DJzone DJ Magazine

DJzone.com, the Web’s largest information network for disc jockeys, today announced the recipients of their 2004 Crystal Disc Awards. The awards are given annually to sound and lighting manufacturers whose products exhibit superior technical innovation for the mobile and club disc jockey industries.

DJzone’s 2004 Crystal Disc for excellence in the category of Nightclub DJ Product was awarded Karl Detken, Marketing Manager for the Pro Audio Group of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. for the DVJ-X1 digital audio and video turntable. The unit allows digital DJs to manipulate DVD visuals in exactly the same way as they would music enabling real-time digital video scratches, loops and instant cues, while the video and audio streams always stay in perfect sync, even when they’re being reversed and pitched.

“With the explosion of DVD music videos in nightclub entertainment, Pioneer has made it possible for a DJ to do true beatmixing and remixing without sacrificing the quality of either the picture or sound,” said Sid Vanderpool, president of the DJzone Network. “Pioneer’s usual suite of built-in digital tools including their Master Tempo feature which changes speed without changing pitch, makes the DVJ-XI truly the next generation in digital DJ gear.”

This is Pioneer’s second consecutive year to receive the DJzone Crystal Disc; in 2003 they were recognized for their CDJ1000 CD Player.

DJzone’s 2004 Crystal Disc for excellence in the category of Mobile DJ Product was awarded to Alan Cabasso, President of Gemini Sound Products for the MP3000X Dual Pro Digital MP3 CD & Audio CD Player. “DJ’s riding the MP3 revolution have enjoyed being able to condense the physical size of their libraries yet have had to work around the limitations of beatmixing in the MP3 format,” said Vanderpool. “Gemini has now created an affordable solution in a dual CD unit enabling DJ’s to perform true frame-accurate mixing in any format.”

DJzone’s 2004 Crystal Disc for excellence in the category of Remix DJ Product was awarded to Russ Brown, DJ Product Manager of BEHRINGER Spezielle Studiotechnik GmbH for the Tweakalizer DFX69 DJ Effect Processor. The desktop unit features include a real-time scratch function for any input , a Pitch Transposer to correct track speed adjustments and an LFO-controlled effects section with delay and flanger.

“This could be the DJ toy of the year,” Vanderpool raved. “This truly enables to DJ to be an artist on the fly. Whether performing live or doing remix production, the scope and depth of effects offered are practically limitless and give DJ’s the means to experiment, refine and define a sound that is uniquely theirs.”

DJzone’s 2004 Crystal Disc for excellence in the category of Lighting Product was awarded to Barry Abrams, Product Development Manager of Chauvet Lighting for the new COLORtubes, a DMX programmable alternative to neon. The translucent tubes house high intensity LEDs which can display an almost infinite of graphical designs and patterns.

“While other lighting companies seem to only come up with variations on the same theme, Chauvet’s use of LED’s has created something fresh and innovative,” said Vanderpool. The portability and ruggedness of this product make it more cost effective to deliver programmable DMX flexibility and dazzle usually seen only in high end products.

In 2003, Chauvet Lighting received the Crystal Disc for their Lazer Scan, a true DMX controllable green laser effect.
Disc jockey industry leaders and nearly 60,000 registered members of the DJzone network of websites make nominations for DJzone.com’s annual Crystal Disc.

The DJzone Network consists of 11 synergistic websites covering every facet of the club and mobile disc jockey industry including DJzone.net, DJzone.com, DJChat.com, DJ-Mall.com, ClubDJzone.com, DJGearBid.com, MDJU.com, 411DJ.com, FromDJ.com, PartyPros.com, and TheWeddingHelper.com.