digital_steve
12:29 AM - 16 August, 2007
Finally got the iCDX last night.
First off it is extremely easy to setup to use with SSL. Plug in the USB cable, start SSL, switch the iCDX to USB-HID mode, select which deck to control (left/right) and away we go in INT mode. It's that easy. I had read that you can control both decks with the iCDX by using the eject button but this doesn't work with SSL. You can, thankfully, use the input reverse function to control both INT decks with the iCDX.
The LCD display gets its feed from SSL, so it displays track name, BPM, pitch and keylock information. This is quite cool and useful if you're only using one deck to control SSL.
Scrolling through folders and tracks is really easy and usable with the endless rotary encoder on the iCDX. As you can imagine, this function is extremely handy as the only time you have to touch the computer is when you need to initialise input reverse. You can also access SSL's search function with this encoder.
The bleep and reverse functions being on the iCDX would be handy if you used them. I had some fun with the bleep function as an effect but i don't really use either function often.
Setting cues is damn easy, although the iCDX seems limited to only setting 3 as far as i can see; 4 if you include a temporary cue point.
Setting a loop is just as easy on the icdx with in, out and reloop functions. Once again, as far as i can tell, it is limited to setting one loop and can't seem to scroll through SSL's 9 loops. If anyone knows more then please let me know.
Obviously the pitching is controlled via the iCDX pitch slider. I found the pitch slider on the unit to be quite 'loose' or smooth moving, making fine adjustments a bit difficult. It may be because my unit is 2nd hand. The smallest increment you can move the pitch via the iCDX in INT mode is .03 ... It'd be nice if it was tighter, but its something you would get used to. I also found that sometimes the slightest movements on the pitch slider would be picked up in SSL, making it difficult to really nail small adjustments easily.
The pitch bend buttons barely register for one touch adjustments and need to be held a bit longer. This is just a function of the unit and takes a bit of getting used to. They also work as rewind/forward if you hold them down long enough.
The platter is static and plastic and requires you to hold down a bit of it, in the iCDX scratch mode, to stop playback and scratch. To be honest, if you're into scratching a lot, then this unit is fucking useless for you. I even had trouble winding tracks back to the start due to the pressure required on the platter. This was damn annoying as there is no normal CD function, as far as i can see, to send the track back to the start. You have to enable the 'play from start' function in SSL to effectively use the unit.
Pitch bending via the platter is damn sensitive. The smallest movement bends the track quite dramatically. Once again i'm assuming this is just a learning curve issue.
You can turn keylock on and off from a button called 'pitch' (that is usually used to select between pitch adjustment percentages for CD play) next to the pitch slider. Handy.
Overall i think the iCDX is a great unit for controlling INT mode for music styles that don't require scratching.
The ability to scroll and select tracks from the unit is awesome, setting cues and loops is great and being able to control SSL from one small sized unit is fantastic.
The pitch adjustment is a bit fiddly/sensitive. Maybe i'm just heavy handed.
I'd like to be able to set more cues and loops. I'd also like a button that takes a track back to it's start.
The platter is just a no-go for any sort of scratching... basic or serious.
I personally like it. It's made spinning tracks fun again for me and you can use it as a 1 cd + 1 turntable setup for SSL due to it's USB-HID connectivity.
