KORG handytraxx: Tribute to Vestax and Mobile Record Player

19 Jan by Julian Schmauch |

4,8 / 5,0 | Approximate reading time: 2 Minutes

KORG handytraxx: Tribute to Vestax, Mobile Record Player and more · Source: Korg

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Korg is absolutely on fire for NAMM 2024. We’ve had eight articles about a whole lot of synth products from the Japanese giant in the past two days! And with the KORG handytraxx, they are paying tribute to the legendary mobile record player Vestax Handy Trax. Furthermore, during the development, Korg collaborated with Toshihide Nakama, former CEO of Vestax. Will this gadget bring the party back into the streets?

From Handy trax to handytraxx: What’s the deal with Vestax?

During the 00s, the original Vestax Handy Trax developed quite a reputation among DJs and vinyl lovers. While it was not the most audiophile solution, it had a built-in speaker and could jump-start any dying party within minutes. While there is still (as with many beloved gadgets) a secondhand market, Handy Trax has not been available for purchase for a while.

With all of its real-time effects expertise, Korg went to Toshihide Nakama, Vestax’s former CEO who also advised the development team of the original Handy Trax, and got him to collaborate on a new version: the Korg handytraxx. So now, there is a new mobile record player to celebrate Portablism again!

Korg handytraxx: Mobile Record Player with DJ effects

Korg will show an early, non-functioning prototype of the Korg handytraxx at NAMM 2024, so we assume there will be plenty of hands-on videos this time next week. Until then, here’s what we know. While the original Handy Trax had a three-dial for playing speeds 33, 45, and 78 rpm, a pitch dial, a Tone dial, and a fader-like volume control, handytraxx offers all this and much more.

It comes with built-in scratch effects, a Filter, a looper with various playing speeds, and a delay effect. There is also a built-in cue function, so you can pre-listen to a record when you’re using two handytraxx. The mobile record player also has a 3-watt speaker, and you can power it with a power bank through USB-C or AAA batteries.

Korg claims that you can even DJ with just one of these by combining the looper, the cue function, and the record player. And if that isn’t enough, you can further personalize the record player by removing the effect controls or exchanging the pickup with MM pickups.