While there is more and more professional DJ equipment available, it usually costs far too much for amateurs and those who only want to learn the DJ trade. Thus, there has always been a gap to bridge between professionals and "ordinary" computer sound-card users with DJ aspirations. DJ operations such as cross faders, joggles and pitches require more than what a sound card and software can offer, which is where Hercules comes in with its DJ Console, a crossbred device with a USB sound card and a hardware DJ interface.

The console also doubles as a multimedia card, albeit with limitations, as we shall see. Hercules' main goals here was to offer MP3 or other sound file mixing functions on a hard disk and to offer functions that go with being a DJ.

Truly Portable Sound

A DJ is by nature a nomad who plies his or her trade in a wide range of settings, ranging from parties, Bar Mitzvahs or weddings. The gear should thus be easy to carry and void of a spaghetti mess of wires and equipment, as much as possible.

Hercules seems to have gotten the message at least. The company has taken obvious pains to eliminate wires and to offer the console in a petite and compact form factor. The console is powered via a USB port link, for example, which thus eliminates the need for an additional tangle of wires that would otherwise come with a power supply. Hercules has also supplied a carrying case and strap for extra mobility.

Support, Stand

All the inputs and outputs are of course plugged into the console, so the only requirement is a computer with a USB interface that is powerful enough to install and run the software and drivers. This is fairly straightforward and should be easy to cope with, especially if you have a laptop. Everything a DJ needs can be carried in a shoulder bag and just plugged into a broadcasting system to be operational.