Another cool instructable for turning an old hard drive into a rotary controller that can then be mapped to MIDI to contol some DJ software or some other bit of virtual gear. If anyone technically gifted enough to build one of these does so please post some photos and let us know how it works out.
Full instructions here.
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.
Basically all three Nano Controllers are USB MIDI devices that can work with various music software that supports MIDI. The nanoKEY comes with a free download for Korgs nice M1 Le synthesizer software with some great classic Korg synth sounds. The nanoPAD has a free download for EZDrummer 1.14 to get you started with some rockin’ beats and the nanoKONTROL gives you a $50 off coupon for Ableton Live music editing software.
Included with all of the models is Korg’s Kontrol Editor software which allows you to customize the exact MIDI commands sent by each key, slider and button.
nanoKEY
* Keyboard: 25-key with velocity and 4 velocity curves
* CC MODE button
* Octave Shift up/down buttons
* Pitch up/down buttons
* Modulation button
* Dimensions: 320(W) x 83(D) x 14(H) mm/ 12.60”(W) x 3.27”(D) x 0.55”(H)
* Includes free download for Korg M1 Le Synthesizer software and Korg’s Kontrol Editor software
nanoPAD
* 12 trigger pads with velocity and 4 velocity curves
* X-Y pad (Like the Kaossilator!)
* ROLL button
* FLAM button
* HOLD button
* 4 SCENE buttons (Allows 4 different MIDI configurations to be recalled instantly)
* Dimensions: 320(W) x 82(D) x 16.5(H) mm/ 12.60”(W) x 3.23”(D) x 00.65”(H)
* Includes free download for EZDrummer 1.14 software and Korg’s Kontrol Editor software
nanoKONTROL
* 9 knobs
* 9 sliders
* 18 buttons
* Transport buttons: REW/PLAY/FF/LOOP/STOP/REC
* 4 SCENE buttons (Allows 4 different MIDI configurations to be recalled instantly)
* Dimensions: 320(W) x 82(D) x 29.5(H) mm/ 12.60”(W) x 3.23”(D) x 1.16”(H)
* Includes $50 off coupon for Ableton Live software and free download of Korg’s Kontrol Editor software
PC Requirements
* Mac OS X 10.3.9, or Mac OS X 10.4.7 or later
* Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later, or Microsoft Windows Vista SP1
* Available USB Port
via: thinkgeek
Jochem Paap aka Speedy J has been making news with the announcement of his forthcoming album which will be a collaborative process with anyone who wishes to contribute some loops. He is doing it all from the Soundcloud website. Checking the SoundCloud site I just noticed they have unreleased tracks from MC Hammer’s new album (hmmmm). The site also acts as a way for sending audio files to fellow collaborators.
Here is the info from Speedy J’s Collab page…
What is Open Collabs?
Building on the concept of his past Collabs Projects, Jochem Paap aka Speedy J invites producers worldwide to submit parts for an album collaboration of epic proportions. In times where the vast majority is reluctant to embrace the changes that digital technology brings, he’s reaching out to prove the value of creative synergy new tools and formats have to offer. The project will be a manifest of these values, re-injecting progress into electronic music. The resulting album will be released on his label Electric Deluxe, profits will be shared with all artists appearing on it 50/50.
What is a Part?
A part can be a loop, sample, bassline, sound effect, or any conceivable combination of the above. Check ot some of Speedy J’s own example parts here.
How Does it Work?
The entire collaboration will take place on Soundcloud. Participants can send their audio to Speedy J via the Open Collabs Dropbox. The creation process can be followed via www.SpeedyJ.com, and participants will be able to comment on the work in progress. Keep and eye on this page for audio-updates and news.
Why pay more for a lower quality DRM protected MP3?
Download and install Advantageous mp3. It is free of charge.
Browse through the iTunes Store, just as usual. Or use iTunes Genius feature to find new music. When you find something you want, click on Get MP3 from Amazon in the iTunes Script Menu. Advantageous MP3 takes you to the artist’s or album’s Amazon MP3 site. You can buy the music DRM-free and in better quality.
Download Advantageous MP3
Requires Mac OS 10.5 and iTunes 8
via: Advantageous MP3
Just got this bit of info in about DJ Mag’s Top 100 plus 50 making it the Top 150. Go ahead Armin, put your hands in the air!!
01. Armin van Buuren
02. Tiësto
03. Paul van Dyk
04. Above & Beyond
05. David Guetta
06. Ferry Corsten
07. Sasha
08. Markus Schulz
09. John Digweed
10. Infected Mushroom
11. Deadmau5
12. Carl Cox
13. Sander van Doorn
14. Paul Oakenfold
15. Richie Hawtin
16. Hernan Cattaneo
17. James Zabiela
18. Andy Moor
19. Eddie Halliwell
20. Axwell
(more…)
Artist: DJ Nth
Title: The Afterparty
Length: 79:13
Website: www.djnth.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/djnth
Homebase: Los Angeles, CA
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Tracklisting:
01. Armin van Buuren & DJ Shah feat. Chris Jones - Going Wrong (Extended Mix)
02. DJ Shah feat. Adrina Thorpe - Who Will Find Me (Main Mix)
03. Armin van Buuren feat. Sharon Den Adel - In and Out of Love (Push Trancedental Remix)
04. Lange feat. Sarah Howells - Out of the Sky (Kyau & Albert Mix)
05. Daniel Kandi & Robert Nickson - Liberate
06. Nic Chagall - What You Need (Original Extended Mix)
07. Bartlett Bros. feat. Marcia Juell - Let it Flow (Gareth Emery Remix)
08. Paul van Dyk feat Rea Garvey - Let Go (PvD Club Mix)
09. Andy Duguid feat. Leah - Wasted (Original Mix)
10. Airbase feat. Floria Ambra - Denial
11. Jose Amnesia - Follow Me (Original Mix)
12. Cary Brothers - Ride (Tiesto Extended Mix)
13. N1X - Avalanche
This is an exciting announcement for users of Serato and Ableton software. It can only lead to more creative and interesting DJ sets in the future.
Here is the announcement from the Serato website:
Serato and Ableton are happy to announce a partnership, which will pave the way for the future of Digital DJing.
With shared artist rosters from hip-hop (DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Nu-Mark, A-Trak) to electronica
(Paul Van Dyk, DJ Sasha), both Ableton Live and Serato Scratch Live are renowned as the premier
performance platforms in clubs around the globe.
While Serato’s Scratch Live excels in vinyl emulation, music library control and lightning quick hands-on scratching, Ableton Live provides the tools for production, on-the-?y remixing and beat creation.
“Ableton and Serato take different approaches to modern musical performance,” says Ableton CEO
Gerhard Behles, “But both companies live by the philosophy that software should be straightforward,
easy to use, and most importantly, reliable and stable onstage and in the studio. Ableton has never had an answer for the DJ who wants vinyl control, and rather than try to emulate what Serato do so well, we simply make sure that our products work well together.”
Serato Audio Research CEO Steve West agrees. “After years of talking together, we’re thrilled to be
working with Ableton. It’s exciting to think about what we can offer to DJs and producers: the ability to go beyond just spinning records and add a personal stamp to the music they play.”
Just where this Serato and Ableton collaboration will take us has yet to be seen but one thing is clear: the worlds of DJing, remixing and production for artists worldwide have changes ahead.
Native Instruments unveiled new versions of Traktor Pro and Traktor Scratch recently. Some of the notable features include: 4 decks, built-in effects, Ultra precise beat detection, sync lock, a redesigned browser, crate flick to browse through songs visually like coverflow, and customizable interface.
For more info check out the Traktor Pro Microsite
Circuit Bent TR-707 from Diabolical Devices available on Ebay until October 16th along with some other fun goodies HERE.
Diabolical Modified TR707 from Meadows Ling on Vimeo.
Another circuit bent keyboard from DD.
Diabolical Modified SK-1 from Meadows Ling on Vimeo.
Via: Matrix Synth
Artist: DJ Nth
Title: Dance by Numbers 8.8.8 Mix
Length: 79:31
Website: www.djnth.com and myspace
Homebase: Los Angeles, CA
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
DJ Nth - Dance by Numbers 8.8.8. Mix
Tracklisting:
01. DTL and Mathhead - Bricks
02. Plastikman - Spastik (Dubfire Rework)
03. Underworld - Ring Road (Fake Blood Remix)
04. Sandy W - Bleep
05. DJ Tocadisco - Music Loud
06. True Pseudo - Freaking Me Out (DJ Nth’s Glitched Reconstruction)
07. The Black Ghosts - Any Way You Choose (DJ Nth’s Original Blood Reconstruction)
08. Fake Blood - Mars (DJ Nth Needs Women Reconstruction)
09. Mighty Dub Katz - Magic Carpet Ride (DJ Nth’s Little Fluffy Osawa Mash)
10. DJ Dan - Illectrolingus (Jelo CDJ Laser Damage Remix)
11. Treasure Fingers - Cross the Dancefloor (Laidback Luke Remix)
12. Brad Hed - The Girlz & Boyz (Vandalism Club Mix)
13. Frederico Franchi - Cream (DJ Nth’s iPlay a Prank Caller on TV Reconstruction)
14. JF Presents Smokescream - Retox
15. Chromeo - Fancy Footwork (Guns n Bombs Remix)
16. Midfield General - Disco Sirens (D.I.M. Remix)
17. The Whip - Trash (South Central Remix)
18. Kid Cudi - Day n Night (Crookers First Remix)
19. The Villains - Thrilla (Villains Remix)
20. Hot Chip - Ready for the Floor (LA Riots vs Villains Nth Reconstruction)
21. Streetlife DJ’s - Gunn Crime
22. Little Boots - Stuck on Repeat (Fake Blood Remix)
23. Portishead - The Rip (Noise Floor Crew Remix)
