: £ There is something extremely exciting about getting a new controller, similar to playing a newly purchased 12” vinyl back in the day. So I was excited to get the chance to try out the latest new product to hit the market from Hercules, the DJControl Inpulse 500. 76 76 sponsored by Hercules has a permanent spot in my DJ heart as this is the brand I chose when I first made the move to digital. The DJControl Inpulse 500 is an interesting proposition as it is a mid-market controller designed to fill the current void between cheap entry level products and expensive pro models.

On paper, it is an ideal first controller for a new mobile DJ or the perfect back-up for an established pro. Let’s find out if the reality lives up to the expectation… Getting us off to an instant good start, the packaging is impressive and will easily compete on DJ store shelves with leading brands. Printed in full colour, it features great quality photography and is very sturdy to protect the unit in transit. Unpacking was simple as there are only three items inside: a good quality braided USB cable, a simple instruction manual and the controller itself – hang on… no power supply?

I was a little sceptical at first because this is not a small or basic controller and I wondered if it would be underpowered relying on USB alone for its juice, but that didn’t prove to be a problem at all. The bundled software options are Serato DJ Lite and Hercules’ own DJUCED offering, however, I also tried it with my own copy of Serato DJ Pro to see how the controller would fair with that. Plugging in and setting up was a breeze, especially with the included software.

The unit fires up with a lovely introductory lightshow and then settles down to not many lights at all apart from the colour ring on the main rotator control. Let’s start by taking a tour around the unit before we load a couple of tracks. The front panel is nice and clean, featuring only the headphone inputs. There are both 6.3mm (1/4”) and 3.5mm (1/8”) jacks, suitable for all types of headphones, which is a nice touch.

On the rear, the master output features stereo pairs of both RCA phone sockets and 6.3mm (1/4”) jacks (unbalanced). So, unfortunately, no pro-standard balanced XLRs. Although the unit does sport built-in Velvet Sound DSP from AKM processing the audio inputs and outputs, and the two sets of outputs will be particularly useful for streaming by alleviating the need for splitter cables. There is one 6.3mm (1/4”) jack mic input (balanced) and an auxiliary input offering a choice of 2 x RCA phono or 1 x 3.5mm (1/8”) jack sockets, which allows for some versatility if you wish to add on external sound sources.

The USB socket to connect to a laptop sits next to a DIN socket labelled ‘Hercules HERCULES DJCONTROL INPULSE 500 Add-on (reserved)’, which there each jog wheel is no information about, while indication of a Kensington lock is a welcome to be nudged surprise. This has a protective to sync with rubber grommet to keep it dust the other deck. free when not in use. Below the jog COOL BITS – Under the unit is a obligatory Play well thought out add-on of four These are sturdy retractable feet to raise bumped easily. the deck.

When extended, these describe the reveal four white LEDs that create buttons as a glow under the controller. sensitive enough It was great Weighing in at just 3.2Kg, the of eight unit is lightweight but well built. soft pads topped However, I would recommend a buttons offering flight case to ensure it travels modes when safely as this is meant to be a key. Depending budget controller where compromises on heavy duty build are to be expected. Moving on to the playback controls: the two sides are matched, which feels more natural than the mirrored layout found on older controllers.

The platters are 5.5” jog wheels with touch detection and are nicely weighted, offering vinyl mode plus slip and quantize, which are selected using dedicated buttons (not available in Serato DJ Lite). you use, these to creative COOL BITS – Large backlit ‘1’ and Hot Cue, Loop ‘2’ characters on either side of Toneplay, FX, the controller light up to indicate Play. The eight which side is currently playing and sturdy with out. COOL BITS - A For new DJs, or established DJs tiny light up looking to enhance their mixing of the pad skills, the controller provides indicate which plenty of help with beatmatching. active.

The ‘Tempo Guide’ tool features backlit up and down arrows There are also positioned alongside each tempo controls, which fader which illuminate to suggest laid out. The changes to the speed. Likewise, the work well, while ‘Beat Align’ feature involves similar an Autoloop illuminated arrows underneath loop lengths SHTEARYCINUGLE MS ODBJCILOENTROL INPULSE 500 Hercules DJCONTROL inpulse 500 to provide visual facilitates additional adjustment when a track needs through turning, allows any DJ to forward or held back easily integrate looping into their the track playing on performance.

The mixer section is constructed wheels are the on a metal backing plate, which and Cue buttons. gives the controller a welcome well-placed and are not robust feel and is a good solid While I wouldn’t base for the controls. Each of action of these the two main channels feature a ‘pro-grade’, they are dedicated 3-band EQ, gain knob, to respond well. volume fader and 9-segment VU to see the inclusion meter. To the left-hand side of multi-function RGB-lit the mixer section are dedicated by four selector controls for the mic (level plus eight selectable 2-band EQ) and auxiliary input used with the Shift (level plus filter).

At this priceon which software point these are excellent additions that are very welcome. On the other side of the mixer section are the master level knob and an additional 5-segment stereo VU meter above the volume control and split cue knob for the headphones. COOL BITS - The microphone and auxiliary level controls have a light up ring around them that will flash if the output is too high, acting as a peak indicator. The crossfader is light and sharp can provide access with added control via a small mixing tools such as selector switch to enable curve Roll, Slicer, Sampler, adjustment.

The volume and tempo Slicer Loop and Pitch faders are an acceptable length pads are responsive and, although they could be a little a satisfactory click. longer, have a nice smooth action. Above the faders are the channel neat feature is the monitoring on/off switches and a triangle in the corner minimalist looking effects section selector switches which containing a filter dial for each mode is currently channel and four effect switches located at the centre of the panel and labelled FX1-4. dedicated loop are very well The filter effect behaves as In and Out buttons expected and to activate extra the inclusion of effects all you have to do is knob that selects simply assign an effect to one with each push, and THE EARLY DAYS 77 Hercules DJCONTROL inpulse of the buttons in your software, suggests complementary switch it on with the button and tracks to be played adjust it with the knob.

There are music library, a feature slight variations on functionality available using between Serato DJ and DJUCED Beatsource LINK. In but this was great fun to play with this button enables and offered a multitude of creative feature. mixing options. Loading a track to Located top and centre is the main simple as turning control dial, which is surrounded select a folder and by an illuminated ring of colour. on the dial to select This indicates beats in Serato then scrolling through DJ and energy level when using and pressing the the DJUCED software, which is button suitably placed a brilliant visual addition to help main dial.

DJs push the energy on their dancefloors. This dial is also used to In conclusion, I think navigate the music library, together Hercules have created with the added bonus button below good mid-market it labelled ‘Assistant’. When using is a lot of controller DJUCED this button activates IMA price, with many (Intelligent Music Assistant), which previously found 7788 78 500 upcoming expensive models. Although the from your unit performed exceptionally with that is also Serato DJ Pro, I was particularly Beatport LINK and impressed by the bundled DJUCED Serato DJ Lite, software.

I think this has become the Autoplay a real contender in the software market and offers the user an excess of creative options as well as useful a deck is as learning tools for the beginner. the main dial to The controller’s extendable feet pushing down with LED lighting on the underside that folder, add a note of cool, whilst the eight your tracks full RGB pads and jog wheels, that appropriate load are touch responsive and nicely next to the weighted, deliver a solid build quality that will be respected.

If you are looking to move on from the team at an entry level controller, have a an incredibly limited budget, but want the tools product. There normally associated with expensive here for the models, the Hercules DJControl features only Inpulse 500 is definitely worth a on much more demo. HERCULES DJCONTROL INPULSE 500