The Beast
Is the Finnish EKS company coming of age with this new digital DJing interface?
The Otus comes across as a truly professional product for controlling DJ software and features a built-in six-channel Burr Brown soundcard, which sounds really fat.
It's one of the first pure Midi controllers designed on the same scale and layout as a Pioneer CDJ-1000 - aimed at controlling virtual deck playback and effects.
It's built on a solid aluminium base with an elaborate and colourful design that makes it really stand out, visually and stylistically.
At 2kg it's sturdy on the bench and its clever feet make it stand firmly on a turntable for when the DJ booth is too cramped.
Similar to Stanton's Da Scratch Midi controller, it features touch-sensitive control areas, such as the XY pad, relative pitch slider, and touch buttons.
There's also a large traditional touch-sensitive jog wheel, which gives a similar feel and performance as the Pioneer CDJ-1000.
One of the key things with any controller is coming up with a familiar layout that works for the task at hand. The Otus makes a good compromise between controls for advanced features and traditional CDJ-style buttons, but lacks a big rewind button in place of a smaller one.
It's aimed at DJs who want to use a traditional DJ mixer and like keeping elements separate. Saying that, it can easily command an entire set using virtual mixers, by assigning mixer controls to whatever controls on the Otus that you want and plugging in your headphones to the jack on the back.
Built into the heart of its workings, is a dual layer deck switch, so the Otus can control two decks. A pair of Oti would be ideal for four-deck software like Traktor, and it provides the audio connections too.
Unlike Da Scratch, and because of its sheer size, Otus can't be slung into your laptop bag. The control knobs that stick out on the top mean you'll need to take it to gigs in the box or invest in the Otus bag from UDG.
Otus comes with EKS Bison and Deckadance LE in the box, which natively support Otus. They require no set up, which makes Otus great for beginners, and this supplies higher resolution scratch control by using HID instead of Midi to communicate.
Preset Midi files on the EKS website kick-start your set up and MixVibes, PCDJ and DjDecks will also natively support the Otus via Midi soon. HID support is coming for existing Deckadance and Serato users too, so it's clearly got the full support of the industry's top players.
For a more professional custom feel, the Otus is highly adaptable and comes with Midi mapping software, which provides Midi modifiers. Like shift on the keyboard, combine controls to greatly expand the Otus.
The dual layer idea works brilliantly with different colour lights to show where you are. Hold the swop button to momentarily control the other deck, or a decisive double tap to swop over for good.
We're not massively keen on the shiny touch surface, which can be a bit sticky and they need to improve the precision of the XY pad, which doubles up as a mouse. The pitch slider has three settings for course, medium and fine control.
Even with age-old Midi control, the scratch wheel offers pretty good feel and is great for cueing tracks naturally. But if you want to scratch like a pro, you'll need HID support to be taken seriously.
We like the little loop buttons, but they're a little bit too small and close together, but plentiful for advanced performances.
PRICE
£579 / €790 / $899
CONTACT
www.eks.fi
SPECS
GEEK SPEAK
• Burr Brown audio interface with 6 channels – stereo headphone jack and 2 stereo RCA outs and S/PDIF
• 16bit/24bit, 44.1kHz/48kHz
• Frequency response 4Hz-24kHz
• SNR >115dB JEITA (a-weighted), THD+N 0,002%
• Windows, OSX, Linux compatible with ASIO and Core Audio drivers
• USB2.0/USB1.1 buss powered
• High resolution 7.5" touch-sensitive wheel
• Midi messages - Note, Aftertouch, Control Change, Program Change, Channel Mode, Pitch Wheel and Extended
• Define minimum and maximum range and define sensitivity
• 4 mini push-button jog dials, 17 low travel buttons, 6 touch buttons, 10 control knobs
• Touchpad X/Y control surface for mouse or effects
• 80mm touch sensitive pitch slider, with position LEDs
• Sized 365mm x 335mm x 70mm and weighs 2 kg
VERDICT
Build 4.5/5
Ease of Use 3.5/5
Features 4.5/5
Value for money 3.5/5
Sound quality 4.5/5
HYPE
This highly adaptable Midi controller's two virtual decks, touch-sensitive scratch control, and forward-thinking DJ layout make it a professional option.
GRIPE
Twin layer can lead to confusion, knobs feel wobbly, loop buttons are too small and the unit isn't that portable. Some refinements would boost the scores.