Working directly with Watanabe over two years, the Vestax design team has created "an easy-to-use, compact and logical design with an array of faders, switches and rotary controllers tuned to combine the natural touch of a DJ mixer with the advanced functionality offered by Native Instruments Traktor software".
The TR-1 features seamless command of Traktor Pro software for control of up to four laptops through two programme channels. Key features include soft-push switches and smooth 60mm slide faders for high-precision mixing, with an adjustable Input Fader curve to adapt to any mixing style. A new Shift switch feature allows the user to customize control functions by assigning a second command to a single button.
All standard controls are present and accounted for - tempo faders with pitch bend, three-band EQ with pan on both sides, back and forward cue controls, dual effects loops per side, and more.
The Vestax TR-1 comes bundled with Native Instruments Traktor LE software, can command over 160 parameters right out of the box, including live signal processing effects, beat matching, loop programming, filter sweeping and EQ sweetening in real time. Both the TR-1 and Traktor LE software are compatible with both Windows (XP, Vista) and Mac (OS 10.4 or higher) operating systems.
(Jim Evans)
