Review: Tonium Pacemaker
Music devices just keep getting smaller and smaller. We saw music listening devices go from CD players to iPods (which keep getting smaller themselves). Even recording technology has gotten considerably smaller (2″ tape machines down to a digital Tascam recorder). So why can’t DJ tech get a little smaller?
The 60GB Tonium Pacemaker effectively replaces a very large DJ rig and scales it down to fit into your palm. It contains two decks, a mixer, FX, and everything else that you need to get rolling.
Box up your CDJs and DJM and get ready to get wild with the Pacemaker.
Out of the Box
Immediately, my favorite thing about the Pacemaker is what comes with it out of the box. A lot of manufacturers will stiff you and make you buy a separate power supply or audio cable. The Pacemaker does not.
Here’s a full list of what you get:
- Pacemaker
- Strap
- Quick Start Guide (a little poster explaining how to do just about everything with the Pacemaker)
- Audio Cable (for the line-out of the Pacemaker)
- A/C Adapter
- Power Cord
- USB Cable
- Printed Manual
Tonium also distributes the Pacemaker Editor software which does a few things. Most importantly, it allows you to add and delete tracks off your Pacemaker. Secondly, it gives you the option to sequence complete DJ mixes from start to finish. You can fade in/out, add FX, and even publish your mix to Tonium’s Pacemaker online community.
You really get some bang for your buck with this thing.
Looks
The Pacemaker is, visually, a stunning device to look at. The circular touchpad and equal-sized display are very easy on the eyes. When in operation, everything is lit up and easy to see.
Even the packaging is slick.
Feel
It’s no denying that, at first attempt, the Pacemaker is a little tough to actually mix on. It fit right on the palm of my hand (for the most part) and all the buttons were nice and easy to reach. All the buttons and the side toggle slider are responsive and are exactly what they should be.
The entire device feels sturdy, too. Which, in my humble opinion, is very important for something that’s so small and handheld. It feels like you could drop it a couple of times before anything inside of it went haywire. I didn’t drop it, of course, as I can’t exactly afford to pay for one of these guys right now. Do that test at your own risk!
The touchpad, which is how you do EVERYTHING on the Pacemaker, was hard to use at first. It was finicky, and it wasn’t until I read through the manual that I really discovered how to do everything with the touchpad. That being said, after spending a couple of days with the Pacemaker, I didn’t have any problems navigating or mixing with it. It’s just one of those things that takes some time, practice, and patience.
I was expecting the crossfader (which is also touch sensitive) to be a pain in the ass, but I was wrong. It is nice and responsive and offers nothing but clear information as to where your crossfader is.
Sound
The Pacemaker sounds as good as you could ever expect it to.
My overall view on sound quality with DJ devices like this (and the previously reviewed OTUS) is that most of the time you’ll be DJing with 320kbps mp3s; not exactly the pinnacle of high fidelity. It sounds good enough and I highly doubt the crowd you’re playing for would care. The line out sounds good, the fact that the Pacemaker has a headphone jack makes it a viable device for acutally DJing, and there’s not much more you could want from the Pacemaker.
It’s also important to know that while most DJs will in fact be spinning mp3s, the Pacemaker supports just about every audio file you can throw at it: mp3, m4a, Ogg Vorbis, wav, FLAC, aiff, and snd.
Conclusion
Don’t dismiss the Pacemaker as just another “gadget.” At the same time, don’t expect this to replace 1200s, CDJs, and DJMs at your favorite nightclub. The Pacemaker is fun, easy to use (if you already know how to DJ), a great conversation piece, and a viable addition to your DJ setup. If you’re growing bored with what you’ve got already, maybe its time to check out the Pacemaker.
Pros: Handheld; plenty bright for dark clubs/bedrooms; the software is icing on the cake
Cons: Circular touchpad has a learning curve
Recommended for: Newbies looking for an in to DJing; DJs who are bored of their setup and looking for something extra to “spice it up,”; anyone looking for an awesome toy to play around with
The Tonium Pacemaker is available for $499.99 from most major retailers.
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