Gemini has today announced the Gemini SDJ-2000 here at NAMM 2016, a completely standalone DJ controller / media player with a built-in 7″ screen. All that’s necessary is to add music via a single USB to turn the unit into a complete DJ set-up for laptop-free DJing.

While clearly influenced by the Pioneer XDJ-RX, the Gemini SDJ-2000 nonetheless has some cool features of its own: You can add additional decks (up to two Gemini MDJ-1000 media players can be plugged in via Ethernet to share library and sync with the SDJ-2000), and there are also six analogue inputs for connecting traditional, analogue DJ gear. It also has eight hardware effects that work across all inputs, and has both XLR and RCA master outputs, as well as booth output.

Gemini is also providing library management software called VCase, which allows you to pre-analyse your music collection on your Mac or PC. Finally, the SDJ-2000 also works as a standard Midi controller for DJ software.

• The unit will retail at US$799. We don’t have a release date as yet.

What do you think of this unit? Do you think it’s good that laptop-free DJ systems appear to be coming from all sides right now? Let us know your thoughts in the comments…