N2IT, the original patent holders for DVS technology like Final Scratch, has settled its complaint against M-Audio and its Torq technology. On November 17, the original civil action was dismissed “with prejudice.” It was widely speculated that N2IT would pick the lowest hanging fruit on the DVS money tree (Traktor Scratch and Torq) before going after the cash cow and industry leader, Serato Scratch. Without any court precedence set in either of its respective lawsuits against Native instruments or more recently M-Audio, N2IT may not have the ammunition it needs to take on Serato and grab the golden goose. Is this good news for the DJ industry or bad news for private patent holders? You will have to make that judgment call.
Archive for November, 2009
Sync External Hardware to Traktor
By Nisus
One of the greatest things about digital DJing is the opportunity to incorporate a multitude of performance tools into your sets. Not being limited to the turntables as an interface has opened the door to a wonderful world of controllers full of knobs and faders. While controllers have given us the power to mangle and mix sound, they have also put us back in touch with the instrumentality of live music performance.
DJing is a musical gateway drug. It makes sense that once you get used to using a controller as an instrument, you might want to start using the plethora of sound-producing instruments in a similar way. In this article, I look at integrating actual hardware synths into Traktor. Watch out though; before you know it, you’ll be wanting to play Phrygian dominant scales in your sets like Moldover.
New VCI-100SE 3.0 Mapping
Today we uploaded a minor 2_5 update to our popular VCI-100 mapping. We are also working on a major 3_0 update that will change around core concepts and streamline the controller. If your a VCI-100 owner, you need to read this post and give your feedback on the ideas. If you have other controllers, check out the new concepts and try to incorperate them into your own mappings.
DJ Laptop Stand Comparison
As laptop DJs, we love blazing fast new computers, DJ software updates and new, innovative MIDI controllers. However, some of the most pivotal gear for a laptop DJ is also most often overlooked. Laptop stands can be critical components to a DJ’s setup, as you may also be using them to hold your MIDI controllers or CDJs, as well.
We have compared three laptop stands that are designed specifically for DJs — The Crane Stand, the Odyssey L Stand M and the Stanton Uberstand — to see which one has the edge for portability, ease of set-up, sturdiness and flexibility. Read the full review after the jump.
Introducing the Midi Fighter DIY Kit
We are now selling DIY MidiFighter kits (now with black pcbs) in the web-store. This kit will be the first incarnation of our brand new controller line that allows several different levels of customization. Everything from creating original color combos to adding more analog interfaces and customizing the open-source firmware is possible with this exciting new tool. More info, photos and release date after the jump.
Controllerism Goes… Live!
The guys from the G4 network’s “Attack of the Show” have been cool enough to shine a little spotlight on our corner of the musical world. In the aptly named segment ”musical play time,” I will be explaining our very own Arcade Edition VCI-100 and doing a short controllerism demo. I filmed the show in LA today, and it will be airing this Thursday at 7pm 4pm PST on the G4 network — so tune in and support your favorite DJ community! Check out more photos of the awesome set and the host Kevin Pereira getting live on the controller after the jump.
How To Be a Successful DJ Part 3: Production
Part One of this series covered setting goals and deciding on the direction of your DJing career, and the second installment helped you secure your first gigs. But now that you’ve got some skills and some steady gigs, how do move to the next level of booking high-profile, globe-trotting dates? Any DJ’s path to the top will be multi-faceted, but it’s pretty much accepted these days that you will not get there without producing your own respected tracks and remixes. Many DJs will already have a music background or a desire to produce music, so it’s not simply a career move to do so. However, for some insight on the correlation between production and a DJ career, we talked a man who might not have a DJ career without production: San Francisco’s tech-funk producer/label owner/DJ Claude VonStroke, who had some great advice to share.
While it’s beyond the scope of this one article to show you how to make good electronic music, over the coming weeks, DJ TechTools will begin offering technical articles on music production for DJs. Please use the comments section if you have specific wishes for what you’d like to learn or understand better about music production.
Continue reading How To Be a Successful DJ Part 3: Production
Using White Noise in a DJ Set
After we posted our popular “What’s In Your DJ Bag?” video featuring MSTRKRFT, some of you asked why Jessie Keeler kept white noise CDs in his bag along with his Serato CDs. Here, Ean shows you some ways to mix white noise over a track, including crossfading and effects tips.
Download the white noise sample used in the video.
Time-Stretch Comparison: Live/Traktor Pro/Serato/Torq
You asked; we listened. Our article comparing the time-stretching/compression algorithms in M-Audio Torq 1.5 and Ableton Live 8 has been updated to include Trackor Pro and Serato Itch (which includes the same algorithm as Scratch Live). How much of a difference is there? We ran some tests and let you hear and decide for yourself after the jump.
Continue reading Time-Stretch Comparison: Live/Traktor Pro/Serato/Torq
New Vestax Controller in Apple Stores on Monday
Vestax has teamed up with software maker Algoriddim to produce an entry level all-in-one digital DJ controller that will be sold exlusively in Apple stores throughout the US and Canada. This release, along with the massive push for DJ Hero, officially marks the entry of controller DJing in the consciousness of the mainstream market.
Continue reading New Vestax Controller in Apple Stores on Monday
AeroDynamic Juggle Routine and Tutorial
Here is a new routine that combines several different elements on the VCI-100 into one complete remix of 2 tracks. Watch the video for a full demo and then detailed break down of the methods. Download both of the mps’s used in the video with the cue points ready to go later in the post.
