Our new 2026 Chroma Drive is on sale at the moment, redesigned with enter from our group. Each the USB-A and USB-C ends now sit underneath rotating metallic covers that lock shut, so there’s no cap to lose. 5 colours (Void Black, Cloud White, Luminous Blue, Vitality Orange, Pop Pink), 4 capacities from 128GB to 1TB, and the identical flash reminiscence and USB 3.2 interface that made our first Chroma Drive fast out of Rekordbox.
Each ends coated within the new design
An enormous subject with DJ USB drives (our unique Chroma Drive included) has been defending the connectors. When you’ve got an uncovered connector, driving round in a gig bag with keys and cables and a spare RCA – you run a threat of damaging the drive.
We all know it was the highest subject as a result of we requested. In December we despatched a suggestions survey to 1000’s of DJs who use USB drives, and defending the connectors and never having losable components got here again as the 2 issues they cared about most.
The written solutions have been extra particular than any spec sheet we may have written:
“Higher USB C safety. I misplaced that cap immediately.”
“Safety for BOTH of the USB prongs.”
“I want each ends have been higher protected trigger these drives take a beating inside my pockets and backpack.”
And one Chroma Drive proprietor described the mechanism earlier than we constructed it:
“Identical drive however safety on each side. To make use of both aspect of the drive you flip the protector 90 levels and have entry to both the USB-A or USB-C aspect.”
So we made precisely that – with some very intelligent engineering by Curtis on the DJTT staff. Each ends are coated now. Both sides flips open with a click on and locks there, Zippo type, and the covers by no means come off the drive. Nothing to take away, nothing to depart on the sales space desk at 3am.
The physique has a painted end – permitting us to broaden our colour vary into 5 actual colours There’s a keyring loop constructed into the housing, and a protecting case and lanyard within the field.
There’s an LED now
The opposite most-requested characteristic so as to add was a standing gentle. There’s an uncovered pink LED on the drive that lights up when plugged in and flashes when lively. When a participant isn’t studying a drive, the LED tells you in a single second whether or not the drive is doing something in any respect, which suggests you already know whether or not in charge the stick or the deck when troubleshooting gear and connection points.
Our Identical Quick Reminiscence
We constructed this new drive with the identical USB 3.2 reminiscence as the unique. Whereas reminiscence costs are skyrocketing in the meanwhile, flash reminiscence continues to be the appropriate alternative for DJs who desire a dependable, native, no-account/web required technique to carry their music round.
The reminiscence we selected has a quick random learn and write pace – not sequential learn/write pace (the quantity most drive firms promote, as a result of it’s typically a giant quantity that sells). The rationale this issues: a Rekordbox export is 1000’s of small information, tracks and metadata and cue factors and evaluation information, all being written and verified without delay. Most USB reminiscence is tuned for one massive file, like a video, and it chokes on the small stuff. The quantity printed on the field tells you nearly nothing about how lengthy you’ll be standing there ready.
Why the Chroma Drive ships FAT32
FAT32 is the format each DJ participant reads, going again 20 years. Sure, different codecs would possibly make sense in sure very particular contexts – however if you need a DJ USB that works with every thing you’ll encounter: use FAT32.
The 2026 Chroma Drive comes pre-formatted, and retaining it that manner is the very best transfer. We’ve got discovered {that a} lot of drive issues stem from reformatting.
Which capability to get
As I famous above, reminiscence is having an AI-based scarcity in the meanwhile. We’re attempting to regulate our pricing primarily based on how a lot it truly prices us. Right here’s our launch-day costs:
- 128GB, $79.99.
- 256GB, $89.99. Ten {dollars} extra for twice the area. Greatest deal within the lineup.
- 512GB, $134.99.
- 1TB, $229.99. Greatest worth per gigabyte within the vary, round 23 cents a gig towards 62 cents on the 128GB.
Engraving and the primary 400 particular launch stickers
Desire a actually customized drive? Sure, we’re bringing again our laser-etched customized engraving is a $20 add-on to those new drives. You may both ship a brand or use textual content with a alternative of three fonts. Your drive will get laser engraved on each side of the USB-C cowl, and it provides 4 to six weeks to your order (as a result of the engraving occurs after you purchase whereas we evaluation the art work/textual content).
Brand art work must be stable black and white on a clear background, no gradients, 1000x600px or bigger, sized for an engraving space of 18mm by 15.7mm.
The primary 400 orders ship with a handsigned notice and two particular launch-only stickers.
The 2026 Chroma Drive is obtainable now at retailer.djtechtools.com in all 5 colours. In case you’re deciding, get the 256GB; and get two when you play on membership gear, as a result of one drive is a single level of failure that no DJ ought to have.