Serato gets Multi Decked

deckduplicate-serato

About 3 months ago the boys over in Auckland took a small step forward with their ubiquitously conservative software, Serato Scratch. Along with a host of bug fixes and tweaks version 1.9 added 6 samplers, and the ability to record directly into those samplers from a MIC. While the demand for more air horn and cowbell never seems to let up, 6 simple samplers stopped just short of something great and I was happy to open my big mouth and tell them so. “Hey guys, just support deck duplication to the samplers and you have opened up a whole new world!”  One step at a time, I was told by the 7 foot tall zen dj master known as Sam at Serato.  Well, I  am happy to report they took that extra step with a brand new beta version and made their nice little samplers into something more- 6 additional decks.

Deck Duplicate

Serato Scratch version 1.9.1 (Public Beta) adds in time duplication of either deck into a sampler.  With deck duplicate to a sampler, you effectively now have 8 decks in Serato. Admittedly you cant do much with the extra 6 decks besides play loops but its super easy to:

Beat match 2 loops
Dump one into a sampler (loop continues to run in time)
free up deck and beat match another loop
dump that into a new sampler

rinse and repeat….

So assuming that your loops and beat matching is rock solid, you could quickly build up a nice little layer of sounds or just work between 2 real and 1 virtual deck for extended mixes. Effectively using this technique is going to require some hot keys at a minimum and ideally a midi controller with faders for volume control. Each samplers audio is sent out over the same channel as a decks 1 and 2 or the master output so audio adjustments must be done with a midi controller or the mouse.

Full Deck Features

As one of our eagle eyed readers pointed out there is a tiny expansion button that allows you to reveal a host of additional features on these samplers.

With everything checked you get nearly full deck control over each of the samplers!

The functions are:

  • Volume
  • Gain
  • +/- 8% pitch
  • Play
  • Play Modes (Sample and Hold, Sample direct play, Sample Play/Pause)
  • Pitch bend
  • KeyLock
  • Loop On/off
  • Which cue point to start from

A Small Hitch

The only problem we can find is that there are no midi or hotkey commands for duplicating decks into each sampler. To accomplish this in the current beta (that may change) you need to drag and drop a deck with the mouse- hardly a performance oriented method.  Those small inconveniences aside, this new feature marks the start of Scratch Live’s transition away from a simple 2 deck interface. I suspect that while the features will be welcome they may wield a dangerous double sword. As die hard Serato users start to get a taste of the possibilities in controllersim they may get worked up and want more, more more!

Serato Scratch Version 1.9.1 with the new SP6 sampler is available as a public beta.

Check it out here

  • http://www.redlinehookah.com Mr Bitches

    Not a bad step forward.

  • tobamai

    Cool, with some MIDI bindings for per sampler volume and the ability to swap a track from deck to sampler and back again this could be a very big feature for SSL. Hopefully they aren’t too many updates away from a release where 2 decks and 6 hotloops is really workable on the fly. Kudos to Serato.

  • KLH

    When, OH, WHEN will ITCH get SSL’s features?!?!?

    Wah.

    -KLH

  • http://www.dj-nvidia.com/ Dj Nvidia

    Wow great article!

    I must agree this feature is a huge step for Serato! But I wish they would implement an effects system. When they do that is when I’ll invest in the switch.

    As for right now the only serato product that has me interested is the NS7. And that only uses Itch.

    But here’s a real thought to ponder… Why won’t NI incorporate a sampler system in their software? It seems simple, they would place a small sampler bank in the middle of the two effects banks. Yea it would make MIDI mapping the VCI-100 a little more difficult but that would definetly make the Traktor software far more superior and give NI the competitive edge.

    What do you all think?

    Is that a simple request?

    Would that make Traktor the best DVS out there, hands down?

    (also when will Vestax come out with their answer to the NS7?)

  • mpetersen3

    Traktor definitely needs simple sample banks, the beatmasher is cool, but having a bank dedicated to it would be perfect

  • http://tos.network.in.rs ToS

    NI probably think: Use damn hardware samplers, leave us alone. We can’t even straight out thiese “accidental fetures”.

    BTW: Who remembers Monthy Python and “Knights that say NI!”

  • http://facebook.com/antoinedelacruz Antoine De La Cruz

    I recently received the newsletter from Serato.
    I still use the 1.8.4 version as the 1.9 version reported too many bugs.
    As I have never heard anything about this bug fixing and its results I will not change to any newer versions.
    Playing with 1.8.4 gives me already a lot of pleasure infecting other people to switch from cd to Serato ( traktor sucks, containing too many cheat functions) and I would like to keep it that way :-)

  • Seemartinbreak

    [quote comment=""]I recently received the newsletter from Serato.
    I still use the 1.8.4 version as the 1.9 version reported too many bugs.
    As I have never heard anything about this bug fixing and its results I will not change to any newer versions.
    Playing with 1.8.4 gives me already a lot of pleasure infecting other people to switch from cd to Serato ( traktor sucks, containing too many cheat functions) and I would like to keep it that way :-)[/quote]

    Cheat functions?? LMFAO!
    call it what you want to
    It’s what each person does with the software/equipment
    If it offers too much for you… Too bad

    But back to the topic this is a great step toward for ssl
    Now if they would allow seperate volume and hot keys… YEAH

  • http://www.myspace.com/tooltablist Mudo

    If Serato implement those features… what the hell they will ADD with ABLETON PARTNERSHIP?

    xDDDDD

    Vinyl control is coming…
    TOOLtablism is (here) coming…
    Vestax has a prototype like SCS.1d but holy crap (more than stanton, imagine! lol)

    Serato SSL 2.0 and ITCH will share audio/midi conections with Ableton Live (look at live feed, sampler banks, midi out when you attach Serato in Ableton at Betatest version…)

    Too many coincidences, too many necessities but How serato users will react?

    Before winter you will see…

    wait.

  • me

    wt…? they deleted the audio adjustments for each channel?? aaah please tell them to stop that!

  • DaScratcher

    Hi
    If you are not a windows user… I would recommend two SCS 3D for midi control… I have windows and I use Nanopad.. it’s cheap and very reliable

  • http://myspace.com/ocdautomatic ocd

    There is still seperate volume control (and gain knobs) for each sample bank!

    Volume control is in the form of horizontal up-faders under each bank, not sure how the article author missed that.

    And i think the “cheats” that Antoine is referring to is the auto-sync functions which take all the skill out of beat matching.

    But at the same time that opens the doors for more complex looping/effects, because you’re not constantly trying to keep everything in synce, freeing you up to do other things.

    Its all preference really. I LOVE the feel of turntables and having complete “analogue” control over my mix, i dont do much “controllerism”, and most places i play already have serato, and if im lucky, a DJM-800 for effects already installed, so Serato is perfect for me.

  • ss714ss

    I recently got serato sl3 very nice product.. fucking tight.. for a two deck player.. I haven’t played with the sampler I’m still waiting on the 1.9.1 final version to see what u can control.. which would be everything from pitch to I think even cue points.. so I’m just waiting to see how it’s gonna look.. I think its gonna be crazy if u can use the samplers with video… with the ableton partnership I just can’t wait to see what they got going..

  • nateboogee

    [quote comment=""]And i think the “cheats” that Antoine is referring to is the auto-sync functions which take all the skill out of beat matching.

    But at the same time that opens the doors for more complex looping/effects, because you’re not constantly trying to keep everything in synce, freeing you up to do other things.

    Its all preference really. I LOVE the feel of turntables and having complete “analogue” control over my mix, i dont do much “controllerism”, and most places i play already have serato, and if im lucky, a DJM-800 for effects already installed, so Serato is perfect for me.[/quote]

    Like most DJs I am at a fork int he road. Old vs. new. Controllerism has some out there routines, but what about the old standards with vynil? I would love to get to the point where I display the best of both worlds in a well rounded performance.

  • DJ Logu

    Awesome update Ean. For non-controllerists, if not for the hardware requirement Serato cwuld replace Traktor with this update. Any news about the Ableton partnership… But anyday Traktor rules, GOD knows (maybe Ean) what gonna come up from Traktor’s hat.

  • http://www.ome-les.com tekki

    [quote comment=""]
    BTW: Who remembers Monthy Python and “Knights that say NI!”[/quote]
    [i]We are now… no longer the Knights Who Say NI.

    We are now the Knights Who Say Ecky-ecky-ecky-ecky-pikang-zoom-boing-mumble-mumble.[/i]

  • Anonymous

    i´m doin this with vdj since years ;) so its not so innovative after all

  • greatmesk

    [quote comment=""]i´m doin this with vdj since years ;) so its not so innovative after all[/quote]

    ^^thats me

  • me

    ^^thats me[/quote]
    [quote comment="20111"]There is still seperate volume control (and gain knobs) for each sample bank!

    Volume control is in the form of horizontal up-faders under each bank, not sure how the article author missed that.
    [/quote]

    like the picture above shows no adjustments, so you mean its “under” the shown banks?
    thanks for your answer

  • http://myspace.com/ocdautomatic ocd

    [quote comment=""

    like the picture above shows no adjustments, so you mean its "under" the shown banks?
    thanks for your answer[/quote]

    There’s actually a drop down menu to the right of the SP-6 that lets you show/hide different parts of the sampler, so whatever you don’t see in that screen shot is probably hidden.

  • http://myspace.com/ocdautomatic ocd

    whoops sorry for my terrible formatting above… still haven’t had my coffee for the day.

  • http://www.eangolden.com Ean Golden

    thanks for pointing that out OCD. Serato may want to make that a little clearer as we completely missed the drop down option and there is no manual for the new features. Post has been updated with the correct info about all the features.

  • http://myspace.com/ocdautomatic ocd

    [quote comment=""]thanks for pointing that out OCD. Serato may want to make that a little clearer as we completely missed the drop down option and there is no manual for the new features. Post has been updated with the correct info about all the features.[/quote]

    “- The SP-6 functionality has been expanded. In the top right corner of the SP-6 there is a new button – the Sample Player Display Menu. Clicking on this will popup a menu with the list of available controls:”

    Its the first bullet point in the “release notes and download” thread on the 1.9.1 beta Serato forums.

    :)

    (p.s. im not trying to be a jerk, i promise. just trying to be helpful on one of my fav dj sites!)

  • Fickala Musoterual

    How does one get the focus red oval that is around the deck? I see no option or is this just a Photoshop thing?

  • http://myspace.com/ocdautomatic ocd

    [quote comment=""]How does one get the focus red oval that is around the deck? I see no option or is this just a Photoshop thing?[/quote]

    The red focus ring is a function of Rane TTM-57SL mixer, and highlights which deck the built in effects are effecting.

    You’ll only get that (and the software effects) when using the TTM57, unfortunately. If you se and SL-1, SL-3 etc, you wont see these things.

  • DaScratcher

    [quote comment="20107"]Hi
    If you are not a windows user… I would recommend two SCS 3D for midi control… I have windows and I use Nanopad.. it’s cheap and very reliable[/quote]

    Last night I found a solution for the DaScratch error with Serato:
    1: Error: MIDI device ‘DaRouter Virtual Out’ cannot be used:
    Error opening virtual MIDI OUT device ‘DaRouter Virtual Out’:
    invalid parameter

    Download and install Bome’s 1.7 trial version and run Bome before you open DaRouter (it is a buggy software, I hate it), let both of them running and then open Serato.

    I have two SCS.3D so I mapped each SCS3D, for three samplers, to control everything “OCD” had highlighted. Three SCS3D could be better but the buggy DaRouter allows only two. BTW, my NanoPad is now configured to do all the cue point control.

    But the major problem is this…
    [quote comment] Each samplers audio is sent out over the same channel as a decks 1 and 2 or the master output so audio adjustments must be done with a midi controller or the mouse.[/quote]

    There is no way to do a headphone cue when you do pitch bend. “OCD” if this is possible in other ways please let us know.

    To deck duplicate you have to drag it from the rotating decks you see on the screen and not from the moving waveform as seen in the picture (I did this stupid mistake when I first used it).

    “Ean Golden” Please suggest if there is a better MIDI controller in the market to do all this very easy.

  • http://myspace.com/ocdautomatic ocd

    [quote comment=""]

    But the major problem is this…
    [quote comment] Each samplers audio is sent out over the same channel as a decks 1 and 2 or the master output so audio adjustments must be done with a midi controller or the mouse.[/quote]

    There is no way to do a headphone cue when you do pitch bend. “OCD” if this is possible in other ways please let us know.

    “Ean Golden” Please suggest if there is a better MIDI controller in the market to do all this very easy.[/quote]

    If you have an SL-3, you can map the samplers output to an AUX OUT as opposed to deck 1 or 2′s output, allowing you to route the samplers audio through a 3rd channel on your mixer. This is only possible with the Rane SL-3 hardware.

    I’ve been using the nanoKONTROL for sampler MIDI control which works great.

  • DaScratcher

    [quote comment=""]
    If you have an SL-3, you can map the samplers output to an AUX OUT as opposed to deck 1 or 2′s output, allowing you to route the samplers audio through a 3rd channel on your mixer. This is only possible with the Rane SL-3 hardware.

    I’ve been using the nanoKONTROL for sampler MIDI control which works great.[/quote]

    Thanks OCD, I am struck with SL-1, looks like no hopes for me… BTW folks I think the Akai LPD8 would be a better MIDI controller for the samplers…
    Checkout: http://www.skratchworx.com/news3/comments.php?id=1266

  • DaScratcher

    [quote comment=""]Thanks OCD, I am struck with SL-1, looks like no hopes for me… BTW folks I think the Akai LPD8 would be a better MIDI controller for the samplers…
    Checkout: http://www.skratchworx.com/news3/comments.php?id=1266/quote
    [quote comment="20218"][quote comment=""]
    OCD.. looks like you will be familiar with this and want your opinion…

    Thinking back again on this for SL-1 wouldn’t the problem get solved if we can switch the output of the samplers on the fly to only go to Channel 1 or Channel 2 only. By that way one could comfortably headphone cue a new song before sending them through Channel 1.

    … BTW I will post this to the Serato forums soon to see their reply

  • http://ifnotwhynot.me djsdive

    Yeah, for my uses, I think the Serato setup now makes more sense than what I have in Traktor Pro. This way I can prepare samples with ease and even create new ones on the fly. Having to first assemble a sample track for Traktor Pro is quite tedious compared to this.

  • http://www.fivestarsdjs.com Dj tavi

    [quote post="1560"]Dj Nvidia
    Jul 13th, 2009 at 4:55 am Quote
    Wow great article!

    I must agree this feature is a huge step for Serato! But I wish they would implement an effects system. When they do that is when I’ll invest in the switch.

    As for right now the only serato product that has me interested is the NS7. And that only uses Itch.

    But here’s a real thought to ponder… Why won’t NI incorporate a sampler system in their software? It seems simple, they would place a small sampler bank in the middle of the two effects banks. Yea it would make MIDI mapping the VCI-100 a little more difficult but that would definetly make the Traktor software far more superior and give NI the competitive edge.

    What do you all think?

    Is that a simple request?

    Would that make Traktor the best DVS out there, hands down?

    (also when will Vestax come out with their answer to the NS7?)[/quote]

    One of the main reasons why I didn’t make the switch either including the fxs, butlet me tell you, all of the features you are asking are included in “M-Audio Torq” software. I’ve been using a lot lately on my gigs and let me tell you all this features really rock, not saying serato is bad at all, but it lacks features compared to other ones, unless the video feature now, nut I use Numark’s virtual vinyl for vid anyways… try torq, I think you’ll love it, + the midi learn funcionts in torq are really really easy

  • Anonymous

    [quote comment=""][quote post="1560"]Dj Nvidia
    Jul 13th, 2009 at 4:55 am Quote
    Wow great article!

    I must agree this feature is a huge step for Serato! But I wish they would implement an effects system. When they do that is when I’ll invest in the switch.

    As for right now the only serato product that has me interested is the NS7. And that only uses Itch.

    But here’s a real thought to ponder… Why won’t NI incorporate a sampler system in their software? It seems simple, they would place a small sampler bank in the middle of the two effects banks. Yea it would make MIDI mapping the VCI-100 a little more difficult but that would definetly make the Traktor software far more superior and give NI the competitive edge.

    What do you all think?

    Is that a simple request?

    Would that make Traktor the best DVS out there, hands down?

    (also when will Vestax come out with their answer to the NS7?)[/quote]

    One of the main reasons why I didn’t make the switch either including the fxs, butlet me tell you, all of the features you are asking are included in “M-Audio Torq” software. I’ve been using a lot lately on my gigs and let me tell you all this features really rock, not saying serato is bad at all, but it lacks features compared to other ones, unless the video feature now, nut I use Numark’s virtual vinyl for vid anyways… try torq, I think you’ll love it, + the midi learn funcionts in torq are really really easy[/quote]

  • DjR3

    News for every one!!!!

    Hot Keys for the 6 sampler decks: Z X C V B N.
    z/x/c control deck 1/2/3 and v/b/n goes for 4/5/6!!! Enjoy!!!!

    I often use those almost like a built in midi. Just load your favorite loops from a track and have fun!!!!
    Also wiked for all those airhorn, gunshots, lasers and others!!!! Just don’t press the wrong one at the wrong time!

    Love this site! Stumbled upon it 3 days ago and only left the page to plug in serato or pass out!!!! LOL!!! Lots of good info.

    Thanks guys.

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