the first wall of five vertical buttons taking care of vinyl mode, sync, 2 x loop cursors and loop in and out. Further in you’ve got the 2.5” illuminated rubber gripped jog wheels with play/pause and cue transport buttons.

“There shouldn’t be anyone grumbling about this controller as its sleek, sexy and loads of fun to use”

The mid section meanwhile contains the cross-fader which can readjusted to suit your style of mixing and cutting. Above this there are eight buttons, which in Traktor are mapped to a headphone monitor on for each deck, effects 1/2 select, and up and down file browsing and select. Along the top of the unit horizontally there are knobs for balance, hi, mid and low EQ, gain, headphone mix, level and master. With this factory mapping within Traktor, performance is rock solid although you’re free to re-assign any of these controls to whatever parameter you like and don’t need to be a geek to do so, as the included Imap software allows you to click on a graphical display.

The real magic starts when you start using the centrally positioned layer button, which allows the user to create up to four layers on the iDJ with different mappings on each. This is a particularly strong feature which will give Ableton Live users almost limitless possibilities. Fashion-wise it’s available in black and white and there is also the optional brushed aluminium faceplate that will slot over the top for further longevity. There shouldn’t be anyone grumbling about this controller as its sleek, sexy and loads of fun to use. [Find out more at Juno]

Review: Dicken Lean