DJ: Decks & FX - Australian Review

You're standing up in front of 1000 rowdy revellers, and they're all screaming for more. The hi-tech light show dances playfully above their heads, and the sound system is almost crumbling under its own powerful bottom end subs. You are the star of this show, you are the DJ, and you're in complete control.

Have you ever had this dream? Well the crew at Sony believes there's quite a few of you out there in fact, and they've come to the rescue of all wannabe DJs with the latest in their 'lifestyle' titles, called DJ: Decks & FX.

The first music based title from new UK developer, Relentless Software, puts all the tools at your fingertips to try your hand at DJing, minus the expense and hassles of buying a bedroom full of equipment. The console bound DJ booth includes 2 turntables and mixer, a sampler and loop machine, plus an effects unit. But no DJ turns up to a gig without a box full of records, so you'll also find a collection of over 70 licensed full length deep house tracks ranging from familiar club classics to recent releases.

What happens next is really up to you. So in case you're still wondering, this is not a typical game. There are no rules, missions, or magic potions to drink, just pull out some tracks, kick back, and start mixing it up. The idea behind Decks & FX is to give users the same tools a real DJ has to play with for either freestlying on the fly or even rehearsing up the perfect club mix.

For those unversed behind the wheels of steel, a helpful walkthrough tutorial explains what each of the DJ tools do and how to use them, plus helpful icons and prompts appear throughout the DJing modes. And while some may see it as DJ sacrilege, others will see it as a blessing that no matter what tracks are mixed together, the software automatically beat mixes them perfectly in time.

The basics of mixing two tracks together can be picked up in no time, but where the fun begins is playing with the other tools. With the sampler, DJs can record a short section or phrase from any track that's playing, and then drop it back into the mix later in the set. The loop unit accesses a collection of existing sounds to give tracks a fresh feel by layering additional beats and loops on top of the mix. The effects unit colours your mix by adding phasing, flanging, and delay to just one track or the whole mix. Then finally there are the volume and EQ controls on the main mixer for making any final adjustments. As an added DJ touch, the software even detects the presence of a PS2 USB headset, which can be used to audition and cue up tracks before dropping them into the mix, just like the pros do.

Now before you go trading in your pair of Technics 1200's for a controller and headset, there are a few limitations. 70 tracks may seem a lot (and it is), but with no option to add new tunes, the collection has a limited lifespan, and also little appeal to those that prefer the likes of hip hop, breaks, trance, or drum n bass. These later styles will also require a rethink of the controls, as scratching and tricky cross-fader moves are not currently supported.

But for honing basic DJ skills, and providing the backing for your next house party, Decks & FX easily has your lounge room dance floor covered.

Score = 8/10