Numark M1 USB

When analogue DJ equipment and computer audio are brought together in a small setup, straightforward signal routing matters. The Numark M1 USB is a compact 2-channel tabletop mixer with USB audio that integrates turntables, line sources, a microphone and computer audio into the mix.

You can connect a turntable via Phono or a line source such as a CD player to each of the two channels. A selector switch on each channel determines the input source. A separate microphone input is available for announcements or vocals; you can adjust the channel levels using Gain and the fader, and control the treble and bass with the 2-band EQ on each channel.

The two USB ports can transfer audio from the computer to the mixer and send the mix signal to the computer in the other direction. USB 1 is assigned to channel 1, and USB 2 to channel 2. This lets you play computer audio into the respective channel and record the mix using a suitable audio or recording application. Playback and recording are possible simultaneously; the USB connection works as a class-compliant audio interface without requiring special driver installation.

To cue tracks, connect your headphones to the 6.3 mm output and mix the signals from channels 1 and 2 using the Cue control. This lets you check the next track while the master output plays the current mix. The replaceable crossfader is used to transition between the channels; the master and headphone volumes can be adjusted separately.

The M1 USB is suited to a compact DJ setup with two playback channels and is a good fit if you want to integrate computer audio or record your sets on a computer. For USB functionality, the device requires a PC running Windows XP or Vista, or a Mac running OS X, as well as a USB port.