Music: R.I.P. Roc Raida

"I am sorry 2 say that on this day at 2:05 Sept 19th we lost another incredible life...Dj Roc Raida died 2day my personal Dj is gone... I just wanna thank everyone 4 ur love and support and ur prayers...We will never let ur name die Roc...We love u and will 4ever miss u...RIP." (Busta Rhymes' Twitter)

Published: Sep 19, 2009 - 03:18 PM

Music Technology: New Pioneer CDJ Digital Turntables

New Pioneer CDJ Digital Turntables

Published: Sep 17, 2009 - 05:00 AM
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Serato rolls out SL1 replacement Serato SL3

This is straight jack from the Serato web site:

What is the Rane SL 3?

The Rane SL 3 is a new audio interface for Scratch Live.

Enhanced by studio grade preamps and 24-bit audio processing, this compact new solution produces a warm punchy sound to heighten the senses. Extra outputs allow DJs and electronic musicians to intensify the mix with the Scratch Live SP-6 Sample Player (New in Version 1.9).

The auxiliary input provides a live input feed for creative sampling or recording your set. Use any combination of audio source. Control CD, Control Vinyl or MIDI for more flexibility than ever.
Feature and performance enhancements include:

* New, Compact Hardware Design
* Higher output improves ability to easily match levels of various source types
* Improved Dynamic Range (104 dB)
* Improved audio performance (24 bit converters)
* Galvanic isolation prevents computer noise from interfering with the audio path * USB 2.0 high speed audio interface
* Aux Input for Live Mix Recording or LiveFeed
* Aux Out channel allows use of Sample Player as a virtual deck and opens the door for future expansion and creative configurations for DJs and electronic musicians
* High-grade Phono Preamps upgrade performance of most mixers
* Software switchable Direct Thru Connections for simplified connections
* Independent Line/ Phono-level selection for each input for greater flexibility
* Includes International Power Supply to insure optimum performance and easy transfer between DJs
* Soft Carry Case Included

ed note: visibily not present are XLR's to make this a real PRO unit and digital i/o. waiting for announcements to trade in SL1 units for a discount on SL3 units.

Published: Apr 01, 2009 - 03:00 PM

Deckadance update

Nothing but a simple quib: VST install of Deckadance also installs some DLL's that are Image-Line effects. It crashes Reaper. =(

Published: Mar 27, 2009 - 04:39 PM

Deckadance Day 1

I gave Deckadance a quick look over but I used my Serato Scratch Live box and the SL1 driver. Initially, I wasn't sure what mode to use because in the vinyl control option it shows four variants of Ms. Pinky, PCDJ, and Torq as vinyl time code readers.
I didn't see SL1 so to use the SL1 box I used a button that says "learn timecode." After I hit that a couple times I was able to use the Serato vinyl to control the mp3 tracks but not without a glitch. It took the software a quick restart and a switch to the ASIO4ALL driver and then back to the SL1 driver to work. I can use the ScratchLive vinyl now.
My issue right now is that everything is on channel 1 which means one of two things: #1 Deckdance can't recognize the SL1 box channel assignments and is only using one output or I have to go back and adjust the output settings in Deckadance. (RTFM perhaps?)
This is important because I use a hardware mixer and NOT a midi or usb controller which I probably will not test with this application.
In addition, the time code is accurate and my cuts are coming out but it's similar to the issue that both Traktor and Torq have.
The time coded vinyl slips so that beat juggling is not accurate and skratching is not 100% accurate. What I mean by this is that when you use real vinyl and place a sticker marker, you always know that bringing the record to the point of the sticker is always going to bring back the sound. In Serato Scratch Live this is as accurate as software can get. Deckadance doesn't use the time code as accurate I think and I have to keep pulling the record more and more to get back to my initial marker. I call this time code slippage.
So far, everything else can't match up to Serato's accuracy. I'm using a Lenovo T60 with a T2400 Intel Processor and a gig of ram. My opinion is that if the Serato people can do it then there shouldn't be an issue for other programmers. Deckadance isn't for the turntablists. It's more for the dance orientated and mixing DJ's and studio heads. And although I'm not a seasoned battle tablist like my peers, I do like to beat juggle and skratch aggressively even when playing out at clubs and parties. <span style="font-weight: bold;">

VST's
</span><span>This is by far the most attractive feature about Deckadance and Torq, the ability to load a VST of some sort and apply it to the outgoing track. My initial test was just to load up something random like Dblue's Glitch. It works and it works well. I haven't been able to crash the application so things are looking interesting.

<span style="font-weight: bold;">Loops</span>
There are also loop tools and loop banks to be able to mix and control multiple loops similar to Torq.

Below is just one screen shot:
This layout just seems to make more sense to me than that of Torq and Traktor.
There are some other tools that I haven't checked out in this but right now I think this is a good alternate choice for those individuals who want a bit more flexibility in their DJ application. AS my opinions are mine I might give this software more time since Torq and Traktor just don't seem to work out for me right now in terms of the GUI interface and the weak vinyl emulation.

Until Serato and Ableton complete their marriage...I may toss this app into Ableton as a VST and try a couple routines using a MIDI controller as well...we'll see.

Published: Mar 23, 2009 - 02:42 PM

Music Technology: New Vestax PMC-08pro

Published: Mar 06, 2009 - 02:13 AM

Music Technology: New Vestac PMD-05pro4

Published: Mar 06, 2009 - 02:12 AM

Modded Vestax 06pro fader pitch shifting

Published: Mar 06, 2009 - 02:01 AM
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Music: DJ Revolution "Man Or Machine" MUSIC VIDEO

DJ Revolution "Man Or Machine" MUSIC VIDEO

Published: Mar 04, 2009 - 06:31 PM

Music Technology: Ableton and AKAI APC40 demo info from SAE in Hollywood, CA

Get info here at the jump...

Published: Feb 27, 2009 - 02:11 PM
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