Comments on: Stanton DaScratch Details: Touch Controller Self-Configures for Ableton, Traktor, Serato

By: Kevin

Kevin — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:36:28 +0000

Kinda looks like a dr sample ate a pacemaker.

By: Peter Kirn

Peter Kirn — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:25:07 +0000

Well, there’s always a tradeoff between portability and how comfortable the device is; we’ve seen extreme examples on CDM of giant, stage-sized controllers and microscopic controllers squeezed onto iPhones and everything in between. So that doesn’t seem dumb to me.

I suppose it’s not immediately intuitive, but it looks like a layout I might like over time. It seems like something you’d combine with other controllers, not use exclusively. Again, matter of taste, though.

By: teej

teej — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:18:32 +0000

am i the only one that thinks this looks totally unintuitive? the interface looks to be very not obvious and not immediate. it is being demoed as used from the side. ok, then why are the transport controls set for vertical? and if it’s supposed to be used vertically then the entire thing looks way too cramped to be fun. if it all just had a little breathing room it might make more sense. maybe i’m just that dumb.

By: dj professor ben

dj professor ben — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:59:12 +0000

@Mike - you asked for it, you got it. Seriously though what's up with judging a DJ by his or her tools? If this thing proves useful, why not use it? And if you find a way to use a fischer price toy, why not? Look what people are doing with Guitar Hero -- maybe these guys aren't "serious DJs" in your book, but this is really creative and impressive.

By: Damon

Damon — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:41:38 +0000

I like it. Really versatile. It is clearly meant to be a DJ inspired controller with a much more diverse spirit. Has a bit of the just want one feel that came with the first Midiman Oxygen 8. Compulsory purchase music tech. Cool idea. Guitar players have had this nick knack by the dozen thing with inexpensive effects for years.

Blezzings,
Damon

By: Mr E Hertz

Mr E Hertz — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:47:38 +0000

Itâ€™s a matter of whether it winds up being lovable or disposable. That really does sum up the entire Midi controller market.

I think a lot of it’s sucess will depend on how well it is configured initially. If it works with Serato, Torq, Traktor, Live, and Reason without having to do much in the way of assigning and reasigning of controls… then it will probably be a big hit. Most DJ’s don’t want to have to bother with assigning controls, they just want buttons that they know will do what they expect every time.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:28:50 +0000

Fischer Price DJ! Say Fischer Price DJ DJ yeah yeah!! Are they serious? This looks like a toy and I would laugh at any “serious” DJ that used one. Sorry, but every MIDI device Stanton has released lately looks cheesy and pointless. There are much better MIDI control solutions out there…

By: dj professor ben

dj professor ben — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 05:54:42 +0000

Well I walked into Guitar Center to check this out, but the promise on the flyer they sent me — “Get your hands on it at Guitar Center” — turned out to be BS. Nobody in ProAudio even knew what I was talking about, I had to show them, erm, Da website for them to even get what I was talking about, and then they were like, “whoa, that looks cool”… And this was Guitar Center in Hollywood; you’d think at least that store would have the special promo its advertising promises, but I guess not. Anyway I wanted to wait to play with one before deciding on it but I just broke down and ordered it on the spot, and paid $250 plus tax, so I guess that’s the street price. Should come in next week, I’m looking forward to playing with it even though I share some of the skepticism being thrown around here — I’ll let you know how it goes.

By: popo

popo — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 05:41:00 +0000

lol @ the guy’s voice.

By: Peter Kirn

Peter Kirn — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:19:27 +0000

Look, there’s marketing, and there’s … well, the rest of us. I don’t necessarily look for MIDI controllers to be revolutionary, just useful. Theoretically the “Behringer” name isn’t going to win you street cred, but I’ve seen people do incredible stuff with a BCR2000. (actually, just got a blog item coming soon with some more on that) So you use what works, and ignore the marketing.

More important is the build quality, though — if this falls apart and turns out not to be worth $300, that’s obviously a big drawback. ;) So have to see a shipping unit before making that judgment. Maybe it’s great, in which case $300 is nothing to shell out. It’s a matter of whether it winds up being lovable or disposable.