Eks Otus USB DJ Controller Puts a New Spin on Some Old Ideas

Besides having an odd name - what exactly is an Otus, anyway - the new Eks Otus also has an odd mix between traditional and new generation DJ features. The Otus is a USB DJ controller (i.e., a piece of hardware meant to simulate the actions normally performed by a turntable), built almost entirely of aluminum and complete with ASIO and MIDI drivers, carefully placed LEDs, reprogrammable buttons, and a customizable unit surface and feet. What should make the Otus appeal to the traditionally-minded is the controller's design - it's meant to fit in a standard DJing desk - and the 7.5 inch jog wheel, which makes the Otus look exactly like a heavily-featured turntable and should ease the mind of the digitally skittish.

For the forward-thinking tech heads, the Otus includes a multi-channel sound processor allows for effect layering: enable an effect on one channel, press a button, and you can enable a second effect from anywhere in your arsenal. While the individual ideas aren't that new, the presentation is excellent, and we get the feeling the Otus is going to acquire some serious fans.