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NewsletterJul 7, 2026Issue #19
The Cue

The DJ world, digested weekly. Gear, software, trends. One email.

The Big Story

AlphaTheta Drops a Mid-Range CDJ That Makes the Flagship Hard to Justify

The CDJ-1500X lands at £1,469 per unit, packing the CDJ-3000X's 10.1-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi, cloud playback, and streaming into a compact body — plus a crowd-request feature called CoBeat. A decade after the XDJ-1000MK2, every major DJ outlet reviewed it simultaneously and reached roughly the same conclusion: for most working DJs, the top-of-the-line deck just became a luxury purchase.

via DJ TechTools / DJ LIFE / DJcity / Attack Magazine / MusicTech / CrossFader / Digital DJ Tips

The Feed

ADE turns 30, drops 250+ names in first lineup wave

Amsterdam Dance Event's milestone edition runs October 21–25 with 3,000+ artists expected across 200+ venues. If you're planning your autumn calendar, this is the anchor.

via DJ LIFE / Attack Magazine · Jul 6

Skrillex × Solomun finally release 'Rumpta'

The collab that's been circulating through both their sets — from Tulum to Alexandra Palace — is officially out ahead of their b2b at Pacha Ibiza. Industrial-leaning, club-ready.

via DJ Mag / The FADER · Jul 3

iZotope leaves Native Instruments, acquired by Boris FX

Post-Soundwide reshuffling continues. iZotope lands at a founder-owned AV software house — existing licenses stay intact. The NI/inMusic/iZotope saga may finally have a stable ending.

via CDM / MusicTech / Sound on Sound · Jul 2

Software

Mixxx forms a nonprofit to protect the open-source DJ software project

Mixxx e.V. is now a registered nonprofit under German law. If you use or care about free DJ software, this is the kind of structural move that keeps a project alive long-term.

via Mixxx · Jul 2

Someone built the Android DJM-REC alternative Pioneer never will

A developer spent years reverse-engineering USB communication with Pioneer mixers and is ready to talk about a recording app for Android. Pioneer's iOS-only stance finally has competition.

via DJTT Forum · Jul 3

Gear

Menura Audio MDFX brings studio delay and reverb to the DJ booth

Standalone delay and reverb units purpose-built for live DJ use, with browser-based demos so you can try before you buy. External FX chains just got more interesting.

via MusicTech · Jul 2

Sinevibes Quarta turns the Korg NTS-3 into a proper pocket DJ effect unit

Ten effects mapped across four X/Y zones on Korg's tiny kaoss-style pad. If you've been looking for a cheap, weird live FX box, this is the one to watch.

via CDM · Jul 2

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