NI presents three vids showing some really hot controllerism routines by DMC Champion DJ Rafik using the new NI controllers!

Rafik is showing is high-class skills using his turntable combined with the NI controller MASCHINE and the upcoming X1 hardware. Check the vids, Rafik is really choppin it up.

DMC Champion DJ Rafik Performs on Traktor Scratch Pro – Pt. I

Rafik chops up the “Block Rockin’ Beats” sample from the Chemical Brothers, triggering individual cue points so he can restructure the lick in his own way. On the left deck, he runs a hi-hat that is routed that the Gater, Filter and Beatmasher effects in Traktor, all controlled via the upcoming X1 controller.

DMC Champion DJ Rafik Performs on Traktor Scratch Pro – Pt. II

For this routine, a vocal sample is loaded into the left deck while MGMT’s “Kids” (Soulwax Remix) is loaded in the right deck. Cue points allow one-shot drumming action with the buttons of the MASCHINE controller. Rafik then drops in a custom guitar lick using the Beatmasher and Gater effects in Traktor, controlled via the X1 hardware.

DMC Champion DJ Rafik Performs on Traktor Scratch Pro – Pt. III

Rafik chops it up with drums in the left deck, triggered from the X1 controller, and the guitar sample from the previous routine on the second right deck. The Gater effect and an additional LFO filter every 1/4th bar add to a serious wonk session.

more info at:
www.native-instruments.com
www.youtube.com/user/NativeInstruments

Today AKAI released the APC 40 – Ableton Performance Controller. Ableton and Akai worked in a joint partnership to create the APC40, a Controller specifically designed as Ableton Live control surface.

To me this new Ableton controller looks very intresting and I really want to get my hands on it!

The price of this new controller should be around 499 EUR/USD.

Check out the following vids to get an impression on the APC40:

APC40 Ableton Performance Controller

The APC40 Ableton Performance Controller in action!

You can find lots of information and overviews on the official APC40 page…

more info at:
http://www.apc40.com
http://www.akaipro.com/apc40
http://twitter.com/Akai_Pro

One of my objectives at Musikmesse Frankfurt 2009 was getting the latest info on new Vestax gear.

To my surprise the Vestax booth was pretty small and didn’t really stick out between all the different manufacturers. I rather had a hard time finding their booth at all.

News at the Vestax booth were also pretty rare and to my surprise the exhibited products mainly focused on digital dj equipment. Only two turntables and a few mixers were issued.

The good thing about it I got to play around with all the current Vestax controllers and got an impression on how the controllers really feel like.

Vestax Products

Here’s a little summary on the at the Vestax booth shown controllers:

VESTAX VCI-100B
The VCI-100 is a highly professional MIDI controller that has two jog wheels built with sensor and control technology straight from our turntables.

The VCI-100 is built with the highest quality mechanical parts and state of the art PCB technology guaranteeing accurate and stable operation. The VCI-100 is shipped with the LE Version of Traktor but also runs with any dj-software on the market.

The VCI-100 is now also available in a black, called VCI-100B edition. The black edition of the VCI-100 was originally only available in Japan, but now also gets sold in Europe.

VESTAX VCI-300

Vestax and Serato have joined forces. The VCI-300 is a dedicated USB MIDI controller for the included Serato DJ software ITCH.

It also comes with a built in audio interface with standard 4in/4out and headphone connection.

New features such as the [Emergency Thru Switch] offers an option of using the VCI-300 with the provided ITCH software or without the computer connected if you simply want to play music from your external CD or MP3 player. Another is the new weight reduced JOG wheel and the adjustable JOG wheel torque mechanism to avoid vibration from low frequency feedback.

VESTAX VCM-100
The VCM-100 is a compact USB MIDI & audio system. Despite its compact size, the VCM-100 comes with 4in4out(Stereo x 2 in/out)connection, headphone output and high quality mechanical parts placed in the control section.

Having every feature fitted in to a solid metal body smaller than a standard laptop, the VCM-100 is easy to use and transportation friendly.

VESTAX VCM-400
At NAMM, Vestax slipped a new controller into their lineup – the VCM-400. At the time, this appeared to be a 4 deck Traktor Pro based unit, and now that appears to have been cemented with a name change. The VCM-400 is now the TR-1.

To all intents and purposes, bar a couple of very minor control rejigs (lost symmetry in the fx buttons), the unit is the same beast as the VCM-400.

more info at:
http://www.skratchworx.com/news3/comments.php?id=1118
http://www.skratchworx.com/news3/comments.php?id=1197

VESTAX VCM-600
The VCM-600 is a DJ MIDI controller designed with Vestax mixer technology. 160 parameters of the DJ software can be assigned to the advanced control section, and has excellent compatibility with Ableton LIVE.

The VCM-600 shares the same quality control parts used on Vestax mixers and 2 LED panels are placed on each side of the controller to illuminate the top panel for clear operability and vision in clubs.

VESTAX PMC-05 PRO 4
The VESTAX PMC-05Pro4 is the newest version of Vestax’s famous PMC-05Pro3.

Unfortunetly I couldn’t get my hands on the red mixer, but it really looked intresting to me. The mixer has midi-control buttons to use with your DVS-Software!

Here some vids on the new unit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEpKXv1B18k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ApPusF2dKo

VAI-80 – USB AUDIO STATION
Following the VAI-40, Vestax has released a new compact, this one smaller than the previous model, controller, the Vestax VAI-80 USB Audio Controller is a small silver device, they call it “little tank”, and combines the analog and the digital working ways.

VAI-80 is a compact digital audio interface capable of multi channel playback and recording. Each input has GAIN & EQ (hi, low) control to enable flexible adjustments for live recording and can free up the DJ from relying on the software control panel. Also loaded with XLR output for direct connection with club PA systems.

Vestax Pro Demos

One of the Musikmesse 2009 highlights were the demonstrations and showcases performed at the Vestax booth.

Vestax provided the following schedule for demos and showcases:
11:00 Ean Golden
12:00 DJ S-TRIX
13:00 Koljeticut & AKD
14:00 Ean Golden
15:00 DJ UNKUT
16:00 Ean Golden

As I visited the Musikmesse only on Saturday, I didn’t get to see all showcases at Vestax. But one of my reasons for visiting the Musikmesse in Frankfurt was to see and meet Mr. Controllerism himself – Ean Golden.

Ean is a DJ and author who commited himself to digital djing and controllerism. He designed in cooperation with Vestax a special edition of the Vestax VCI-100. The black VCI-100SE has a special firmware version 1.3 designed by Ean, as well as a special black overlay with customized labels.
The VCI-100SE has been built by Vestax in the beginning of 2008 in a very limited number of only 100 units.

Check out www.djtechtools.com to get more information on Ean and his special edition of the Vestax VCI-100.
As I am using the Vestax VCI-100 Ean Golden special edition myself, I will set up an article on this digitial dj weapon within the next weeks.

At Musikmesse Ean performed a nice showcase using his special edition of the VCI-100 with extra custimized arcade-buttons. In addition he used a DIY controller called ‘midifighter’. Check out this article on djtechtools.com to find out more about this selfmade controller:
http://www.djtechtools.com/2009/03/17/a-new-arcade-button-controlller-is-born

Check out this video of Ean’s showcase at Musikmesse Frankfurt 2009:

Beside Ean I saw the showcase of Koljeticut & AKD, winners of the IDA World Championship 2008. Their 6-minute routine is a combination of Turntableism and MIDI-Instruments, to create a state-of-the-art piece of music.

Check out the vid and see for yourself:

More information on Koljeticut & AKD at:
http://www.myspace.com/koljeticut

Vestax Digital DJ Battle 2009

In line with the Musikmesse in Frankfurt Vestax hosted the Vestax Digital DJ Battle at Tanzhaus West on Fritday, the 3rd of April 2009.

I already posted a short article on what the Digital DJ Battle is all about:
http://djmx.de/main/2009/04/digital-dj-battle-2009

I visited the event and the battle itself wasn’t really hitting to much in my opinion, but it was cool to meet Ean and to have a little talk with him.

I will write a little review on the Digital DJ Battle sometime and post my impressions and some videos of the contestens and their sets here on my website.

All in all Vestax surprised me with their focus on Digital DJing this year. Even though Vestax didn’t show up with great news on Controllers and DJ equipment, they put on quite a good show with the Pro Demos and the arrangement of the Digital DJ Battle.

More info at:
http://www.vestax.com

All kind of Vestax demo vids at:
http://ci.vestax.com/en/movies/

The second generation of Novations controllers are the enhancements of the popular Novation Remote series. Since the Remote 25 SL is one of my central and most important components within my dj-setup, I am really expactant on the revised version of the controller.

The new SL MkII will be available again as 25/49/61 Model. Also a ZeRO SL MkII without the integrated Fatar keyboard will be available.

The first big change that catched my eye when I saw the controller are the new backlit LED buttons and encoders with LED rings that provide instant visual feedback. This a very good function that I really missed on the first edition.
Another thing I first noticed is that the top-right LED screen has been completly removed. The explanation by Novation herefor is the now featured new Automap Heads-up GUI.

Official product information:

The Novation SL Mk II features a semi-weighted Fatar ‘fast touch’ keyboard, combined with a full DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) and plug-in control surface that visually feeds back all control information to the user.

All knobs and faders are touch sensitive. By touching a control, all mapping information automatically appears on the giant 144 character LCD display. Back lit LED buttons and LED ringed encoders instantly show the status of controls.

SL Mk II also includes full transport control, an XY “Xpression Pad”, 8 drum pads, sprung pitch/mod joystick and a unique “Speed Dial” encoder, which enables the user to grab any parameter the cursor is positioned over.

In addition to 25, 49 and 61 key versions, a keyboardless “Zero” will be available with longer-throw faders and a central crossfader.

Ultra-quick mapping of all 56 knobs, faders and buttons is managed by Novation’s groundbreaking Automap 3 PRO software, which provides instant and intelligent control of all your music software. As well as extensive DAW control, parameters on VST and AU plug-ins can be assigned by simply touching the controller and clicking the parameter.

Perhaps Automap 3 PRO’s biggest asset is “Keystroke Assignment”, this enables almost any QWERTY or ASCII keyboard shortcut (and combination shortcuts) to be instantly assigned to the SL Mk II controls – providing unprecedented DAW control.

Automap 3.0 also introduces “Autoview”, where the ‘heads up GUI’ (showing the current status of all controls) can be programmed to automatically appear whenever a controller is touched, then disappear upon release.

Pricing:
The 25-key and 61-key models are shipping worldwide, April 2009. Zero SL MkII and the 49-key model will follow shortly after.

• Novation SL Mk II 25-Keys 409,99 EUR
• Novation SL Mk II 49-Keys 509,99 EUR
• Novation SL Mk II 61-Keys 619,99 EUR
• Novation Zero SL MkII 409,99 EUR

So what are the differences between ReMOTE SL and SL MkII?

ReMOTE SL vs SL MkII
• Mk II ships with the latest Automap 3 PRO
• All dials and faders are now touch-sensitive
• All SL Mk II’s buttons are illuminated
• Single Top-LED screen (as it now features the Automap Heads-up GUI)
• SL MK II’s top row of dials have 11-LED rings for instant feedback
• Top row of encoders are now smooth, rather than detented.
• SL Mk II’s transport control buttons can be used as fully assignable buttons.
• SL Mk II features new ‘soft-feel’ drum pads.
• No longer features batteries

The Novation SL controller series is a very powerfull and high-quality series of midi-controllers. The new features and functions seem to be really good improvements which make the controller even more efficient.
I really do recommend the controller as a powerful Digital DJ Weapon!

More information at:
http://www.novationmusic.com/products/sl_mkii

Novation 25SL MkII – Frankfurt MusikMesse 2009

Rane and Serato announce SL3 – Fresh from the Musikmesse 2009:

The new Serato Scratch Live 3 package by Rane is available in stores now!

The package got introduced at Musikmesse 2009 in Frankfurt and is the long awaited update to the original SL 1 audio interface that addresses some of its common problems.

The Rane SL 3 is the new audio interface for Scratch Live. Enhanced by studio grade preamps and 24-bit audio processing, new auxiliary input and output (which replaces a mic input) allow DJs and electronic musicians to intensify the mix with the Scratch Live SP-6 Sample Player (New in Version 1.9).

The auxiliary input shell provide a live input feed for more creative sampling and recording.

E.g.:

* recording the master output of the mixer back into the computer.
* Recording audio sources and sampling inside serato
* Routing the mysterious third deck which is supposed to show up sometime soon out to a mixer

The new SL3 hardware has a number of improvements including:

* New, Compact Hardware Design
* Higher output improves ability to easily match levels of various source types
* Improved Dynamic Range (104 dB)
* Improved audio performance (24 bit converters)
* Galvanic isolation prevents computer noise from interfering with audio path
* USB 2.0 high speed audio interface
* Aux Input for Live Mix Recording or LiveFeed
* Aux Out channel allows use of Sample Player as a virtual deck
* High-grade Phono Preamps upgrade performance of most mixers
* Software switchable Direct Thru Connections for simplified connections
* Independent Line/ Phono-level selection for each input for greater flexibility
* Includes International Power Supply
* Soft Carry Case Included

I just took a glance at Google on how much the package costs right now in Germany.

799 EUR (a little more than 1000 USD)… Not really a hot offer in my opinion.

I took a look at the system at the Musikmesse and I am quite interested in the package. I hope the price will go down after being on the market for a while.

Also I am really excited about the partnership of Serato and Ableton. Everybody is awaiting some information on how they will integrate these two systems. I am really curious about it, because I think these two systems could be a good solution for myself.

A lot of people (including myself) were hoping to get some news on this topic at Musikmesse in Frankfurt. Unfortunately no news yet… But I will monitor this topic and hope to get more info in not too long.

More information and lots of vids at Rane:
http://www.rane.com/djs.html

Article at djtechtools.com:
http://www.djtechtools.com/2009/04/01/serato-sl3/

Demo video from serato.com:

New Rane Serato Scratch Live SL3 Unboxing: