Chat rooms are a-buzz with talk of a “truly revolutionary” digital DJ mixer from Ecler called the EVO5. In lieu of burdening people with actual product information, however, Ecler is providing a sleek countdown timer.
At www.evobyecler.com, visitors can see the countdown—currently about 20 days, 23 hours, and 37 minutes—after which time Musikmesse commences and the revolution will be fully revealed.
As the clock ticks down, speculation heats up.
From touch screens to VST hosting capabilites to surround sound effects to moving faders to high-definition MIDI control: there seems to be no shortage of guesswork as to what might be so special about the EVO5.
“It’s got a fingerprint reader, and if you’re not the DJ, it won’t work,” said Joey C., a Wednesday night DJ at a Detroit gentlemen’s club. “In fact, it gives you a shock. Nothing lethal or anything, but just like to say, back off.”
“I heard the EVO5 is going to be the iPhone killer,” said Neil, a barista at a large chain coffee shop. “But they can’t announce it right now because they’re settling with Mitsubishi over their EVO5 car. So they did the timer thing.”
Just as Y2K came and went without a trace, some countdowns do end with more fizzle than bang. Yet the mere declaration of this revolutionary mixer is already having an impact on the industry.
“I traded my Hercules for Halo 2 and was about to get the Torq,” said 12-year-old Justin. “But now there’s the EVO5 coming in just 21 days, 14 hours, and 3 minutes. I mean, it could be way cooler. I’ll wait.”
DJ Sonny B. of Newark, NJ is three years into digitizing his vinyl collection of over 5,000 records. “All that shit’s on hold now,” he said. “I mean, what if this revolutionary thing is something that will like just digitize the shit automatically? Then I’d be wasting my time now.”
Even people with no intention of buying a DJ mixer are being swept up in the euphoria.
“It’s mesmerizing,” said Pearl, a side-door receptionist at a Kansas YMCA. “I’ve been seeing this countdown in my sleep. It’s better than Tetris.”