The convergence of visuals and sound on virtual vinyl has been a long time coming, but it’s awaited the perfect tool for controlling both. Serato’s VIDEO-SL promised to be that tool. We’ve gotten the crossfader in the capable hands of dj rndm and Robotkid to find out for Create Digital Motion. Here’s what the results look like, mixing:
… and scratching:
The review isn’t without the odd caveat: for one, you’ll need to pluck down a couple grand to get the complete setup because the Rane mixer employed is required, though rndm ultimately says that’s worth it for the integration payoff. And available transitions and effects are limited in range and prefer to run on dedicated GPUs (think MacBook Pro, or a PC laptop with a dedicated NVIDIA or ATI card). But as you can see, the results are incredibly slick, and there’s no question video on vinyl now has a tool to beat. Check out the complete review and technical details on our visualist sister site:
It takes a dedicated turntablist to use a deck as a melodic instrument. It makes Theremins, violins, and bassoons easy to play. Kypski shares the Beatles’ Michelle in scratch form:
Yep, I’m sticking to keyboards and Theremins. This does make me wonder, though, about fun ways of playing things involving giant mechanical wheels, though, which when you think about it is essentially what a turntable is — see comments for mention of Radio Wonderland; more on that soon. (That’s how I describe the intuitive appeal of the turntable in the first place to nonbelievers: imagine if someone invented a music controller with built-in, mechanical resistance, a giant platter, and a heavy wheel you could manipulate to directly effect sound. You wonder why we ever thought it was just a way of playing back music.) Now, has anyone tried that musical Vestax deck?
M-Audio may not spell the word “connective” / “conectiv” right, but they’re getting some very positive feedback from their new DJ line, including Torq (the DJing + vinyl control solution), Conectiv (the audio interface), and X-Session Pro DJ control surface. I’m hearing great comments here from readers, and there’s other word around the Interwebs. Some early bugs, as would be expected with a new product, but it sounds as though they’re getting effectively squashed. And with a US$99 version for beginners and affordable prices on the “pro” products, this stuff could catch on fast.
Here’s what looks like a great review in German, which comes conveniently two days before I have a doctoral German reading exam to take. Now I can study this, which is a great deal more fun: M-Audio Conectiv & Torq Testbericht [Alex's Blog]
M-Audio are out on the road promoting their DJ stuff very heavily, too. First, they’ve toted the new kit to trade shows in Asia and Broadcast India (hey, I expect the Asian market will soon dwarf the North American and European markets). Second, they’re helping push Scarface: The Video Game. (Too bad; if they wanted to hit the coveted CDM market, they would have found some Zelda: Twilight Princess tie-in, but I digress.) And they’ve holding scratch competitions with Torq, as well, as seen here on YouTube. Computers, ending the age of turntablists? Quite the opposite, it would appear:
Video via Scratchworx, which also has a terrific hands-on report on new DJ gear from Music Live. (Not to be confused with the somewhat less-than-successful MusicPlayer Live from here in NY about a year ago.) And if you can’t get invited to an event with an M-Audio demo of the new stuff, here’s the next best thing — GearWire with the M-Audio demo:
“Ah,” you say, “but what will I do after I’ve bought Torq and Conectiv, and I’m wildly rich and famous?” How about buy a $13,000 ring with a turntable on it?
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