Published
Tue, May 3, 2016, 11:50
- Full details have emerged surrounding the DJ instrument, which was made in collaboration with product developer Andy Rigby-Jones.
Richie Hawtin has released full details of the new DJ mixer he's been working on, PLAYdifferently's MODEL 1.
An air of mystery has hung over the project since initial hints surfaced in February, though anyone that's seen Hawtin play in recent months will have caught sight of the mixer (including sets at fabric, Output and at RA's SXSW showcase). Produced in collaboration with British product developer Andy Rigby-Jones over a two-year period, the analogue instrument's features include six stereo channels, two stereo send and return channels, two mix outputs, a dual headphone cue system and three phono preamps that are constructed so that vinyl comes in at the same signal level as digital files. Each channel also comes with its own hi- and low-pass filters, parametric mid-range EQ and overdrive circuit. The overdrive circuit can be used to saturate unmastered tracks or creatively as a distortion source. There's also another filter that can be assigned to a channel in typical Xone style along with a master EQ, meaning there are three frequency-sculpting options in total. Hawtin has also stated that they've managed to remove the pops that can accompany activating the filter circuit on Allen & Heath's Xone series.
"It's time to accept that DJing has come a long long way over the past 25 years and introduce a mixer that lives up to the expectations of the modern electronic music performer," says Hawtin. "A mixer more akin to an instrument with intuitive controls, uncompromising quality and features that can unlock a new wave of creativity."
As well as Hawtin, Loco Dice, Chris Liebing and Dubfire have been confirmed as ambassadors for the mixer. Liebing and Dubfire will join Hawtin at a Boiler Room event in Berlin's Arena Club this evening (Tuesday, May 3rd), where the mixer will be properly unveiled. For more on MODEL 1, watch this short film below.
PLAYdifferently MODEL 1 will be available to buy from June 30th, 2016, directly from PLAYdifferently. The retail price is £2,500.