Rodec MX2200 Professional Performance Mixer

Pioneer...  It's fantastic gear for DJ's.  But, is it the best?  If you ask the guys at Guitar Center they will tell you it is, while their standing in front of the massive Pioneer display.  Fact is, it probably isn't.  Yeah all the pro's use it but it's not the only gear the pro's use.  Professional DJ's & Performers use gear from Allen & Heath, Korg, & even Dennon (sometimes).  Have you ever heard of a Rodec Mixer?  I hadn't heard of them until just a couple months ago, I came across their EFX unit while doing some digging for new ways for DJ's & Performers to make their show one of a kind.

Rodec products are all designed and manufactured in Belgium, and they've been doing it this way since 1954!  Their MX2200 DJ Mixer is one of their newest products from their Progressive Line and I must say that it might just be the ultimate analog DJ mixer out there.  The MX2200 is a 6 channel 12 1/2" professional analog DJ mixer.  All of Rodec's products have been made famous due to their ultra high quality studio ready analog sound.  Nothing sounds like a Rodec... Period.  Now that we've got the "amazing sound" aspect covered we can move on to the specifications of the Rodec MX2200.  The MX2200 features 5 multiple input channels which can handle; balanced XLR inputs, Phono inputs, & 2 stereo RCA inputs.  Channels 1 & 5 also include a digital S/PDIF input as well as an option for a USB audio I/O signal from your computer.  Each of the 5 input channels feature a mic pre with gain adjustment, Pan, EQ, Crossfader routing, PFL Solo for cues & an analog fader for level control.  The 6th input channel doesn't feature RCA or digital inputs but, it does have the same balanced microphone input with pre, gain settings, and PFL functions as the other 5 channels.

There's one more feature to each channel that's a world exclusive, and that's Rodec's FX wet/dry selection potentiometer. (potentiometer= geek speak for knob)  The Rodec doesn't feature an on board FX section, instead they have two FX inserts on the rear of the unit for connection to outboard FX units.  IE: Korg's Kaoss Pad, Rodec's Restyler, Kalediloop.  With the Rodec mixer you have dual wet/dry control over both effects units for each individual channel.  Do you understand how cool that is?  Forget standard and tired Pioneer DJ EFX everyone's heard, you can use a Rodec with two EFX units to create totally original and unique EFX for your sets.  You could even hook a computer up to one of these FX inserts and use EFX plug-ins as one of your inserts on the Rodec.  Then imagine a Kaoss Pad on the other insert.  You could then be rocking a set whilst using the Kaoss Pad EFX blended with any number of EFX from your computer to create truly insane sounds.

Rodec build their mixers in a modular fashion and you can even make changes to the mixer to suit your style.  You can add USB audio I/O to the mixer or Digital Faders (I'm not sure if the digital faders can send midi info though)  Looking at this modular concept it's no wonder they didn't add an EFX unit to their Progressive Line of DJ Mixers.  Rodec has definietly taken the "build your own" setup idea to heart.

The MX2200 has multiple outputs for performance and tracking in the studio.  Their is one standard balanced XLR output, and then a second balanced XLR output with an EQ that allows you to control the high and low end of your master channel. (great for adjusting your overall sound to meet the acoustic specifications of where ever you're playing.) The master channel features Rodec's exclusive dual wet/dry EFX control.  For live recording the mixer features 3 RCA & 2 digital S/PDIF outputs.

The bottom line is... Rodec Mixers are built like tanks in Belgium (not china) with quality materials by passionate craftsmen.  They have a reputation of sound that can't really be rivaled in the DJ Mixer world and their products allow the end user to get something that will suit their needs perfectly regardless of how insane their current setup might be.  I hope this has been a decent introduction into the world of Rodec DJ & Sound products.  Maybe one of you looking into some Pioneer of Allen & Heath gear might give Rodec a look.  I highly doubt you'll be displeased.

I had a hell of a time finding a video of the MX2200 but, I did find one of Rodec's Restyler analog EFX units.  Be sure to give Rodec's Website a look so you can check out all of their products!

4midiLoop a Fader Fox Design DJ Controller

I haven't done any posts on German MIDI controller manufacturer Fader Fox yet but, if you know me, you know... I love FaderFox! Quality MIDI control, something that's a rarity in the audio industry. You've got Livid Instruments & FaderFox doing honorable work in the MIDI world, beyond that you have to get very boutique or DIY to give yourself reliable controls capable of MIDI.

Even though it seems bleak for you MIDI guys it's not all darkness. in 2009 when Traktor Pro was introduced a DJ by the name of DJ Mole switched from his timecode vinyls to a custom MIDI controller he built with the help of FaderFox. The popularity of this unit was quickly picked up on by the YouTube masses and DJ Mole saw an opportunity to create a product. Thus, Glanzmann Digital DJ Solutions was born. They set to work creating a new fully functional DJ Controller they could sell to the public. Glanzmann Solutions joined forces with FaderFox and together the two companies set out to build the finest DJ MIDI Controller ever created. Fader Fox has made a name for itself by creating rough & tough portable MIDI Controllers for DJ's & Producers. They've dubbed their controllers the MicroModule line and that's exactly what they are. Everything they make is professionally designed and built in Germany for customers demanding precise and tactile MIDI control.

Now that we know a bit more about Glanzmann Digital & FaderFox we can take a closer look at their collaboration for the digital DJ world. The 4midiLoop is a completely functional and customizable MIDI controller specifically designed for Traktor Pro. It features 4 sections complete with everything you need to control each of Traktor Pro's 4 tracks. Each section features its own: EQ, Transport, FX, Seek/Scratch, Looping & Cue sections all designed to work with Traktor Pro. I haven't seen a controller with as much control over a program as the 4midiLoop has. Sure, some can control everything that the 4midiLoop can but... they can't do it without hitting some sort of "shift" button. Every single thing you need to control your DJ set is right in front of your face with the 4midiLoop. No need to worry about switches or shift buttons, if you need to control it, you can quickly access it on the 4midiLoop. The 4midiLoop features 47 knobs, 5 Faders, 152 LED's & 166 Buttons plus, the whole thing is USB bus powered. You don't have to be worried about being rough with this beast, it's designed for the road as all FaderFox products are.

Give the 4midiLoop a look, the price is a bit steep considering it has no interface but all in all I feel it's a pretty fair mark. Would I buy it over the Xone DX? That's debatable but, it certainly wouldn't be an easy decision. Hopefully I can get my hands on one of these for a review, until then be sure to check out the 4midiLoop & FaderFox websites for more information regarding this truly savage DJ controller.

Dj TechTools Handbuilt MIDI Fighter

Buttons, Good... MIDI Buttons, better... Arcade Style MIDI Buttons, INSANE!  DjTechTools.com is a blog/resource/store for DJ's based around the equipment, techniques & tricks of the Digital DJ world.  Fear not producers, they haven't forgot about you.  Case & Point: The MIDI Fighter.   This piece was originally sold out but, as of October 1st, 2010 DJTechTools.com is now taking orders for this beast once again.

The MIDI Fighter is a hand built, completely customizable MIDI Controller for use with any software that accepts MIDI messages.  The MIDI Fighter features a high quality sturdy frame sporting 16 spring loaded durable & smooth Japanese Sanwa Arcade Buttons & blue LED's.  If you've ever used any type of spring loaded controller button you know how absolutely epic they are for bouncing between cue points, loops and firing samples.  Allen & Heath's Xone DX features 4 tiny spring loaded buttons for memory cues and this was hands down my favorite feature of the controller.  I'm getting all turned on thinking about 16 massive spring loaded buttons to jam on.  The MIDI Fighter isn't some cheap crumby standard MIDI Controller, quite the contrary in fact.

Each one of these controllers is completely hand built and unique from the acrylic base plate up.  DJ TechTool's store allows you to customize your controller in real time on the web and see exactly how it will look before your purchase it.  They can build your controller for you, for an extra $15.00 (a very fair shake I must say, props) or you can have it shipped to you in pieces and you can build it yourself.  No need to worry about soldering either, none is required with their DIY MIDI Fighter kits.  Don't forget that since these are built DIY style in pieces your MIDI Fighter is also completely customizable and ready for an upgrade anytime you feel the urge.  The main board comes with an extra 8 inputs. (4 Analog, 4 Digital)  This means you can add your own controls aside from the Sanwa Buttons (IE: Faders, Knobs, Ribbons etc) thus turning your MIDI Fighter into a truly one of a kind machine.  If you're still skeptical about the whole DIY idea, don't be.  DJ Tech Tools put together a great video to help you out and guide you through the process step by step.  I feel like I could show my 8 year old niece this video, give her the pieces and she could build it.  Plus, think how much better you'll feel about your controller knowing you built it yourself.  That's worth the DIY time right there not to mention you save 15 bucks.

Worried about mapping this controller to your software? You worry to much... no need to trip DJTechTools.com has taken care of that for you too.  At their site they have mappings available for Traktor Pro & Serato Scratch.  Mapping in Ableton is beyond easy and it's also a program that's used in such a variety of ways by each user it's obvious they don't have a map for it.  I know three people who use digital lighting software to control their DMX capable stage lights, I have to say that I think the MIDI Fighter might be the perfect option for those lighting guys looking for a durable controller to orchestrate their light shows with too.

Lets re-cap this thing really quick.  Hand Built, High Performance/Quality, DIY Option, Customizable, Upgradable, Supported, Versatile MIDI Controller.  It also has quite the community of passionate and dedicated digital geeks standing behind it to ensure you're never left in the dark if you have questions regarding the MIDI Fighter.  What are you waiting for? Go buy one! Even I must admit that I had given up on spending money on DJ/Production equipment so I could save up for more engineering based analog gear but I think I'll be breaking that little pact with myself to grab one of these before they're sold out again.  For more information regarding the MIDI Fighter check out the video below and visit DjTechTools.com.



Best,

Nick

Traktor Kontrol S4 Available November 1st Pre-Order Now Available

Hey everyone here's a little quickie for all of you.  Native Instruments just announced they would be releasing their Traktor Kontrol S4 on November 1st 2010 & NI just started taking pre-orders on it today.  While I did just do a post on Allen & Heath's Xone DX & The HoloDesk proclaiming their greatness, this piece of hardware is also another quality controller option.  While Native Instruments doesn't have the reputation for software control & DJ equipment that Allen & Heath does, they did create Traktor and I'm sure the Traktor Kontrol S4 will be quite the beast when it comes to MIDI talk with Traktor.  The 24bit/96k audio interface shouldn't be a slouch either.  There isn't much to say about it yet, just check out the video below and follow the link for more info from Native Instruments.  When this product does become available I'll surely get a review out to all of you as I am a big fan of Traktor Pro and can't wait to see what this MIDI Controller can do!  Plus, for $999.99 including a specialized copy of Traktor Pro this thing is a pretty damn good deal!



Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 Product Page
 

Ableton and Serato Have Finally Released The Bridge

We've all heard the rumors and seen the epic Rane Mixer but it's hard to be stoked on something until it's really here and in front of your face. Well my friends, The Bridge is finally here! Ableton and Serato got together to smash up the best of both worlds when it comes to live electronic music performance, and I must say, I think they've hit the mark.

The Bridge was released on Septemeber 22nd and is available for Ableton Suite & Live users. Since it's so new to the market a lot of infromation isn't available yet but will surely trickle onto the net as more users put The Bridge to work. In order to use The Bridge you need to have Ableton Live/Suite 8.2 or above and Serato Scratch Live 2.1.1 or above. Support for Serato's Itch is also in the works and will no doubt be available here in the near future.

Essentially The Bridge gives your Ableton productions DJ Turntable style control with Serato and your CDJ's. You can drag clips from Ableton into a deck inside of Serato and have all of the typical "DJ" tools and tricks at your disposal for your Ableton clips.  Looping on the fly efficiently and EQing two tracks at once is nearly impossible with Ableton so The Bridge will be a much needed god send for those old school DJ's who now use Ableton to perform.  Basically, if you can do it in Serato you can now do it with Ableton and if you can do it in Ableton you can now do it with Serato.  I hope that makes sense if not think of it like this...  The Ableton Session View now lives inside of Serato.  You can also record you Serato mix sets directly into Ableton. With this feature you can use plug-ins available in Ableton to tweak and perfect your recorded live DJ mixes.  The programs accomplish their respective tasks seamlessly together and unlike ReWire it doesn't matter which program you open first. You don't need an interface either, Ableton and Serato have perfected the routing so that all the audio is being routed inside of the box. And yes all your Ableton Midi Hardware will also work with the Bridge. An APC 40 ripping Ableton clips to shreads next to a set of CDJ's mashing up bangers... if that doesn't stimulate creativity I don't know what can.

Scope this video to learn more about The Bridge and for even more info on The Bridge be sure to visit Ableton's site.  They have done a fantastic job introducing the world to the The Bride and you can even try the demo for free!  After all, actually using the software and putting it to work with your personal work flow is the best way to learn.

ICE AV's HoloDesk The Future of Digital Software Control

You've all seen holographic displays before, they are very prevalent in Hollywood movies and often now used by news anchors and sports casters on television. However, they aren't quite as prevalent in the musical performance scene. Kevin Andreassend is the inventor of the HoloDesk and he's looking to change that. Kevin was kind enough to leave a comment on ZeSoundSuite and helped me promote this place by linking ZSS to some of his sites. I figured I would return the favor by doing some research on the HoloDesk and preparing a post for all of you to enjoy.

ICE AV is a company from the New Zealand that has created the HoloDesk for DJ's and digitally based performers. The HoloDesk is a holographic 2D touch sensitive display that projects images on both sides of the unit. This gives the audience a front row seat to whatever is being displayed on the HoloDesk. The crowd can now see all the madness the DJ or Performer is manipulating in their software during the show. Obviously the HoloDesk can be put to more uses than just DJing but for now being that it's so new to the market that's all we have a preview to at the moment. The HoloDesk can convert your hands touch into MIDI messages which can then be sent into your DJ software to manipulate the various parameters and controls.  Imagine being able to see exactly what the DJ is doing as they're doing it. The HoloDesk has the ability to connect the artist and the crowd in new ways never before thought of. A live performance is all about the connection and the HoloDesk will certainly be that link between performers and audiences as it gains popularity in the industry.

Currently you have to purchase a DIY kit to get your own HoloDesk but, a plug & play complete version from ICE AV is in the works currently.  However, a DIY kit does give you the advantage of choosing from a variety of options ICE AV offers.  There's no doubt within a few years we will all of seen this live and in use as DJ's & Performers from around the world are itching to get their own HoloDesk.   ICE AV is even working on a 10.2" LCD Touchscreen computer running Windows 7 for use with DJ Software as well.   The basic function of the HoloDesk is simple, you touch it and your computer responds just like any other MIDI Controller. The difference being that this is coolest looking most epic MIDI Controller ever created! If you're interested in a HoloDesk you can contact ICE AV Directly or do some more research on your own at their website. Check out this video of a user putting Traktor Pro to work with the HoloDesk and you'll understand why the the HoloDesk is indeed the future of live performance!

Native Instruments Traktor's 12! Traktor Pro's EFX Now Available in Your DAW!

I'm a Traktor Gate whore.  In fact I've used and abused her so many times during live sets I was beginning to wonder if our relationship was ever going to turn into something more.  Well with the introduction of Native Instruments Traktor's 12 this relationship does indeed now have the beautiful potential to blossom into something much more serious.  Native Insturments just released Traktor's 12, you can purchase it as a stand alone plug-in for your DAW by itself for $79.00 and it also comes bundled with Native Instruments Komplete 7.  Traktor's 12 basically took 12 of the most popular effects used in Traktor and turned them into DAW plug-ings for use inside of their free Guitar Rig 4 Player.  Wondering how to get those crazy DJ style breakdown efx into your production.  Wonder no more, Traktor's 12 is here for you with some of the most well known DJ style efx bundled into a nice package that can run right inside of any DAW.

The effects that come with Traktor's 12 are as follows: Traktor Delay, Traktor Reverb, Digital LoFi, Mullholland Drive, Ring Modulator, Format Filter, Peak Filter, Beatmasher, GATER!!!, Reverse Grain, Transpose Stretch, Beat Slicer.  Traktor's 12 also has 120 multi-effect rack presets from standard presets perfect for basic processing and remix tools to complex and dense crazy nuts madness preset effects. Since Traktor's 12 runs in the free Guitar Rig 4 Player, the Guitar Rig Factory Selection of 22 tools and effects also comes included.

As you can see nothing is different about the effects we all know and love, they still feature the same 4 knob control that Traktor features and look identical minus some color changes.  I wasn't able to find any info about how these actually sound, quality wise inside of your DAW but I am on the hunt.  I just asked on GearSlutz for a little review of Traktor's 12 from a guy who just got Komplete 7 so hopefully I'll have more to share with you all once he gets back to me.  There is however a few sound examples on Native's website and the efx don't seem to sound half bad, very digital without any "true" character or feeling at all but what can you expect.  If they are anything like the on board effects in Traktor Pro be careful because it is very easy to over do it with these, hopefully this next sentence sums that warning up for you.  Long story short, the efx can be very unique, but, if you push them to hard this uniqueness turns to sound poo, bottom line.  And although while in your studio you won't be in a live situation it's just a good thing to keep in mind so you don't feel discouraged when you are going crazy hard to the walls and end up with sound poo.  The Traktor Pro Gate will always sound dope though, just don't over do the "noise" knob.

Beyond that there isn't too much to say about Traktor's 12.  It's just a bunch of DJ effects from Traktor that now work inside of your DAW for use with productions.  No more bouncing stems from your productions out and loading them into Traktor to re-record them using Traktor's efx.  They can now all be neatly stored in your DAW's Plugin Menu, for more information on Traktor's 12 visit Native Instruments Website.

Here's a quick little video showing what the efx in Traktor's 12 can do:

Allen & Heath Xone DX ZeSoundSuite Review!

A couple weeks ago I was lucky enough to have an Allen & Heath Xone DX in my possession.  Naturally I knew I'd be writing a little review up on it so I tried to master the controller as best as possible in the short time I had it.  I used the Xone DX with Traktor Pro because to be honest Serato's Itch is just not appealing to me whatsoever.  Itch's GUI just instantly turns me off to it.  I don't care what anyone says, a solid looking pleasant GUI is beyond important.  Serato is for Turn Table DJ's not Controller DJ's.  GUI stands for graphical user interface by the way, it's essentially just a fancy & nerdy way of describing how the software looks on your screen.  Enough of talking about the crumby bundled software, lets get down to the grit.  

Allen & Heath created a special .tsi file for Traktor (4 different mappings to be exact) that allows the Xone DX to be instantly MIDI mapped to Traktor without any fuss.  Once the Xone DX .tsi file is loaded you literally don't have to touch your computer again.  The browsing section controls located on the Xone DX is fantastic and makes selecting and loading songs from your library a breeze, all without ever having to touch your track pad.  Keep in mind the Xone DX was not built in collaboration with Native Instruments.  Allen & Heath just did the MIDI mapping perfectly and certainly had Traktor Pro in mind when they designed and built the Xone DX.

I'll keep this review as short as possible whilst still remaining concise, I'll explain to you all what I really liked about the Xone DX and also the features I think they could improve on.  Let's start with the sweet stuff first though, this should also tell you right off the bat my overall impression of the Xone DX.  My favorite feature hands down is the build quality, this thing is built like a tank! Not much to say about this to be truthful, it's no secret the DJ MIDI Controller market is flooded with a bunch of garbage that feels like a playschool speak & spell.  Allen & Heath left this idea in the dust when they built the Xone DX.

The knobs feel absolutely beautiful and you would swear you're touching an actual analog mixer.  The faders are equally as sweet, they're smooth yet feel quite solid.  You don't have to worry about breaking these beasts while slamming tracks together they can surely handle it.  They didn't build a pitch fader into the DX, instead you control pitch with a click able knob.  I'm sure this will no doubt turn some DJ's off but if you want to be smashing 4 tracks at once together you're not beat matching anyway.  Let's all be honest, the audience has no idea and you can give them 50 times the show if you're using an auto sync feature.  Not to say beat matching isn't an important skill and art, it's just that it's the future now and using auto sync to create a more interesting set will take over.  I could still be using a rotary telephone because it's "classic" but, I don't.  Allen & Heath definitely thought about this when they built the DX and it's quite evident seeing as how the DX lacks pitch faders.

The 4 decks can be independtly controlled with a simple button that allows you to switch between two decks for each side of the DX.  I had decks 1 & 3 on the left side and decks 2 & 4 on the right, the different MIDI maps Allen & Heath created allow you to set this up in any way you'd like however.  Another feature I was really pleased with were the cue buttons.  I honestly wish there was more of them, they bounce back fantastically and make bumping between cues to create cool jumps and loops inside of tracks incredibly easy.  This is a great feature and allows you to unlock all kinds of creativity you didn't knew you had inside of you.  It's a controller so as expected, the XD doesn't have nice & solid large jog wheels.  But, neither does it's big brother the 4D, and the 4D is good enough for the biggest names in EDM Production & DJing so... yeah, you could say they most likely get the job done regardless. The next thing I'll touch on are the 2 groups of 4 effect knobs located at the top of the DX.  The first 3 knobs are all fantastic, the 4th knob is another click-able knob and while it is very useful for selecting and browsing between effects, it doubles as the 4th MIDI knob for Traktor's EFX section and it's a tad difficult to turn quickly and efficiently unlike the first 3 knobs are.  If you're familiar with Traktor you'll know this 4th knob is beyond important in the control and sync of your effects.  I wish they would've added a 5th knob that was click able for browsing and left the 4 you turn for your effects all the same.

Lets talk about looping... Allen & Heath nailed it! The looping creation and selection section on the Xone DX is beyond fantastic.  Creating your loops is painless and you can do it manually In/Out old school style or select a bar length and just turn the loop on & off with a single button.  Loop length can then be adjusted with a knob which makes creating those epic breakdowns building up to 1/16th tripping loops quite simple.  The looping section is yet another very usable and practical feature on the DX.

Alright so we know it feels great, we know the features make operating Traktor a breeze.  But.... How does it sound?  Well seeing as how that's pretty much all I care about you can be assured you're about to have an answer to that question in a few sentences.  Before I tell you I'll explain the interface on the back of the DX.  The DX sports a 10in/10out, 24bit/96kbps audio interface with your main outs being fed by XLR of RCA.  This is all fed via USB 2.0 from your computer.  If you buy one of these, be sure to spend a little extra money on a high quality USB 2.0 cable.  The DX will be sending a tremendous amount of audio plus MIDI info down the same pipe between itself and your computer.  Get a good cable to ensure audio quality is maintained from the beginning of your signal flow. (Your computer's USB O/P)  All of the inputs on the DX are RCA and so are the other outputs.  You do however have a mic preamp built into the front of the DX however that allows to connect any dynamic mic for yourself or your emcee.  This input also features a high freq. & low freq. EQ so you can dial back any unwanted frequencies that might be causing feedback.  It's always a good idea to just kill the highs & lows when you're talking through a mic while DJing anyways just to prevent the possibility of some nasty vibe killing feedback destroying your audiences ears.  That's all cool in all but... How does it sound??? IT SOUNDS FANTASTIC!  Unfortunately I didn't have a nice Pioneer or Dennon mixer to compare it to but I did have my M-Box (this contest wasn't even fair) The DX crushed the M-box on both my studio monitors and my Mackie SRM 450.  When I played a show with it through a system with some low end I was more than impressed.  Bass response was beyond thick and the highs were nice and sparkly without being ear piercing. (especially important if you're a heavy filter fan)  I'll put it this way... I'm not sure if it sounds as good as a Pioneer of even a Xone 4D sound wise but, it sure smashes any other controller's soundcards into the ground.  This actually has that analog mixer vibe in the sound, that's something that is honestly priceless in a controller.

So that pretty much sums it up without explaining every feature in detail, if you're really interested in buying one you should do that research on your own anyways, don't take my word for it.  Before I let you all go do your own digging I will tell you some of things I think Allen & Heath could improve on.  First off, yes the glitch you've seen in youtube videos is true.  If you tap in between the play & cue buttons the controller will sometimes send a midi message to computer activating the play/pause button.  It should be noted that it usually takes a pretty hard tap though.  This could still be  a problem though especially when playing on massive systems as the low end from these could also aggravate and create this pause glitch in the middle of your set.  Hopefully Allen & Heath will address this issue and fix it quickly.  Secondly it's a little small, my hands are fat but I feel like the size is still a bit of an issue. I understand them wanting it to be compact but if it had an extra 6 to 12 inches of width this this would be perfect size wise. (insert dick joke here)  Finally my last bit of advice to Allen & Heath regards the mixer section of the controller.  They should strip all the MIDI functionality of these and make it a true analog mixer.  That way your DJ software would run more smoothly not having to function as a mixer & EQ plus you'd have true analog faders & knobs creating what would truly be the dopest DJ Controller/Mixer hybrid on the planet.

Overall though I give the Allen & Heath Xone DX 3.5 out of 5 stars.  It could have a 4 if they fix that tap glitch and the only reason it can never get a 5 is because the Allen & Heath Xone 4D is the only true 5 star beast.  The Xone DX is hands down the best MIDI DJ Controller/Interface available on the market for the price.  It can't be beat!  Don't waste your time & money with Numark garbage, save your money and buy a DX.  You'll thank me later.  It feels like a real analog mixer, sounds like a analog mixer and controls DJ software with the greatest of ease.  Allen & Heath smashed it when they built the DX and I can't wait to see what the future holds for the DJ MIDI Controller market. 

 

Livid Instrument Ohm64 & Native Instrument's Traktor Pro. Together at last!

It's no secret I kind of love Traktor Pro. Maybe it's just my unhealthy obsession with the gate effect. Whatever it is, it doesn't really matter, Traktor Pro is the best computer DJ software out there. Eat your heart out Serato (Pitch n' Time is real cool though) It's also no secret I have a thing for Livid Instruments and what they've created over in Texas. Livid designed a custom .tks file for Traktor Pro that's specifically designed to work with their beautifully designed and built Ohm64. Livid's midi map has control over all 4 decks and parameters inside of Traktor Pro. While this is still just a beta release of the .tks, the video below makes it pretty clear that the Ohm64 tears up Traktor Pro with ease. If you own Traktor and were looking for a unique and rugged way to get hands on with it check out Livid's Ohm64! Below is a video showing in detail this marriage of madness between NI's Traktor & the Ohm64 from the guys over at Livid.


Traktor Pro and Livid Ohm64 from Livid Instruments on Vimeo.
This video explains the MIDI mapping scheme developed for Native Instruments Traktor Pro DJ Software. This provides complete control over Traktor's features, including Browser navigation, loops, cues, sync, bpm, preview and headphone cue, mixing, effects, and EQ. Here's some more info: http://blog.lividinstruments.com/2010/04/28/ohm64-and-native-instruments-traktor-dj-heaven/

Nick's Tutorials: The Master Set of Ableton Live Tutorials

First and foremost I'd like to apologize for the stagnation of posts as of late. There was way too much on my plate and I was simultaneously hit with some personal issues I had to figure out. I had to do some major prioritizing with a very important new job as well as new mixing & mastering clients. Ze Sound Suite is in its infancy so unfortunately it got pushed to the back burner while I got all these other responsibilities under control. I really love teaching and love sound even more, creating this blog is a dream that has manifested itself into reality no matter how small it is. Hopefully one day with your help Ze Sound Suite will become my one and only priority, for now though, I have to balance my work with my hobbies, Now... lets get to why you're all here. To get some geek flowing!

No... Not me, another person sharing this amazing name with me has created quite the resource for all of you Ableton geeks. Nick's Tutorials is the online world of Nick Maxwell's Ableton tutorials. Nick set out to fill the gap left by most popular tutorial videos. He saw that everything available to consumers was relatively similar and decided to start creating Ableton tutorial videos that focus on much more than just the standard basics. Nick works as a sound designer and composer who's here to help all of you to create that sound your looking for in your productions.

I discovered Nick's Tutorials while randomly geeking out and doing some searching for new things to learn. I sent him an email requesting a little bit of information about himself and his website. He was more than helpful and I really appreciate it. So in recognition of him taking the time to chat with me, show him some love by reading this post and then giving Mr. Maxwell a visit at his website dedicated to enhancing the Ableton experience for thousands of users around the world!

At Nick's Tutorials there is a wealth of video tutorials on Ableton. Most of them are free but a few subjects are available for purchase. These dive deeply into the hidden potentials of Ableton and what it truly has to offer. Take a minute and check all 4 of these tutorial videos out. You might learn something new and that my friends, is the point of it all. Below is a breakdown of what Nick's tutorials has to offer you. Nick provides video clips from the series so you can see what you're getting yourself into before you drop the cheese. Keep in mind that this series of tutorials will surely demystify Ableton but, they also give you the basic knowledge you need to take your skills onto other programs and instruments.

Nick's Ableton Live Tutorials

Sound Design in Ableton Live: Analog: This 3 hour and 40 minute tutorial video aims to answer all of your sound synthesis questions as well as serve as an in depth guide into Ableton's most powerful instrument; Analog. In addition to being introduced to the world of subtractive synthesis and Analog the video also comes with ready made instrument rack presets. Now you've got all the sounds you will learn to create before you even start the video. From nicktutorials.com; "Unlike a lot of other tutorials, these videos explain each decision in the sound design process rather than simply moving forward and assuming that you know exactly what's going on. This is not a "paint by numbers" tutorial series but rather an attempt to empower you to do this stuff on your own. I invite you to join me for a few hours and learn the amazing sonic potential of Analog!"


Sound Design in Ableton Live: Operator: This tutorial covers the world of FM synthesis and Ableton's own Operator FM Synthesizer. Nick's aiming to change the game of FM synthesis instruction, offering a practical and simple approach to exploring the world of FM Synthesis while giving you the knowledge you need to master Ableton's Operator. Nick's goal in this tutorial isn't to show you how to create specific sounds. Instead, he offers an application based approach that instructs from basic to advanced to get you on the path of creating your own sounds. The information in this tutorial will be applicable for your entire life of production and you will find yourself using the knowledge from it in multiple scenarios far beyond the world of Ableton and Operator.


Sound Design in Ableton Live: Sampling Tools: Anyone can download a sample library full of hard hitting loops and catchy leads. If you're looking to take someone's work and use it as the bulk of "your own" productions, stop reading right now. However, if you're looking to create your own sonic space and unique sound for your listener then you might want to take a look at this tutorial series. This tutorial delves deep into the realm of taking normal sounds and turning them into something quite unique and your own. Here's a breakdown from nickstutorials.com highlighting just a few of the things you will learn in this series of tutorials.

-FIND out how to transform tiny, insignificant sounds into powerful drum hits through strategic uses of layering, tuning, filtering, and envelope modulation.
-CREATE a pseudo-wavetable synthesizer out of a few tiny chunks of audio. You’ll also learn how to create rich melodic pads and lead sounds.
-DRAMATICALLY alter and improve melodic sounds through slicing and reprocessing.
-UNDERSTAND how to utilize a combination of modulating sampler and effects parameters to create evolving textures and sound beds.
-DEVELOP a clear way of dividing a large number of parameters into small, manageable groups of related sound-shaping tools.

As you can see these tutorials aren't your average beast. With these you defenitly get what you pay for. You could spend years and years combing over live as well as countless books and material on various sound design methods or you could shell out a few ducketts and have a professional who's been working in the industry be your guide to the massive world of Ableton Live. And.... Guess what??? We're not even done yet, there's still one more for me to show you guys!

Sampling & Slicing in Ableton Live: This tutorial explores the world of sampling and editing within Live. Ableton can be used in so many ways and is so massive it's easy to get lost and furthermore, quite overwhelmed. Have no fear though. Once again Nick is going to make this a lot easier on your brains and stress levels. This series explores the side of Ableton needed to create sample based productions (DJ's looking to use live, this is your new beezy) Below is a video clip from the tutorial series as well as a breakdown from Nick's website giving you a little taste of what you will be learning in this set of tutorials!


-HOW to sample audio into Ableton Live for further processing.
-HOW to interface your turntable and other audio hardware with Ableton Live.
-ESSENTIAL techniques for layering samples to create massive, custom-tailored percussive sounds, including the effective use of filter enveloping and compression to thicken your sounds.
-HOW to utilize audio clips in preparation for slicing them up.
-THE controls and feature set of Ableton's included sampling device, Simpler.
-POWERFUL methods for creating a rich, evolving chord from simple melodic stabs.
-THE controls and features of the Drum Rack device, including how to create your own Drum Rack custom presets.
-HOW to create exciting new arrangements from simple loop-playback adjustments.
-EFFICIENT methods for rearranging, modifying, and resampling your work for further processing.

As you can clearly see Nick has created quite the resource for all of you Ableton geeks. This isn't some tutorial series for those wanting to sound the same as everyone else. It's a tutorial series designed to give you the power to create your own sounds. Everyone that uses Ableton is using the same tools, it's how you use them sets you apart from the masses. These tutorials will demystify Ableton for a lot of you and in no time you too will be creating quite the musical expiernce for anyone that listens to your tracks! I also took the time to ask Nick for some information about the future of his website and tutorial ventures. If you think what he has now is great just wait, he let me in on some ideas of his for the future, I'll now pass those onto all of you! "The future definitely holds exciting things in terms of expanding out into other software and instruments. Native Instruments Absynth and Massive have both been in heavy rotation, and Renoise has been inspiring quite a bit as of late, too. I'm also planning an electronic music workflow series where I go through the production of a simple track using sound design techniques from my other series along with teaching people basic mixing and composition." For more information on Nick Maxwell and his Tutorials please visit his website at www.nickstutorials.com

Livid Instruments

The digital audio market is flooded with cheap MIDI crap built in China at a fraction of the cost we end up paying for it as consumers. Trust me, I've bought plenty of it. It's not all bleak though! There is one company creating products that aren't made overseas from cheap plastic, with limp faders, chunky knobs, and sticky buttons.

Livid Instruments is a section of the Livid family based in Austin, Texas that invents and manufactures hardware and software for digital musicians and performers. All of their products are manufactured here in the United States from quality materials that are assembled by passionate craftsman and artists. When's the last time you've seen a midi controller with a powder coated aluminum top case and wooden sides??? Not to mention, high quality faders, knobs, and buttons. This is what Livid does, and they do it well! Think of them as the Moog of software controllers. Robert Moog decided a long time ago synthesizers should be built with the same care, craftsmanship, and attention to detail as violins and custom guitars. Thus; Moog was born, and the synthesizer market has never been the same. Moog set the standard by which all other synthesizers are judged. Livid is doing that same thing today except; instead of creating analog audio products they are creating high quality software controllers that give the user fantastic control over any software that supports MIDI communication.

I had the opportunity to chat with Jay Smith; the founder of Livid Instruments. I could've wasted his and your time by asking him a bunch of pointless questions about the current state of Livid. Fact is, all of that info is available on the internet at Livid's Website. I was most curious about what Livid had planned for the future. Can you blame me though... I'm trying to get some fresh new, never before seen material for Ze Sound Suite & my readers! Before we find out what's coming, let's see what Livid has to offer us right now!

Hardware Controllers:

Ohm64: A beautifully designed all in one software controller featuring bi-directional MIDI communication. The Ohm64 has been designed to be truly adaptable to each end users own ideas and creative ways of expression through digital music and media. As Livid says "the quality can be felt down to your fingertips" their not lying. The Ohm64 (as well as all of Livid's other hardware products) was conceived, designed, and manufactured at the Livid Industries shop in Austin, Texas. The faceplate of the Ohm64 is cut from aluminum and then powder coated, the body is surrounded by beautiful hand-finished wood. The Ohm is also available unfinished for those of you who want to add your own personal touch. Speaking of customization, the software that allows control of the MIDI Messages and lighting known as; Ohm64 Editor is open source, and Livid actually encourages changes and modifications to the original software design. The Ohm64 also comes ready to control any number of Livid's other open source programs which include; an FM Synth, Monome Bridge, Step Sequencer, and Sampler. The Ohm64 features a 64 button matrix perfect for controlling video mixing software, vst's, Ableton and any other application that accepts MIDI data. It also has 8 high quality dual-rail faders and an ultra sensitive DJ style crossfader. Throw in 16 precision knobs as well as a few other miscellaneous buttons and you have yourself an Ohm64. Oh yeah... the whole thing is USB bus powered!

Block: Cut from the same cloth as the Ohm64, the Block is a more compact MIDI controller for users out there who are mainly concerned with having the 64 button matrix as part of their hardware setup. (Monome guys, take note of Livid and what they're doing.) The Block features all the high quality design elements and open source software as the Ohm64, the Block simply has less faders and knobs. However, you still have 2 high quality dual-rail faders, 8 knobs, and 7 extra buttons for your tweaking pleasure.

DIY Builder Kits: Tired of having the same controller as everyone else? Can't find a MIDI controller on the market that will help to satisfy your creative needs. Then Livid's line of DIY Builder Kits is for you! Livid's BYOB (Build Your Own Board) Series is a collection of circuit boards sold in pieces so you can create your own custom controller. Livid has done all the geeky work for you and with little technical knowledge you can create your own custom MIDI slaying machine! Livid has not only designed the kits to be simple to build, they have also released a series of tutorials to help you out as you build your own MIDI controlling masterpiece!

Livid's Software:

Cell: Cell is Livid's introductory VJing software application. Livid designed the software to be easy to use and simple to manipulate on the fly for live VJing performances. An intuitive drag and drop interface makes it easy to load up video clips and images on the fly. Cell's built in effects will help you to be as creative as you wish and add that little personal touch to any project. All of Cell is easily controllable with any MIDI controller, may I recommend the Block. :)

Cell DNA: As Livid puts it, is Cell's bigger sister. The same easy to use design idea was implemented in the creation of Cell DNA. With Cell DNA you simply have more features and effects to further manipulate your live visual production. Cell DNA can even be run over a network so multiple computers can work together to create even more radical visual displays.

Livid Looper: This little bit of software genius was developed in Max/MSP and is completely open source and free to use!!! Drop some audio loops in Livid's Looper and go crazy! With Looper you have the ability to transform any loop of audio into something quite insane. Use on board or VST effects to tweak and sculpt audio loops. Chop up the loop however you would like or use Looper's auto-segmenting feature to break the loop down. All of the actions are quantized, and pitch control will prevent any tempo issues from occurring. Try it out... What do you have to loose? It's FREE!

Livid also has a host of free open source software designed to be used with their controllers. An FM Synth, Step Sequencer, Sampler, Monome Bridge, and Max/MSP patches can all be downloaded from Livid's Download Page for free!

Livid has done an excellent job providing all the information you could ever want on any of their products at their website. What I've wrote here on Ze Sound Suite is merely a broken down version of what's available at Livid Website. Take a look, I can guarantee you're going to be impressed with this company. I sure as hell am!

The Future at Livid Instruments

As I said before I had the opportunity to speak with Jay Smith; the founder of Livid Instruments. I really wanted to know what Livid had planned for the future. I find their isn't too much of this information available to the public from most companies. So I figured I'd do some asking and see what he would tell me. Jay was more than helpful even after finding out Ze Sound Suite was a new blog with a small audience at present time. Keep in mind Jay is the founder and one of the three that run and own Livid Instruments so, for him to take the time to talk with me was quite respectable. Thanks again Jay, and I'm sure all my readers appreciate your help as well! I hope I've done a good job of representing your company and dreams on Ze Sound Suite! =)

While I understand they don't want to completely let the cat of the bag, Jay let me in on a few things Livid is working on right now that will be available for their customers in the future. First and foremost he told me that Livid was currently working on expanding their controller line to add even more controls and features to their already impressive hardware lineup. This should be quite exciting considering their current controller line is something for all the other controller manufactures to take note of. Jay also told me they were working on expanding their DIY builder kits to make it even easier for users to design and build their own software controller. Monome DIY guys... You really should check out Livid's DIY Kits. On the software side of things... Livid's Step Sequencer will be available in the future as a stand-alone version and, they are also working on Max 4 Live objects to easily integrate VJing into Ableton Live as well as even more open source software for their controllers!

Livid Instruments is a truly amazing company with a vision that is sure to change the digital audio market as we know it in the very near future. Livid isn't cutting costs and taking shortcuts to maximize profits, they're centralizing their precision manufacturing process to save you the end user, lots of money while still offering a quality product. This is something that must be recognized by all of us in the music and visual performance industries. If we can support quality gear assembled and designed by passionate designers and artists, we will change the entire market place. Start this change by showing Livid Instruments some love. After all, it was love that created everything.