Gaming vs. DJing

Numark introduced their new controller the Orbit at NAMM 2013 and I have to say that I'm not sure what to think. I like the idea of a DJ not being locked behind the decks and be able to run around and pump up the crowd, but not looking like you're playing a Playstation game. Somehow I probably would try this if the latency is low. Got to love wireless gadgets.
Would you use it?

The Press Release from Numark

Cruice control for Traktor

Some times it's OK to let the computer do the work.
I use this function when the club opens and there isn't that much guests/customers around.
The tutorial from DJ TechTools is a pretty nice run-through on how to use this feature to the fullest.
Read on!

Read more at DJTT

Traktor 2.6 is released

The Native Instruments Traktor Pro 2.6 is now available!!

To update: Go to the Service Center on your computer or go to www.native-instruments.com/updates to get your software download.

Lately Traktor has been releasing new features along with new gear. Traktor 2.4 was released along with Kontrol S4, Traktor 2.5 was released along with Kontrol F1 and Traktor 2.6 is released along with Kontrol Z2.
I like this new way of introducing features, but it also makes me want to buy new gear all the time.

I haven't tried it due to lack of time, but I will probably give some comments on that when I finally do. :)

So what is new in the 2.6 release?

TRAKTOR KONTROL Z2 integration
HID protocol and mapping options are now available for the new Kontrol Z2

11 new "MacroFX" single-knob combination effects. Click to go to the full list.

"Flux Mode" retains song position during HotCues, Beatjumps, Loops etc.
Brand new feature that keeps the relative point of time in the track going. Genious!

Post-Fader mode for FX Units
Now you effects like echo and delay won't

Factory Map Override option for individual Controllers in Controller Manager
YES! Finally! This makes you able to alter the controller factory presets mappings for X1, S4, S2 and F1 controllers!

New gain system with independent Channel Gain knobs and Auto-Gain knobsVery neet. In earlier versions the Gain would be set to what ever the gain that Traktor auto gained to, but that isn't always what you'd like. So you would need to gain it yourself up or down depending on the track (mostly up.. hehe..). It was hard to know how much you went over what Traktor had set and then gained it up and up and up untill you peeked. Now you will have a relative knob to how much you have offset the actual channel. :)

New "Z ISO" EQ and "Z" filter models as featured on Z2 mixer
You earlier had two EQ types: Standard and the Allen & Heath type. Now it looks like we have yet another EQ. Love it!

Z ISO EQ is now full kill at the left end of knobs path
You don't have to push the kill button. It will automatically kill all the signal within the relevant range.

New "QuickSnap" behavior for the EQ and Filter controls
I guess this will help you when you need to set your your knobs to 0... It will have some room within the center of the range which will in fact snap you to the desired value.

New Transport Preference prevents Remix Decks from becoming Tempo MastersThis is perfect for those of us who use Remix Decks for suplament loops. Now you're mixing decks will always be the masters.
 

New Transport Preference limits Tempo Master to On-Air Decks to become Tempo Masters
I though that was how it worked now...

HID support for Pioneer CDJ 2000nexus (SLIP button is mapped to FLUX mode)Plug and play people!

Minor gain-staging adjustments for Live Input Deck
Okay...

Various other fixes and improvements
Thank you...

Sound Quality For Digital DJs: Tony Andrews Interviewed

You simply must see this video and read the article.
This is sooo important. Getting the sound to sound right.



The thing I was most surprised about was that CDs are 5 times better then the best quality MP3s!
I hear the CD DJs going: "Aaaah... So that's why you shouldn't use computers!". But most of the CD DJs I know normaly burn their CDs them selves from purchased MP3s, so there is not much to gain from that.
Take note! It's better to buy high quality tracks from sites like Beat Port, but you are not guarrantied that the tracks will be mastered properly. However... They will sound better.
It's a tough world to live in.

Read more
and even more

Exclusive Walkthrough of the Traktor Z2 by Ean Golden

As I posted  last month, the Native Instruments Z2 is beeing released.
I think I got most of the points across in my blogpost, but I missed out on a couple of things.

I've come to love how Traktor focuses the new releases and features in to a hardware controller release and this is another great example!

What did I miss(understand)?
1. The new mixer will NOT have it's own version of Traktor, but all the new features are a part of the standard relase of Traktor Pro 2.6.
2. The Flux mode is not just a loop feature, but a feature to jump to cuepoints and do roll loops at the same time as the relative position of the song keeps playing. So once you let go of a loop or cue point the track will jump back to the same place in the track as it would if it was just playing. I think that is a genious solution to the implement the roll concept, but taking it thuss much further. Go Traktor!
3. There will be ALOT of new effects in this release as a part of the "macro-effects" addition.

Traktor Kontrol Z2?

The guys at Native Instruments given us the last couple of years fantastic hardware for the Traktor series. They've mainly focused on controller surfaces for either parameter (X1), sample trigger (Machine/F1) or the all-in-one approch(S2/S4). Now their about to go for the hard core and most central piece of a DJs Tools: The Mixer. (Which I'm pretty sure is named Native Instruments Kontrol Z2)

I went through the video and sliced and diced a bit... This is what I think you might have missed. ;)

I believe this mixer is gonna be shipped with it's very custom Kontrol Z2 tailored Traktor Scratch with two standard and two sample decks (not remix decks).

The new mixer looks to be a two channel mixer, but the video shows us that the mapping they use also have assigned rotary faders to controll the level of C and probably D aswell. It is the same knob that controls the filter parameter... Which seems to be limited to only two parameters...

The four button sampler seems to be able to switch between A/C and B/D. It is layed out like one of the rows on the F1 Remix deck controller and I'm pretty sure it would work perfectly with the standard sampler decks.



 

 

Looking at the video the it seems like the text "Flux Mode" appears with green background over the track title when he trigger the loop button. Maybe it's a new stutter effect that they have now incorporated?

There is a cue and headphone section in the middle of the mixer which also doubles with shift as a BPM tap function.

 It looks like the effect parameters is limited to two parameters...

 

Two new effects are shown, but with this "M"-icon in front of the name. It looks like the one has NO parameters active when seelcted, so it might be a built in effect in the mixer??? The two new effects shown in the demo are Laser Slicer and Bass-o-matic.

There are more questions then answers, so I'm looking forward to more details from Native!

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DJ Worx

www.djworx.com is a result of scratchworx.com evloving to target a broader audience and it has been around for a while now, but lately I've been going there more and more for DJ related news and I really like what I see.
The latest reviews have been fresh and early, very detailed and extremely good. They mainly focus on hardware and not that much on techniques and culture like DJ Techtools or the full spectre of Digital DJing like Digital DJ Tips.
If it's not in your bookmark it probably should be.
KUDOS to the guys at djworx for making an excellent site!