Rane SL-4

Rane launced their new soundcard for Searto Scratch christened SL-4.
The soundcard is a 96 kHz/24 bit/10 channel input/output audio interface. Audio specs are similar to what Native Instruments has had in their Audio 8 DJ (-2 channels) for almost four years now, so welcome to the club. :)

The cool thing about this soundcard is that they have added two USB ports for quick laptop changes without reconnecting everything. I can't see how two computers are able to pull on the same hardware resource, so I'm not sure how well this works in practise. It's however a very nice idea.

American Audio VSM 4 Traktor

American Audio released a very good 4 deck controller called VSM4 about 4 months ago. At NAMM 2011 they announced that they are releaseing a variaty of the controller that is espescialy geared towards and bundled with Traktor.

Notable features:

• Midilog channels (midi/analogue faders)
• Touch sensitive scroll bar for track search
• Touchpad for mouse controll or 3 channel midi (on/off, X, Y)
• Nice beatjump section
• Reloop button
• 4 button hotcue section (small buttons)

As far as design and workflow goes I would recommend the new Pioneer DDJ-T1 before this. I would rather have the sync/master buttons pr. channel then a mouse pad and optional Midi/analogue controllers.

More at Skratchworx

Decksaver for Traktor S4

Decksaver for Traktor Kontrol S4

Decksaver is a very nice cover for your gear that helps you keep dust and dirt out of your faders and keep the gear nice and clean.

Under NAMM 2011 the released a bunch of new covers, but most importantly they've now got a decksaver for Traktor Kontrol S4. As soon as it's available I'm ordering one.

More info here

You're wrong Theo!

There has been some DJs out there lately defending the old way of DJing with hard copy media. Theo Parrish was just interviewed and had some ideas about digital DJing that is in my eyes very wrong.

With alot of respect to the great DJs out there still not gone digital:
Laptop DJing is the future and it differs not one bit from DJing with CDs or Vinyl.

I understand the need for a physical copy of your music and that does give you more "ownership" to your tracks. However... After beeing a digital DJ for couple of years now I feel that the relationship has moved away from the records them selves and the focus is now in the music. No matter what format it is played of.


Digital DJ Tips elaborates

I also think the comparisson with Jimi Hendrix and showmanship is a little off. I don't believe any DJ playing either on a laptop or CDs would light their equipment on fire. That's just stoopid...

A first look at the future of DJing with Traktor

I posted a rumor about a new Traktor beeing in the making and a new Audio 8 DJ in the making on the 10th.

Well yesterday this video was posted by NI. :)


New soundcard and a new Traktor software with a sampler. :)



New colors and the design looks a bit more analogue.



All RCA connectors on the same side.
Also we can see that they've got status lights for audio through.



Looks good... Even on a Mac. ;)

Sample section is here!!



Colored waveforms and sampledecks.

DJ Techtools takes a look at it here

Pioneer hits the controllers

Pioneer which has been the club standard for CD players and mixers the last 10 years has finaly launched them selves into the controller market and delivered their first complete DJ controller for Traktor and Serato.




Pioneer DDJ-S1 (Serato)

Pioneer DDJ-T1 (Traktor)



The two new controllers are geared towards the two leading Digital DJ software on the market: Serato and offcause the fairest of them all; Traktor.

What I think is probably one of the most notable things is that the DDJ-T1 is delivered with it's own custom developed Traktor software: TRAKTOR PIONEER DDJ-T1 EDITION.
It's like most of the latest 4 deck controllers released with four faders, but only two transport controls available.

Other notable features:

• Sync and master controll pr. channel! YES!
• Two very versitile effect sections
• Interchangable Hotcue / Beatjump section
• Needle search (Touch sensitive search bar for scrolling through tracks)
• Fader start
• Loop (in/out) adjustment



Loads of buttons to push. :)



SPECIFICATIONS

Included software: TRAKTOR PIONEER DDJ-T1 EDITION
Input terminals: MIC x 1 (1/4 inch PHONE), AUX x 1 (RCA)
Output terminals: MASTER OUT x 2 (1/4 inch PHONE x 1, RCA x 1), HEADPHONE MONITOR OUT x 2 (front 1/4 inch PHONE, mini pin)
Other terminals: USB B connector x 1
Frequency range: 20Hz - 20kHz
Total harmonic distortion: 0.005% or less
External dimensions: 68 x 9,4 x 31,8 cm (26.8 x 3.7 x 12.5 in)
Weight: 5,3 kg (10.8lbs)
Compatible OS: Mac OS X (10.5, 10.6 or later), Windows® 7 Home Premium/Professional/Ultimate, Windows Vista® Home Basic/Home Premium/Ultimate/Business Windows® (SP1 and later), XP Home Edition/Professional (SP3 and later)(Note: is not compatible with Windows® XP Professional x64 edition)

Read more about Pioneer DDJ-T1

Since I only know about Traktor I won't look into the DDJ-S1, so if you're looking for info about this unit you should check out this link.

Serato iPad app...

This video is to showcase the MIDI-TO application on IPAD for Serato Scratch.
WOW! That's just embaressing... Is this how DJing with an interface on Serato Scratch sounds like? Well I reccon it's the guy spinning that's in serious lack of skill.
The app looks to show some potential, but the guys who are techy enough to get an iPad probably isn't the ones with Serato. I don't know. It just looks like they don't quite know what to use the buttons for and are just pushing them without a cause.
Best thing is that at the end of the video... He remove the timecode vinyl and go old school regular hard core plastic fantastic vinyl. I can see that this guy just didn't handle technology very well, and that's probably why he's on Serato. Pechiiing!

In this case... Do hate the player!

Thumbs up for the app though. ;)