Hercules DJ CONTROL STEEL

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CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 2

2. MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................. 3

3. INSTALLATION ................................................................................................................. 4

3.1. First installation ........................................................................................................... 4

3.2. Power consumption .................................................................................................... 5

4. OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 6

4.1. The top face ................................................................................................................ 6

5. CONNECTING HEADPHONES ......................................................................................... 7

6. DJ CONTROL STEEL FEATURES ................................................................................... 8

6.1. Jog wheels .................................................................................................................. 8

6.2. Faders (sliders) ........................................................................................................... 8

6.3. Play/Pause, Stop and Cue buttons ............................................................................. 9

6.4. Backward and Forward buttons .................................................................................. 9

6.5. Pitch settings ............................................................................................................... 9

6.6. Effects and loops (buttons 1-6) ................................................................................... 9

6.7. Load Deck buttons .................................................................................................... 10

6.8. Cue Select buttons .................................................................................................... 10

6.9. Browser buttons ........................................................................................................ 10

6.10. Balance knob ............................................................................................................ 10

6.11. Monitor knob ............................................................................................................. 10

6.12. Equalization knobs .................................................................................................... 10

6.13. Kill buttons................................................................................................................. 11

6.14. Shift button ................................................................................................................ 11

6.15. Control 1 and 2 encoders .......................................................................................... 11

6.16. Apply Ctrl. On button ................................................................................................. 11

7. THE TASKBAR ICON AND CONTROL PANEL ............................................................. 12

7.1. The DJ Control Steel taskbar icon ............................................................................ 12

7.2. Using the DJ Control Steel control panel .................................................................. 12

8. USING THE DJ CONTROL STEEL AT A PARTY .......................................................... 15

8.1. Overview ................................................................................................................... 15

8.2. Mixing in VirtualDJ .................................................................................................... 15

8.3. Scratching ................................................................................................................. 19

9. MIDI STANDARD SUPPORT .......................................................................................... 20

10. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ............................................................................. 26

11. TECHNICAL SUPPORT .................................................................................................. 27

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION RECOMMENDATION ....................................................... 30

Main Page

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Summary

Installation

First Installation

Guides users through the essential first-time installation steps for the DJ Control Steel.

Installing Drivers and Software

Explains how to install the necessary drivers and software from the CD-ROM or website.

DJ Control Steel Features

Jog Wheels

Explains the function, adjustability, and usage of the jog wheels for scratching and navigation.

Faders (Sliders)

Describes the cross fader and pitch faders for controlling mix, tempo, and speed.

Play;Pause, Stop and Cue Buttons

Explains the operation of play/pause, stop, and cue buttons for track control.

Effects and Loops (Buttons 1-6)

Details the usage of buttons 1-6 for applying effects and looping functions.

Using the DJ Control Steel at a Party

Mixing in VirtualDJ

Explains the fundamental techniques of mixing tracks using VirtualDJ software.

Scratching

Details how to perform scratching techniques using the DJ Control Steel's jog wheels.

Summary

Installation

First Installation

Guides users through the essential first-time installation steps for the DJ Control Steel.

Installing Drivers and Software

Explains how to install the necessary drivers and software from the CD-ROM or website.

DJ Control Steel Features

Jog Wheels

Explains the function, adjustability, and usage of the jog wheels for scratching and navigation.

Faders (Sliders)

Describes the cross fader and pitch faders for controlling mix, tempo, and speed.

Play;Pause, Stop and Cue Buttons

Explains the operation of play/pause, stop, and cue buttons for track control.

Effects and Loops (Buttons 1-6)

Details the usage of buttons 1-6 for applying effects and looping functions.

Using the DJ Control Steel at a Party

Mixing in VirtualDJ

Explains the fundamental techniques of mixing tracks using VirtualDJ software.

Scratching

Details how to perform scratching techniques using the DJ Control Steel's jog wheels.

The DJ Control Steel is a powerful and versatile piece of hardware designed for interacting with DJ software, offering a wide range of functionalities for both beginners and seasoned professionals. It operates with digital audio files, including MP3s, and is optimized for low power consumption when connected via USB.

Function Description

The DJ Control Steel functions as a MIDI controller, with its buttons and potentiometers sending and receiving MIDI signals that are interpreted by compatible DJ software. It features two sets of controls, with the left and right sections corresponding to separate decks in DJ software applications.

Key controls and their functions include:

Jog Wheels: These emulate vinyl turntables, allowing users to scratch or move the cursor backward or forward within music tracks to select cue points. They have adjustable resistance and sensitivity, which can be configured via the control panel. The jog wheels can also be used to browse through music lists.
Faders (Sliders):
- Cross Fader: This fader moves between the left and right decks, enabling the DJ to adjust the mix between two simultaneously playing stereo music tracks.
- Pitch Faders: These adjust the playback speed of a track, increasing or reducing its BPM (Beats Per Minute) rate. When used with the Beat Lock button, the pitch fader only changes the tempo, preserving the original pitch.
- Volume Faders: Separate faders control the volume for Deck A, Deck B, and the overall master volume.
Play/Pause, Stop, and Cue Buttons:
- Play/Pause: Starts music playback or pauses it at the current position, setting the cue point there.
- Cue: Sets a cue point (a marker for playback start) at the current position in the track.
- Stop: Halts music playback without changing the track's cue point.
Backward and Forward Buttons: Located above each jog wheel, these allow for quick cursor movement within music tracks.
Pitch Settings:
- Pitch Bend + / -: Adjusts the pitch up or down.
- Pitch Slider: Adjusts the pitch up or down.
- Sync Button: Synchronizes the beat of the music on the corresponding deck with the beat of the track on the opposite deck.
Effects and Loops (Buttons 1-6): These buttons apply effects or loop parts of a track in VirtualDJ. Effects can be modulated by turning the jog wheel while holding the effect button. Default functions include "Loop in," "Pitch bend -," "Flanger," "Loop out," "Pitch bend +," and "Beatgrid." Other assignable functions include "Record Sample," "Play Sample," "Backspin," "Brake," and "Overloop."
Load Deck Buttons: Used to load a highlighted music track onto Deck A or Deck B.
Cue Select Buttons: Selects which deck is monitored on headphones. Only one deck can be monitored at a time.
Browser Buttons (Up, Down, Left, Right): Navigate through folders and music libraries. Up/Down buttons move through files/directories, while Left/Right buttons switch root directories or enter a directory.
Balance Knob: Adjusts the main output balance between the left and right channels.
Monitor Knob: Adjusts the mix of what's being played on headphones, balancing the cued track with the overall mix.
Equalization Knobs (Bass, Medium, Treble): Customize the sound of music on each deck.
Kill Buttons (Bass, Medium, Treble): Quickly cut off or restore corresponding frequency bands for interesting transition effects.
Shift Button: Changes the functions of buttons 1-6, allowing them to send functions 7-12 when enabled.
Control 1 and 2 Encoders: Modulate effects or plugins. The "Apply Ctrl. On" button selects the deck (A, B, or both) to which these encoders apply.

Usage Features

The DJ Control Steel is designed for intuitive mixing and scratching.

First-time Setup: Drivers must be installed before connecting the device. The installation CD-ROM provides the necessary software, though users are encouraged to check the Hercules website for the latest versions. The control panel allows for customization of jog wheel sensitivity and enabling/disabling.
Mixing in VirtualDJ:
- Loading Tracks: Music can be loaded onto decks using the browser buttons on the controller or by dragging and dropping files in VirtualDJ.
- Beat Matching: The Pitch slider and Sync button help match the BPM of tracks for smooth transitions. The Beat Lock button can be used to change tempo without altering pitch (Master Tempo).
- Cueing and Monitoring: The Cue Select button and Monitor knob allow DJs to preview tracks in headphones, adjusting the balance between the cued track and the main mix.
- Transitions: The cross fader is central to mixing, allowing for progressive transitions between decks. EQ knobs and Kill buttons can be used to shape the sound during transitions.
- Effects and Loops: Buttons 1-6 provide access to various effects and looping functions, which can be modulated with the jog wheels.
- Recording Mixes: VirtualDJ allows users to record their mixes by clicking the REC button.
Scratching: The jog wheels emulate vinyl scratching, allowing for various techniques:
- Baby Scratch: A simple forward scratch followed by a backward scratch.
- Tear Scratch: A forward scratch followed by a quick backward scratch and then a slow backward scratch.
- Forward Scratch: A forward scratch with the volume quickly lowered, followed by a backward scratch to return to the initial position and restore volume.
- Backward Scratch: The reverse of the Forward Scratch.
- Pass-Pass: A technique combining scratching with pitch and cross fader manipulations to create new rhythmic combinations by alternating between two identical pieces on both decks.
Microphone Use: The Mic On/Off button allows DJs to address the crowd, automatically reducing music volume. The microphone volume can be adjusted with a dedicated knob.
Browsing Music: The jog wheels can be used in conjunction with the Up/Down buttons to quickly navigate through extensive music directories.

Maintenance Features

Driver Updates: Users are advised to regularly check the Hercules website for the latest drivers and software to ensure optimal performance and access to new features.
Control Panel: The DJ Control Steel control panel, accessible via a taskbar icon, allows users to manage various settings, including jog wheel sensitivity and enabling/disabling. It also provides information about the package, firmware, driver, DJ API, and control panel versions, which is useful for technical support.
MIDI Mapper Application: For advanced users, Hercules provides a MIDI Mapper application that allows customization of the DJ Control Steel's MIDI messages and values.
Environmental Protection: At the end of its working life, the product should be disposed of at a collection point for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) for recycling, as indicated by the symbol on the product, manual, or packaging.

Hercules DJ CONTROL STEEL Specifications

General

Type	DJ Controller
Number of Channels	2
Connectivity	USB
Included Software	DJUCED
Crossfader	Yes
USB	USB 2.0
Decks	2
MIDI	Yes
Power Supply	USB bus-powered
Jog Wheels	2
EQ	3-band EQ
Compatibility	Windows, macOS
Audio Interface	Built-in
Outputs	1 x RCA (Master), 1 x RCA (Booth), 1 x 1/4" (Headphones)