yizzle

Just one year ago, Pioneer surprised the DJ world with a daring design departure in the decidedly wedge-shaped DDJ-WeGO. And now coming up to the BPM Show 2013, they’ve done a bit of a remix, shifted focus, and bring you the Pioneer DDJ-WeGO2, a refreshed controller aimed at embracing iOS with an eye on laptop DJs too. What Pioneer say - Aspiring DJs can mix on the move with the compact Digital DJ WeGO2 (DDJ-WeGO2) console, which boasts all the easy-to-use features of the original Digital DJ-WeGO (DDJ-WeGO) plus the ability to access and mix with tracks on their iPhone/iPod touch/iPad. DJs simply use the cable provided to connect the DDJ-WeGO2 to an iOS device running Algorridim’s djay 2 app, and get hands-on with the console’s jog wheel, buttons and dials to mix and scratch their favourite tracks straight from iTunes. Or they can choose to mix with other DJ software, including the Virtual DJ Limited Edition software for PC and Mac. The DDJ-WeGO2 inherits all the exciting features of the original DDJ-WeGO, including Pulse Control lights to guide beginners through performances by showing when beats are matched, which effects have been activated, and when tracks are loaded. There are also plenty of advanced features from Pioneer’s pro-DJ products to explore – including Beat Sync, pre-loaded samples, amazing sound effects and loops, and even four-deck mixing. DJs can choose from three different all-over body colours – black, white or red – and customise the colours of the jog wheel lights, so every DDJ-WeGO2 is a unique reflection of the user’s style. Plus the light and compact DDJ-WeGO2 easily fits into a backpack, and has a handy grip that doubles as an iPhone/iPod touch/iPad stand – so DJs can take it wherever the party leads them. The DDJ-WeGO2 is available from October at an SRP of EUR 349/GBP 299, including VAT. Supported Software Information • DDJ-WeGO2 users can download djay LE free of charge from Algorridim’s website • djay2/vjay (full version) can be purchased at the App Store • Virtual DJ LE software is included in the DDJ-WeGO2 box • Traktor pro2, Virtual DJ Pro and djay for iPhone/iPad can be purchased from the App Store KEY FEATURES OF THE DDJ-WeGO2 Intuitive, hands-on control of a variety of DJ software for iPhone/iPod touch/iPad or PC/Mac The DDJ-WeGO2 puts the fun into learning to mix, liberating DJs from the trackpad to give a more realistic experience. Dedicated buttons and dials give DJs intuitive control of scratching, and triggering samples, effects and loops. DJs simply use the Lightning to USB cable provided to connect the DDJ-WeGO2 to an iPhone/iPod touch/iPad running Algoriddim’s djay 2 app, and use its ergonomic controls to mix and mash up tracks straight from iTunes. Or they can connect to a PC/Mac and use the included Virtual DJ Limited Edition software, or another software package of their choice. NEW! Grip doubles as an iPhone/iPod touch/iPad stand for even better portability and ease of use The light and compact DDJ-WeGO2 now has a grip to make transporting the console and setting it up even easier. Plus the grip can also be used as a sturdy iphone/iPod touch/iPad stand, putting the screen in constant view during a set. Pulse Control lights add a visual element to learning to mix Inherited from Pioneer’s popular Digital DJ-ERGO (DDJ-ERGO) controller, the Pulse Control lights add an exciting visual element to DJing. • Mix Pulse: lights around the jog wheel show the beat of tracks in play. The lights lose intensely as the beats go out of sync, giving novices a visual aid to beat matching. • Launch Pulse: a red light travels from the Load button to the jog wheel when a track has loaded successfully so DJs know when a track is ready to play. • FX Pulse: LED light patterns ­around the jog wheel show which effects and filters are engaged. Three colour options and customisable LEDs for a personalised controller The DDJ-WeGO2 is available in black, white or red so there’s a console to suit every personality. And the jog wheel LEDs can be customised, with nine stunning colour options to choose from. Multiple power options for ultimate flexibility to play out The DDJ-WeGO2 is compatible with USB battery packs for DJing outside or when out of reach of the mains. As well as mains power, the DDJ-WeGO2 can also be powered via a USB connection to a PC/Mac. Other features • Built-in sound card • High quality sound design for clear sound reproduction Pioneer DDJ-WeGO2 — what’s new? To be honest, not much. I’ve overlaid old and new images, and found some subtle cosmetic changes. What have gone are the eclectic colours. The green I could just about handle, but the violet? Let’s be happy that particular variant has been despatched to the gear graveyard. The real new addition is the grip/stand. Not that the WeGO2 is difficult to move around of course — it’s already about as transportable as any DJ gear gets. But incorporating a grip into a stand is clever. Digital DJs are used to having a laptop screen angled up for optimal usage, whereas iPads seem to be treated as a more horizontal affair because you need the stability to prod and poke the iPad screen. But this combined stand and grip does at least offer choice and makes the WeGO2 an optimised and aesthetically pleasing workflow. For me, the point of the WeGO2 is to embrace the emergence of iOS as a DJ platform. The original WeGO was pitched head on at the lifestyle DJ, but with the iPhone being in the pockets of an obscene number of kids, and the iPad being an equally dominant platform, the combination of WeGO2 and iOS is an extremely compelling and mobile combination. And it’s not exactly lacing in aesthetic appeal either. While many of you seasoned pros reading this will baulk at the allegedly limited storage space of an iPad, it’s more than enough for the latest tunes doing the rounds in clubland. The target audience doesn’t need every track ever created just in case they get a request, and most likely need to be able to play quite specific tracks to the captive small crowd. Of course, the WeGO2 is still an ideal companion for laptop DJs too. It comes with a tailored edition of Virtual DJ LE, and is compatible with Traktor and Serato DJ. Regarding the latter, there’s no mention of Serato DJ Intro in the PR, so time will tell if it will ever work with the less able 2 channel sibling of the full fat Serato DJ. But given the focus of WeGO2, I doubt that Pioneer expect many DJs to use Serato DJ at all. Source: djworx.com

do you mean in the key of Cmajor? *edit: also why do you want your samples in semitones? would it not be easier to mix and chop if the samples were in whole or half tones?

^ very nice mate

well title did say practice in it so i figured no real need to jot down some of the small bumps in the road

nice mate

looks like a heck of a lot of fun ^

ill just hijack this thread and put up the video of the guy i put my DMC final vote in for the other day just so much i really like about this guy his round 7 entry was sweet tits awesome also imo.

its pretty damn neato

that's why is has lots of money. cause he doesn't spend any of it

i have never seen it. nice one

pretty good mate

tidy

welcome bud

LOL

Welcome bud

that is a pro tip

i agree, its not aimed at skilled dj's. but in saying that i dont think Virtual DJ ever has been.

\:D/

Oh! i did not know for Android. thanks scottie! Changed thread name.

You've surely noticed JazzMutant's Lemur - it's a modular controller with a 12-inch multitouch display that uses the Open Sound Control (OSC) protocol to talk to DAWs, synths and other audio software. It looks absolutely gorgeous, but as you might expect, it doesn't come cheap. TouchOSC for iPhone offers broadly similar functionality and, what's more, it looks equally pretty, yet costs just a few quid. TouchOSC includes f­ive non-editable layouts, and each consists of several screens of colourful, touch-friendly virtual faders, pots, axis controllers and buttons. Five of these can be triggered and used simultaneously, and each layout approximates a common task - there are two for mixing, one for drum programming, one for general control and another that provides an octave of virtual keys. We say 'approximates' because, on their own, these layouts do nothing - they simply transmit and respond to OSC commands. TouchOSC also transmits accelerometer data. To use the app, you need to bind its controllers to an OSC-compatible application running on your computer. This requires a little juggling of IP address and incoming and outgoing port numbers (as it connects across a Wi-Fi network), but we had it up and running without any trouble. There are dozens of applications that can talk OSC, but the most common are Cycling '74's Max/MSP, the freely available Pure Data and the SuperCollider programming environment. All of these bits of software are of a fairly technical nature, but thanks to a stack of bundled examples, you don't need any in-depth knowledge to effectively use them with TouchOSC. Download the Mix2‑MIDI patch for Pure Data, for example, configure MIDI ports to your DAW and start moving your f­ingers around the screen. A simple MIDI learn on your DAW is all you need to start manipulating the software's parameters. The response time is fantastically short, and you have absolute control over the widgets on the screen, complete with feedback, if the OSC patch and application caters for it. And if you have the conf­idence to stick with native OSC control, almost anything is possible. TouchOSC is avalible for iPad, iPhone & Android devices for $5.10 from Hexlar's website. Source: musicradar.com

Introduction DJ Tech has recently been shaking things up within the DJ market with the release of the DJ Tech DIF-1S. This 2 channel battle mixer injected with a mini innoFADER demanded the term ‘value for money’, and with DJ Qbert giving it the thumbs up with a Thud Rumble Edition, this seemed a no brainer for a lot of people. Showcased at NAMM 2012, the DJ Tech Dragon 2 managed to make its way inconspicuously into to general market without receiving much attention from the public. Currently marketed at $289 this slips into the price range of the Numark Mixtrack Pro 2, although after playing with this unit, it is clear that more suitable comparisons should be made with the Native Instruments Kontrol S2 and other more expensive units. In A Nutshell The DJ Tech Dragon 2 is a 4-deck controller with a built-in 2 channel analogue mixer that ships with Virtual DJ LE 4-deck edition. Covering all the basics comprehensively, this unit doesn’t stray far from the beaten track, managing however to include some neat little features within a fairly familiar layout. First Impressions Not all black. Recently a stream of sleek looking, predominantly black controllers have floated their way into the market, so seeing a unit with a nice light finish was actually refreshing (we won’t talk about the Native Instruments “esque” piano black mixer section collecting dust and finger prints as I write this). The contrast between the dark controls and light faceplate gives great visibility in even the darkest booths, supplemented by all buttons being backlit. Headphone tone control. I have never seen this included on a mixer before and is a smart little addition by DJ Tech. Build and Layout Build wise, this is all-metal and feels genuinely solid. Unfortunately the faceplate has been secured by screws that are not only very visible, but don’t all fit flush with the unit. All the knobs sit on metal pots so will stand up to a substantial amount of abuse, and nothing on this unit feels like it is going to fall apart in your hands. Jog Wheels Solid pair of 4” jogs with a touch sensitive platter and a red light that travels around the jog as the music plays. The sensitivity of the platter can be altered using a knob on the back of the mixer to tailor these to an individual’s needs. Tight integration with VDJ allows the jogs to be very responsive, although my personal gripe with these is that they are not easy to grip and I found my fingers sliding around when using them. Mixer Section EQs and Gain – Well-spaced full kill EQs with a nice centre detent and a lot of resistance. These are not going to be moved accidentally when reaching for something else. Surrounding the EQs with an LED ring is also a nice touch by DJ Tech to increase visibility in a dark booth. Confusing me slightly however is the fact that all the knobs except for the EQs and gains have a light rubber coating on them, marginally adding to the tactile feel. I can’t understand why this isn’t standard across all the knobs. Strange… Filters – Dedicated filters for each channel is quickly becoming one of the most desirable qualities of a mixer. Not only do the Dragon 2 filters play nicely with software, they also double as analogue filters for when using as a stand-alone mixer. The filters are pleasant sounding, albeit they are pretty ineffective between 11 and 12 o’clock. My favourite characteristic of the filters is that of the lights surrounding them. When the filter is engaged and not at neutral position, the surrounding amber light gently flashes. Perfect for me as I am a sucker for forgetting my filters are left on when bringing in a track. Faders – Line faders have a slight resistance and unfortunately have a fixed curve. In this price range however I don’t think much else could be expected. In terms of the cross fader, this is another story. Adjustable curve, smooth feel and a short cut in, will appeal to scratch DJs out there. A little switch on the front of the unit gives the option to allow the cross fader to send midi. DJ Tech advertise this as perfect for VJays who may want to use the cross fader to perform smooth video transitions. I can’t see the average user using this function much; even so it’s always nice to have the option. Deck Switches – Stiff metal switches allow the user to change from decks A and C to B and D. A change in the EQ lighting visually lets the user know which decks the mixer section is controlling at that moment in time. Soft takeover and controlling 4 decks using 2 sets of EQs is still something that I am not convinced by. I am sure many do this seamlessly, but for me it is just awkwar. Pitch Faders These are fairly stiff with a centre click, this pitch fader sits very firmly in the “it’s a pitch fader” category. Located directly below are pitch bend buttons personified in small rubber squares with a very pleasing ‘click’ when pressed. They change pitch and bend it, so no surprises here. Sampler and Effects The sampler and effects section is located on the top left of the unit. 4 knobs and 4 buttons give enough of a control surface to effectively use both the sampler and effects in VDJ. Each button launches a different sample, and then the knobs control and trigger different effects (2 knobs per channel) by rotation or being pressed. The shift function also unlocks another layer of controls, increasing the functionality. Hard plastic buttons are employed here, and although feeling a little cheap, they do the job, assisted by blue backlighting. Pads 12 performance pads dominate the area underneath the jog wheels, natively used for transport controls, 4 hot-cues, 3 loop controls, shift and last but not least SYNC. Backlit and large, these easy to hit pads feel nice to use and the spacing between them decreases the risk of accidentally hitting the wrong pad. A good few minutes of scratching and attacking these buttons with my nails and other implements left absolutely no sign of visual wear and tear, proving again that DJ Tech have built the Dragon 2 to last. Loop Encoder Each channel is equipped with an endless encoder for assigning and implementing auto-loops. Visual aid is given by a ring of LEDs around the encoder and allows for quick manipulation of loop lengths on the go. Twist to change length, click to activate, simple! Ins and Outs The DJ Tech Dragon 2 has a choice of unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR master outs, with the option of an RCA booth out. Phono and Line inputs are available for each of the analogue channels to accommodate for Turntables, CDJs and other media players. The now fairly standard choice of jack or minijack headphone socket is expected, although a lovely feature included is a tone knob to tailor the sound to personal preferences. Little additions like this are nice to see, and gives off the vibe that some real thought has been put into this product and not just trying to sell a carbon copy of everything else on the market. Microphone input is located on the front of the unit for ease of access and again features a tone control. Off, on and talk over are the three options when it comes to using the microphone which will please mobile DJs immensely as well as anyone else who likes to make an announcement every once in a while. As someone who rarely uses the mic, talk over mode actually makes the process very painless without having to guesstimate how quiet I should make the music to allow myself to be audible to the audience. Unlike Booth, Master and Headphone (where the volume knobs are located on the face of the mixer) the microphone volume is placed on the front of the mixer next to tone control.) Software Integration Shipping with VDJ LE 4-deck edition you would expect the unit to play nicely with the software. Fortunately, this does not disappoint. As a VDJ controller this leaves little else to be desired. Good LED feedback. Dedicated buttons to navigate VDJ’s various view options. Direct control over one effect per channel. Four sample triggers and access to 4 decks at the flick of a switch. Any gripes users will have are going to be with the software and not the controller. I had a brief play mapping the Dragon 2 to use with Traktor Pro 2, and this can be done relatively easily and works fine. There isn’t currently a Traktor mapping available for download so Traktor users will have to get their paws dirty with this one. In Use Software – As already alluded to this unit works very tightly with Virtual DJ. Not being a regular user of VDJ I actually really enjoyed playing about with the software, and everything seemed to work smoothly and efficiently. I struggled to get to grips with soft takeover when using 4 decks, and the fact when switching between decks A and C (or B and D) the headphone cue also switches. This is a tad frustrating, as I wanted to cue decks A and C simultaneous but this cannot be done without touching the laptop. Minor issue, and to be honest the only fault I could find. Analogue – Using CDJs as inputs I thrashed out a good few sessions utilizing the Dragon 2 as a stand-alone mixer. Everything performed as it should, and I really liked the filters. The meters showing levels for each channel and the master output seemed to linger too long on the previous peak for my liking, but again this should not be a deal breaker. Summary All things considered, the DJ Tech Dragon 2 is a quality outfit. Virtual DJ fans are going to love this, and for the price, you are getting a lot for your money. The soft take over when using 4 decks can be awkward, but as an excellent controller as well as a very capable stand-alone 2-channel mixer, the Dragon 2 ticks a lot of boxes. Quality - With a solid metal build, durability should not be a concern with the DJ Tech Dragon 2. Controls all feel suitably sturdy, although plastic buttons feel a little, well, plastic. Features - Happily jumps between being a 4 deck Virtual DJ controller, and a stand-alone 2-channel mixer with hardware filters. Vue meters are average, but a tone knob for headphone monitoring, and talk over mode for the microphone input are nice little inclusions. Value - The category in which the Dragon 2 excels. You would be hard pressed to find another unit (even second hand) that can compete on both price and features. Source: djworx.com

For those not in the know about such technical things, sandboxing is computer speak for running software in a safe and secure environment that doesn’t impact on anything else around it. And this is a feature that’s being introduced in the upcoming Virtual DJ 8. Here’s what we have from the horse’s mouth: Sandbox is a new feature that will revolutionize the work of mainstream DJs. For the last 20 years, the usual way for DJs to perform a simple mix, was to “cue” the next song, using the headphones, at the right position and pitch, and then start it at the right time to perform the transition. What it means, is that the DJ, while one song was playing for the audience, would use this time to listen to the upcoming song, in order to find the perfect “entry point” where he would mix from. But unfortunately, this is only one half of the task. Finding the other half, the “exit point” in the current song, was really a hit or miss proposition, where DJs had to know their songs pretty well, to be able to know by heart when to start the mix in the current song. Not anymore. Now with VirtualDJ’s new feature “Sandbox”, Atomix Productions brings this second half of perfecting a mix, in a very easy and intuitive way. Just engage the “sandbox mode” while your song is playing, and you will be able to fast-forward or rewind not only the upcoming song, but also the current song, in order to find the perfect point”s” where the mix would sound the best. All this of course without disturbing what your audience is hearing. The seeking happens only in your headphones. When you’re ready, just put a cue point marker on the exit point, leave your next song cued on the entry point, and disengage the sandbox mode. You’re now ready to wait for the current song to reach your newly-set cue point marker, and start your perfect mix. To cut this down into easily digestible lumps — in sandbox mode, you can play the current and next track in a totally isolated environment i.e your headphones. Mess round with them, and when you have the perfect transition points, add an exit cue to the current track and an intro cue to the next track and wait for the transition to happen. It sounds like one of those ideas that should have been invented before. I remember a scratch cue function on the Vestax PMC-007 that allowed you to audition your scratches with the crossfader, but this is different. It’s certainly ideal for those times when you get tracks thrown at you mid-set and have no idea what the music sounds like. Or perhaps those times when a mix is necessary but you’ve no idea if the tracks will work or not. It’s very much an emergency feature, but a very welcome one at that. Source: djworx.com

^ thats what i was trying to say in OP. it dont matter now. names are trivial at first.