Archive for February, 2010
Digging in the Crates – Classic TechTools
After nearly 3 years of publication, we have posted over 400 articles – many of which you may never discover without a lot of spare time on your hands. To help dust off a few of the gems, I will be posting a classic DJ Tech Tools article every once in a while. This month, it’s my Remix Magazine article on “Microwave DJs” from 2008. It was a hot term, used at the time to describe DJs that just pressed play and did nothing else. Looking back, it’s clear that we have come a long way since then, and tolerance of all types of digital DJing has grown significantly. It’s also clear that blogs and HYPEM are here to stay. Read on for the full article.
Interview + Performance with Edison
In our quest to seek out new DJ territory of the inspirational variety, we came upon Edison, a producer/performer who plays live with Ableton Live and a custom Monome. His performances are dynamic, visually understandable, and have a very “live” sound that is hard to achieve when you’re dealing with the quantized clip launching in Live and nothing but a giant grid of buttons. To get a closer look into how Edison gets that sound and showcase some of his new songs, we brought him into the DJ Tech Tools studio to share his ideas with the world. You can catch Edison on a live West Coast tour from late March to early April. Visit his Myspace page for more music and tour info.
VCM 600 Review
As the line between producing and DJing becomes more obscure, companies like Vestax are creating products that are aimed at filling the grey area. With its traditional-style mixing console layout and excellent build quality, the VCM 600 makes it possible to bring the studio to the club and comes with its own mapping tucked inside Ableton Live. It’s easy to set up and use for both studio applications and live performances, so let’s take a closer look and see if it might be right for you. Continue reading VCM 600 Review
Melodyne Editor’s Direct Note Access for DJs
After more than a year of big-time hype, Celemony’s Melodyne Editor software with Direct Note Access (DNA) is here. So… should you have believed said hype? DNA promised to allow Melodyne Editor users to manipulate the pitch, length and timing of individual notes within polyphonic material. In the case of this version of the software, that polyphonic material is meant to be chords played on a piano, synthesizer, guitar, other stringed instruments, etc. However, it’s tempting to get one’s hopes up about Melodyne Editor as the be all and end all of isolating vocals and instrument parts from stereo mixes, so that DJs and remixers could have carte blanche to any part of any track they desire. After the jump, we explore and the can-dos and the can’t-dos of Melodyne Editor.
Continue reading Melodyne Editor’s Direct Note Access for DJs
VCI-100SE Mapping Tutorials
Part 1. (BASICS)
The VCI-100SE Version 3 mapping is hands down one of most ambitious and powerful mapping we have released yet. This brand new version brings together all of our best ideas from the past 2 years and condenses them into an easy-to-use interface that should have something for everyone. We stripped away the fat, improved the core features and made everything more simple. Along with a few technical MIDI breakthroughs that enable new work-flows — such as 8 cue points — this file also introduces a new concept called instant FX, which you absolutely want to check out. The 2 instant FX buttons automatically set up a perfect effect with all routing and configuration, so you don’t have to think about anything. When combined with the jog wheel, they produce killer sounds and very expressive transitions.
Part 2. (FX TRICKS)
Live @ Dj TechTools
Visit this page Saturday, Feb. 13th at 12pm PST /8pm GMT to watch a live DJ TechTools broadcast tutorial on Traktor Pro and the VCI-100 3_0 mapping. We will be answering questions from the live studio audience and taking calls via Skype from readers around the world. Read on for the live video embed, SKYPE info and our address to watch the show live.
Bored with Serato? Well don’t be.
For those who can’t wait to try out some new stuff in Serato Scratch Live, the 2.0 release (which is now in public beta) may seem like it’s taking forever. Fortunately, there are a lot of semi-hidden functions in SSL 1.9 that will keep you entertained in the mean time. They include MIDI-controlled instant loop roll, Transfer stutter, AM mode, and of course the classic Pong trick.
Please, Remember the Turntables Too…
While I too am a digital DJ and love controllers like the next guy, it pains me when I see controllerists set up their gear directly atop my turntables. Although the word ’turntable’ contains the word ‘table,’ it is not one and shouldn’t be treated as such. Many old-school DJs, like myself, consider the turntable an instrument. Putting even a humble mini controller atop one then pressing away is akin to using a guitar as a coat hanger or a trumpet as a vase. So to keep everyone in DJ land on good terms, here are a few alternatives that will help save a turntable or two.
Midi Fighter Tutorial Video and Contest
Here is the long awaited video explaining my Midi-Fighter mapping for Traktor Pro. There is some seriously cool stuff in there, so even if you don’t have a MF, check out the video and borrow the concepts. For the month of February, we are running a special video contest in which the winner will get a brand new Midi-Fighter DIY kit. To enter, just download the songs below and record your own personalized performance using the same songs, ANY controller and your personal style of DJing. Add your video as a response to the tutorial above and whoever has the most YouTube views at the end of February will win a free Midi-Fighter!
- Download the Traktor Pro mapping used in the video
- Download- Boys 8 Bit- The Cricket Scores
- Download- Disco Villains “Renegade Master”
Contest Results
Here are the contest results as of the end of February:
First Prize: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_FNXdwzwWw (17k views)
2nd Prize http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E447XeggqX8 (11k views)
Third Prize: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2aK5ttpeI8 (9k views)
Given the talent of all prize winners, we have decided to grant everyone in the top 3 something. In the future Contests will be judged with a combination of metrics including judges rating, youtube rating, public rating and others.
- First Prize: Midi Fighter + Dj TT T-Shirt
- 2nd Prize: Midi Fighter
- Third Prize: Dj TT T-Shirt
Thanks to everyone that entered. Even if you didn’t win a prize, you deserve one for putting yourself out there!
DIY Mod: Cuban MIDI Crisis
Tired of the plastic mainstream controller offerings, I decided to take things into my own hands and explore the world of DIY controller construction. As most of our readers will know, the Midifighter DIY kit features optional analogue inputs that are ripe for modification and an easy place for the newbie controller maker to start. I decided to dedicate my mod to the birthplace of salsa, Cuba, by enclosing the results in a cigar box and toping off the theme with some tasty wooden knobs. This article will demonstrate how to do assemble your own personalized controller that is sure to catch eyes and requires just a few basic tools. VIVA LA MODIFICATION!
