He's the DJ, I'm the Writer (Rafik on the Kontrol X1)

Having taken some time off to fondle the new Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol X1 on an away mission, Mr Postie (sounds better than Mr Courier-ie) just dropped off a pre-Christmas pressie in my open waiting arms - a spanking new X1 with a serial number (thus assuming it's a final unit) but sans the usual spiffing packaging. Who cares - I would have just torn it off anyway. And coinciding with this are a handful of cracking hot Rafik vids, showing off his shit hot skills, and also what a little practice can pull off with a heap of NI gear.

So what do the videos show? Well the entire Traktor family is working together as well as more than a nudge from Maschine too, which here is being used to trigger cue points inside Traktor, and the X1 is manipulating the effects. Rafik is pretty hot on those pads as well. I could probably barely remember where 3 samples were, let alone how to tie all the NI goodness together and make such a aurally pleasant sound. They reminded me just why I write about stuff, and DJs like Rafik use the hell out of it.

Posted by Gizmo on December 9, 2009 (Courtesy of Scratchworx)

Top 3 Free D.J. Software (Create Your Own Remixes)

If you fancy being the next top DJ, or just want to have a little fun mixing up your music library then you need a DJ software program! With this type of audio utility, you can use your existing digital music files to produce unique remixes – some DJ software also enables you to record your musical mixes to a separate digital audio file such as an MP3. The following free DJ software programs have good basic functionality and are easy to get to grips with if you’re just starting out; they also have some professional features too. The main thing is to have fun with these free DJ programs and mix like a pro!

1. Mixxx http://www.mix.org
Mixxx is an open source multi-platform DJ program which is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Whether you’re an amateur or professional DJ, Mixxx has a good set of features for creating live mixes. You don’t need any extra hardware to use this DJ program but Mixxx also supports Midi control if you have any external hardware – there’s also vinyl control too. Mixxx has a range of real-time effects and you can also record your mixes in WAV format.


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2. Kramixer http://www.kramware.com/index.html
Kramixer is a free DJ software program that runs on most versions of Windows. It has a very impressive (and colorful) interface that fortunately doesn’t detract from the program’s usability. By default, the program runs in optimized mode which is essentially a core set of features that ensures that there aren’t any sound problems. To get the maximum out of Kramixer, you’ll need to switch to the full-featured mode which turns on all the available effects. This free DJ software program has a good selection of real-time effects such as echo, reverb, low pass, and even a robotic effect that’s great for vocals. It’s also possible to record your mixes as MP3 files. Overall, a great free DJ program with plenty of features to keep you going.


.3. Ultramixer 2 Free Edition http://www.ultramixer.com
The free edition of Ultramixer 2 which is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux operating systems gives you the basic elements you need to create live mixes. In order to unlock the program you first need to register using your email address – a free key is sent to you along with a unique code. Although the free edition of Ultramixer 2 isn’t as full-featured as Mixxx for example, it does offer an easy way to import your iTunes playlists and start creating live mixes almost straight away. The program is very easy to use and all the controls are well laid out. However, if you want to record your mixes, then you’ll need to upgrade to at least the basic version.



Special thanks to Mark Harris of About.com for this post, hope you have fun with it. And as always "Stay In The Mix!"

The Rane Serato SL-3

An industry standard in DJ equipment with a more compact design and improved software.

Like its popular predecessor Rane SL 1, the SL3 is a USB interface that connects one or two standard vinyl or CD turntables to your computer and the mixer of your choice. Using regular turntables or CD players and the included Serato Scratch Live software, DJs can scratch and mix files from their Mac or Windows computer's CD or hard drive.

Enhanced by studio grade preamps and 24-bit audio processing, the compact SL3 interface produces a warm punchy sound to heighten the senses. The auxiliary outputs allow DJs and electronic musicians to intensify the mix with the Scratch Live SP-6 Sample Player. The auxiliary inputs provide a live input feed for creative sampling or recording your set. Use any combination of audio sources: control CD, control vinyl, MIDI, or regular CDs and vinyl for more flexibility than ever.

I know I probably should have written a blog on the Rane Serato a lot sooner, especially since it's the primary DJ software that I use with my B-52 Prodigy. Well as luck would have it, as soon as I get ready to tell you about the Serato Scratch Live unit, they come out with a new version of it! So I thought I should introduce this newest version of it instead.

It doesn't appear to be that different from what I'm using at first glance, but after reading the specs on it I see they've added a few things to enhance the performance and offer some tricks that mine doesn't do.

Scratch Live software
The included Scratch Live 3 software supports all these file formats: Fixed and Variable Bit Rate MP3, AIFF, AAC, WAV, OGG Vorbis, CD Audio, and direct from the mixer. Record from your mixer's Aux output and immediately scratch as if it was on vinyl. Record direct from vinyl or CD and save as a 24-bit/48kHz stereo file.

With the help of the SL3 interface, Serato Scratch Live can easily import your playlists and iTunes library. DJs can drag from Explorer (Windows) or the Finder (Mac) into the Scratch Live library. The crate and subcrate system helps organize libraries and sets. Hot-swap external drives with fast automatic library merging and retention of crates. Browse your music collection by album, artist, BPM, or genre, with optional album art display. Intuitive search function can be applied to any field to find things quickly. Edit ID3 tags with full Unicode support.

Preprocessing of MP3 files is not required except to detect corrupt files or use the auto-BPM and auto-gain functions. Auto-BPM detects tempo information for tracks without it, saving it with each file. A tap tempo button allows you to enter your own. Auto-gain lets you set a target gain on any or all songs in your library. You can also manually adjust individual gain, remembered in each song file.

What I like most about this software is no matter how much music you have stored on your computer, it will organize it and make songs easier for you to find with just a few clicks. I especially like the virtual crates that you can create to separate your genre's of music. (Reminds me of when I used real crates of records) That was how I organized my music then by putting the different genre's in separate crates.

My SL-1 ran me about $500.00 and some change, this new version is about more like $700.00 and some change. A pretty nice chunk to pay but well worth it once you get all those CDs and MP3s loaded onto your computer. Once you see how well this organizes your music and lets you pull up what you're playing next in an instant, you won't be disappointed.

Try it out in the store when you get a chance, I'm sure you'll like it. So that's about it for now, but as always....... Stay In The Mix!

Scratchworx Reviews MixMeister Control

Skratchworx took a look at our MixMeister Control, the software controller we developed with MixMeister to be the perfect hardware to use with MixMeister Fusion software. In their review, Skratchworx says that MixMeister Control has “more features included than you can shake a stick at, and at a low cost. It’s genuinely difficult to think of anything they’ve left out – the board is packed with knobs and buttons, and they all do something useful.” Read the entire write-up.

Berhringer's DJX750 Great Mixer/Great Price

This One Has It All (for under $230)

A professional 5-channel DJ mixer with advanced digital effects and dual auto BPM counters
The Behringer DJX750 DJ Mixer merges intuitive operation with built-in digital effects processing for 5-channels of clean, transparent sound to set your dance floor on fire! The DJX750 is a great DJ mixer when you need an analog DJ mixer for your dance club but don't want to settle for some run-of-the-mill DJ desk you'll outgrow in just a few weeks? Channels Galore Because your voice is your instrument, the Behringer DJX750 DJ Mixer features a dedicated mic channel with all the tools to make your sound supremely distinctive. Vocal fine-tuning is handled by the onboard 3-band EQ, which provides up to 15 dB of boost or cut at LOW (80 Hz), MID (2.5 k), and HIGH (12 kHz) frequency centers —creating an extremely broad tonal palette. The Behringer DJX750's stereo channels' EQ utilize the same frequency centers with a boost of up to 12 dB and a cut of as much as -32dB. These channels are equipped to handle every conceivable input source — from line level, phono, CD and tape decks to mp3 and minidisk players, we've got you covered.Auto Ducking The Behringer DJX750 mixer's talkover function automatically detects your voice and brings down the volume of the music track (referred to as "ducking"), so your voice is always out front — you can even set this level to your own personal preference.Auto BPM CounterSync'ing up tracks is an art unto itself — that's why we gave the Behringer DJX750 dual Auto BPM Counters. This cool feature helps take the guesswork out of making a smooth transition from one track to the next. Each BPM counter's digital display shows which channel it is tracking and the tempo of the music in beats per minute. Optionally, you can push the Beat Assist button in time with the song to manually enter the tempo. You get a read out of the tempo difference between the tracks, as well as a visual confirmation when they are in sync. These tools will help you seamlessly align two tracks — without having to rely solely on your ears.Crossfader and Channel FadersAll of our super-smooth faders are of the high-grade 45-mm ULTRAGLIDE variety. Faders are, after all, the heart and soul of every mixer, and with their 500,000-cycle life expectancy (that's 275 fades per night, per fader for five years without a break!), they outperform standard faders more than twenty-to-one. And since the crossfader uses VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier) technology, there is virtually no audio noise. For those of you who prefer customized crossfading, the DJX750 also includes our CF Curve control, which lets you set the crossfader's control characteristic just the way you like it. It is, after all, your show!XPQ 3DMaking music larger than life is what it's all about and the Behringer DJX750 DJ Mixer comes through on this in a big way. XPQ 3D Surround widens the stereo field, giving it immense depth and creating a stereo image that is full of life, with amazingly transparent sound. You determine the intensity of this stunning effect with a simple twist of the Surround control — from barely noticeable to supremely spectacular.Onboard Digital EffectsReally good digital effects add the finishing touch to a solid performance, and ours are really good! With 33 outstanding effects to choose from, including an assortment of Phase Shifters, Flangers, Reverbs, Delays and more, your audience won't know what hit them. There are even Auto Filter and Voice Changer effects that will take your show to a whole new level.Not Just a Behringer DJX700 dressed in black! DJs the world over love the DJX700 — and we are grateful that so many have made it their "go-to" mixer. So when we began design on the DJX750, we knew we had to do something very special. We started by revving up the FX processor and putting advanced parameter control right at your fingertips.No longer are you confined to rigid presets that limit your creativity. With the Behringer DJX750 Mixer, you can change FX parameters on-the-fly, pushing your performance to the next level. In no time you'll be creating powerful sets with your own custom-tailored effects sounds, all of which can be controlled in real-time. Some parameters at your disposal include Bit Crusher depth, manual filter sweeps, Panning (LFO Rate), delay/echo time and much more. You can even set delay and echo timing relative to the internal BPM counter for extremely musical results. It is like a DJX700 — but one on steroids! Monitor Multi-tasking You can't put on much of a show if you can't hear what you're mixing! That's why we didn't cut any corners on DJX750's monitor section. When the monitor Mode switch is in the "Split" position, you hear the PFL (Pre-Fader Level) output on the left side of your phones, and the Master signal on your right. If you prefer working in "Stereo" mode, you can turn the MIX control fully counterclockwise to hear the channel PFL signal in both sides of your headphones, fully clockwise for the Master output, or you can "mix" both signals by adjusting the control to anywhere in-between. You can listen to one or multiple sources, and LEDs light up to indicate what you're listening to.Sound QualityNone of the above-mentioned features would amount to much if the DJX750 didn't sound truly remarkable. That's why we equip each one with Behringer's tried-and-true ULN (Ultra Low-Noise) preamps: what comes in comes out, with nothing added. So you get maximum headroom, extremely low noise and ultra-transparent sound. Compare it to the competition for sound quality, features and value and you'll see why more and more DJs "own the night" with their BEHRINGER DJX750.

Remembering DJ AMAug 31, 2009 at 6:25 PM PDTBy indiediot
Nearly a year after surviving a plane crash that almost killed him, Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein was found dead in his New York City apartment this past Friday. Throughout the weekend praise poured in from across the music community, particularly from DJs who praised his unique ability to bridge communities with his singular skill and mash-up style. Friends say that DJ AM’s ear for music was unmatched and his passion infallible. We honor AM’s legacy with a playlist he created of his favorite songs from 2008.Listen and post your comments here

This is the Latest Music Craze in Western Europe

A beginner's guide to: DubstepOct 02, 2009 at 11:24 AM PDTBy indiediot
Dubstep is a groundbreaking new style of dance music with enough buzz to make any music fan's ears ring. Rising from the ashes of UK garage, dubstep combines a smattering of styles from hip-hop, house, and dub into one genre-defying new sound. From its humble beginnings in the South London suburbs, to the main stages at this summer's hottest music festivals, dubstep's journey is just beginning. To get you started on the road to discovery, we've put together this playlist of the genre's best, including Skream, Benga, Kode 9, and Burial.

Feel your chest rattle