Korg HandyTrax Play: Portable Turntablism Reimagined

Korg’s HandyTrax Play emerges as a contemporary homage to the Vestax HandyTrax, blending nostalgia with modern engineering. The collaboration with Toshi Nakama, the late former president of Vestax, is more than a nod to history—it’s a deliberate effort to reimagine what a portable turntable can be for today’s DJs and vinyl enthusiasts.

This device isn’t just about casual listening. From the outset, Korg positions the HandyTrax Play as a tool for portablists—those who want to scratch, cut, and manipulate vinyl wherever inspiration strikes. The emphasis is on mobility and immediacy, with the built-in crossfader and compact form factor making it possible to practice or perform on the go, untethered from traditional DJ booths.

The HandyTrax Play doesn’t just play records—it transforms them. Key to this is the integration of digital effects, including a filter and onboard delay, which can be applied directly to the vinyl signal or loops. The built-in looper is particularly noteworthy, allowing users to capture scratches or samples on the fly and layer them for extended creative sessions.

Control options are refreshingly comprehensive for such a compact unit. The reverse crossfader switch enables quick changes in fader behavior, catering to different scratching techniques. Output flexibility is also present: users can monitor via headphones (with cue options), output directly to mixers or samplers through RCA jacks, and even choose between ceramic and moving magnet cartridges for different audio characteristics. The inclusion of USB-C power and an auxiliary input further expands its integration potential.

Korg’s demo puts the HandyTrax Play’s performance features front and center. The onboard filter allows users to sculpt the sound of their records or loops, adding a layer of creative control typically reserved for larger DJ setups. The looper, meanwhile, isn’t just a gimmick—it’s shown as a practical tool for practicing blends, extending grooves, or keeping a beat going while switching records.

The delay effect rounds out the suite, enabling echo transitions and rhythmic effects without external gear. What stands out is the workflow: all these effects are accessible from the turntable itself, eliminating the need for a separate mixer, looper, or delay module. The result is a streamlined, all-in-one performance environment that encourages experimentation directly from the platter.