yizzle

[DDTT] are proud and happy to announce that our first community-sourced project and DJ TechTools’ newest product, The Midi Fighter Twister, is now available for preorder. The first run of Twisters are sailing towards San Francisco right now and will be shipping in 2 weeks or less. To mark the occasion we shot a detailed look at the most discussed feature, the Traktor Sequencer, and some very lovely photos to showcase the Twister’s final look. The Final Controllers Here are they are folks, final production Twisters in black and white. Big congratulations are due to the hard-working engineering team at DJ TechTools, led by Michael Mitchell, along with the community of beta testers and software engineers who have helped to build this amazing controller. Last, but not least, thanks to everyone who contributed over 500 submissions to the original controller design contest which inspired this project. The Traktor Sequencer First up, here is a detailed look at the incredibly powerful Traktor Sequencer. This work of firmware art turns any Remix Deck into a very powerful, and expressive multi-voice drum sequencer that is easy to use and loaded with deep features. A Flexible Control Surface The Twister will see many fans in production and live performance circles since its high-resolution encoders provide the perfect surface to control synths, effects, and MIDI racks with dynamic visual feedback across four layers. Each knob allows you custom define its characteristics with flexible indicators that match the function. Along with color coding each knob via the large RGB, you get to pick between three common knob types: • Traditional Knob – With a fast response and standard left to right visualization • Encoder – A high-resolution output, with longer range and a relative display • Center Detent – Left and Right display matches the popular filter style setup and feel. There is also a range of custom options for each encoder in all 4 banks: • Optional Super Knobs (Multi-CC per control) with adjustable ranges • 10 choices for the encoder push state including CC/Note toggle, hold, and more • Routing of each encoder or switch out to a different MIDI channel • Customizable 3 color detent • Customizable RGB indicator light Source: djtechtools.com

welcome bud

Many DJs own turntables or CDJs but don’t have the cash to start building out a full setup for control vinyl right away – so how can you test the waters of a DVS system without breaking the bank? Today we’re sharing a tip from a DJTT reader ssamkange on how he built his own DVS setup for less than $7. Note: The process described below is for experimentation and budget setups – don’t expect to plug in at a club or festival with the low-end sound cards discussed in this article and to be impressed with the results. What You Will Need: • Mixx DJ Software: free download • Timecode: free if you’re burning CDs (Serato), vinyl can be as cheap as $10 • Cheap USB Soundcards: $5 – $8 (you’ll need two) • Y-Cables: $0 - 5 Total: $10 if you’re good, but maxing at around $30 if you go “all out”. Cheap Soundcards A sampling of the sub-$10 soundcards on the market. This is the major DJ life hack in this project. Forget everything you’ve ever heard about sound cards – it is possible to get halfway decent audio out of a very low-cost USB soundcards. You also don’t need the most incredible soundcard ever for timecode control. It likely won’t stand up to the test in a club or major festival environment, but to quote ssamkange‘s email: "[the setup] worked PERFECTLY. I did a proper hour with NO HICCUPS. Took it a step further. Did a house party and the whole night used my $7 DVS and it was all good." Here’s a few rules for choosing a cheap soundcard: • Make sure the inputs and outputs are both stereo – mono will not work. • Buy two of the same soundcard – they’ll have consistent clocking, and adjusting the latency settings will have the same result on each one. • Be ready for them to die. Most of these cheap soundcards have a handful of reviews mentioning an untimely demise. They’re cheaply made. The three cards that we’ve sourced over on Amazon are the iLuv USB Audio Adapter ($9.99), CommonByte USB Sound Card ($3.49), and Virtual 5.1-surround USB 2.0 External Sound Card ($1.90). Routing The Audio Standard Y-cables: you’ll need four. In order to get these soundcards to work for your two-channel DVS setup, you’ll need to have four Y-Cables (Stereo RCA to 1/8″). This is two for each soundcard – one from the turntable/CDJ to the stereo line input, and one from the stereo output to your mixer. Adjusting latency settings is easy in ASIO4ALL With the software discussed below, you’re able to route input and output audio across multiple soundcards. However, you may need to adjust the latency of the soundcards – and it’s a lot easier to do this when they’re grouped together. We recommend combining them in ASIO4ALL (PC) or the built in Audio MIDI Setup utility on Mac OS X and adjusting the latency compensation/ Buffer Offset / Buffer Size until the latency is acceptable. Ssamkange found it worked best when reducing the buffer size to 256 samples and using a 44100k sample rate. Software Selection Perpetually free, Mixxx is the cheapest DJ software option. The last step of getting this budget rig all working is on the software side of things. Serato and Traktor are out right away as they both require proprietary scratch soundcards. Virtual DJ will work fine, but to unlock timecode control will run $299 for the Pro version. This is where the free Mixxx DJ software is the best option. There’s free timecode control that works with Serato, Traktor, or Mixvibes control signals, and the ability to use multiple soundcards within the software’s settings. Routing the audio with the combined ASIO4ALL device You’ll need to configure the settings to choose the soundcards’ (or combined audio device, if applicable) inputs as the timecode input, and the outputs as the master out (see image above). There’s also a place to adjust what type of time code is being used with the system, and additional latency control within the preferences if you’re still having issues. * ysm notes: • I didnt notice the iLuv USB Audio Adapter for $9.99 only has FREE Shipping only on orders over $35 • Software Section: there is a Linux option called xwax that is free • This is all in USD. So being posted on 05/04/14 the current conversion rate is- 1 US Dollar equals 1.08 Australian Dollar Source: djtechtools.com

Audiobus 2 – a major update to the app-to-app audio routing app for iOS – is now available. Audiobus 2 introduces a new interface and a number of significant new features: • New Multi-Routing feature (In-App Purchase) allows unlimited connections and effect chaining. • Presets let you save and share connections and the settings of the individual apps within your Audiobus workflow. • Multi-channel input hardware support. • New hardware latency controls A list of apps that have been updated for compatibility so far: NLog MIDI Synth / NLog Synth PRO / Nave / Arturia iSEM / Echo Pad / Swoopster Stereo Designer / Sector / guitarism / GlitchBreaks / Remaster / MultiTrack DAW JamUp XT / JamUp Pro XT / DM1 / Final Touch Here’s a few video overviews of the new features in Audiobus 2: Presets in Audiobus 2: State Saving in Audiobus 2: Multi-effects in Audiobus 2: Vio as an Effect in Audiobus: Audiobus 2 is available in the App Store for US $4.99. Source: synthtopia.com / audiob.us

and honestly. that confuses me.. i think when i say BASE key, i think you mean 'root note'. and 'skip 3 or 2'.. confusing i think, that might be a good rule if you are in say Cmaj with no sharps of flats. but if you want to branch out of the most over used key in the world. that formula wont work

I have seen this kinda thread pop up a fair bit. Personally, its super important to be able to understand the 'language' you speak. so i bookmarked this youtube vid a long time ago for when this comes up. The guy is young (dont let it fool or intimidate you) and starts at the VERY most beginner stages. Be patient and watch. This guy could be getting could some serious coin for some in house tutoring for some snob kid but puts it up on youtube for free. it wont start where you want it to, with keys, modulation or strange time signatures etc that probably ambitious producers want to skip straight to to get the next track done. but its very worth watching i studied music for years and still find the need to go back a few lessons just to keep the brain on top of shit. hope it helps

welcome bud

i will happily take an @ausdjforums.com account. OffTopic...

i felt the exact same way. but, had that 'why not' mentality going on.

personally i never knew iZotope had a DAW. i was only familiar with bundles they did with partners to make a substandard version of a daw with in a daw like 'user experiance'. this i will look into for sure. cheers spit

if that's what interests you the most to the DAW. (which is an awesome idea) deff wait a few months or more for v2. cause it wont be happening till then. I know they are working dere ass off on it to be the first efficient DAW to make it a reality & the fact they promised to be the first and didn't deliver

nice set-up and vids mate. i enjoyed all

Tokyo Dawn Records has released a previously in-house studio tool as a free download – SlickEQ, made in collaboration with Variety of Sound and Vladg/Sound. TDR VOS SlickEQ is a mixing/mastering equalizer. It offers, three (and a half) filter-bands arranged in a classic Low/Mid/High semi-parametric layout. An elaborate auto gain option automatically compensates for changes of perceived loudness during EQ operation. Optionally, SlickEQ allows to process either the stereo sum or stereo difference (i.e. “stereo width”) without additional sum/difference encoding. In order to warm up the material with additional harmonic content, SlickEQ offers a switchable EQ non-linearity and an output stage with 3 different saturation models. These options are meant to offer subtle and interesting textures, rather than obvious distortion. The effect is made to add the typical “mojo” often associated with classy audio gear. An advanced 64bit multirate processing scheme practically eliminates typical problems of digital EQ implementations such as frequency warping, quantization distortion and aliasing. Beside the primary controls, the plug-in comes with an array of additional helpers: Advanced preset management, undo/redo, quick A/B comparison, copy & paste, an online help, editable labels, mouse-wheel support and much more. SlickEQ is a collaborative project by Variety of Sound (Herbert Goldberg) and Tokyo Dawn Labs (Vladislav Goncharov and Fabien Schivre). SlickEQ is a free download from the Tokyo Dawn Records site. Source: synthtopia.com

do u even traktor m8?

nice

i just re-visited this thread. Had a hard look on the interweb. imo, i do think bumping up your budget to at least another $150 would not hurt for a 61 key. i combed the net for you. struggled to find anything good even 2nd hand for $300 or less.

nice post mate. always good to see a video with the different controllers and software that can be used with Serato for this kinda thing

someone had to say it. agreed.

i did just buy the NEKTAR IMPACT LX-49 about 17 hours ago. there is a 61 key version for about $388 which is out of your budget sadly. the thing i liked about the nektar is it has full-size piano keys. so none of that little midi key feel. Sadly there is no after touch in the IMPACT series. not sure if thats important to you or not. but they are velocity sensitive. there is also things to keep in mind like if drum pads, faders & knobs are needed. Also if deep integration for your DAW is a must or you dont mind midi mapping the gear to the software. i have found a few really good things around that i think you would be looking at. but they will be going $100 over the budget you said. only cause 61 keys change everything. the price between an awesome 49 and a 61 is about $100

to be honest, the djcity link u put up just links to the bitwig site i put in OP. And a trial/fulll version is just that aye, its universal buddy In compliments though, i didnt put an aussie price in my OP. $449.00 Its a fair bit of coin. I have been messing around with the demo for a few hours. Seems pretty good so far. I am an FL user so its very different to what im used to. For me, FL offers free life time upgrades & plugins for an one-off purchase (rare i know but still). Bitwig being in v1.0.1 has not given any indication of what they are willing to do with upgrades and the cost involved past this release. There will be some tech heads out there that will find a few glitches/bugs that need tweaking. But what Bitwig will do about upgrades and pricing for users on upgrades is in the 'grey'. Don't forget that one of the 'main' things Bitwig offered to users was live collaboration between two or more users on the internet. That has been rolled back to atleast version 2. play with the demo and see what it feels like aye

QFNP very tidy, clean & only the essentials style setup

https://soundcloud.com/oxykon/adjf-2014-meat-mix mega meat mix. ^

back on track, oxy traktor help is here: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=15219