Novation Twitch DJ Controller

Here we go again with another new DJ controller! This time it's the "Novation Twitch" DJ controller and look... No jog wheels! The last time I wrote a post on a product by this manufacturer it was on the "Slicer" by Novation (one of my earlier works) This controller also has some of the same effects found on the Slicer plus a whole lot more! Plus it incorporates "Serato Itch" software. Now if I said once, I may as well have said it a thousand times, that no matter how many gadgets and gimmicks a controller has on it....It will only sound as good as the person who uses it! And believe me when I tell you, this one has a lot of stuff for you to explore! I think I'm going to start posting a few instructional videos in the near future to help give some of you a head start on using some these new products when they first come out. Now the "Twitch" doesn't appear to be brand new because some of the videos I watched came out last year (I'm not sure of the exact date)but I can see that it's been around for a while now and lots of DJs have been trying it out and making videos with it. One DJ is even offering a training course on using it on his web site! (How cool is that?) But it still goes back to my saying that you have to practice to sound really good no matter what you're using! So if you intend to become a professional DJ some day or even if you just want this to be your hobby, You need to work hard at it to sharpen your skills and not look like a fool trying to be cool. As I mentioned in a previous post, technology is moving faster than the eye can see and if you're not keeping up you will get left behind. This piece of equipment is a fine example of what I mean. The cost factor for it is not bad her (under $400.00)but don't expect to just buy it and get right on it and sound like the DJ in this video, it's gonna take plenty of work and practicing before you"ll even come close to using it like that! So in the meantime, I"ll do my part to help my readers and followers by including some of those instructional videos I find out here to help get you started. I mean hey, we're all in this together! and I'd like to get back some replys that say thanks! your blog really helped me! That's what it was intended for! So for now that about it, but as always......remember to "Stay In The Mix"

The Numark NS6 (Winner by a Knock Out)

Hello again readers, If I sounded like I may have been "dissin" Numark when I wrote about the Pioneer DDJ-S1, I must say I truly apologize for that dis-service to Numark.

 As always, when someone comes along with a product to rival one of theirs they always come back with something to blow your mind and the new NS6 is a prime example. I knew that the NS6 was going to be a contender for the Pioneer DDJ-S1 but I gotta say, Numark is showing out like Mike Tyson in his prime!

In this video DJ Certa gives us a demonstration of what the NS6 is capable of doing and I have to say, they couldn't have come up with a more qualified electronic instrumentalist for the task! This is the kind of stuff that I love to talk about and showcase on my blog. Pure Talent! as I've quoted before "the product is only going to sound as good as the user" and I would love to see what this DJ does with the Pioneer controller! but I don't think it would come out any more amazing than this did.

 If I had to choose between the Numark NS6 with "Serato Itch" installed and the Pioneer DDJ-S1 with the same software, I think I would have to go with the Numark. The overview I watched on this product's performance was also interesting, but it didn't give me the full effect that I got from seeing a real DJ put the product to work.

 That's what makes a DJ a DJ! when you can take a few tools and make them work for you the way they were meant to be worked....that's what makes you stand apart from the ordinary! Not just anyone can blend rhythms and beats the way a true DJ can and you'll know when a person has that skill because it shows and you will definately feel it!

 This is why I chose this profession and throughout my career I've loved every minute of it! But you can't take any credit away from the product, Numark has put all the quality they're known for in this one too!

In my last post I touched on a few of the things that I've been working on to keep perpetuating my business and keeping up with new products is one of them. I try to keep new products in my inventory because I not only want to be familiar with them myself, but I want to have enough equipment available for my other DJs to use if need be. Plus, I need to be able to show my other DJs how to use the products that I want them to use. I think we're going to have a lot of fun with this one (once I get it!)

So keep hanging with me cause I got plenty more to show you in the days and weeks to come, but that's about it for now! So remember, as always...................."Stay In The Mix"

Akai XR20 (Drum Machine Meets Hip-Hop)

Sooo, this is my first post for 2012 and I can't believe that it's April already! It was my intention to have written on my blog before now but for some reason I just couldn't seem to get into the mood. Even though I don't have a lot of followers yet I still feel a certain obligation to the ones I do have to keep you posted with the latest news and views about whats happening on the national and international DJ scene. Well, my conscience has haunted me long enough so here I am with my latest story on beat making devices.

If you've been keeping up with my post you may recall an earlier one that I did on the Akai XR-20 Beat Production Center. As I mentioned in the other post, I own one myself and I'm still learning a lot about making beats! This device has a lot of videos you can watch on "YouTube" from tutorials to live demonstrations. The one I've chosen is from Winter Namm and it's being presented by one of the spokesperson's for Akai Professional. It's not the greatest demonstration of what the machine can do, but it has good video quality and as I said there are lots of videos you can watch when this one ends if you want to see more.

This is just another in the series of post I've been running on beat production equipment and creating your own studio at home. If you're clicking over from another web-site or hopefully "mine" I hope you take the time to click "follow" and scroll back and read some of my earlier post to help bring you up to speed.

 Some of the other sites you can find me on is "ReverbNation" and of cource "FaceBook" From my facebook page you can go in and look at a lot of the music I've been listening to on "Spotify" (a very cool app) that I found through facebook. And on ReverbNation you can go in and listen to some of my mixes. I'm slowly working on getting some mixes on ReverbNation that you can purchase and download. I plan to have other products you can purchase through my web-site http://www.mmcdjlive.com (i.e T-shirts, hats, coffee mugs etc.) coming up real soon!

So as you can see, I've been busy placing new irons in the fire for future reference and something that I hope will grow to become my legacy!. These are just a few ideas and plans that I don't mind sharing with my fellow D.Js out there! After all, that is the purpose of my blog.......to help inspire those that are following in this field! So that is about all I have for you for now, but keep in touch cause there'll be plenty more to come. So as always, remember to.............Stay In The Mix!

The New Pioneer DDJ-S1 (Step Aside Numark)

Merry Christmas readers,followers and fans! It's been a while once again since you've heard from me and I apologize for the long absence. The holidays are upon us and like most, I've been busy with a lot of things.

I hope this season is bringing you lots of joy and prosperity and that you are using that good fortune to bring joy to others. I love DJaying this time of year cause it's such a festive time and people can be so giving! Bless their souls!!!

Well here it is, another new product for you to check out,The brand new "Pioneer DDJ-S1", A strong competitor for the "Numark NS7". However, Numark has released a new NS6 which I intend to speak more on in a future blog. But as you may already know pioneer has an outstanding track record with their other CDJ products (i.e. the CDJ 400s, 800s, and 1000s) this new controller looks like it incorporates their famous CDJ Player but it's not using a CD! Instead they have added "Serato Itch" software to the controller.

Serato (the #1 name in DJ software) is built in and just like the "Numark NS7" all you need is the controller and your laptop. For the price that this is going for (under $1,000) I definitely want to try this out and maybe make it my next purchase. The new NS6 is going for the same price so of course I will need to compare them to one another.

As I mentioned in one of my earlier post, CDs are slowly becoming obsolete and these new controllers are a prime example. For now I'm still using the "B-52 prodigy FX" which allows me to also use my CD's but I keep adding the CDs to my library so I don't have to take as many when I gig, but if you know anything about the prodigy then you know that the effects don't work unless you're playing a CD.

From what I have learned about using "Serato Itch" it will let you scratch right from the software and I'm guessing that this new controller will accommodate that feature. As you see in the video, there are no slots for you to insert a CD so I'm pretty sure they must have taken this into consideration.

So, what am I going to do with all those CDs after they become totally obsolete? Well, I Didn't worry about that with my records and I didn't worry about that when I stopped using cassettes, so I guess it won't be no big deal when all my CDs end up in storage too! Besides, I can always go back to the ones that don't get added to the computer and use them when they become moldy oldies!

So be on the look out for my post on the "NuMark NS6" it will give you my take on the comparison between the two. So until then............ "Stay In The Mix"

DJ Revolution - King of the Bridge

So here's another DMC Champion doing his thing and showing his skills using Serato and Ableton software. It's a bit hard to keep up with (but watching most DMC Champions is) when it comes to what instrument is creating what sound. I couldn't help but notice that the sequencer he's using is by Akai and it looks like the long awaited APC-40. I intend to study this unit a little closer but from what I here him doing on it, I've seen smaller units give you the same effect!(ie, the Traktor X1)

I'm not trying to critique any of the equipment shown here and I certainly don't have anything critical to say about my mans skills. I just want to point out that there are many ways for a DJ to enhance his performance using add-on units. This to me is by far one of the most outstanding performances I've seen in a while! I salute you DJ Rev!

In the mean time I'm gonna keep surfing around the web to see what else I can find on this Akai APC-40(it may be capable of more than I realize from just watching this video)and if so I'll be sure to tell you more about it in another post. So that's going to do it for now but as always........"Stay In The Mix"

The Yahmaha RM1X Sequencer (Still Ranked with the Best)

I know it's been a while since you heard from me and I apologize for the such a long wait to see a new post on this blog. The good news is I've been gigging lately which is why I haven't had time to write any new post. One of the things I love to do is spend time with family and get together to share new ideas!

I have a nephew that I've worked with on a few projects and he and I were together recently for his wedding(Congratulations!)by the way, but we were talking about the Yamaha RM1X which was one of the first sequencers that he purchased and made his first beats on. Since then, he has acquired other beat making machines and studio equippment that were more advanced than the RM1X but he stil talks about the versatility that this machine had in comparison to what he's using now.

I still remember those days in the studio with him laying some guitar riffs over some of the tracks he had made and I was always amazed at the sounds he would find on the RM1X to go along with the story of his song! It was awesome! Maybe I'll download one of his beats to this blog one day. But in the meantime, here's a video of the RM1X in action! I didn't choose this particular video so much for the song as much as I did for the clarity of the video and sound.

I think the person in this video may have been using some of the pre-set sounds found in the RM1X as opposed to creating them himself (it's hard to tell) but anywho, you get to see a nice demonstration of what the machine can do. My nephew traded off his old one but now he's talking about getting another one. And I really can't blame him! We both love what this machine can do....heck, I may even get one myself!

This was just another installment of the many post I'll be running on "Beat Making Equippment" and "Starting your own Studio" Now that my busy season as a DJ is winding down, you'll probably be seeing me post more often again. But for now that's about it. So as always......"Stay In The Mix"

The DJM-T1 (Pioneer teams up with Traktor Scratch)

Just as the Rane mixer incorporates the Serato Scratch Live software, now Pioneer has joined with Traktor Scratch to bring you the new DJM-T1. This mixer has some pretty impressive capabilities that I haven't found on the Rane mixers yet and I think the price may be less. (I'm not sure though) because I haven't found it online yet for a price comparison.

I had a discussion with another DJ at a club not too long ago about which was the better software between Serato and Traktor. Of cource he was using Traktor at the time and he was all for the way it performed plus he told me that it was cheaper than Serato! which is why I believe this mixer may be priced less than the Rane mixer. I still use Serato, but now I'm taking a closer look at Traktor scratch.

The DJ in the video is giving this new product a pretty decent workout and I really like what I see it can do. I just wish I could have seen more of a demonstration using CDJs which is what I usually work with. But all-in-all I'm very impressed with what Pioneer has done. This is a really nice piece of equippment!

That's about it for now and I'll be looking around for the price that this is going for and I'll ad to this post when I find it. So stay cool for the summer and as always "Stay In The Mix!