Setup
Licensing & software
This is a Serato DJ Lite hardware unlocked device, meaning it unlocks Serato DJ Lite when connected.
It is also a paid upgrade to Serato DJ Pro device, meaning it requires the purchase & activation of a Serato DJ Pro license, in order to be used with Serato DJ Pro.
You can try Serato DJ Pro, before making a purchase:
Please ensure you have the latest version of Serato DJ Pro installed:
Drivers & firmware
The Hercules DJControl Inpulse 500 requires manufacturer-specific drivers on both Mac & Windows operating systems.
Before using Serato DJ Pro, please download and install the driver from Hercules’ website here.
Once the driver is installed, simply launch & activate the latest version of Serato DJ Pro and connect your Hercules device using the USB connection.
Overview
|
# |
DJCONTROL INPULSE 500 CONTROL | FUNCTION | SHIFT FUNCTION |
| 1 | SLIP | Toggle Slip (per deck) |
- |
| 2 | QUANTIZE | Toggle Quantize (per deck) | Toggle tempo range |
| 3 | MIC SECTION |
MIC level/MIC Hi & Low EQ. MIC level will light up in green when input volume clips/distorts |
- |
| 4 | CHANNEL GAIN/EQ | Adjust Hi/Mid/Low EQ & gain per channel | - |
| 5 | LOAD | Load selected track to deck (per deck). Double press to Instant Double | - |
| 6 | BROWSE | Turn to scroll Library. Press in to toggle forward between Library & Crate list. Library knob exterior will pulse to the beat of playing track | Fast Library scroll. Press in to toggle backward between Library & Crate list |
| 7 | ASSISTANT | Toggle Autoplay | - |
| 8 | CHANNEL METER | Monitor level of playing channels | - |
| 9 | MASTER SECTION | Adjust Master Level, monitor Master Level, & Toggle Master Cue | - |
| 10 | SYNC | Toggle SYNC on per deck | Toggle SYNC off per deck |
| 11 | BEAT ALIGN | Move jog wheel/platter forward (FWD) or in reverse (REV) to align beatgrid, as the corresponding arrow lights up. ‘BEAT ALIGN’ will light up in green when beatgrid is aligned. NOTE: This feature relies on accurate beatgrids. CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT BEATGRIDS IN SERATO DJ |
- |
| 12 | TEMPO MATCH | Move tempo slider up (-) or down (+) when corresponding arrow lights up. ‘TEMPO’ will light up in green when the tempo is matched. NOTE: This feature relies on accurate BPM. |
- |
| 13 | TEMPO SLIDER | Adjust tempo/pitch per deck | Ignore tempo/pitch adjustment per deck |
| 14 | PLAY / PAUSE | Toggle Play / Pause per deck | Stutter Play |
| 15 | HEADPHONES SECTION | Adjust headphone level and mix | - |
| 16 | CHANNEL CUE | Press per channel to cue for monitoring in headphones | - |
| 17 | CROSSFADER CURVE | Toggle crossfader curve type | - |
| 18 | CROSS FADER | Crossfade audio between channel A-B | Crossfader start |
| 19 | BEATMATCH GUIDE | Toggle BEAT ALIGN & TEMPO MATCH features on / off | - |
| 20 | CHANNEL FADER | Adjust channel volume | Fader start |
| 21 | FILTER FX SECTION | Apply low pass or high pass filter per deck, toggle FX SEE FX SECTION FOR MORE INFORMATION |
- |
| 22 | AUX SECTION | Adjust AUX volume / Adjust AUX high pass & low pass filter | - |
| 23 | PERFORMANCE PADS | SEE PERFORMANCE PADS SECTION FOR MORE INFORMATION | - |
| 24 | CUE | Set Temp Cue point / Cue from set Temp Cue point | Load previous track to deck |
| 25 | SHIFT | Use in conjunction with other controls as modifier | - |
| 26 | OUT | Set Loop Out point / Edit Loop Out point | Parameter right |
| 27 | IN | Set Loop In point / Edit Loop In point. Press and hold to toggle 4 beat autoloop | Parameter left |
| 28 | AUTOLOOP | Press in to toggle autoloop, turn left to halve loop length, turn right to double loop length | - |
| 29 | JOG WHEEL | Control waveform within Serato DJ Pro in vinyl mode, or pitch bend with vinyl mode off | Fast waveform scroll in vinyl mode / aggresive pitch bend in vinyl mode off |
| 30 | VINYL | Toggle vinyl mode per deck | - |
| # | DJCONTROL INPULSE 500 CONTROL | FUNCTION |
| 1 | MASTER OUT (UNBALANCED) | TRS or 1/4” master output (unbalanced) |
| 2 | MASTER OUT (RCA) | RCA master output |
| 3 | MIC IN (BALANCED) | Microphone TRS or 1/4” input (balanced) |
| 4 | AUX IN | Auxiliary RCA & mini-jack or 1/8” input |
| 5 | USB | Connect PC via USB connection |
| 6 | HEADPHONES | 1/4” & 1/8” headphone output |
Performance Pads
The Hercules DJControl Inpulse 500 comes with 8 RGB performance pads, that can be used across 8 different performance pad modes.
These consist of:
HOT CUE mode: Press the HOT CUE pad mode button to enter HOT CUE mode. Pads 1-8 trigger Serato DJ Pro Cue points, and if no Cue point is present on that slot/pad, pressing that pad will set a Cue point. Holding SHIFT while pressing a pad will clear the Cue point from that pad/slot.
MANUAL LOOP mode: Press the LOOP pad mode button to enter MANUAL LOOP mode. In this mode pressing pad 1 to set or edit the Loop In point, pad 2 to set or edit the Loop Out point, pad 3 to turn the loop on or off, pad 4 to reloop, pad 5 to select the previous loop slot, pad 6 to select the next loop slot, and pad 7 to save the current manual loop to the selected slot.
SLICER mode: Press the SLICER pad mode button to enter SLICER mode. In this mode a specified
range (or domain) is divided into eight equal sections, and these eight sliced sections are assigned to the respective performance pads (1-8), and can be triggered by pressing them. The domain shifts as the track duration elapses. Use the Parameter left & right buttons to decrease or increase the domain size.
SAMPLER mode: Press the SAMPLER pad mode button to enter SAMPLER mode. Press pads 1-8 to trigger samples loaded into the Serato DJ Pro Sampler. Hold SHIFT while pressing a pad to stop the sample playback once triggered, or load a sample to the respective Sampler slot if no sample is loaded. Use the Parameter left & right buttons to cycle Sample banks forward and backward respectively.
Secondary modes consist of:
PITCH PLAY mode: Hold SHIFT while pressing the HOT CUE pad mode button to enter PITCH PLAY mode. PITCH PLAY mode requires the Serato Pitch ‘n Time DJ expansion pack to be activated.
SEE THE PITCH PLAY SECTION FOR MORE INFORMATION
LOOP ROLL mode: Hold SHIFT while pressing the LOOP pad mode button to enter LOOP ROLL mode.
In this mode holding pads 1-8 activates a loop roll of varying sizes. Release the pad to exit the Loop Roll. Use the ‘Shift Autoloop range’ controls in Serato DJ Pro to change the 8 selected loop size options. Use the Parameter left & right buttons to shift the loop roll left & right respectively.
AUTOLOOP mode: Hold SHIFT while pressing the SLICER pad mode button to enter AUTOLOOP mode. In this mode pressing pads 1-8 activates an autoloop of varying sizes. Press the same pad again to exit the autoloop. Use the ‘Shift Autoloop range’ controls in Serato DJ Pro to change the 8 selected loop size options, or press the Parameter left & right buttons to shift the loop left & right respectively.
BEATGRID EDIT mode: Hold SHIFT while pressing the SAMPLER pad mode button to enter BEATGRID EDIT mode. In this mode, pad 1 adjusts grid left by a large amount, pad 2 adjusts grid left by a small amount, pad 3 adjusts grid right by a small amount, and pad 4 adjusts grid right by a large amount. Pad 5 slips the grid left by a large amount, and pad 6 slips it left by a small amount, while pad 7 slips the grid right by a small amount, and pad 8 slips the grid right by a large amount. The Parameter left sets a beat marker, and the Parameter right clears a set beat marker.
Pitch Play
There are 3 key ranges to choose from, and the following tables show the pitched key ranges (in Semitones) while using the 8 performance pads in Pitch Play mode.
The root keypad (0) is always lit white, which will play the cue point at its regular pitch.
Use the Parameter Left & Right buttons (only available on certain devices) to move the Key Range up or down.
In Pitch Play mode, pressing a pad will pitch the currently selected cue point up or down the following ranges:
Up Range: (Up 7 Semitones)
| +4 | +5 | +6 | +7 |
| 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
Middle Range: (Up 3/Down 4 Semitones)
| 0 | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| -4 | -3 | -2 | -1 |
Down Range: (Down 7 Semitones)
| -3 | -2 | -1 | 0 |
| -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 |
When Pitch Play mode is first enabled, the middle range is selected. Pitch Play mode will default back to the middle range if a new track is loaded. The selected range is recalled if another pad mode is selected, then
the user switches back to Pitch Play mode.
Pitch Play can only pitch one Cue point at a time. To change the selected Cue, hold the SHIFT button and press a performance pad where the cue point you want to select would be (as shown in the HOT CUE performance pad mode).
While holding SHIFT, press the corresponding performance pad for:
| Cue 1 | Cue 2 | Cue 3 | Cue 4 |
| Cue 5 | Cue 6 | Cue 7 | Cue 8 |
The selected cue point defaults to Cue Point 1 on track load, even if instant doubled. A new cue point will be created if a pad with no cue point is selected. Deleting a cue point is not possible in Pitch Play mode.
NOTE: Pitch Play mode is available once the Pitch 'n Time DJ Expansion Pack has been activated in the Expansions window, under the My Account drop-down. Then ensure Pitch 'n Time DJ is checked in the Expansion Pack tab of the Setup screen.
Holding SHIFT and pressing the HOT CUE performance pad mode button on the Inpulse 500 will enable Pitch Play mode.
DJ-FX
The FX panel button is displayed in the top left area of the main Serato DJ Pro screen, click on this to toggle the DJ-FX panel.
With the DJ-FX panel open, you have control of two DJ-FX units, and if your hardware supports it, Channel FX, which can be applied to tracks played through your connected Serato DJ-hardware.
Both DJ-FX & Channel FX can be controlled with your mouse, by using dedicated controls on your hardware (where available), or by MIDI mapping controls to the respective software functions.
Learn more about how to use DJ-FX & Channel FX:
| DJCONTROL INPULSE 500 CONTROL | FX FUNCTION |
| FILTER | Increase selected FX depth by turning the knob left or right from neutral position (middle) |
| FX1 | Arm FX slot 1 |
| FX2 | Arm FX slot 2 |
| FX3 | Arm FX slot 3 |
| FX4 | Toggle Beats multiplier value adjustment. Once toggled use respective Filter control to decrease (left) or increase (right) value. Return to the neutral position (middle) to reset to 1 beat value. |
Beat Jump
To activate Beat Jump, open the Setup screen, navigate to the DJ preferences tab and turn on “Show Beat Jump Controls”.
When you close the Setup screen, you will see Beat Jump controls underneath the existing Auto Loop values on each deck. Checking this box will turn on Beat Jump features in the deck area and let you control Beat Jump from your supported Serato DJ Pro hardware.
When the Beat Jump option is enabled, performance pad modes AUTO LOOP or ROLL mode (where applicable) will use the bottom row of 4 pads (pads 5-8) as Beat Jump controls. This is designed to mirror the change in the deck Auto Loop area (from 8 Auto Loop sizes to 4 Auto Loop sizes + Beat Jump controls).
MIDI
The MIDI feature in Serato DJ Pro allows you to remap Serato DJ Pro software functions to your primary Serato controller, interface or mixer. You can also assign controls to a secondary MIDI controller to further enhance your performance.
For more information on MIDI mapping with Serato DJ Pro, click here.
To remap your supported Serato device, open the SETUP screen and click the MIDI tab. If your Serato device supports hardware remapping, it will appear in the MIDI DEVICES list.
Select your connected device from the MIDI DEVICES list and check the Allow Serato Hardware Remapping option.
Once checked, the MIDI assign button at the top of the main Serato DJ Pro interface will become available for you to start remapping.
You can save, edit or delete MIDI presets in the MIDI tab of the SETUP screen. Clicking Restore Defaults will erase any custom mappings for all connected devices and revert their functions back to default.
Help
Show Tooltips
Click on the Help button in the upper right-hand corner of Serato DJ Pro, then Show Tooltips to enable Tooltips. Tooltips provide a handy way to learn the various features of Serato DJ Pro.
Move the mouse over a section of the software to bring up a context-sensitive tooltip that describes the feature.
Click on the Help button again to turn off Tooltips.
Show Shortcut Keys
Click on the Help button in the upper right-hand corner of Serato DJ Pro, then click Show Shortcut Keys to launch a pop-up window displaying shortcut keyboard combinations.
These shortcuts can help you perform various actions quickly, such as triggering specific deck functions, controlling playback, or navigating the library.
Watch Tutorials
Click on the Help button in the upper right-hand corner of Serato DJ Pro, then Watch Tutorials to launch
your default internet browser and watch tutorials to help you get familiar with Serato DJ Pro.
Get Support
Click on the Help button in the upper right-hand corner of Serato DJ Pro, then Get Support to launch your default internet browser and navigate to the Serato DJ Pro knowledge base, where you can find helpful articles and guides on Serato DJ Pro. Alternatively, type keywords in the Search Help box to search the Serato DJ Pro knowledge base for specific, related topics.