If you're looking for intro level or bedroom mixer that's a cut above the rest then look no further:-

Build Quality 9/10
Faders + c/Fader 8/10
weight and size 9/10
knobs 9/10
Buttons 9/10
Software and compatibility 9/10
Overall 9/10 (Pat on the back for M Audio!)

If your looking for a Pro device to sit between lap top and PA.

Same as above but:-

Outputs 1/10
(No RCA or Jack outputs)

Inputs 2/10
No headphones for Queuing
No mic input either (just in case your feeling all Mike Reid) So everything has to go into your PC/MAC so you need a little Midi knowledge to re route everything if your software doesn't do this for you.

Visibility in darkened room 2/10

Hence the me giving this untit
an Overall 5/10

Conclusion:--------------------
R U looking to use this in a live environment where a device with an external sound card is required.

Then this is phat NO-GO.

No out or inputs for me is a defo problem-o but what can one expect for less than £100!!!

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R U looking to use this from the comfort of your own bedroom or small parties through ya Laptop? You will not find a better unit at a better price, very cheap and worth much more as it looks and feels the real deal in every way.

You wont find a better entry level mixer out there sup £80. Superb!


Plus:-
As always I cannot fault the service and support from Dolphin though, I ordered mine on Saturday and it was with me 8AM on the following Tuesday morning... Smashing.

I bought the X-Session about a year ago when I started to get into laptop DJing seriously, and also to use it as a controller for virtual instruments and recording software.

Probably the most important feature that led me to choose this over others was the price! its a fantastic price for such a useful piece of hardware. Cheap enough for a skint students like me to afford!

Despite the price, the design and finish is great. It doesn't look toyish or gimmicky like some controllers out there. Its survived many gigs, had beer spilt on it, and the crossfader still feels good! Its very easy transferring from CDJs and a normal DJ mixer to the X-Session, once you remember you've assigned the first and last vertical fader to pitch and not volume!

However the most important aspect is that it just works! You plug it in, assign controllers, and play. I've never had any problems with the computer recognising it, and i've used it without trouble on XP, Vista, and OSX.

The only problems i've had were assigning the crossfader in some programs, as the unit sends two midi control numbers from the crossfader. It took me a while to figure out that CC17 was the one to be used, and is assigned by moving the fader very slowly.

The other problem was using the x-session with Resolume (VJ software). I often perform very fast cuts and transitions on the vertical faders and this sometimes causes strange behaviour and mixed-up assignments. However this is more likely to be a software problem.

I'd also like the vertical faders to be as free as the crossfader (like on quality DJ mixers) but that's just a minor thing.

So in conclusion its a brilliant controller that i'd highly recommend for digital DJs and producers alike!