D.J. News & World Report

Push by Ableton Live (And the Beat Goes On)

2013-05-04T11:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome back fans and followers and first time readers this post is on the Ableton Push sequencer/drum machine/editing system. This is also another installment in my series on beat making equipment. In a previous post I introduced the Native Instruments component known as the "Maschine" and now we have a device that is raising a lot of comparison points which Ableton has aptly titled "Push" I have watched several of the vids that are out for this new product and quite frankly...none of them have convinced me that using this is easy. Not that the "Maschine" looks easy either but this goes way beyond not so user friendly. I like the demonstration that is shown in this video even though it still contains a lot of technical jargon about the unit, but not as much as some of the other videos; including the one that Ableton themselves have prepared for introduction of this item. I much prefer for someone to show what a product can do from a DJ standpoint rather than from a salesman postion. Until I ran across this video I didn't even know it had scratch capabilities (which is why I probably chose this video for my post) And performance is always what I look for when I introduce a product. The next time you're on Youtube surfing through videos check out some of the other videos they have for this product. You'll see that there are dozens of them out there. I even started to post the one that gives a direct comparison NI's Maschine but as I said it didn't have much of a performance value to it and it was mostly technical in content. I think if I had to choose between this and the Maschine, I would probably go with Maschine for it's more user friendly attributes and of course the cost! Both units seem like excellent investments in building your own studio but I don't think you would need both; one or the other should do. As with all the videos that I upload to these post there are more that you can watch at the end so u can form your own opinion on how helpful you think this product would be for whatever it is you're trying to do. If you didn't catch the post I did on the Native Instruments Maschine scroll back through my older post and you'll find it with a band doing an outstanding perfromance with it. I'm sure you will enjoy it! Well I hope you found this post and this product interesting and if you've already tested this product for yourself please post your own opinion on what you think! I'm sure my readers would love to hear from you and I always welcome any feedback you can offer on the products being introduced here. So that's about all I have for now. Hopefully it won't take me another six or seven months for you to hear from me again! So until next time........As always remember to "Stay In The Mix!"

Phona The 2012 DMC world Champions

2012-10-25T16:41:00.001-07:00

Here are the 2012 DMC French Champions Phona! which is DJ Fong Fong and Planete Sauvage. As some of you might already know Fong Fong (the one on the right) is well known for DJaying in various costumes. I especially like the Homer Simpsom one and the mix he does with the simpson's theme music. I'm not too familiar with the other DJ on this video (Planete Sauvage) but he is definately on the same level with Fong Fong. This routine is a lot of fun to watch and the mix they're creating has an awesome beat! In fact; I'm thinking about recording it and using it at some parties...just to see how the crowd reacts to it. I thought that it was real creative on their part to each have one turntable hooked up to their own mixer and the middle turntable hooked up to both mixers so they could share the track being played! This is raw talent and what I've been saying true DJaying is all about! It doesn't get any better than this and I can see why these guys were chosen as the DMC Champions coming out of France. Which by the way is where another DMC World Champion hales from non other than the World Famous DJ Fly! whom you can also find on YouTube and in one of my earlier post. I also feature him on my web page. So sit back and relax and enjoy the fantastic skills of "PHONA" then hit me back with some of your comments on what you think about their performance. I'll get back to showcasing new products in the next post but that's about it for now. So as always remember to............."Stay In The Mix"

Denon DJ - SC3900 with UniqueSquared (Demo)

2012-09-30T12:08:00.001-07:00

Greetings fans,followers and first time readers. I just got back from a cruise to sunny Jamaica where they greet you by saying "Respect" and anything you ask they say "No Problem" It was an amazing vacation and I didn't want it to end. But, I'm back and here I am to introduce you to another interesting product. Okay, so I know I told you that the next post would be about the Denon SC2000 but since I took so long to write again, Denon has sprung another new controller on me that has surpassed the SC2000. It's the new Denon DJ - SC3900 and it has a real turntable with real vinyl for scratching. This has gotta be the coolist thing I've seen in a while. This demonstration is by non-other than DJ UniqueSquared who not only gives a demo of the device but also presents an interesting overview. The Denon DJ - SC3900 is not one of my usual controllers to write about because it does not fall into the price range of the type of controllers I like to introduce. It runs about $1,000.00 for just one unit and I prefer to cater to an audience looking to get started at a more reasonable price. However, this is an impressive unit for DJ's and I have to point out the versatility that it has. It can be used with several devices (not just your laptop) it takes flashdrives, CD's and even iPods. It also includes it's own software for organizing and catagorizing your music. Like I said "It's expensive" but the versatility it has may be worth it to some of you. Oh yeah and before I forget, I met a couple of DJs on my vacation (one on the cruise ship and one in Fort Lauderdale) that told me they DJ for a living! How cool is that! both of them said they didn't do any other type of work for a living and that DJaying was their sole means of support. When I retire from my regular job I'd like to do the same thing! Especially someplace like Florida! So for now that's about it. I hope you enjoy the video and as I always say........... remember to "Stay In The Mix"

DJ Angelo on the Reloop Contour (This is WOW!)

2012-07-21T20:31:00.004-07:00

Hey! what's up fellow DJ's, I don't know about you but we've been having a really hot summer here in Michigan! I've been keeping cool under the airconditioner and chillin out by the pool. But anyway, speaking of hot! Here's a video I ran across on a guy named DJ Angelo demonstrating the Reloop Contour. You can also find him doing a lot of other cool stuff at the website www.youtube.com/user/ReloopDJcom You can follow him by subscribeing to his post. I was really checking out some controllers by DENON when I ran across this on youtube. They have a few new products out also and I was looking to find someone demonstrating them. No luck with their latest controller the (DN-SC 2000) but they did have a few overviews on the product. I like the way it works and it only cost around $230.00 but I'll talk a little more about that at a later time. For now I want you to sit back and relax and check out the skills of DJ Anjelo! I'm also going to see if I can follow this website on Blogger! So stay cool for the Summer and keep those parties rockin! This is the best season for it! So I'll get back with you on that post about the Denon controller but that's all I have for this report. As always....Stay In The Mix!

Novation Twitch DJ Controller

2012-05-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

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)

2012-04-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

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)

2012-04-07T17:50:00.001-07:00

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)

2011-12-23T17:08:00.000-08:00

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

2011-10-04T15:23:00.000-07:00

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)

2011-09-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

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)

2011-07-10T18:07:00.000-07:00

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!

The Focusrite Saffire 6 USB (Vocal Interface)

2011-05-30T07:06:00.000-07:00

Well folks as promised, here she is! Ms Andreya Triana in an ad for the Focusrite Saffire 6 USB Interface. This interface device seems to be getting a lot of attention lately as I found out while surfing around the internet for new and improved studio equippment to write about.

Ms. Triana is not a DJ (that I know of) but she is a new artist that is making her way into the spotlight with her own style of vocals. She is likely to be compared to other artist such as Corrine Bailey Rae and Alicia Keys but I have no doubt that this young lady will end up being recognized as a different kind of artist in her own right.

Now, getting back to the product being featured here. The Saffire 6 vocal interface came to my attention not only because a lovely young lady was featured in the ad, but I wanted to find something that would bring studio quality sound to a live performance. This product claims to be able to do that.

Along with DJaying, I sometime work as a sound engineer for bands and singers. The last band that I worked the sound board for seemed to have a real problem with clarity from their microphones while perfoming live. They had good equippment and good speakers, but the audio was really muddy sounding! This raised a question in my mind, what can be done to correct this? And so began my search for an interface device that would solve the problem. Now, I haven't had the chance yet to try this unit on this particular band yet, but when I go to purchase it I will also be looking for some advice on wether or not this is the right thing to use.

The price seems pretty reasonable (about $250 retail) so even if it doesn't work for them, I may still want to use this in my own home studio. Which by the way, there are some more videos after the main video on building your own home studio (if you're interested)As I said before, while I was sufing I ran into a lot of videos that talked about the Saffire 6 and the comments that went along with them were mostly good reviews.

So when I go shopping again, if another interface device turns out to be a better bargain than this one seems to be you'll probably hear about it in one of my upcoming post. So for now that's about all I have, but remember to "Stay In The Mix"

The Rane TTM57 DJ Mixer (The Search Is Over)

2011-05-22T13:14:00.000-07:00

After careful review of several mixers, this is the one that had been most recommended for use with Serato Video SL.

It was a close call between the Rane 68 and the Rane TTM57 as far as which mixer goes best with Scratch Live Video software. Both Rane mixers are designed to run Serato SL1 and SL2 and the new SL Video program. And I must admit that the Rane 68 seems like the easier of the two to use. But the rane 68 is running about $2,600.00 and like I said before that's a bit pricey for your average mobile DJ. You'll save about $1,200.00 by going with the TTM57 but you're still looking at about $1,450.00 even for this model.

Either way you go, you're still going to have to load up your own videos to your iTunes library for it play video and Serato software will do the rest. I like the short video above because it shows the mixer being used with the pioneer CDJ 1000s and like I said before, this will probably be the route I'll take with video mixing.

In one of the videos I watched where the Rane 68 was being used the DJ was loading the video from Serato to his turntable decks and using Scratch Live vinyl to mix and scratch the video. I had to watch it a couple of times to see how he was playing the videos without a CD deck or video mixer. But apparently, once the videos are loaded to your SL Video library they will simply play through your Rane mixer!

Now of course you know hooking up your video monitors and recorders and what-have-you will require an interface device of some kind. Which brings to mind a very interesting interface that's out now and being introduced by a new artist that I found to be very sexy and talented. I'll give you more on the interface device and this new artist in my next blog post!

As with other videos I've posted there are more videos you can watch after the main video ends... and they all offer a little more insight to the TTM57 mixer and Serato Video Scratch Live! If you want to see the Rane 68 mixer in action with Serato Video SL just go to "Youtube" and type in Video Mixing with the Rane 68 DJ Mixer.

So keep on following this blog and I'll be coming back with lots more info on the subject of Video Mixing! And there's plenty more to come!....So until next time..."Stay In The Mix"

The Pioneer SVM 1000 Video Club Mixer

2011-04-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

Well I'm back readers with a new post to follow up my stories on video mixing. I've been away on vacation for awhile and couldn't find the time to write any new blogs while I was getting ready for my trip. The Bahama's was beautiful (I hated to leave). But, as promised here's a look at a video mixer made mostly for using in clubs. The Pioneer SVM 1000 which can be used with (of cource) the Serato SL video software.

I don't usually show items this expensive on my blog because I try to stick to the needs of the mobile DJ and the products that will serve their business the best. This unit is going for what I would consider the price of a good used car! About $8,000.00 retail or about $7,000.00 if purchased online. As I mentioned, this is for the most part a club mixer. But as you can see in the video, it's capable of doing some pretty impressive task. I will try to find a more reasonalbly priced video mixer to write about later.

I ran across this product while surfing around looking for more info on the Serato SLVideo software and the type of mixers being used with it. I did see where the Pioneer CDL-2000s were being incorperatated with Scratch Live Video, but the mixers varied from small regular DJ mixers to the more expensive Rane 68 DJ mixers. I chose this video on the Pioneer SVM 1000 only as a means of showing the popularity with Video and Music being used together. And this goes way beyond just Karaoke!

A lot of the effects you see being done in this video, I've discovered can also be done just using the Serato SL video software and your CDJs. Which is probably the road I'll take in order to save money. The point is, getting the most "Bang for your buck" when you're a mobile DJ. I mean this thing looks like it could weigh about 40 or 50 pounds! And I try to travel as light as possible when I go out to do a gig!

Well, that's about all I have for now but as I said, I'll be back to show some equippment that's more affordable on some of my future blogs. So as always people..........remember to.........."Stay In The Mix"

DJ Roonie G w/Serato Video SL (Footage from NAMM 2011)

2011-02-21T12:20:00.000-08:00

As a follow-up to the last post on Karaoke, here's some video footage from the NAMM 2011 show of a VJ doing some nice mixes with videos!

DJ/VJ Roonie G is doing some pretty impressive stuff here using the the "Serato Video Scratch Live" which I wasn't even aware of until now. I especially like the way he has the teletubbies doing the "Stanky Leg" and the pinguins and Charlie Brown's crew dancing to "Walk It Out" As you can see from this demostration, some innovative stuff can derive from using video with your mix! So even if I'm not hosting karaoke, this type of mix can become a real crowd pleaser!

I'm going to have to dig a little bit deeper to find out what type of mixer or controller is needed for this but as you probably all ready guessed, that'll be another post. In the meantime, I think I'm going to research the "Serato Video SL" software first since I didn't know about it I feel a bit left out. I hope it doesn't run as much as the Serato I already have! That took a nice chunk out of the ole budget. (Ouch!)

So that's it for now but as soon as I find the SeratoVideo SL I'll post it along with the price it's running. Take care of your homework people and as always!..... "Stay In The Mix!"

PCDJ Karaoki Software (More Control,Less Work)

2011-02-06T12:18:00.000-08:00

Something that I haven't done a blog on yet, and I should have by now is Karaoke. Seeing as how this is one of the services I provide I suppose a post about it would be in order. As you can probably tell I mostly prefer playing music mixes as a DJ, but as I said Karaoke is a part of the services I do and I must say that I haven't been really keeping up with the changes that this medium has undergone over the past few years. Here we have a new software for your computer called "PCDJ Karaoki" and it's got a lot of functions that my old CDJ Karaoke machine doesn't, plus it's a lot simpler to use.

To be honest, I really thought that Karaoke was something that wouldn't last for very long and I didn't invest a whole lot into it because there wasn't much of a demand for it from the clientele I've been working with (Still isn't when it comes right down to it) but for the cost of just $90.00 for software that can do all this, I think the upgrade is well worth the investment. Of course, I know I would also have to invest in some newer TV monitors and perhaps some projection equipment to go along with this enhancement but hey, I'll worry about that when some request start coming in again for this type of service.

I'm already using my laptop along with Serato Scratch Live software for my music so why not just add another software program for the Karaoke........Brilliant!! I just need to load up my Karaoke library to it ( I hope I can do it from my old machine) and I'll be ready to go when someone wants this service. After all, Karaoke is a lot of fun, it's just not as much fun for me as DJaying and making people dance. In my experience with Karaoke, people usually don't get up enough nerve to try it until after they've had a few drinks! Sometimes....quite a few! and then it just turns out to be a joke (smh) but oh well, my job is to just provide a professional service to my customers.

I know there are a lot of separate controllers used just for running software like this, and after I add the software to my computer, the controller will be the next thing I buy so be looking for some future post on video controllers coming real soon. I watched a couple videos on them already, but it's too early for me to decide on one yet, When you watch the video above, you'll probably want to switch to a full screen view of it to see what he's doing.

Well that's it for this post, but as always............Stay In The Mix!

The Art of Making Beats (Using the Akai Pro MPK 49)

2011-01-29T14:43:00.000-08:00

For those of you who follow my blogs, you may remember a post I did on the Akai XR20 where I mentioned that my newest endeavor was to begin making beats. I also mentioned in that post that Akai also makes a keyboard called the MPK49 and that I intended to add it to my studio of beat making devices. Well I've been doing a little research on the MPK49 before I buy it and I ran across this video on youtube of a producer using this very product for one of his projects.

I've also seen several other videos of the MPK49 in action including one that gave the complete overview of the products features. Now I'm totally convinced that I will be adding this to my studio. From watching all the videos though I'm still not sure how well this will work with the XR20 but I chose this particular video from the rest because I like what the end result was better than some of the other videos. I saw a few videos with the XR20 being used also, but I think I'll wait and make my own video of myself using that!

The producer in the video above is a guy that goes by the name "Timepiece" and he has a website where he lets other producers showcase their talent. I don't think you'll be finding me on there anytime soon but I just wanted to give my man his props by saying his video was really inspirational for me! I like what he did in a short period of time on the MPK49! Watch it all the way to the end and you will hear the completely finished product! and it's like Wow!!!

So that's it for now and As Always......"Stay In The Mix"

The iDJ Live by Numark (Follow-up to the DJ Mixer for iPad)

2011-01-23T10:50:00.000-08:00

This is of cource the follow-up to my previous post on the DJ Mixer for iPad by Algoriddim. Now Numark has come up with a controller to run the Algoriddim software directly while using your iPad. This gives you all the control built into the software without using the touch screen of your iPad! So what's the advantage to having this? Well 1. you don't have to work with the smaller surface space of the iPad and 2. you get actual knobs and jog wheels to move with your hands for a more realistic feel of DJing and of cource, your not touching your screen.

This small and extremely portable unit checks in at a remarkably low price of $99.00 US and as mentioned earlier, the Algoriddim software is only about $49.00 US. The most expensive part of this set up is the iPad itself and if you already have one you're more than halfway there. I mentioned in the previous post that a time would come when a DJ could show up at a gig with just an iPad and it looks like Numark is trying to draw us closer to that time. I can't wait to see what else is coming out that's gonna piggy back off this idea.

After you watch the video, you'll see that there are several other video demonstrations for this product and you can best believe that if they're show casing this at Winter Namm 2011 it's about to take off big time! So that's all I have for you so far, but I know this will be followed up by some more stories on products that are expanding on this concept!

So as always............"Stay In The Mix"

DJ mixing for the iPad (Now this is a Sophistocated app)

2011-01-09T14:48:00.000-08:00

A while back I did a post on iPad DJing where a guy was using two iPads like two turntables, well this is not the same thing. This app takes that concept to a whole nother level and it only requires one iPad! I've mentioned before how technology has moved beyond the CD to the MP3 and now it appears that it may just take over and eliminate the use of controllers too! I think this concept is going to open the door to fewer and fewer hardware components for DJs in the years to come. Introducing a new way for anyone to DJ ( if they have a mind to do so) the Algoriddim DJ Mixer for iPad!

It's a new day and a new beginning! This is my first post for the New Year and I wanted it to be my last for the prior year. But as fate would have it, I couldn't get my images and links to come out the way I had intended so I scratched this for being my final post and decided to try again later.

This is a new app for the iPad called DJ Mixer by Algoriddim as you will see in the video link it can do some pretty amazing things. Many of the bells and whistles found on your digital controllers can be found in this app, and even a few tricks that I haven't even seen in "Serato" are on here for your edification. This may seem like a toy to the untrained eye and as much fun as there is built into playing with it it could easily be mistaken for one. But I see this as an opportunity for DJs to create and record their sets in a way that was never made possible before. This is the dawning of a new day! and it won't be long before DJs will be able to arrive at a gig carrying just an iPad (provided the rest of the sound equippment is already there.)

Be sure to check out all the videos attached with this link and you'll see different facets of what this thing can do. Personally, I'm impressed with it and Algoriddim didn't pull any punches when it came to competing with the higher priced controllers on the market today! So here's the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KARq9YU1_B8&feature=player_detailpage I know you'll be amazed as I was with this! Stay tuned as we're sure to get further developements on this. That's it for now, but as always......."Stay In The Mix!"

The Next Level In Beat Production (NI Does It Again!)

2010-12-31T13:38:00.000-08:00

I haven't written a post on beat production centers since my post on the Akai XR20. This is Native Instruments latest MPC beat production unit "Maschine" which I believe is the next level to MPC because it combines both hardware and software in one unit. The link below offers some further samples of how this works and there are a few nice demo videos on there too.

Beat production is still kind of new to me and I'm still working on putting my own studio together for that purpose but I like when products like this one comes along to help point the way to some outstanding music. Go to this link and you'll see what I mean.

Maschine

For now I'm still working with the Akai products which are also pretty good for someone starting out like myself and the more I use it the better I get at this. The NI Maschine is of course more expensive than the Akai XR20 (about $699.00 retail) but this is still priced lower than the Akai MPC-3000 and it does even more! Talk about bang for your buck!? this is it!

So Happy New Year fans, followers, and fellow DJs let's bring the new year in with a Bangin Beat! and As Always................"Stay In The Mix"

Here's an Article From Gibson Lifestyle (That I Liked)

2010-12-15T20:29:00.000-08:00

Napster, iPods and Rock and Roll: 5 Ways the Internet Changed the Music Business

We can all remember putting on a record. Or popping in a cassette tape. Or inserting a CD. But, for most people, these things aren’t second nature anymore. More likely, you go to your computer when you’re in the mood for music. But how did this happen? And when exactly?

It all really took off in the early 1990s. That was back when “you’ve got mail” may have been the sweetest words you heard all day, when logging into a chatroom was still a thrill. This was before Kurt Cobain died or you’d ever heard of an iPod. Now, with the IFPI’s (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) reporting that more than a quarter of the world’s music is solid digitally, it’s hard to believe that iTunes hasn’t even been around for 10 years yet.

Here’s how, for better or worse, the Internet changed everything about music – and fast.

1. We meet the MP3.

While the rest of us were still stockpiling CDs during the late ’80s, several groups of engineers were hammering out what would become the most important audio format of the 21st century – the MP3. The MP3 went public during the mid-’90s and over the next few years began to spread like wildfire across the Internet. The magic of the MP3 lay in its ability to compress audio into a smaller format while nearly retaining the sound of the original uncompressed audio. Its popularity was spurred especially by the introduction of Winamp in 1997. This Windows-based media player – designed by then-19-year-old college dropout Justin Frankel – allowed MP3s to be stored in a playlist and played on PCs. That same year, MP3.com launched; it featured thousands of free, legal MP3s provided by independent artists.

2. Napster reminds us that nothing in life is truly free.

Napster.com was founded in 1999 by yet another computer-savvy college dropout – Shawn Fanning – and quickly became an enormously popular peer-to-peer file-sharing service. But it lasted only two years before the record industry succeeded in shutting it down by court order in July 2001, at which time it had more than 25 million users. The most famous lawsuit against Napster was filed by Metallica, which discovered that its song “I Disappear” had leaked to Napster prior to its official release date. Stars like Madonna and Dr. Dre also joined the fight against Napster, while others – Radiohead and Public Enemy’s Chuck D, for instance – actively supported it. Napster’s service was fleeting, and too good to be true, but it whet a global appetite for – and an understanding of – MP3s. Napster declared bankruptcy in 2002, but is today owned by Best Buy and is up and running as a paid site.

3. Apple takes over our personal music collection.

Introduced in 2003, Apple’s iTunes store presented us with copious legal digital downloads and quickly dominated all other online music stores. As of February 2010, more than 10 billion songs had been purchased directly from the iTunes store, helping to bring CD sales down 50 percent from their peak in 2000. Over the past nine years, Apple has continued to build on the success of their iTunes store with a series of high-demand products – most especially the iPod but also the iPhone and the iPad – that depend on the player. This past October, Apple reintroduced its Apple TV; among other feats, the device allows users to access iTunes through their televisions. And just last month the entire Beatles catalog was made available on the store.

4. Audio blogs remind us that there is music beyond the Top 40.

Hand in hand with the MP3 came trailblazing audio blog sites and websites like Buzzgrinder.com and Stereogum.com that introduced large audiences to little-known artists. Many times these sites offered up free MP3 downloads (sometimes legal, sometimes not). In particular, indie musicians got a boost from the trend, with bands like LCD Soundsystem, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Cold War Kids breaking into the mainstream as a result of enthusiastic blogger endorsements. Today, blogs and music sites like Gibson.com’s Lifestyle are the way many of us find new music when our radio stations just aren’t cutting it. It’s a win-win situation for music fans, as many popular artists now give blogs free MP3s because of the enormous increase in attention it can bring. By the way, help yourself to free music on http://gibson.com/.

5. Radiohead tells you to go right ahead and download their new album for free.

In October 2007, Radiohead urged their fans to just pick a price, any price, when downloading their highly anticipated seventh studio album, In Rainbows. Many people scratched their heads quite hard over this one. Why would one of the most popular rock bands in the world essentially give their album away? For several reasons: They thought they’d beat the Internet to the punch by going ahead and leaking their own album; they wanted to flip off their former record label; and they wanted to rethink the antiquated model for releasing a record. Turns out, it was a smart move. The band reported that most people paid a normal retail price for the album, and upon its retail release in January 2008, In Rainbows went #1 in both the U.K. and the United States. Nine Inch Nails, Ryan Adams and others have since followed suit.

It just goes to show you how the music industry is forever changing and how this is making DJs have to change along with it. (As I've said in so many other post)

So that's it for now but as always............"Stay In The Mix"

The American Audio VMS4 Controller (Feat. DJ Etronik)

2010-11-30T16:59:00.000-08:00

The American Audio VMS4 controller makes a fine competetor to the ring when it comes to controllers. DMC World Champion DJ Etronik makes it look easy with this hands-on demonstration of the product, but keep in mind (he is a "World Champion DJ")

This controller has a lot of features that can be found in higher priced items of this kind and even a few features that are not on the higher priced ones. For example,you have a built in sound card, Midi, and 4 channel mixer all in one. This unit is running a close comparison to Traktor Kontrol S4 in capabilities and at about half the price. Plus, I think that the sound card feature is an added bonus.

When choosing a controller, you definately want to take a look at what kind of bang you're getting for your buck (especially if it's your first one) and I believe this one to be a good choice. You can learn more about this product at the American Audio website at http://www.adjaudio.com/ or by visiting your local music/audio store like Guitar Center.

Well, this closes out my post for this month and I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving! I know I did! Now I gotta try and work off those extra pounds I've gained! Next month I'll try to feature some of the bargans out there for Christmas.

That's it for now, but as always......... "Stay In The Mix"

Latest News on the DMC World Champion Finals

2010-11-11T10:47:00.000-08:00

Here it is: The Golden Years, DJ Shiftee's time-traveling journey through DMC history. This video is a tribute to all the incredible DJ Champions from DMC's glorious past. DJ Shiftee has spent countless hours over the years studying masters like Roc Raida, Q-bert, Craze, and A-Trak. His goal: to one day stand in their shoes. Literally...

DMC, the preeminent showcase for DJ talent around the world, are pleased to announce that Serato and Rane have come on board as major sponsors of the DMC World DJ Championships, a collaboration which DMC believes will take DJ creativity to an entirely new level with the ability to use Serato's Scratch Live.

In order to balance traditional mixing and the popularity of digital vinyl playback, DMC have confirmed that from 2011 the 26 year old event will, like the DMC DJ TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP, permit the use of the software based system Serato Scratch Live in addition to traditional vinyl.

THE BATTLE FOR WORLD SUPREMACY will continue to support pure turntablism, two decks, vinyl and individual flair and creativity. DMC also plan an ON-LINE WORLD DJ CHAMPIONSHIP which will embrace visual mixing, the potential for which was seen at this year's WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS with performances by DJs Woody and Shiftee.

DMCWORLDTV has established itself as the premier portal for DJ performances and now DMC has plans to launch DMC RADIO, a revolutionary channel featuring DJs covering every genre of dance & hip-hop music transmitting from a variety of servers around the world.

Follow this link for the complete story and details http://dmcdjchamps.com/

And remember, as always..... "Stay In The Mix"

Allen & Heath Xone: DX USB Midi Controller w/Serato Itch

2010-10-31T14:43:00.000-07:00

http://images.guitarcenter.com/products/optionLarge/AllenHeath/651861.jpg Happy Halloween to all the DJs, Fans, and followers out there. This Halloween, the only thing scary about the product I'm showing you is the price! But as usual, when I present a product that's not priced low it's because I find it to be well worth the money and this is certainly well worth it's price. The Xone:DX is a performance audio controller for electronic DJs and is the result of close design collaboration between Allen & Heath and Serato. The Xone:DX with Serato ITCH DJ software offers 4 Virtual Decks and Serato DJ FX.

Allen & Heath are the fourth major manufacturing partner to co-engineer on the Serato ITCH platform. Using their 40 years of experience creating world-class mixers and specialty controllers, Allen & Heath has created another excellent medium for electronic music performance. The Xone:DX with ITCH provides the electronic performer with precise control and manipulation of more audio.

The 4 Virtual Decks of the Allen & Heath XONE:DX mixer exist in a clean uncluttered environment on the ITCH software interface. Using the DX library navigation control, you can quickly make selections from your crates. You can then accurately mix 4 audio tracks on the virtual decks along with other external sources. Each of the XONE:DX's virtual decks can be assigned multiple Serato DJ FX that are hosted in ITCH software

OK so you're looking at dropping about thirteen or fourteen hundred for a piece of technology like this but hey I spent twelve hundred on the B-52 prodigy and it didn't even have Serato built in. By the time I puchased Serato separately I had spent over seventeen hundred dollars. So in comparison, this is actually a bargain even at fifteen hundred! No wonder this was such a big hit at this years BPM affair.

Well that's it for now trick-or-treaters but as always, "Stay In The Mix"

BPM 2010 (Just A Peep)

2010-10-15T17:33:00.000-07:00

Finally, last year's UK DMC supremacy champion DJ Rasp has been doing sterling work demoing Numark's extensive range of digital goodies to the masses, and I managed to grab a couple of sets of him taming the ITCH based V7 decks and X5 mixer. Purists might be unhappy with a turntablist going for it on digital decks, but the demos do prove that like it or not, quality turntablism can be done on digital decks. I've got a 3 minute set:

I'm still waiting for some footage of this years winner of the Ortfon Serato BPM turntable battle. (I hear it was a young brotha from Chicago that stole the show) but I'll keep on looking for the videos that I know are coming soon! So until next time "Stay In The Mix"