by: Ean Golden
That new midi controller might be almost perfect, but you may find you need just a few more controls. A common HID (human interface device) is an inexpensive and simple way to add a few extra buttons to your setup without breaking out the drill and soldering iron. HID devices like the Griffin Powermate connect via usb and are usually bus powered so they will easily integrate into your setup.
The most exciting thing to come out of Musik Messe 2008 happened far away from the pounding sound systems of the Dj floor but this revolutionary concept will seriously rock the dj and remix world as we know it. Celemony, a German software company, has announced “Direct note access” which gives you control over each and every note in a multi voice recording. Intended for polyphonic sound sources like piano chords or string ensembles, you can pick out any note or notes from a stereo recording and transpose them as you see fit. In one example, the white bearded mastermind behind this technology demonstrated its power on a classic Beethoven recording. “Lets see what would happen if Beethoven had written this piece in minor” he suggested, and within seconds was playing a full symphonic recording back in a different key with no audible degradation to the sound.
Continue reading ‘The biggest development in recorded music’
Sorry for the problems we had with our server last Friday folks. Its frustrating when everything does not work according to plan but these are good problems to have. We underestimated the traffic and PayPal gave us incorrect information about what would happen if we suddenly sold that much product in one hour. The good news is that the server is ready to go and we are now using our own payment service which will not place any limits on the store. So without further ado the webstore is back open for sales with more very exciting Dj Tech Tools coming your way soon.
First off, thanks for your patience. We all want things to happen fast but sometimes it takes a little extra time to make good things happen. This is certainly a good thing, and its because of all the emails you guys sent to distributors and the community of dj tech tools this special edition vci-100 is happening for real.
The web store for pre-orders is getting the final touches and will be up on Friday morning. In the mean time here is the information you have all been waiting for:
Frankfurt, Germany. Once a year, inside a massive series of connecting halls, music companies from around the world converge for the European version of NAMM. All of the dj brands are accounted for, and we were expecting working models of many of the new controllers that premiered at NAMM. Sadly, only the VCI-300 was really in testing condition. Many of the new dj items we wanted to get our grubby little hands on were not functional or barely working. Some, like the Numark Ns7, were still in the exact same condition as NAMM, under a protective sheet of glass.
If your like me then Deck a Dance has piqued your interest. The impressive list of forward thinking features and “universal” timecode compatibility certainly makes it worth checking out. Oh and the advertising is hard to ignore as well.
Continue reading ‘Deck a Dance Give Away- Winners Announced’
but taking a plastic guitar into the crowd and taping away a solo is some next level fun. In the past 5 years I have experimented with just about every piece of midi gear out there so now its time to raid the game controller closet and continue to find new ways of mixing 2 songs together. The crazy thing is how well cue point juggling techniques translated to the Rock Star guitar. It may seem like a limited controller but with 5 buttons, a 2 way strum bar and some whammy action you can do a lot with a little. I tried every guitar made for guitar hero and in the end this Rock Band edition for the PS3 works the best and offered the most flexibility. Want to try it yourself? Yes, I will be posting pre-set files and instructions soon so you can get your own air guitar button tap on.
Two noteworthy dj stories popped up on the BBC radar today. In the first, English drum and bass dj Grooverider was arrested on his way to a gig in Dubai. Apparently carrying any marijuana into the the United Arab Emirates qualifies as smuggling drugs and will result in a 4 year mandatory sentence. Note to self, international djing is not all champagne and limo rides to clubs overflowing with models. It also includes, among many other things, the following risks:
1) getting charged 1.4 million Euros for playing “pirated” mp3s.
2) having the Brazilian police switch off the lights, pull a world famous dj out of the dj booth and put another one in his place because the club did not pay taxes on his dj fee.
3) getting 4 years in a middle eastern prison for carrying a joint.
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