If you’re attending the NAMM show this week, you may have overheard a few audible “WTF??!’s” while banging around the booths. Sure, there’s always some crazy stuff that debuts, which is why we just love this show, but this can be traced back to the one thing. AlphaTheta Corporation’s decision that Pioneer DJ just didn’t have enough brand currency in the DJ market and decided that they would premier a new moniker for their next generation of products: AlphaTheta. Wait. What??!
Yes. It’s a head-scratcher for sure. Either the executive team over at AlphaTheta is just completely and utterly in love with the AlphaTheta namesake or somehow the entire marketing department thought that not only was it a savvy move to create a DJ sub brand, but that AlphaTheta actually resonates with DJs. HINT: It doesn’t. In fact, we’ve asked anyone who was around a DJ product what they thought of the name change, their overwhelming response: Terrible.
The biggest problem with all this branding nonsense? Their new product Omnis-Duo — don’t ask — actually looks to be a very cool bit-of-kit! Unfortunately, it’s being unnecessarily overshadowed by the baffling naming conventions, but let’s put all this behind us and take a look…
AlphaTheta Omnis-Duo
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This new all-in-one DJ system is lightweight and compact enough to fit in a good-sized backpack, and it’s battery-powered, allowing up to 5 hours of playback from a single charge. To help enhance crowd involvement, the OMNIS-DUO’s Bluetooth audio input function allows users to give friends access to play their favorite track from a smartphone. All the unit’s effects can be applied to the Bluetooth audio and there’s a choice of other input options. The distinctive indigo color, inspired by denim jeans, really pops and is a refreshing change over the typical silver or black affairs.
The system’s 2-deck + mixer layout will look familiar to everyone and feel great when DJing. With light and dark touchscreen modes, users can instantly switch between screens to make it easier to see displayed information, even in bright outdoor settings. Play for up to 5 hours with the rechargeable onboard battery. When it’s time to add power, users can connect the AC adapter or plug in a compatible power bank (45W or more) to the dedicated USB Type-C terminal. Need to keep the music going? Switching to Eco mode extends the life of the battery and the party. By combining the OMNIS-DUO with AlphaTheta’s new battery-powered WAVE-EIGHT speaker, which features ultra-low-latency SonicLink technology, users can keep the par-tay going all night.
The indigo color really pops and is a refreshing change over the typical silver and black offerings of the past.
As the first-ever all-in-one DJ system to feature a Bluetooth audio output function, the OMNIS-DUO opens up brand-new possibilities. Whether it’s a campground, the beach, or playing through the sound system in a vehicle, there’s no limit to where users can hold a party. When the time comes to play in a venue like a bar, DJs can use the professional XLR output, while the RCA terminals are perfect for plugging in monitor speakers at home.
Play music from almost any source. Users can plug USB Type-A drives and SD cards into the OMNIS-DUO, as well as a PC/Mac via the USB Type-C terminal to use rekordbox Performance mode. The Wi-Fi function allows easy access to tracks on a PC/Mac, smartphone, or the cloud without a wired connection.
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The request a song feature is quite unique and will certainly be a hit at house parties. Requesters can connect their phone to the OMNIS-DUO via the Bluetooth input function and drop their track into a set. Thanks to the Omnis-Duo’s Bluetooth Playback function, users have control of the audio on the deck. Users can adjust the volume and EQ, apply effects to the sound, change the tempo, use Hot Cues, and scratch, similar to with tracks prepared in advance and played from other music sources. With the OMNIS-DUO and Bluetooth audio input, enjoy collaborating with friends and expand the musical experience. Very Cool! This is certainly going to be a hit for users outside of the club setting.
AlphaTheta Omnis-Duo Features and Specifications:
- Eight types of Beat FX
- Six types of Sound Color FX
- Eight Hot Cues per deck
- Dedicated Beat Jump buttons
- Dedicated Beat Loop controls
- Two Mic inputs
- Booth output (combined with master RCA)
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- S/N Ratio: 112 dB (USB, SD)
- Total Harmonic Distortion <0.003% (USB, SD)
- Outputs: MASTER × 1 (XLR); MASTER × 1 (RCA); MASTER × 1 (Bluetooth [exclusive from input]); BOOTH × 1 (Combined use with RCA output); HEADPHONE MONITOR × 2 (1/4″ Stereo Phone Jack, 3.5 mm Stereo Mini Jack)
- USB: USB-A for thumb drive x 1; SD card x1; USB-C for PC/Mac control x 1; USB-C for power input (USB PD 45 W) x 1
- Wireless LAN Supported standards: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac / Frequency bands: 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz
- Dimensions (W × D × H): 500 × 307 × 71 mm / 19.7″ × 12.1″ × 2.8″
- Weight: 4.6 kg / 10.1 lbs.
*** These specs have not been independently confirmed by FutureMusic.
So is the Pioneer name dead?? Not necessarily. Although AlphaTheta’s reps are somewhat cagey about what exactly is happening with the Pioneer DJ brand, the overall response is that both names will co-exist.
