From DJ to VJ

By Wilson Rothman

Four years ago, Pioneer Electronics revolutionized the DJ scene by building a CD turntable that allowed users to scratch and mix digital discs just like the old vinyl ones. Now Pioneer has introduced the DVJ-X1 ($3,299; pioneerprodj.com) the world's first DVD scratch-and-mix turntable. When you load up a DVD and start manipulating it--scratching just like a club DJ--the video on a TV monitor or projector reacts in perfect synch. Pioneer hopes the device will inspire a wave of DVD VJs to create new forms of visual entertainment. Imagine, at a dance club, looking up at a plasma screen over the VJ's head and seeing Al Pacino going "Say h-h-hello to my little fr-fr-fr-friend!" in time with the beat. The turntable also plays audio CDs. --W.R.