Top marks to Allen & Heath for listening to the mutterings of all those Xone-owning Ableton fanatics, rueing their mixer's lack of MIDI. The company has decided to take a saw to its Xone:3D and is now offering the controller section as an add-on to your existing analogue mixer for compatibility with must-have software of the moment Ableton Live and Traktor.

The Xone:2D is compatible with most DJ setups (although will look a whole load better next to a fellow Xone family member), and combines a 4 stereo channel USB soundcard and MIDI controller. Imported from the Xone:3D is the LED display BPM counter and MIDI clock generator, complete with nudge facility – not to mention plenty of MIDI controls to map.

You want it, I know, but you'll have to part with more than £500 to get it. Why is life so unfair…

Shipping March 2007, £499 (excluding VAT).