Control MIDI

So Pioneer has recently been fueling our imaginations with all this new species thing. I do want to know what's going on but there's only about a week or so left before they reveal what's really going on. With so much hype all over the internet, I sure hope they know what they are doing!

After all, tempting us with this is one thing. Then delivering an HDD-based Serato ITCH controller is another thing. Pioneer, your new species better be very new mate.

But what are the odds here? We already have HDD-based table tops. We already have MIDI controllers. We already have Hybrids in between. So what is this now? And I hope Pioneer will go the SSD way because HDDs are known to drop out because the bass thump is usually too much in the booth.
Enjoy the voyeurism ;)

Well, you guys probably don't know this yet but I am a great supported of Free (Libre) Open Source Software. It is a great thing for enthusiasts and developers all over the place. Sadly, there aren't too many of them around for us Music/Sound guys but there are a few.

One of those is Mixx – a truly cross-platform Dj-ing tool that works even on Linux! That's right. They have recently hit 1.7.0 and that is a bug deal you guys! I just wanted to show them my support and give you guys a heads up by blogging about them. Pay them a visit at - http://www.mixxx.org and download the software at http://www.mixxx.org/download.php. It is absolutely, completely, one hundred percent, no-catch, free forever! Music to the recession bitten (y)ears.

Have fun!

This post has been a long time coming. My sincere apologies to Vilhelm to whom I promised this post and then got delayed two weeks over what I said. Anyway, better late than than never I guess!

So the idea for this post and inspiration was given to me by a reader called Vilhelm. He brought up the topic saying that there really wasn't that much info on the internet about which audio interfaces/sound cards can be used with MIDI Controllers that lack built-in sound.

Now theoretically, you can actually go ahead and use any damn audio interface you want. Anything that floats your boat that gets the job done is the right one to use. But there are some that work better than others and in this post I am going to focus on the the controllers I would choose for working live.

The reason why I am choosing live situations is because – a)That's what got me in to MIDI Controllers in the first place and b)It is often the situation where people want to know which ones are the most suitable.

If you are solo performer things will be that much simpler. However, if you decide to hook up for some live PA action – that is where problems begin. DJs do not have this problem though. They will just plug in to the same Mixer and be done with. But if you are a modern DJ who uses a laptop and a controller, hooking up might be confusing. For this, I find the best solution is to either hook up to the same analogue mixer and output from their or use an audio interface that has robust I/O and routing capabilities.

For now, here are some of the smaller audio interfaces that can used in Live situations (i.e. with laptops). Most of them are meant for recording situations but they have the requisite I/Os and dedicated monitoring capabilities to work for live situations. All of the images link to their product pages where you can get more detailed information about them and also find some user reviews and ratings.




My first option would be the Apogee Duet for simple and high quality audio interface. Although it is meant for recording, it can be translated in to live performance. It has balanced and unbalanced inputs. Two outputs for powered speakers and also headphone monitoring. You will be losing out on the functionality of the knob but you have your MIDI Controller for those works. This is a FireWire 400 audio interface and should be used with a Mac. For new MacBooks, Apogee has a FW800 to FW400 adapter.



Next are the purpose built audio 8 and audio 4 Dj audio interfaces from Native Instruments. These are made for DJs and performers who want pro quality sound. With switchable inputs and cool number of outputs, you will have all your bases covered.




This here is the Presonus Inspire 1394 FireWire audio interface. I am deliberately choosing smaller interfaces so that they are easier to carry (and okay to keep in public view). Presonus has a name for making good quality audio interfaces and this one is a favorite for small start up home and project studios. It has separate headphone and line outs. Works on both OS X and Windows. It has balanced mic inputs as well so you can have someone MC-ing along. This boxes can be daisy-chained, so you can have up to 16 inputs and proportionate outputs with multiple Presonus Inspire boxes.




If you want a USB interface for REALLY cheap, you have the Behnringer UControl UCA202 USB audio interface at your disposal. At only $30, you cannot be asking for more than what it already provides. It gives you a pair in and a pair out with separate headphone monitoring (1/4") and it even has digital audio out via the optical S/PDIF out.




This piece from Mackie has been on my radar for quite some time now. Even though Mackie is not primarily known for making audio interfaces, this is a great little piece that will serve double purposes. The Mackie Onyx Satellite is a FireWire Interface that has two parts. The pod and the dock. The idea here is that the pod can be carried along for location work and the dock will stay attached to your studio back home. Why this appeals to me is because for under $200 I can get something that will essentially act as two separate audio interfaces. Once I am done with my live work, I can easily come back to my studio and plug the pod back in, without having to worry about rewiring the entire thing. After all, I do not have the budget to buy two audio interfaces! I am just a poor musician.




Since this is the Control MIDI blog and this post is about audio interfaces, I cannot help but mention this nifty little piece from Native Instruments. This is another purpose built audio interface meant for working with software and it incorporates MIDI functionality. So this can act as your secondary controller. It is meant to be used with a few specific apps but since there's MIDI, it is as good as a second MIDI controller waiting to be mapped to your favorite software. It is a FireWire device and works on both Mac and Windows.




Stanton brings this piece of audio interface goodie that has all the I/Os a digital DJ can ever need. The Stanton Final Scratch Scratchamp is a FireWire Interface and has 2 pairs of output and 2 pairs of input along with 1 pair of auxiliary input and one balanced mic input. That's everything you will ever need onstage. Further more, Stanton advertises this as a system meant for audio apps like Live and MixVibes.




This is the second most expensive piece that I am going to mention on this post. This is the Stanton SCS.1m Digital Mix Controller. This amazing piece that has scribble strips, infinite rotary knobs and a four channel setup for one helluva digital DJ-ing experience. It is also a great FireWire audio interface that has been designed for DJs and live performers. This one retails for about $600-800 depending on where you are buying it form.




And this is just for kicks because most of us mere mortals do not need this kind of power. This by far the most expensive piece on this post. It has amazing Allen&Heath audio quality. The name speaks for itself. It is an interface that has a lot of MIDI control, everything glows under UV and a lot of them are backlit. All in all, if you want to blow about $2800 on some fantastic audio and MIDI gear – this beast is it.

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When it comes to using audio interfaces at home with your MIDI controllers, your choice is completely your choice. It is only restricted by the laptop/desktop that you are using and the amount that you are willing to spend on it. If you any of you guys and gals have suggestions, do drop a line. I will add the thing on the list. Till next time, keep 'em fingers busy! And if you are planning to buy something in the mean time, it is a good time to head over to MusiciansFriend.com. They are are having a grand sale, look below:

Save Up to 90% on Almost Everything at MusiciansFriend.com (exp: 8/31)

• Every control on the damn this is customizable and that means every pot, slider and button
• The clip launch button matrix with multicolor feedback is an absolute first in a consumer product. And it completely sells the product (else it is not very different from the MPD32).
• Session overview
• Mixer Section
• Transport control
• Track Selection and Device Control Encoders
• Track Control
• Tempo control

Oh, and here's the official description and a place to buy: -

Akai APC40 Ableton Performance Controller The Akai APC40 Ableton Performance Controller is designed to be a powerful, intuitive controller for electronic-music performance artists, DJs, hip-hop producers and traditional musicians using Ableton Live on stage and in the studio. Virtual view The APC40 talks directly to Ableton Live and Live talks directly to the APC40. This exclusive bidirectional communication makes the Akai Professional APC40 an advanced controller that receives feedback from the software and displays it on its clip matrix of 40 triggers, and on LED rings surrounding each knob. The clip matrix gives you an instant view of clip status: what's loaded, what's playing, and what's being recorded. Each state displays on the matrix in a different color so you quickly get a picture of clip state. Shift your clip focus and get an overview of the clips you have loaded for your set. The Akai APC40 controller has 16 knobs, each surrounded by a ring of LEDs. These LED rings indicate the currently selected parameters' values, and make seeing your settings on dark stages a breeze. The APC40 controller's advanced visual feedback focuses your performing with focused more on the music and less on squinting at the computer screen. In fact, you might even forget that the computer is there. Premium controls Ableton selected Akai Professional as a partner because of its leadership position in great-feeling controllers that are rock solid, rugged, and precise. From the legendary MPC series that changed the way music is made to the industry-standard MPD and MPK controllers, Akai Professional is revered by musicians, DJs, and producers everywhere for creating the feel that powers their creativity. The APC40 is built with a rugged, metal chassis and slip-proof rubber detailing. Knobs and faders are solid and precise for pinpoint performance. It even features a high quality, replaceable crossfader.Creative control The Akai APC40 controller comes with a special edition of Ableton Live Lite so you can use it out of the box even if you're new to Live. There's also a free patch that upgrades full versions of Live so if you're already a Live user, you can take full advantage of the APC40. The APC40 has two banks of eight knobs. The first set controls Global parameters so you'll always have instant access to your main sends, pans, and other essentials. The second bank of eight knobs is dynamically reassigned to the Track you select. You can control eight track parameters at a time, and as you switch channels, the Track knobs follow your focus. You also get special clip-status views and feedback that only the APC40's matrix can display. The matrix is not limited to only 40 clips: you can scroll and shift, enabling access to an unlimited number of cells. The APC40 has a wide range of controllers. The eight Global knobs can access four banks of controls; the eight Track knobs control nine different track parameters each. This gives you a massive total of 72 controller

Special images courtesy antonio19 at photobucket - http://media.photobucket.com/image/apc40/antonio913/SNC10948.jpg?o=12

Sometimes I really wonder why I even try to garner some respect as a DJ. With people making such silly games out of scratching and Dj-ing and not even including DJs in the promo, this is getting really stupid right now. Anyway, so Numark has debuted a Scratch deck controller for a DJ game and it looks like - what else, a Guitar hero-esque controller, only it look like a turntable and not a guitar.



Well, I guess the argument that it will make DJ-ing more popular does have a point. But yet again we see that rappers get more importance in the promo and this is a game ON DJ-ing for crying out loud! I mean serioulsy people, put Q-Bert, Mix Meister Mike or even Asian Hawk on the promos! Why do you start with Jay-Z and Eminem? Anyway, ranting aside, the game might be promising and it will let non-musical people enjoy the art of Dj-ing. May be kinds will buy more turntables than ever before.
We shall see.

Here's the promo video (yeah well, it is animated and all, what do you expect to see? This is no Metal Gear Solid Or Final Fantasy  :P )

NUMARK AND GENIUS PRODUCTS REVEAL SCRATCH: THE ULTIMATE DJ VIDEOGAME CONTROLLER FOR XBOX 360® AND PLAYSTATION®3

Designed by Leading DJ Technology Manufacturer, SCRATCH DECK Gives Players an Authentic DJ Experience Like No Other

Cumberland, R.I. (May 27, 2009) – Numark Industries, the world's leading manufacturer of DJ technology, and Genius, Inc., released today the first images of the videogame controller for Scratch: The Ultimate DJ for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. SCRATCH DECK will be showcased for hands-on play at a special event in Los Angeles on June 3, during the week of the videogame industry's most high profile trade show, the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo.

"For decades, Numark has been developing turntables, DJ mixers and digital DJ controllers. We know what professional DJs demand, and we used that knowledge to produce SCRATCH DECK," said Adam Cohen, Director of Business Development, Numark. "It was critical that we deliver an authentic DJ experience to gamers, whether they be experienced DJs or players who have never put a needle to vinyl."

SCRATCH DECK combines two essential elements of the DJ and hip-hop experience - a free-spinning, touch sensitive turntable with a crossfader and 5 Akai Pro MPC-style drum pads. The turntable allows players to add their own style and manipulate the songs in real time, while the MPC-style drum pads give players the opportunity to perform and customize tracks by triggering samples using the very same pads that are the cornerstone of professional hip-hop beat production. Samples can either be pre-loaded into the game using 60 unique battle records that will ship with the software, or players can record and upload their own samples using a compatible USB microphone.

In addition to the features created by Numark, SCRATCH DECK also contains standard game controls found in music rhythm games. The turntable features a realistic surface that feels remarkably similar to a vinyl record. The drum pads and the crossfader also deliver an authentic and realistic music production experience. Left-handed DJs will appreciate that SCRATCH DECK is designed for use in right or left-handed configurations.

"Being involved with Hip-Hop for so long, Numark has consistently been the standard for innovation and leadership in computer DJ controllers, their quality is second to none," said Quincy Jones III of QD3 Entertainment. "We are very excited to partner with them to deliver the most authentic DJ experience for gamers and look forward to letting gamers and Hip Hop enthusiasts get their hands on the controller for the first time at E3."

Scratch: The Ultimate DJ combines free-form DJ tricks with great rhythm game play similar to top-selling rhythm games. Scratch: The Ultimate DJ is set in distinctive urban environments and will feature songs from the biggest names in Hip-Hop. Scratch: The Ultimate DJ, featuring the Numark SCRATCH DECK, will be available in Fall 2009.

About Numark Industries

Numark Industries is the global leader of professional DJ and audio equipment, and is recognized for providing progressive breakthrough technology. Since 1971, Numark has designed and delivered innovative products and numerous music industry "firsts." For more information, visit www.numark.com; images are available at http://www.numark.com/media.

About Genius Products

Genius Products, Inc. (GNPR.PK - News ) is the owner of Genius Products, LLC, a leading independent home-entertainment distribution company that produces, licenses and distributes a valuable library of motion pictures, television programming, family, lifestyle and trend entertainment on DVD and other emerging platforms through its expansive network of retailers throughout the United State

The battle for supremacy amongst the various Dj softwares is heating up now as Serato ITCh finally has the NS7 and Native Instruments has released a point upgrade for its Traktor Pro. Other than these two, there are varioud other softwares that are constantly vying for some attention (and failing miserably).

These would include Virtual DJ, MixVibes and a host of other wannabes. The MixVibes line actually has some potential but Virtual Dj is seriously... it looks to me like they have chosen to be a toy software and they will forever remain that way.

Compared to them, Deckadance has been around only for a while and it is already creating waves in the Dj-ing world. The folks and Imageline sure did some research before they made this because one of the pet peeves od digital Djs was that integrating a great software like Traktor into something like Live would be mind blowing. People came up with ways to do it but then it was only sound routing and it wasn't very efficient.

Out came Deckadance - with the capability to host VSTs and runs as one as well. This opened up a whole new side Djs had been craving for. But it is not easy to become something like Traktor Pro or SSL overnight. So Deckadance has been in beta and then out of Beta and people have been looking at it with expectations of it becoming much bigger. All in all, it is really very promising.

So with this upgrade, Deckadance has changed few things and fixed a few more. This version has a new time-stretch/compression technology and also has batch processing of tracks for reduced CPU load while you are mixing. It now has a manual beat grid mode which is a must for mixing complex beats.

There are versions for both Mac and PC and the pricing model look sreally tempting to say the least. Deckadance Club Edition ($179US) and Deckadance House Edition ($99US) are are being sold at Image Line's Web shop with a  20 percent off. An offder that endson June 20, 2009. Deckadance House Edition lacks the the DVS timecoded vinul/CD transport functions which the fully-functional Club Edition has.

Here are some more features that have been added in the new version: -

• Added native support for the Vestax VCI-300 controller. Other natively-supported MIDI controllers include the Vestax VCI-100, Korg Zero4, Allen & Heath Xone:3D, DJ-Tech Kontrol One, Stanton SCS-3D, Hercules DJ Control Steel, EKS Otus, Omnitronic MMC-1 and DJ-Tech DJM-202
• Option to switch between the old and new sound engine by the improved interface of the setup panel
• Improved seek waveform that shows the start and cue points
• OpenGl render engine for Windows
• Unicode support for playlist/browser items
• Beatgrid move via mouse over the waveform
• Improved DVS engine when elastique time-stretching is disabled, etc.
• Fully compatible with Open Labs DBeat portable DJ instruments 

But these folks from Germany are just not satisfied with almost singlehandedly creating most of what made  electronic music possible, now they are making music from plants! Yes, it is true, see for your self. There's no trick, it is pure science. These are plant theremin.