[NAMM 2015] American Audio VMS Prototype

American Audio has teased the next generation of VMS DJ controller here at NAMM 2015, to replace the ageing VMS.4.1 in the company’s DJ range, and to correct some of the most pressing issues of the previous design.

The original models – VMS2, VMS4 and VMS4.1 – packed an awful lot of features in for the price, but while American Audio managed to fix the poor sound card in the original VMS4, all these models suffered from so-so jogwheels (and slightly bizarre retro-fitted rubber sheaths to make the jogwheels fully functional).

Frankly we didn’t expect the company to come up with any successor to these units, but that’s what it’s done, in the as-yet-unnamed follow-up controller to the VMS4.1 (although the company has confirmed the “VMS” part of the name to us). And the results look promising.

The “VMS Mk2” controller has large, high quality jogs, but has also had an overall streamlining, with the strange mousepad consigned to the bin, to be replaced by a more traditional library search knob/button combination. Apart from that it’s much the same: Loads of inputs, outputs and routing options and four full channels on the mixer to give maximum flexibility, in what is still a pretty “old school” overall design.

The unit will work with Virtual DJ 8, but we have no shipping or pricing (or name!) details as yet. You saw it here first, though.

Are you an user of one of the original VMS controllers? Do you like the look of this new one? Please share your thoughts in the comments.