3 Hidden Tricks in Itch

Written by Ean Golden on June 9th, 2010 72 Comments

The boys from Auckland are notoriously cheeky fellows and love to throw ‘easter eggs’ into their software for a good laugh. One of my favorites was the addition of pong to Serato Scratch and several other hidden features that required a bit of trickery to unlock. Sticking to this theme, there are also a few nice easter eggs in Itch that we will uncover in this article, along with an answer to the pressing question: “How can I midi-assign a controller in a software that does not support it?”

HIDDEN SUPER FILTER

DJTechTools first introduced a super filter in controller land on our VCI-100SE and it was subsequently built right into Traktor. A super-handy tool, the super filter is a high pass and low pass filter combined in one knob — turn the knob to the right to cut the bass, and turn it to the left to cut the highs. Serato allows you to convert your bass EQ on the VCI-300 (and possibly other hardware) into a super filter by following these simple steps:

Twist the bass and treble knobs from 0-100% like a madman until a little message pops up on your screen.

DJ AM MODE

Tired of trainspotters ripping off that super rare remix that you ripped off your buddy, who ripped it off from hypem, which took it from a blog, which took it from the artist? Then fight back against the injustice and enable DJ AM MODE! This easter egg also exists in Serato Scratch and basically hides the track listing from peering eyes.

MIDI MAP IN ITCH

Our very own Pilmat turned heads last week when he claimed to have mapped external controllers (like the midi-fighter) to Itch, which only supports “approved” (translation-license fees paid) controllers. His secret? Terribly simple. He used Novation’s auto map software to convert midi signals into hotkeys and YES — you’re thinking ahead — Itch does support custom mapping of hotkeys. Bingo. Houston, we have lift-off.

To be honest, this inclusion is a bit of a tease. Phil is working on a complete article on how to pull off this trick using freeware midi-to-hotkey translation software and a full video walkthrough, which he will post on DJTechTools next week. In the mean time, keep mashing your buttons and twiddling those knobs. This is Ean von GoldenBurger signing off from Shuttle TechTools.

PS. Big ups to Steve Alois who provided the information for this article and the rad graphics explaining these tips!

Filed under: Advanced Digital DJ Tips, DJ Software, and tagged am mode, dj, feature, filter, hidden, itch, serato, Super Knob, Tips, tricks.

Ma$tor Gee

nice! keep the serato tips coming
http://www.bluegrassbeat.com DJ MoRice

Does the super filter only work on the VCI-300? How about the NS7?
http://www.digitaldjtips.com Phil Morse

Not a trick as such, but I like the workaround for using all 5 cue points per track in ITCH with the VCI-300 (which you can only use to set and trigger the first 3). You can use these by setting cue points 4 and 5 using ctrl + 4 and ctrl + 5, and trigger the cue points by pressing 4 & 5 (l/h deck) / 9 & 0 (r/h deck).
n4Sphere

i like the way of easter eggs, hope someone have more easter eggs reports.

how does the trick with pong works at serato scratch.

the dj am mode: this means the artist, track etc. information is not shown at the top player ?!?!

greetz
Steve

Does the current edition of the VCI-100 SE have the super filter knob?
http://www.eangolden.com Ean Golden

[quote comment="31816"]Does the current edition of the VCI-100 SE have the super filter knob?[/quote]

sure does! right bellow the bass eq.
Rafael

SUPERR!!!!!!
Glen

Nice job Ean!
http://www.myspace.com/grizu Grizu

Some more tipps & tricks in ITCH can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytHM-tCk4jQ

Can’t wait for the article on midimapping other controllers.
Great work like alllways, Ean!
http://www.twitter.com/s_bravo Dj.S

Nice.!!!
thanks 4 the trick.!
Chris Jennings

Nice, makes me want to give itch a try just so I can check out the easter eggs.
Haze324

Recently started using Itch and I feel much more at home on it. Itch is currently my new weapon of choice. The layout is user friendly, simple to use, awesome platter response and has everything I need. I feel it’s a great blend between real decks and controllers. **wish it had sampler though**
MMK

I CANT WAITH FOR THE TUTORIAL, AND PLAY WITH MY NS7 AND CUE POINT WITH AKAI MPD :)
f0tif0

good news, cant wait.
n:deuce

hopefully that superknob will make it into ssl.
discofuel

Wow that filter is so cool.

So does that mean you could use other midi controllers to unlock the effects?
Bigbeatzz

Like Haze I too have become an Itch convert…The VCI-300 is the closest thing to 2 cdj’s and a mixer you can fit in a bag period. The unit is surprisingly amazing, I just ordered some Rane TTM knobs and faders for the unit…I’ll post my results on the forum once they come in.

Plug & Play, Vinyl Feel, One Box!
Monkeybiz

So how do you turn the Super Filter off?
Del Pamps

I just tried “Super Filter” with the NS7, no love.
http://soundcloud.com/livefast LIVEFAST AKA STEPHEN

[quote comment="31810"]Does the super filter only work on the VCI-300? How about the NS7?[/quote]
All tricks work with the NS7

[quote comment="31832"]hopefully that superknob will make it into ssl.[/quote]
the Rane Sixty-Eight has dedicated knobs for it, so id count on it.. ;)

[quote comment="31844"]So how do you turn the Super Filter off?[/quote]

[ALT+Comma] to turn it on, then [ALT+Comma] again to turns it off
Habit J

[quote comment="31840"]Like Haze I too have become an Itch convert…The VCI-300 is the closest thing to 2 cdj’s and a mixer you can fit in a bag period. The unit is surprisingly amazing, I just ordered some Rane TTM knobs and faders for the unit…I’ll post my results on the forum once they come in.

Plug & Play, Vinyl Feel, One Box![/quote]

totally agree!!!!

Where did you order the TTM knobs?

:)
thisisian

Another itch convert here, & for exactly the same reasons. …it’s just a very natural intuitive system.

I’m a bit annoyed about the filter being a hidden Easter egg though. I brought the VFX1 fx unit a few months ago, & all I really wanted it for was a good filter which I was missing (coming from traktor)

…..anybody want to buy a vfx1?
Moneypenny S

I am after some also :)
Sammy Peeps

[quote comment="31857"]Another itch convert here, & for exactly the same reasons. …it’s just a very natural intuitive system.

I’m a bit annoyed about the filter being a hidden Easter egg though. I brought the VFX1 fx unit a few months ago, & all I really wanted it for was a good filter which I was missing (coming from traktor)

…..anybody want to buy a vfx1?[/quote]

how much you wanting for the VFX1
Esca aka Cash

Hey guys, there’s another trick, the loop roll for example with the VCI-300 is not supported (with the V7 just hit shift+loop lenght) but there’s a trick to do it also with the VCI’s version ITCH.
let me know if could be interesting… ;)
Sammy Peeps

Sounds interesting Cash…

I can’t seem to get the super filter trick to work. my fingers are about to drop off from mad twiddling!
Anonymous

It would be cool if we could go stealth w/ that “DJ AM mode” in Traktor Pro
crankcaller

Don’t you need a supported soundcard or controller or you only get the one deck working? or was that Serato Live?

Be interested to see this next week
Haze324

Thisisisan – how much for the VFX-1. Hit me up on PM here.

Cash – tried the looproll with the keyboard – but felt a bit awkard. Any tips? Lets hear’em.
Sammy Peeps

typically how long are people cranking the bass and high to get the super filter on the go?
tried it a number of times now but to no avail…
pish
Josh Ribing

Does it work with the Xone DX? DX is incredible! Saw it being used last weekend in Chicago with 4 decks and Itch..amazing!
pilmat

[quote comment="31869"]Does it work with the Xone DX? DX is incredible! Saw it being used last weekend in Chicago with 4 decks and Itch..amazing![/quote]

I could not get them to work in Itch 1.6 on my DX. Hopefully they will be working in Itch 1.7 that is due out any time now.
Who did you see in Chicago using the DX? I would love to compare notes!
..
Phil.
rorz007

You don’t have to crank the eq. Just push Alt + , .

For those in the UK at least, it works pressing the Alt button on the left handside of the spacebar.
Josh Ribing

It was Dj Jose Romerez @ Hydrate
Josh Ribing

[quote comment="31873"]You don’t have to crank the eq. Just push Alt + , .

For those in the UK at least, it works pressing the Alt button on the left handside of the spacebar.[/quote]

That on a Mac.
Sammy Peeps

Sorted, had to update to Itch 1.5
Anonymous

[quote comment="31878"][quote comment="31873"]You don’t have to crank the eq. Just push Alt + , .

For those in the UK at least, it works pressing the Alt button on the left handside of the spacebar.[/quote]

That on a Mac.[/quote]

Same in the US. For super filter all you have to do is press alt and the comma button. This is on a Mac running the latest version 1.6 of Itch. Thanks DJTT for this hidden feature.
Anonymous

Did anyone try the super filter but had your right channel cut out??? This happened with my VCI-300…
JJ Jungle

on the serato.com site other people have had that problem with the super filter
http://www.djsenile.com Dj Senile

Hey I cant get the super filter to work at all. Been twisting the hell out of my knobs and nothing. I’m starting to think you made this up.
http://www.differhead.net Esca aka Cash

To have the loop roll active you to create a new crate and call it:

this is how i roll

suddenly will appear a message “loop roll active” and with the keyboard you will have the loop roll, the combination of the keys are the numbers (on mac) + one of the keys like cmd, alt or ctrl, sincerly you have to try it because in this moment I can’t try it….but trust me it works ;)
chmac

All I need is effects plus four decks unlocked as they are in Xzone DX. I have this baby for soo long finally it will come out of the hood ! EAN thanks for this boost :)
ldc1129

Got the filter to work, but after I finished the session and started a new one the filter no longer works. Tried to unlock it again and no dice!!
ldc1129

[quote comment="31933"]Hey I cant get the super filter to work at all. Been twisting the hell out of my knobs and nothing. I’m starting to think you made this up.[/quote]

The trick is to make sure you turn them completely from end to end.
MMK

THIS WORK FOR NS7, AND WORK PERFECT. THANKS
Grizu

Still waiting for the Midimap In ITCH article.
http://www.djsenile.com Dj Senile

[quote comment="31989"][quote comment="31933"]Hey I cant get the super filter to work at all. Been twisting the hell out of my knobs and nothing. I’m starting to think you made this up.[/quote]

The trick is to make sure you turn them completely from end to end.[/quote]

I have done that many times, both fast and slow. I cant get the filter to work at all, unless you mean all the tweaking of the highs and lows, therefore you have a filter already. lol
djnightfire

Hello everyone,

Once a big thank you for the great and helpful tips for ”Itch”.

Have tried the AM function, so clicked on BPM display and the letters ”am” written but the songs can be seen in spite of everything still.

Have you perhaps because you explain why it does not work?
djnightfire

Hello everyone,

Once a big thank you
for the great and helpful tips for “Itch”.

Have tried the AM function,
so clicked on BPM display and the
letters ”am” written but the songs can be
seen in spite of everything still.

Have you perhaps because
you explain why it does not work?
crankcaller

[quote comment="32145"]Still waiting for the Midimap In ITCH article.[/quote]

Yip. me too!
mmmmm

oh god yes, yes yes yes yes, I hope this works out how I want it to, I’ll never have to use traktor again
http://djmixtech.com/ charus

What ‘s a great trick?
Thanks for sharing
Sidewinder

Hi guys!
Filter worked like a charm on my VCI-300!

Note two thinks:

1. After you activate the filter, you can then easily turn it on/off at any time by pressing “Alt + ,”

2. When filter is on, the MID EQ becomes LOW EQ (which is a great thing!) so then your EQs becomes HI-LO-FILTER. When you press “Alt+,” and switch filter off, EQs becomes HI-MID-LOW (normal state).

Ean, you rock, men! Too many thanx!!!
in53kto

I tried superfilter with ns7fx and it works fine: now i can have 3 filters in one deck :D
http://www.djtechtools.com/2010/07/05/itch-vs-traktor/ DJ TechTools | Traktor VS Itch

[...] Traktor’s internal mixer is switchable between 4 different EQ presets including Pioneer, A&H or Ecler analogue mixer emulations. The section also includes extra features including dedicated filter, pan and key knobs. The filter knob in particular is something you would sorely miss after having tapped into its power. (We also recently demonstrated how to “unlock” filters in Itch) [...]
Calzone

For those of us on Mac trying to get auto-filter, use the option key, not the command key.

Confirmed this works on NS7… just look for the tiny messages telling you “looks like you’re on to something” and keep twisting past the next message encouraging you to keep going until it finally says “you’re a filter junkie… press alt , you have 30 seconds” and you’re good to go.
http://www.djslater.com Slater

For the super filter, does it matter if you have an FX unit plugged in?

I have the NS7, how many seconds or times does it take to get the super filter…

No luck so far…
Xtianw

Update: DJAM mode only works if beatgrids are turned off as of Itch 1.7
http://www.bigdikmagee.com:82/ John Le Boeuf III

That article coming anytime soon? ;)
http://phonecards.pushline.biz/ phonecards

Hi, Glen, The VCI-300 is the closest thing to 2 cdj’s and a mixer you can fit in a bag period. The unit is surprisingly amazing, I just ordered some Rane TTM knobs and faders for the unit…I’ll post my results on the forum once they come in.
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