Allen & Heath announces the unveiling of the Xone:4D performance DJ controller. Continuing the evolution of the Xone line from where it left off -- the Xone:3D -- the new 4D has a beefed up set of features as well as a dimension us humans cannot perceive.

The Xone:4D unites a fully-fledged analog DJ mixer with over 100 MIDI controls and a more powerful and qualitative 20-channel USB 2.0 soundcard. The mixer section is based on the Xone:92. It features four stereo channels, each with triple-inputs for soundcard, phono and line. Additional mixer features include a three-band "total kill" EQ, two stereo effects sends, a couple of analog VCF filters with LFO, VCA crossfader and dual-rail channel faders, a DJ mic and a cue monitoring system.

An editable step-filter function has been added for the assignable LFO to allow for some intersting amalgamations of the tempo-detecting BPM counter and your tap tempo. In addition, the MIDI faders can each become filter cut-off frequencies so that you can draw in your own LFO waveform, and it'll be tempo-locked. With a focus on tempo-based features, everything is solidly held into place by a new 16-bit tempo detecting circuit that's constantly monitoring the BPM while outputting a MIDI clock so that your MIDI software and external material are on the same page.

The stereo FX sends can work with external effects units and samplers before being routed to the USB system into your computer. Thanks to customer demand, the FX2 hardware output is switchable as a Main Mix record output.

Next, two dedicated MIDI control strips features eight 60mm faders, 16 center-detented rotary controls, 10 rotary encoders with push switches, 32 switches and a double dose of custom jog wheels with four navigation switches. MIDI sections include a shift function that provides an additional layer of MIDI controls for a total of 227 mappable MIDI messages available from 105 front panel MIDI controls that switch seamlessly.

Lastly, the Xone:4D is more eye-catching. The new style and coloring of the unit was strategic, helping the unit become easier to read where light is a commodity.

Xone designer Andy Rigby-Jones offered comment:

"When we launched the Xone:3D in 2005, we were proud to offer the DJ community a pioneering and unique tool that integrates computer-based digital media into the traditional DJ workspace. The new Xone:4D is the culmination of over two years' experience and feedback from DJ's using the 3D, and includes technological developments that did not exist or were prohibitively expensive at the time of the original design. The Xone:4D will enable DJ's to greatly extend the capability of their digital setup by, for example, running four simultaneous decks in Native Instruments' Traktor, or by being able to achieve genuine multi-track recording of their sets in applications such as Ableton Live or Pro Tools."