The Art of Making Beats (Using the Akai Pro MPK 49)

For those of you who follow my blogs, you may remember a post I did on the Akai XR20 where I mentioned that my newest endeavor was to begin making beats. I also mentioned in that post that Akai also makes a keyboard called the MPK49 and that I intended to add it to my studio of beat making devices. Well I've been doing a little research on the MPK49 before I buy it and I ran across this video on youtube of a producer using this very product for one of his projects.

I've also seen several other videos of the MPK49 in action including one that gave the complete overview of the products features. Now I'm totally convinced that I will be adding this to my studio. From watching all the videos though I'm still not sure how well this will work with the XR20 but I chose this particular video from the rest because I like what the end result was better than some of the other videos. I saw a few videos with the XR20 being used also, but I think I'll wait and make my own video of myself using that!

The producer in the video above is a guy that goes by the name "Timepiece" and he has a website where he lets other producers showcase their talent. I don't think you'll be finding me on there anytime soon but I just wanted to give my man his props by saying his video was really inspirational for me! I like what he did in a short period of time on the MPK49! Watch it all the way to the end and you will hear the completely finished product! and it's like Wow!!!
             
So that's it for now and As Always......"Stay In The Mix"

The iDJ Live by Numark (Follow-up to the DJ Mixer for iPad)

This is of cource the follow-up to my previous post on the DJ Mixer for iPad by Algoriddim. Now Numark has come up with a controller to run the Algoriddim software directly while using your iPad. This gives you all the control built into the software without using the touch screen of your iPad! So what's the advantage to having this? Well 1. you don't have to work with the smaller surface space of the iPad and 2. you get actual knobs and jog wheels to move with your hands for a more realistic feel of DJing and of cource, your not touching your screen.

This small and extremely portable unit checks in at a remarkably low price of  $99.00 US and as mentioned earlier, the Algoriddim software is only about $49.00 US. The most expensive part of this set up is the iPad itself and if you already  have one you're more than halfway there. I mentioned in the previous post that a time would come when a DJ could show up at a gig with just an iPad and it looks like Numark is trying to draw us closer to that time. I can't wait to see what else is coming out that's gonna piggy back off this idea.

After you watch the video, you'll see that there are several other video demonstrations for this product and you can best believe that if they're show casing this at Winter Namm 2011 it's about to take off big time! So that's all I have for you so far, but I know this will be followed up by some more stories on products that are expanding on this concept!

So as always............"Stay In The Mix"

DJ mixing for the iPad (Now this is a Sophistocated app)

A while back I did a post on iPad DJing where a guy was using two iPads like two turntables, well this is not the same thing. This app takes that concept to a whole nother level and it only requires one iPad! I've mentioned before how technology has moved beyond the CD to the MP3 and now it appears that it may just take over and eliminate the use of controllers too! I think this concept is going to open the door to fewer and fewer hardware components for DJs in the years to come. Introducing a new way for anyone to DJ ( if they have a mind to do so)  the Algoriddim DJ Mixer for iPad!

It's a new day and a new beginning! This is my first post for the New Year and I wanted it to be my last for the prior year. But as fate would have it, I couldn't get my images and links to come out the way I had intended so I scratched this for being my final post and decided to try again later.

This is a new app for the iPad called DJ Mixer by Algoriddim as you will see in the video link it can do some pretty amazing things. Many of the bells and whistles found on your digital controllers can be found in this app, and even a few tricks that I haven't even seen in "Serato" are on here for your edification. This may seem like a toy to the untrained eye and as much fun as there is built into playing with it it could easily be mistaken for one. But I see this as an opportunity for DJs to create and record their sets in a way that was never made possible before. This is the dawning of a new day! and it won't be long before DJs will be able to arrive at a gig carrying just an iPad (provided the rest of the sound equippment is already there.)

Be sure to check out all the videos attached with this link and you'll see different facets of what this thing can do. Personally, I'm impressed with it and Algoriddim didn't pull any punches when it came to competing with the higher priced controllers on the market today! So here's the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KARq9YU1_B8&feature=player_detailpage  I know you'll be amazed as I was with this! Stay tuned as we're sure to get further developements on this.  That's it for now, but as always......."Stay In The Mix!"