DMb | Dance Music blog & Podcast

We recently recieved a pair of White Reloop RHP-5 headphones in the mail for review and I was excited to give them a listen because they looked so cool. They have a nice durable rubberized coating that really feels like it could save some potential damage when taking these with you everywhere. When I first took the headphones out of the box I was surprised that these headphones were being marketed towards DJs because they seemed so much smaller and lighter than what I’m used to. I’ve used Sony MDR-V700 headphones for the past 8 years or so and I’ve grown very accustomed to the way they feel and sound. They Reloop headphones didn’t feel nearly as durable or heavy as I was used to so I initially doubted that they could work their way into my DJ bag as a regular accessory.

I went to my computer, unplugged my Sonys, plugged in the RHP-5s, and loaded up FL Studio to start a new track. I was immediately impressed with the low end these little headphone put out. I switched out among 3 different pairs of headphones, the Sony V700s, Sony V500s, and Reloop RHP5s while playing the same bassline and found that the Reloop headphones volume level seemed to be a little bit louder than my other two headphones and that the bass was definitely louder than it was on both pairs of Sonys. Now the Reloop headphones do have a (more…)

I’ve really grown tired of Apple telling me what I can and can’t do with my devices, what kind of software I’m allowed to run, what kind of hardware I’m allowed to use, and which computers I’m allowed to upload music to my phone from. The iPad is just more of the same crap in a pretty case. While I will admit the iPad has it’s uses and I love my I really do enjoy my [jailbroken] iPhone, I find it very hard to tolerate the hardcore limitations Apple places on the users of its mobile devices. I would love to see someone get OSX or even Linux running on the iPad and then we will truly see what something like the iPad could have been capable of.

Enter the HP Slate. This little baby not only looks to be packing some processing power but it is an “open” device. There are USB slots, video output, memory card slots, and it is running a proper full operating system so users can install whatever software they want. Which means we could see users running Ableton Live, FL Studio, Soundforge, ProTools, Serato, Traktor, and so much more. I can just imagine a DJ set using one of these or playing live with 2 of these machines and actually tweaking knobs on a virtual TB-303 with your fingers instead of a mouse. The possibilities are wide open and I can’t wait to see the Slate in action someday soon.

Xone delivers a top of the line DJ controller to put all others to shame. Check it out:

After weeks of speculation and buzz around the industry, Allen & Heath and Serato Audio Research have announced the launch of the Xone: DX, a new Plug’n'Play DJ controller, the result of close collaboration between the two companies. The DX, another development in Allen & Heath’s Xone: D range of controllers, is a 20-channel USB soundcard and features total integration of the brand new 4-deck Serato ITCH software.

Boasting the ability to send up to 168 individual MIDI control messages, a 20-channel 96kHz/24-bit USB 2.0 soundcard, two dual layer deck simulators, and RIAA/phono inputs for external decks, as well as the central 4 channel mixer section which directly manipulates the DSP mixing within the computer, the Xone: DX is the most versatile, high specification professional DJ controller to date. A full version of the new Serato ITCH software is supplied with the DX, providing unique 4-deck control, and a comprehensive set of digital DJ FX, as well as looping and time-stretching.

“Serato has always been an admirer of Allen & Heath’s DJ hardware and we’ve watched the development of the Xone: D series of controllers with keen interest. In our opinion, Allen & Heath design some of the best music production software controllers in the professional field,” explains Serato MD, Steve West. “Rather than a partnership to simply bundle our products, we wanted to collaborate with A&H at the drawing board stage, and design a product that would fully manipulate the new version of ITCH.”

The Xone: DX is also fully compatible with other leading DJ software brands, and has Allen & Heath’s customary pro modular design build and high quality components. It also has bi-colour LED feedback layer assignment, UV light sensitive legend, mix outputs on RCA and balanced XLR, a separate booth output, and measures 50mm deep to fit conveniently in a laptop bag.

“Ever since we launched the MIDI-enabled Xone:92 in 2003, followed by the multi-media Xone:3D in 2005, we have strived to design controllers that would fulfil a digital DJ’s wish list. The Xone: DX is the next step in this journey, with a versatile and wide-ranging set of features in a compact package,” comments Xone designer, Andy Rigby-Jones.

Suggested retail price is £999 shipping in November 2009.

More info at Xone Website

JohnBeez has developed a new Fretless Fader which acts as a two octave pitch controller and crossfader which makes creating music on the turntable that much easier. Pair that up with the Vestax Controller One and this is what you get…

Here is another video of JohnBeez with his Controller One and a Loop Pedal…

At the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) expo, Akai showed the APC40 MIDI control surface it has developed in conjunction with Ableton, making it the first such device to be ready to run out of the box with the Ableton Live music editing software. As there is no need to load drivers, users simply plug in their notebooks via a USB port and can begin mixing or otherwise modifying their music using Ableton Live. The APC40 is being touted as the simplest, most direct hardware interface with the popular software, yet still allows advanced users to assign the board’s 40 buttons, knobs and fader controls to any virtual controls in the software.

Each control on the APC40 lights up in a different color to give users an instant indication of clip state. Likewise, the 16 knobs are lined by a ring of LED rings that perform the same functions. Akai points out the APC40 makes controlling music at live events much quicker and easier, taking the connected source, most often a notebook or desktop PC or Mac, out of the equation.

Numark has announced at NAMM that it’s displaying Stealth Control, a professional DJ controller that comes with Native Instruments Traktor LE and MixMeister Fusion Live software. With a design based around Numark’s previous control devices, it provides the same two decks and a mixer layout that allows users to jog, scrub, or scratch. Stealth Control sends MIDI information to control the software and can be used with any application that supports MIDI. A USB cable is used to connect the controller to the computer.

Traktor LE 3 is a dual-deck DJ application that provides features such as auto-sync, beat-accurate loops, and a variety of effects, while Mix Meister Fusion delivers timeline-based mixing capabilities. Stealth Control is available now and has been priced by the company at $400 with an estimated street price of $300.

The Otus from Eks is another new DJ Controller to enter the game, but this one definitely has some features I’d like to try out in person if we can get a test unit in here. A few features that really stand out to me are the ability to control 2 decks with just the one controller and the touch sensitive pitch ribbon. This sleek new DJ controller can be had for 649.00 € via the Eks Website.

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Here’s a nice bit of kit to take along with you on your next flight when you’ve just got to finish that next remix on the go. :)

Snip snip…

Now that the laptop has become the new desktop it’s tempting to do everything on the go. But try composing or editing music while enjoying a latte at Starbucks and you’ll find yourself seriously lacking in the tactile input department. There’s a reason why musicians generally need racks of equipment at their disposal… you just cant play music so well with a keyboard and mouse. The new Korg Nano Digital Music Controllers aim to remedy this musical dilemma by providing three different portable USB versions of common musical input devices that fit perfectly with your laptop. The nanoKEY gives you a mini velocity sensitive keyboard. The nanoPAD provides you with velocity sensitive drum-pads and a Kaossilator style x-y control pad while the nanoKONTROL gives you nine faders, nine knobs and eighteen switches for your mixing pleasure.

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