The Denon DJ Ds1 is a small, lightweight, two-channel DVS-compatible Serato DJ audio interface, and the first for Serato DJ not made by Rane.
Denon DJ’s second new product at NAMM 2015 is the Denon DJ DS1, an extremely compact audio interface for Serato DJ software, around the size of a smartphone but, according to Serato, not compromising at all on audio or build quality over larger devices.
As well as being an digital/analogue interface allowing you to use two channels of Serato audio with any mixer, the Denon DS1 is Serato NoiseMap™ Control Vinyl/CD compatible, meaning you need only this and some timecode to use Serato DVS with the mixer of your choice.
“At its core,” says Serato, “is a high quality 24-bit sound card for studio-grade audio, alongside support for 44.1, 48 and 96kHz sample rates.”
For the first time you can use Serato with your existing kit without shelling out the US$500 necessary for the Rane SL2, the previous entry-level kit. Like the SL2, it comes with vinyl/CDs and leads, but unlike the SL2 it doesn’t come with the software, and the price at $299 is a full $200 cheaper.
This is notable from an industry point of view in that it’s the first Serato DVS compatible sound card to be released ever that isn’t made by Rane, and underlines Serato’s apparent determination to work with pretty much all manufacturers at any price point to make its software ubiquitous.
(By the way, the first 1000 units will apparently come with special edition control vinyl from Serato with a Bob Marley Z-Trip remix on one side. You heard it here first…)
• Price: US$299. Find out more on the Serato website.
Have you been waiting for a cheaper, smaller Serato DJ audio interface to appear? Will you be grabbing one of these to help you DJ away from your usual contrller? Please share your thoughts in the comments…
Phil Morse
