Next year we are having a great event in the Netherlands for the aspiring DJ and producer. Dancefair is the educational event for everyone in the Dancescene. A platform where manufacturers and software developers will present their products and where renowned artists, producers and engineers will take you into their musical world.
Numark, the world’s leading manufacturer of DJ technology, is now shipping the N4, a four-channel DJ controller with built-in mixer. Featuring 4-decks of software control plus a built-in mixer that can be used with or without a computer, N4 is designed for DJs who want powerful capability in a lightweight, portable package. This complete 4-channel controller has everything DJs need to perform at their highest level: large, touch-sensitive platters, 4-decks of software control with loop and effects controls, a built-in USB audio interface and a comprehensive mixer section with EQ, and gain. N4 will come with both Serato DJ Intro software and a 4-deck version of Virtual DJ LE.
In the 1980s, analog synthesis entered a new stage, with more portable options like the battery-powered EDP Wasp, and polysynths like the fat Roland Jupiter and Korg’s PolySix. Meanwhile, digital synthesizers debuted with the legendary Yamaha DX7 and its FM synthesis, while Casio offered its own take with the CZ-1 and its phase distortion synthesis.
There have been already a lot of rumours about it, now it is official: Nektar, the California based new brand for Advanced Control * Enhanced Workflow Controllers annouce Panorama P4, the first dedicated Controller Keyboard for Propellerhead Reason. This couples with a great prize competition. Musicians can win the very first Panorama P4 rolling off the production line, by submitting their competition entry at www.nektartech.com.
When a young Benoit Heitz saw a friend’s computer running Reason he had an epiphany: “His computer isn’t better than my parent’s computer. That means I could be making music.” He started out not knowing the first thing about drums or music in general. Three years later he was touring the world as an international DJ.
These are the releases we have encountered this week on the Loops and Samples front. Just like the quality of the audio software we use these days the quality of the content we use (loops and samples) equally matches the high standards of this software. Below is this weeks selection.
Dancefair is the educational event for everyone in the Dancescene, which will be held in the Jaarbeurs Utrecht, Holland on the 11th & 12th of February 2012. A platform where manufacturers and software developers will present their products and where renowned artists, producers and engineers will take you into their musical world.
DS3 is the perfect solution if you like to work with samples, loops, hotcues and FX in Traktor Pro 2. The device has 12 extra large keys with a perfect tactile feeling to fire samples and for convenient access to 8 hotcues and all the transport functions.
Lemur – the legendary multitouch MIDI/OSC controller returns. As we mentioned earlier, the Lemur controller has gotten a new “lease of life” with the release of an iOs version for the iPad. Lemur is now a professional iOS controller app that doesn’t cut any corners. It lets you control anything, any way you want. Total flexibility means it can go as deep as you need it to. Lemur can control DJ software, live electronic music performance software, studio production software (DAWs), VJ software, visual synthesis software, stage lighting and more.
Lynx is a diverse and talented DJ and producer – a man on a mission to deliver only the freshest sounds in underground electronic music. Standout tracks ‘Disco Dodo’ and ‘Global Enemies’ may have made his name across the global drum & bass scene, but the sheer diversity and quality of Lynx’s output across labels like Soul:r, Creative Source, and Digital Soundboy have marked him as a producer par-excellence. Remixes for Metalheadz, Hospital and Innerground, plus his sublime reworking of James Blakes ‘Limit To Your Love’ have shown he remains ahead of the rest, with cutting-edge studio skills and the drive to explore new musical avenues.
Gibson Guitar has moved heavily into pro audio with the creation of the Gibson Pro Audio division. The division will offer professional grade equipment, including loudspeakers, headphones, monitors, DJ gear, mixers, accessories and more.
Focusrite & Novation‘s Tim Harbour (aka Continuum) did set about the challenge of creating an original track in a day, a while back. Now Novation have teamed up with Focusrite to host a massive Remix / Rework competition of that same track Tim has created. You now have a chance to win $1400/£1000/€1200 of Focusrite, Novation & KRK gear – you also get your track in front of Brad Baloo; one half of DJ/production/songwriting duo The Nextmen.
Hercules is known for their DJ Midi controllers in the lower and middle segment, but now they have expanded into the DJ Headphones market with the release of three new models. From budget to high end Pro level.
Swiss live artist Ander does electronic live gigs somewhere around techno/minimal with his own controllers. After two years he now has the availability of Station. He designed and constructed this MIDI-Controller himself, based on the ucapps.de hardware platform. He uses it for live techno performances with Ableton Live.
Pioneer‘s industry-leading CDJ multi-player range is about to become even more desirable, with the introduction of new colour version of the CDJ-350. The new metallic silver CDJ-350-S match any interior, making them ideal for playing at home and at parties.