We checked out the NS7 at the recent PLASA show in Earl's Court London. It was out of its glass cabinet for the first time.

We found the scratch to be totally solid and the platters feel really nice to scratch with. The mixer is also quite a performer, so it's a big thumbs up in this departments.

And the fact the NS7 comes completely preconfigured with the included Serato Itch is a major bonus, and you don't need to use Scratch Live box either to work with your existing Serato Scratch Live software.

It will cost £1199, but we weren't so convinced by its huge size and the lack of inputs to bring any other hardware sound sources into the mix.

It really is just a Midi controller with built in soundcard and little else, but if spinning platters are a must, there is literally nothing to compete with it.

And Serato's 1.8.2 software brings native control to Pioneer's CDJ-400, amongst many others.

SHOWTIME AT BPM

When: 18th & 19th October 2008 Where: Donington Park Raceway, East Midlands Tickets: £8 advance, £12 on the door Contact: visitbpm.co.uk or 0845 652 2429