handytraxx play: Portable Vinyl Power and Dynamic DJ Tools, Anywhere
As streaming platforms and the digital domain increasingly expand to demand our time and attention, it can feel like distance is created between ourselves and the enriching quality of the musical art that we enjoy. With the handytraxx play, Korg has leveraged boundary-pushing technology to reimagine how we listen to and engage with the tunes we love in a bid to instill a more personal, valuable listening experience. This model, in particular, was designed in close collaboration with the late innovator, visionary engineer, and product designer Toshihide Nakama. Unlike its series siblings, the handytraxx play goes beyond just mobilizing your vinyl-listening experience, hosting a suite of DJ performance tools that make on-the-go scratching an instantly accessible possibility — an ode to Nakama’s inventive and enduring spirit. Armed with a belt-drive system, DC servo motor, integrated phono amplifier, and versatile power-operation options, Sweetwater’s gigging DJs and vinyl collectors are enamored by the handytraxx play’s quality, character, and performance-focused flexibility. With flexible playback options, high-fidelity A/D/D/A converters, powerful onboard DSP, built-in speakers, and a preinstalled ceramic cartridge, time-tested sound, and portable performance are always on tap, ready to be enjoyed wherever the tone winds take you.
Note: The tonearm of Korg’s handytraxx play supports the use of both ceramic and moving magnet (MM) cartridges. Replacing the preinstalled ceramic cartridge requires basic soldering skills. Please contact your Sweetwater Sales Engineer with any questions or concerns.
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Powerful performances: scratch and spin and on the move
While the ethos of the handytraxx record players has always focused on making bona fide vinyl listening an authentically portable experience, Korg’s handytraxx play trades a portion of the playback real estate afforded to its series contemporaries for a suite of effects and performance tools. Emphasizing the art of scratching, the handytraxx play features a high-precision fader that was crafted under Toshihide Nakama’s guidance, marrying smooth-as-glass gliding with laser-focused accuracy. The curve of the fader was optimized to minimize any potential for silent zones, while the rugged platter and its onboard digital rotation-correction capabilities make scratching and mixing an incredibly responsive experience, with satisfying tactility to ensure pinpoint performances the most-seasoned turntablists will enjoy. What’s more, the handtyraxx play features a dedicated Fader Reverse switch, allowing you to swap fader channels and reverse scratch to supercharge your on-the-move mixing.
A suite of sonic contouring: effects, filters, and beyond
Beyond the physical performance prowess supported by the handytraxx play, Korg outfitted this portable powerhouse with a suite of tools to wield waveforms with exacting control. Augmenting your expressive arsenal, the handytraxx play features a trio of flexible and ferocious filters. Its DJ Filter operates as a multimode transition tool, with dual functionality as both a lowpass and highpass filter, that is tuned to support inventive mixing possibilities, from smooth and seamless to subtle and striking. The EQ Filter takes a page out of the rotary mixer book, serving as an isolator for low-end frequencies, enhancing basses and enriching them with punchy power and presence. Finally, there’s the Peaking Wah Filter. This modulation-enabled mode is a highly reactive and expressive tool, letting you experiment with the finest degrees of touch-sensitive tone shaping. But wait, there’s more! In addition to these evocative filters, the handytraxx play comes equipped with a deluge of delay-effect dynamism. Time and Feedback parameters accompany a dedicated vertical fader that attenuates the level of the effected signal, opening prismatic dimensions of spatialization.
Lock in and loop out: shaping speed and sampling
Getting creative with loops, samples, and mixing is essential to the DJ spirit. Korg endowed the handytraxx play with a deceptively diverse array of loop-based tools that augment the scratching and effects-driven exploration this turntable affords. Using the righthand panel’s controls, Stop, Play, Clear, and Record functions are instantly toggled, with a Mix knob that lets you blend between looped audio and whichever record you’re spinning. Its variable Speed capabilities enable fine-tuning the speed ratio, in addition to activating overlapping playback modes that allow you to loop a 33, swap in a 45, or vice versa! Plus, looped audio can include any scratching, back-cueing, or effects imparted to your output, making the handytraxx play a surprisingly powerful yet pliable sampler. And all the creative potential to be explored with these artistic enhancements doesn’t even factor into play the side-mounted 3.5mm auxiliary input — multi-medium mixing is waiting to be unearthed.
Crafted with flexible yet focused foundations
Concealed within the handytraxx play’s robust, portable chassis is a wealth of sonic enhancement appointments that have been meticulously selected to secure solid, high-quality playback possibilities. constantly monitoring pitch and playback speed. This guarantees rock-solid reliability, super-stable rotation, and unwavering precision, resulting in the full breadth of your music being faithfully preserved. Suppose the handytraxx play’s built-in speakers or headphone output aren’t needed for the job. In that case, the integrated phono amplifier and 44.1kHz/16-bit A/D, D/A converters supply stunning stereo sonics to any system via RCA outputs.
A truly listen-anywhere opportunity
You’d be forgiven for questioning how “portable” this portable record player really is, especially considering the sensitivity of the medium. However, you can rest assured that Korg crafted the handytraxx play to be fully capable of on-the-go listening. The rock-solid chassis features a completely removable dust cover that effortlessly locks into place, completing an ergonomically sculpted handle that makes it easy to transport. An included AC adapter and five types of replacement plugs ensure you can plug in and play out wherever you’d like; your option for battery-powered operation lets you go completely power-cable-free — all you need is six double-A batteries! With additional security mechanisms to keep your platter or EP adapter in place, as well as a custom-engineered tonearm that’s built for enduring performances, the Korg handytraxx play is your key to unlocking powerful, portable record-playing possibilities and vinyl performances.
Korg handytraxx play Features:
- Portable record player channels an icon reimagined with modern performance appointments
- All-in-one engineering brings high-quality playback to any environment
- Designed in collaboration with the late Toshihide Nakama
- Pre-mounted headshell and preinstalled ceramic cartridge ensure reliable, high-quality sound
- Custom-built tonearm was designed to hold up to aggressive scratching and back-cueing, bringing bona fide turntablism arts anywhere you go
- Onboard DJ tools include a highly versatile looper, 3 performance filters, and a delay effect
- Nakama-overseen crossfader design maximizes quality, character, and precision, with Fader Reverse switch supporting multitudes of scratching and mixing
- Dynamic looper also functions as a sampling tool, with dual-playback speed options and variable fine-tuning letting you loop and mix 33s and 45s together
- Belt-drive system and DC servo motor utilize cutting-edge self-monitoring technologies for reliable, ultra-stable playback speed, rotation, pitch, and performance
- Included EP adapter and 3 rotation speeds mean all your records are ready to roll at 33, 45, or 78 rpm
- Integrated phono amplifier and selectable Line/Phono output options mean seamless integration with virtually any listening arrangement
- Built-in speakers, 3.5mm headphone output, and stereo RCA output let you enjoy tracks however you desire
- Ergonomic form factor and removable dust cover let you pack up and go with minimal time and zero hassle
