Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About Us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist
  • Guitar Techniques
  • Total Guitar
  • Bass Player
More
  • How to make an AI cover song
  • 30 beautiful acoustic guitar chords
  • 86000+ free music samples

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. News

BPM 2012 in pictures: new DJ gear and all the action from the show floor

By Si Truss
published 12 October 2012

Highlights of 'the world's largest DJing show'

Welcome to DJville

Welcome to DJville

BPM 2012, described by organisers as "the world's largest DJ and electronic music production event," took place at Birmingham's NEC last weekend.

Compared to our visit to BPM 2011, there seemed to be noticeably less new DJ and production gear on show this year. A reflection of ongoing tough economic times, perhaps? Nonetheless, MusicRadar took to the show floor to scope out the products, highlights and oddities of BPM 2012.

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
Pioneer XDJ-AERO

Pioneer XDJ-AERO

Pioneer had a couple of new controllers to show off at this year's event, the first being the all-in-one digital DJ system XDJ-AERO, which can wirelessly sync tracks from a mobile device running the app version of rekordbox.

No more beer ruined laptops or turning up to clubs weighed down by pockets full of memory sticks for us.

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
Pioneer DDJ-WeGO

Pioneer DDJ-WeGO

Pioneer was also demoing its new entry-level controller, the DDJ-WeGO, which comes in a variety of bright, rave-friendly colours.

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
Emulator KS-1974

Emulator KS-1974

We got our first look at Smithson Martin's Emulator at BPM last year, but we managed to get up-close and personal with the KS-1974 multi-touch, customisable control surface this time around.

We were very impressed - creating custom controller layouts for any software you like is now much easier, apparently - but unfortunately we still can't afford one.

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
LED pun...

LED pun...

Yes yes. Very good.

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol Z2

Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol Z2

We got our hands on NI's new Traktor Z2 control mixer when company representatives popped into our office last week, but this was our first chance to see it working its magic as part of a full timecode setup, alongside turntables and additional controllers.

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
M-Audio 'stand'

M-Audio 'stand'

Read into it what you will, be we swear that the M-Audio stand at these events used to be bigger than a single shelf.

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
Light-up LED dancefloor

Light-up LED dancefloor

We're having one installed in the MusicRadar office next week.

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
World's Smallest Nightclub

World's Smallest Nightclub

Closed? On a Monday lunchtime? What's the world coming to? Broken Britain, etc. etc.

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
Light-up domes

Light-up domes

Home to BPM's workshops and seminars, apparently. Or do they hide something more sinister (SPOILER: they don't).

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
Vestax Spin 2

Vestax Spin 2

Vestax's new 2-channel DJ controller Spin 2 - which the company unveiled at this year's show - connects natively to iOS devices for full stereo DJing using Algoriddim djay.

Apologies for the blurry photo, our camera didn't like the frantic lighting on the Vestax stand!

Liked this? Now read: 10 of the best DJ controllers

Connect with MusicRadar: via Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

Page 11 of 11
Page 11 of 11
Si Truss
Si Truss
Social Links Navigation

I'm Editor-in-Chief of Music Technology, working with Future Music, Computer Music, Electronic Musician and MusicRadar. I've been messing around with music tech in various forms for over two decades. I've also spent the last 10 years forgetting how to play guitar. Find me in the chillout room at raves complaining that it's past my bedtime.


More about dj
Numark Mixtrack FX controllers

Pioneer DJ’s acquisition of Serato would effectively “eliminate competition”, says InMusic Chief Executive, and suggests that the company will take legal action to try and block the deal

Deadmau5

Deadmau5 says that he plays pre-recorded DJ sets “all the time”, and reveals the “dead giveaway” that audiences should look out for

Latest
Dave Grohl playing drums on Play live, 2018

Watch Dave Grohl unleash a 36-minute live version of his Play instrumental

See more latest ►
Most Popular
We tested 4 of the most popular online e-mastering services and compared them to a real mastering engineer. Here’s what happened

By Stuart Adams1 December 2023

How Gear Acquisition Syndrome almost ruined my life: "I love synths so much that I've lost my grip on reality. Why did I let myself spend 20k on sh*t I don’t even use?"

By Noah Nichols1 December 2023

Alex Lifeson reveals signature LERXST amp line with MojoTone ahead of writing sessions with Geddy Lee

By Rob Laing30 November 2023

Zultan launches Heritage Flat Ride cymbals in two sizes

By Stuart Williams30 November 2023

Harley Benton's new N-150CE guitar might be the ideal excuse to add a resonator to your collection

By Rob Laing30 November 2023

"Right, we've had a break – this is it": Radiohead drummer says band are "coming around to that point" of getting back together

By Andy Jones30 November 2023

"This might not be such a good idea after all": A YouTuber tries to recreate classic $200 ReBirth software with $15,000 worth of original vintage Roland hardware

By Andy Jones30 November 2023

"To say its arrival was earth-shaking would be no exaggeration": why, 40 years on, the Yamaha DX7 was the most important release in synth history, even though it did "make your head dribble"

By Andy Jones30 November 2023

14 tips for producing better techno: "Automate the low-pass filter frequency to create a rhythmic pattern on your bassline"

By Sara Simms30 November 2023

Spotify Wrapped 2023 is here, and Taylor Swift has been crowned the top global artist of the year

By Ben Rogerson30 November 2023

The Pogues vocalist and songwriter Shane MacGowan has died, aged 65

By Rob Laing30 November 2023

  1. The Prodigy
    1
    “It's so offensive that it can't actually mean that”: Have The Prodigy finally changed the lyrics to ‘the most controversial song of all time’?
  2. 2
    We tested 4 of the most popular online e-mastering services and compared them to a real mastering engineer. Here’s what happened
  3. 3
    How Gear Acquisition Syndrome almost ruined my life: "I love synths so much that I've lost my grip on reality. Why did I let myself spend 20k on sh*t I don’t even use?"
  4. 4
    “It covers my utilities bill”: German electronic musician Hainbach reveals how much his 1 million Spotify streams earned him in 2023
  5. 5
    Why does the Epiphone Greeny Les Paul cost $1,500?
  1. gas
    1
    How Gear Acquisition Syndrome almost ruined my life: "I love synths so much that I've lost my grip on reality. Why did I let myself spend 20k on sh*t I don’t even use?"
  2. 2
    How to create drumless jam tracks or isolated drum tracks of your favourite songs for free
  3. 3
    “It covers my utilities bill”: German electronic musician Hainbach reveals how much his 1 million Spotify streams earned him in 2023
  4. 4
    Why does the Epiphone Greeny Les Paul cost $1,500?
  5. 5
    "There were guitar players weeping, they had to mop the floor up. He was piling it on, solo after solo" – how Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton changed guitar forever

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.