Streaming music startup 8tracks is officially relaunching its iPhone application today, which offers a much-needed (and really well done) user interface revamp. For those who remember the earlier version of the app out last year, it will be as if you’re getting a brand-new application altogether. 8tracks 2.0, as the update is being called, introduces a number of new components, including… → Read More
Finnish startup PlayMySong, the crowdsourced music DJ’ing service that lets a store’s customers remotely program the stereo, has just closed a round of seed funding totaling $350,000. The round was led by Lifeline Ventures, a Helsinki-based accelerator focused on funding web and gaming startups and includes participation from Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and… → Read More
Gemini is known for making some pretty cool DJ equipment and mixers. Today they released FirstMix, a USB DJ controller with two scratch wheels, rotaries and a cross fader. The controller sources music from iTunes or any other music library and plays them in the included Cross LE DJ software. The controller also works with Traktor, Virtual DJ and Algoriddim’s DJAY and other popular DJ software. → Read More
After a sneak peak at this years NAMM show, Hercules officially announced the release date and price of their new Mk4 controller at the Musikmesse fair in Germany. This slim sized controller is designed to interface with whatever input you can dream up. → Read More
DJ gear is unique in audio in that more than any other equipment, it has to be flashy and able to take a pounding. Usually in the form of spilt beer. My main concern with Pioneer’s new DJM-2000 is how the touchscreen will react to the rough-and-tumble world of house music and ecstasy. But it still looks gorgeous. And you can hook in up to 4 CDJ turntables. 4! Unless you spontaneously grew… → Read More
Remember when using z’s on the end of plural words instead of s’s was edgy and revolutionary? Well, apparently no one told Beat Kangz Electronics that that time has passed. Misguided syntax choices aside, Beat Kangz has just announced the release of their new Beat Thang music production system. Not only does it look like something the Covenant would use, it comes in either software form or with… → Read More
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If we applied Moore’s law to the art of DJing, we would probably get something like Amidio’s Touch DJ app. Gone are the software disk jockeys who replaced the original vinyl selectors. Now you can spin beats on your iPhone or iPod touch without listening to them. Wait, what? → Read More
Shure makes many different kinds of headphones, but this may be their first style aimed specifically at the DJ set. The new cans sport special 50mm drivers, and a sound reducing ear cup to cut out the excess noise that can be a problem when mixing in a club. → Read More
You’re setting up for a party tonight. You’ve got food, girls, more food, and even Mike Chilludos coming! But what about music? No problem, just plug your laptop into some RadioShack computer speakers and hit shuffle, right?! For those of you who don’t want your party to be graced with a spontaneous rendition of “Yakety Sax”, Algoriddim Software has released djay 3. This DJ program integrates… → Read More
Amazon’s got a nice deal on the Tonium Pacemaker portable DJ system until 1:00 PM Eastern today. Normally selling for $499, you can get an extra $100 off as one of Amazon’s daily Gold Box deals. → Read More
Everybody wants to be a DJ. Ever since the first iPod, DJ’s have been waiting for the ability to mix from a handheld. Jobs, in all his wisdom, never saw fit to allow tempo changes so that tracks could be seamlessly mixed. There have been a couple of interesting attempts, including two notable mixers from Numark, but nothing as portable as an iPod. Enter the Pacemaker from Tonium. → Read More
This is one of the better concepts I’ve seen ’round these parts, and I see plenty of them. It’s called the kre-8 (the name could use some work, yes), and it’s a cellphone designed, as it were, for those who fancy themselves as DJs, music creators, etc. → Read More
Wannabe DJs everywhere will have the opportunity to play with an updated Pacemaker this spring. It’s just like being Hernán Cattaneo, only without the fame, fortune and living like a night owl. → Read More
Yes, that’s right. If you have to use a computer on a gig you need to consider machines that are made for only one purpose, playing back music. Numark pushes out the HDMIX, this compact DJ system so you can mix Slipknot with Britney anywhere. → Read More
Flickr’d Online music store Beatport, which specializes in electronic and house and all that fun stuff, has quite the holiday contest going on right now. From now until December 23 buying a song there enters you to win two prize packs. The prize includes that handheld Pacemaker DJ device, a copy of Traktor Scratch Pro, red and white control vinyl, V-Moda Vibe headphones, $100 worth of… → Read More
Let’s say your name is, I don’t know, Jonathan Peters or Jojo Flores or Armand Van Helden. As a DJ you need a pair of solid headphones, ones that not only sound good but look good. (It’s a vain industry, DJing.) Are these Pioneer HDJ-2000 headphones what the doctor ordered? Who knows—I haven’t heard them yet—but given Pioneer’s pedigree I’d say… → Read More
Flickr’d Activision is hard at work at DJ Hero (may not be the final name), which, presumably, would bring the same sense of fun that Guitar Hero brings wannabe rock starts to wannabe DJs. (Never mind that we’re starting to see signs of Guitar Hero fatigue.) That’s what World Tour‘s project director, Brian Bright, told Joystiq. How would a DJ Hero game work? Well, it needs… → Read More
You’re looking at the Sony S-Air Play, one of those multi-room audio systems used by the filthy rich such as John McCain and Peter Ha. It’s got all the normal things you’d expect from such a device, including iPod/iPhone connector, built-in radio, etc. That it’s wireless, meaning that you can link a bunch of these together all over the house and have them play the same… → Read More
An Apple patent that was filed about a month ago , and only now unearthed, reveals the company’s intention to create a virtual DJ interface for the Mac (and possibly the iPhone and rumored MacBook touch ). Now, just because there’s a patent for this doesn’t mean we’ll all be playing around with iDJ any time soon. Apple patents things all the time that never get made. → Read More
So this guy, djmocap, has created a new interface for the Traktor DJ application. The video is only a proof of concept, so don’t expect how-to directions for a little while. The song totally reminds me of Ridge Racer 4. You know, that last good Ridge Racer, for the original PlayStation. → Read More
Make way for the best iPhone app of them all, MixMeister Scratch. Free, too. OK, so that’s a bit much, but it’s still pretty neat. All you do is load the app onto your iPhone or iPod Touch, and then start a-scratching using the touchscreen. Lots of sound effects to entertain and/or annoy your pals, to be sure. Yes, that’s all it does, but I’d rather be seen pretending to… → Read More
“The best gets better!” “A triumph!” “Who shot JR?” All ways of introducing the Acutus Reference, a $24,000 turntable that’s more for Paul van Dyk than your little two-bit basement operation. And for $24K, “your records have never sounded this good before.” I should hope so! Oh, and “you might not make it to work the next day,”… → Read More
Another touchscreen DJ thing to point out, this time for the Nintendo DS. It’s called Protein[DS] and will apparently be released for your homebrew pleasure in a couple days. I think it’s more for kicks than a Godskitchen residency. One can dream, though, I suppose. → Read More
Final Product // ATTIGO TT from Scott Hobbs on Vimeo. This, the ATTIGO TT, is one of the best things I’ve ever seen, and I really mean that. Most of the time, meh. But this! It’s a touchscreen turntable created by one Scott Hobbs, a student at Dundee University. About the size of a regular turntable, this one is more Surface than Technics. The video says all that needs to be said. But… → Read More
Believe it or not, that’s a turntable up there. Designed by German outfit Montegiro, Lusso, as it’s known, is marketed more like a European sports car than a pice of DJ equipment. “Luxury is…. having time for the essential things of life.” “Luxury is… to allow oneself extravagances.” “Luxury is… to expect just more.” And finally… → Read More
This concept device from Continuum is a dual MP3/CD player with tactile turntables and a full complement of DJ tweaks. While it’s not — and will probably never be — available, it’s a cool marriage of the mechanical and the electronic in a package about as big as your old boombox. However, if you’re looking for something that exists and is available now I just checked… → Read More
Some CS guys at my alma mater, UCLA, have come up with a technological solution to a longstanding social problem: what to play at a party? Their program collects popular tracks from wi-fi-enabled players at the party like the Zune or Touch, or other laptops, and makes it into a playlist. If people leave and their signal is no longer detected, their tracks can be taken off the list. It can also be… → Read More
This Guitar Hero turntable controller, designed by this guy, evokes memories of Konami’s beatmania, the original music game series. As the above video shows, it works just like a proper GH controller, complete with whammy bar and all the buttons you need to complete face shredders on expert mode. While I haven’t been bitten by the GH bug—I tried to play The Strokes’… → Read More
[photopress:pacemakerrrr.jpg,full,center] Product Name: Pacemaker Description: A pocket-sized DJ system Price: 520 Euros, or $763 (right now—I’m sure that’ll change by the time it comes out) In-store date: February 2008 Site: Pacemaker [Tonium] Why it’s cool: Really? Why is it cool? It’s a complete DJ system in your pocket, for starters. It’s also a DAP that… → Read More
If you’re the kind of DJ who likes to dual-wield iPods or keep your vinyl on your MacBook, maybe you should take a look at this thing. It’s got a huge amount of features, ports for USB stuff, and space for you to put your own 2.5″ drive in. It has to be PATA, formatted for FAT32, but whatever. Judging from the sheer number of buttons, dials, and toggles on the top of the thing… → Read More
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