’s clear that the VirtualDJ team have been heavily involved in the controller’s development. The workflow is quick, accurate and faultlessly integrated with the software. Although, if I’m honest, the information available via the screen is almost overwhelming at times! I occasionally found myself distracted by reminiscing over the year of release for certain tracks rather than concentrating on my DJ set!

The ‘drag-and-drop’ functionality from library to deck is a strong feature of the TOUCH. However, I should point out that you need to be a little more accurate with this and make sure you keep the pressure on, especially if the screen becomes greasy or dirty. A feature of VirtualDJ that I particularly love is the ability to adjust the Beat Grid on your tracks live, even whilst they are playing. For the more lazy amongst us, this brilliant tool means that – with a little bit of emergency fiddling – our ‘synced’ mixes will always sound beautifully beat-matched despite the incorrect grid initially calculated and saved on the track prior to our live performance.

This grid editing process is made much easier thanks to the large touchscreen. Moving back to the subject of the screen, it can also be used for XY manipulation of effect parameters. This allows you to create a world of sonic mess, but can also be used to generate useful structured effect patterns to enhance your sets without compromising on sound quality or RELOOP TOUCH sounding ‘toy-like’. I must admit, bit of the old this was something I really wasn’t mixer that used expecting to be possible from a few years either VirtualDJ or the Reloop TOUCH controller.

Dare I say… I A TOUCH Of had a lot of fun with it! As I’ve hopefully Finally, the screen can also be clear, the used for video DJing – if this is feature is a major something you currently include let’s take a look as part of your performances (or selling point are thinking of possibly adding). 4-channel In video mode, the touchscreen provides three vibrant, high- It’s always nice quality video previews (e.g. Deck new product 1, Deck 2 and Master), while in the right dedicated faders in the unit’s expect them Effects sections are provided for exactly my Video Transition and Video FX out the TOUCH. control.

I really wasn’t expecting the controller anywhere near as much visual level and Cue feedback from the TOUCH as I knobs, while was furnished with, and found cuing and it very easy to use the setup to alternative to create visually mesmerizing video method mixes. It reminded me a little provided for RELOOP TOUCH reloop touch Pioneer SVM video As you would expect, each channel to cost the earth is provided with a dedicated Gain back! control and 3-band EQ.

However, the Bass knob also doubles up as Class? a Filter control. This means that if you configure the software made abundantly to use the Filter function, TOUCH’s signature your EQ is reduced to 2-band. success. But now Obviously, I’d have preferred to beyond the obvious see separate Filter knobs – but I at what else this guess for a controller of this size controller has to offer. / price, compromise is required somewhere. It’s by no means a deal when reviewing any breaker, but it is something to take to find everything into consideration. places where you’d to be, which was The channel faders and crossfader experience of trying have a good smooth feel and you At the centre of can also adjust the curve settings you’ll find Master within the VirtualDJ software.

Volume / Cue Mix Large Pitch sliders are located next push buttons for to nice-sized jog wheels, although track loading (as an these are slightly loose for my the drag and drop liking. The overall aesthetics of mentioned earlier) are the unit are also good, with the each channel. 83 reloop touch impressive screen complemented some serious time by a plethora of multi-coloured I did come up with backlit buttons. grumbles. The TOUCH features eight First of all, despite RGB-backlit pressure-activated touchscreen inter Performance Pads to fire off effectively replaces samples and these work brilliantly, screen, the TOUCH just as good as any of the highas a standalone end DJ controllers on the market. perhaps that would Better still, they can also be used much of a £600 to manipulate loop sizes and mess – based on other with the old favourite ‘beat grid’ the market which effects which I adore dearly.

You displays – you would can, of course, use the pads simply for hoping for such for ‘Hot Cues’ as well as for more advanced Roll, Slicer and Key Cue More importantly, functions. What’s more, using outputs is upsetting. Split Mode, it’s even possible to can all use adaptors, combine two different pad modes ¼” jack as well as on one button if you want to get outputs are provided, really creative! really no getting fact that locking As you would hope from a the professional controller at this price level, the TOUCH is robustly built This one is and offers excellent reliability. subjective, but I It features a sturdy ultra-low the location of the latency, high-retention USB port They are positioned which prevents the cable being between the jog pulled out accidentally and means performance pads, no detectable latency between extremely high use what you do on the controller and imagine accidentally what you hear coming out of your faders from time speakers. set, which would guess I may be a No, Please Don’t TOUCH! here, as the effect controllers I’m used I have to admit, I was impressed up at the top, so by the TOUCH and think for that I’m used to it VirtualDJ users it ticks a lot of round.

Nevertheless, boxes. However, after spending it worth a mention 84 trying it out, want to be accused of not being a couple of thorough! My final gripe is the lack of any its impressive line inputs, which means you face that can’t connect CDJs or even an your laptop iPod for background music! The can’t operate TOUCH does have a single ¼ jack player.

Now Mic input, with dedicated volume be asking too control, but other than that this unit, but I think is a Virtual DJ controller pure and products on simple. feature large be forgiven That said, the unit is MIDI functionality. mappable, so if you did really want to use it with another piece of DJ the lack of XLR software you could. But, since it I know we is provided bundled with a full and balanced version of VirtualDJ 8 PRO which RCA Phono integrates with the controller so but there’s seamlessly, in my opinion, you away from the would be stupid to do so.

XLR sockets are standard. Get In TOUCH slightly more The Reloop TOUCH is by far the also didn’t like best VirtualDJ controller I have Effects faders. ever used. Its large touchscreen directly makes track navigation a pleasure, wheels and while it also helps with many other which is an aspects of DJing by providing area. I can detailed information and also catching the allowing hands-on interaction for to time, midthings like effect manipulation.

A be annoying. I clever, interesting and innovative little bit biased product from an evolving brand, sections on the I’d certainly recommend this to to using are any VirtualDJ user looking for it may just be a powerful and feature-packed being that way 4-channel controller. I thought as I wouldn’t TRHEEL OEOARPL TYO DUACYHS - “Peavey’s decision to take ribbon speaker technology out on the road marks a new stage in an old technology which has been made possible by the use of advanced materials & engineering.” Interactive Guitar Magazine  