Remixes, edits, reimaginings and unreleased “ID” tracks have been a staple of DJ sets for decades, elevating performances with unique interpretations of music you’d expect to hear, exclusive to those live setups and highlighting what makes a great turntablist. The revamped Engine Lighting operating system and StagelinQ connectivity deliver automatic, customizable control options for DMX, Nanoleaf and Philips Hue lighting arrays, as well as full video control, resulting in immersive and nuanced audio-visual feasts that require no additional hardware to produce.
Each deck features a 3-band EQ, VU meter and source selector, but this standalone system is designed to be as much of a production powerhouse as a set of turntables. A total of 16 sample pads adorn the elegant interface, which is fully customizable and can be used in concert with the extensive stem analysis and Sweep FX tools. Additionally, dedicated Hot Cue, Loop, Roll and Slicer buttons offer deep customization to carefully concoct the most infectious, bizarre and lively transitions and loops. For even more customization, the Prime 4+’s crossfader profile can be adjusted to provide a host of beat-crafting options. The jog wheels are touch-sensitive with assignable deck colors and graphics, complementing your sound with real-time, reactive visuals to accompany your time on the decks.
Audio effects are a tricky area for DJs. On the one hand, they can be incredible tools for accents and ambience, easily distinguishing your set without detracting from your hard-earned body of work. On the other hand, they are often and easily overused, poorly implemented and generally difficult to use effectively due to shortcomings in the interface design. Luckily, the Prime 4+ features versatile access points for texturing your sound, including 26 primary effects with a pair of dedicated OLED displays and control points, plus Touch FX, which are touchscreen-activated for hands-on audio editing. Per-channel Sweep FX lets you combine multiple instruments into a single-knob design for evocative, customizable effects.
Staying connected is an integral part of any set. With four decks of potential, you’ll appreciate how easy it is to design sets and improvise live. Your I/O suite includes four USB ports, an SD card input, a pair of XLR outputs dedicated to independent zone management, two 1/4″ and XLR combo jacks with individual EQ, level, talk-over and echo controls, and four assignable line/phono input channels for easily incorporating external media or devices. Plus, wireless connectivity options let you quickly grab tracks from Amazon Music Unlimited, TIDAL, Beatsource, Beatport, SoundCloud GO+, Dropbox and more, with a Wi-Fi connection. Likewise, Engine Remote Desktop provides wireless access to your computer-based library, keeping live edits and remixes easily at your fingertips. Worried about audio quality? Don’t worry: Denon DJ legacy audio comes in at a blazing 24-bit, while also being compatible with uncompressed FLAC, ALAC and WAV audio formats.