New digital DJ mixer at the BPM Show
The Sonic State team checks out a prototype of the new Allen & heath Xone DB4 fully-digital DJ mixer at the BPM Show 2010 at NEC, UK.
For more info and video news & reviews checkout www.sonicstate.com
Toys can be useful sometimes
Couldn´t agree more with this guy it truly is an amazing toy, strangely enough it seems to have been built in the 80´s
First of all, I want to thank my sister Fujii for buying my son Nathaniel this cool toy for Christmas…it now belongs to me. It’s probably the most advanced and cool little gadget ever. Iphone’s got nothing on this!! I’ve decided I’m going to implement the U-CREATE into my next album! 😀
* Easy-to-use digital music-making system
* Allow kids to mix music just like a music producer
* Kids and teens can express themselves through creating their own songs
* Share creations with friends and update and explore new content on the music website at myucreate.com
* Build from a collection of tracks, special effects and filters from the huge online library
Anyways, check out this beat I made in 2 mins with this kid toy. Oh how I wish I were a DJ.
Looptastic for the iPad
Demonstration of Looptastic HD for iPad shows electronic music groove creation for producers, musicians and DJs. Intense loop manipulation, effects and remix – a- fication! Includes more than 900 loops spanning Trance, Hip Hop, Dubstep, Ambient, Breakbeat, Drum n Bass, Minimal, Progressive House, and Reggaeton. Beats, bass, synths and other snippets complete with performance recording. Export/Import content from/to your computer.
if you have tried please leave your thoughts
For all Dj´s out there
VMS4 Performance by DJ Etronik, USA DMC Champion 2010! Software: Virtual DJ LE
The guy is rocking the VMS4 via Virtual DJ 7 LE software and does some pretty convincing controller jog wheel scratching… The VMS4 4-decker can also get into bed with Traktor or any other MIDI mappable DJ software…
WIN A FREE DJ COURSE AT POINT BLANK MUSIC COLLEGE
Ever fancied yourself as a superstar DJ, knowing your tunes, looking cool behind the decks and living the party lifestyle? Well here’s the chance to live your dream…
No.1 Music Production and DJ College Point Blank is offering a FREE place on its acclaimed online DJing and performance course to one lucky winner. Read about the course here:
http://www.pointblankonline.net/dj-and-live-performance—ableton.php
Entrants simply need to answer the following question: Point Blank have been voted “Best DJ & Music Production School” by DJ Magazine for how many years running?
Hint: you can find the answer here: www.pointblanklondon.com
Answers should be sent to: anthony@pointblanklondon.com
Pioneering and award-winning Music College Point Blank has built up a thriving online music production school over the last three years featuring well-respected music producers as tutors and celebrated artists as guests and course developers such as Louie Vega (Masters At Work), Mark Ronson and Basement Jaxx. Point Blank’s connections to industry are just one of the facets which make them of special interest to those people out there who would like to be music producers, either professionally or as a hobby.
The course subjects are up to date stylistically and include Dubstep, Trance, Electro and Deep and Soulful House. Once enrolled, students get access to a new lesson consisting of approx 30 web pages each week. Text, audio and video tutorials show the learner how to make music using the latest software and technology. Students also take part in live weekly webchats with their tutor and fellow students throughout their course.
Direct Video Response™
Point Blank students also benefit from a unique innovation. In response to a weekly assignment uploaded by the students every weekend during the course, tutor responds with a personalised step-by-step video guide to changes and amendments that will help you to improve your music. It’s like having a professional music producer looking over your shoulder in the studio and it’s a feature that has proved hugely popular with students from all over the world:
“I can say without a doubt that this is the best class I have ever taken in music production! The direct video feedback from a professional producer is priceless. For anyone debating whether or not to take these courses I say that the amount of knowledge and instruction given plus the downloadable files and professional feedback given are priceless. These classes are PERFECT for the aspiring music producer!” – Micaiah Masterson – USA
After the course has officially ended, the students maintain access to their course materials for a year and can take part in a lively Forum from the sane website so they can continue their learning experience and keep in touch.
Point Blank is an Approved Training Centre for Steinberg, Apple and Native Instruments and has been voted “Best Music Production School” for six years running by DJ Mag.
Full details are available via the Point Blank website www.pointblankonline.net or by calling a Course Advisor on +44 (0) 20 7729 4884.
Courses are monthly and 3 monthly so there is a chance to get onboard every month.
Course Fees: £325-645
A full online course brochure can be found here: www.pointblankonline.net
The Bridge – elements of DJ performance and production
Ableton and Serato have announced the release of The Bridge, a software partnership which brings together elements of DJ performance and production.
The Bridge spans the gap between music production and DJing, creating a natural link between Ableton Live and Scratch Live. The Bridge provides a powerful fusion of DJ and production tools, opening a world of opportunities for DJing, remixing and live performance.
The Bridge 1.0 features
- ‘Ableton Transport Control’ allows tight synchronization between Ableton Live and Serato Scratch Live’s interface with ‘Ableton Transport Control’.
- The ‘Ableton Player’ opens a window into Ableton Live’s Clip View to launch samples or tracks in real time with Scratch Live.
- Tight Beatgrid implementation ensures that the ‘Ableton Player’ stays locked to the swing of any set.
- Serato DJ performances can be recorded as Ableton Live Sets, complete with song placement and fader movements with ‘Mixtape’. (Fader and EQ automation only available when mixtape is recorded with Rane TTM57 SL and Rane Sixty-Eight)
The Bridge requires Scratch Live 2.1.1 and Ableton Live 8.2, which both are now available.
Changes in Scratch Live v2.1.1
- Ultra Knob effects for 1 Knob performance control of advanced effects.
- 32 new Ultra Knob effects and 28 new Super Knob effects including “Echo Out” and “1 Knob HP/LP Filter”.
- Plug and Play support for the Novation Dicer Scratch Live controller.
- Full integration with the Pioneer CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900 in “Advanced HID Mode” including library navigation, album art, overview display, and responsive platter control.
- Support for The Bridge, which allows DJs to playback Ableton Live sets through Scratch Live, trigger clips within Scratch Live from the Ableton Player and record mixtapes as a multi-track Ableton file.
Changes in Ableton Live v8.2
- Support for The Bridge, our collaborative project with Serato. The Bridge is free for users of Live/Suite 8.
- Amp, an audio effect that models guitar amps and cabinets. Amp is free for Suite users.
- Some changes were made to the Help Pages regarding how to report a crash and how to contact support. When restarting Live after a crash, Live produces a file named “Ableton Crash Report… .alp”, whereas choosing “Get Support..” in Live’s Help menu produces a file named “Ableton Status Report… .alp”.
- Bugfixes, details in the release notes.
The Bridge is free for anyone who owns Serato Scratch Live compatible hardware, and a registered version of Ableton Live 8.
More information: Ableton / Serato
More news on Traktor 12
TRAKTOR’S 12 brings the intense buzz of the club to your studio productions or live stage performances. A dozen of TRAKTOR’s tried and tested floor-rocking effects have been adapted for easy use within your DAW.
TRAKTOR’s 12 includes some of the most inspiring and contemporary sounds from TRAKTOR’s arsenal – effects that have been road tested by top DJs in the world’s biggest clubs. Incredible delays, reverbs, and filters join TRAKTOR’s unique and hugely popular Beatmasher, Transpose Stretch and Mulholland Drive, among others, to form a powerful studio tool with true club pedigree.
TRAKTOR’S 12 is the result of top DJs looking to move beyond the standard effects available with most DAWs and bring the legendary power of TRAKTOR into their studio – without needing complicated workarounds. TRAKTOR’s 12 is instantly and easily usable in any studio set up. Maintaining the feel and ease-of-use familiar from TRAKTOR, the FX are controlled by only four intuitive knobs and buttons – yet retain a insane amount of sound mangling potential. Any producer who wants to harness the excitement and suspense of TRAKTOR – whether he’s a DJ or not – will love the dirty dozen!
Teaser on Traktor S4 from NI
This is an early look at the new Native Instruments Traktor S4 DJ Controller, via DJ Tech Tools’ Ean Golden.
The Traktor S4 is a state of the art DJ controller, designed to be plug and play with Traktor DJ software.
Features:
- Integrated 4-deck TRAKTOR controller and software.
- Plug & play – all you need to start mixing is your computer and MP3s.
- 4-channel mixer with ergonomic layout, 2 high-res jog wheels.
- 2 analog inputs with phono and mic preamps for hooking up turntables, CD players or external audio gear.
- TRAKTOR PRO S4 software – pro features, supreme usability; features 4-deck mixing and effects, plus all-new Sample Decks and a powerful Loop Recorder.
- 2 customizable FX units with 28 performance effects for adding your own trademark sound.
- Powerful MP3 management with iTunes® integration and iPod® compatibility.
- Built-in 24bit/96 kHz soundcard features pristine, award-winning audio quality.
- All components designed by the same team – precision German engineering.
- Includes 40 original loops and 10 full tracks from the world-famous Loopmasters Studio.
Ready for the new Traktor
Native Instruments has announced Traktor Kontrol S4, a new integrated hardware/software package designed to be a state-of-the-art digital DJ system.
Traktor Kontrol S4 Features:
- Iintegrated 4-deck TRAKTOR controller and software.
- Plug & play – all you need to start mixing is your computer and MP3s.
- 4-channel mixer with ergonomic layout, 2 high-res jog wheels.
- 2 analog inputs with phono and mic preamps for hooking up turntables, CD players or external audio gear.
- TRAKTOR PRO S4 software – pro features, supreme usability; features 4-deck mixing and effects, plus all-new Sample Decks and a powerful Loop Recorder.
- 2 customizable FX units with 28 performance effects for adding your own trademark sound.
- Powerful MP3 management with iTunes® integration and iPod® compatibility.
- Built-in 24bit/96 kHz soundcard features pristine, award-winning audio quality.
- All components designed by the same team – precision German engineering.
- Includes 40 original loops and 10 full tracks from the world-famous Loopmasters Studio.
In the video demo above, DMC World Champ DJ Shiftee gives the Traktor Kontrol S4 DJ system a workout highlighting the new Sample Decks and Loop Recorder in four mini-routines:
- Live looping and editing, cue point juggling and jog wheel scratching on the Tetris melody, using dubstep Loopmaster loops.
- Using one-shots like speech samples and horn-stabs in the S4 Sample Decks to build a set.
- Triggering synced loops, grabbing them on-the-fly from Diplo’s remix of “Flashing Lights” and using the Sample Decks as an additional deck in Traktor.
- Using live audio playback from the S4 Loop Recorder like a live mix of sequencer automation.
According to Native Instruments, “Traktor Kontrol S4 represents a new level of software and hardware integration that makes DJing more versatile, more intuitive and more fun.”
Traktor Kontrol S4 is expected to be available this winter for $999 USD/899 EUR. The Traktor Kontrol Case will retail for for $189 USD/169 EUR.
Check out the demo and let me know what you think of Traktor Kontrol S4!
More details below.
Traktor Kontrol S4 Overview
This video offers Native Instrument’s official introduction to the Traktor Kontrol S4 system.
Traktor Kontrol S4 Software
The included TRAKTOR PRO S4 software offers the full feature set of TRAKTOR PRO, further expanded through new performance functions and an optimized user interface.
Two flexible Sample Decks can add up to eight simultaneous one-shot samples or beat-synced loops to the mix, opening up creative remixing and mash-up possibilities that go far beyond conventional DJing techniques.
The unique Loop Recorder also allows DJs to capture and overdub audio loops from the live mix, cue signal or an external input on the fly, and drop them back into the mix at any time.
Traktor Kontrol S4 Hardware
All relevant functions including looping, cueing, effects control and track browsing are immediately accessible on the Kontrol S4 hardware, with multi-color backlighting, LED status displays and comprehensive level metering designed to let you focus on performance rather than on the computer screen.
The dual touch-sensitive jog wheels on the KONTROL S4 hardware offer precise and responsive deck control, due to a new electromagnetic technology, complemented through Native Instruments’ high resolution NHL protocol, that provides superior performance over conventional MIDI. The integrated low-latency 24bit/96kHz audio interface is based on the AUDIO 4 DJ.
External time-code control via turntables and CD decks will be enabled through a future software upgrade. To accommodate touring DJs, a professional flightcase that doubles as an adjustable performance stand will also be available as an accessory for TRAKTOR KONTROL S4.
iPhone & iPad DXJ app Cue Play DJ
Trance DJ Ferry Corsten takes a look at the iPhone & iPad DXJ app Cue Play DJ.
The video is primarily a teaser for Cue Play DJ v1.5, which is expected to be available this month.
DATAMASKIN
