DJTechTools has just announced a new MIDI controller inspired by classic video game systems, MidiFighter.

MidiFighter is an ready-to-assemble MIDI controller that features 16 game-style buttons and 16 programmable LEDs. It can be customized and expanded, too.

MidiFighter MIDI Controller Details:

• Release Date: November 30th
• Price: TBA
• Plug and Play compatible device compliant midi controller
• USB powered
• Must be assembled (no expertise required)
• 16 programable buttons
• 16 programable LEDS
• Expandable to 20 programmable buttons and 4 analogue controls
• Limited Edition 200 piece run in this configuration (black PCB with white LEDS)

This thing looks like it’s going to be pretty insanely fun.

MidiFighter is a DIY kit – but it’s not hardcore DIY – it’s funcore DIY:

The Midifighter kit comes in a flat box that can be personally assembled in 5 minutes. Entry level moders can select the arcade button colors they want when ordering and assemble the kit into a custom configuration that fits their personal style or mapping. The arcade buttons snap into place thanks to our hand made clips that require zero soldering. Just screw together the frame using a simple allen wrench, snap in the arcade buttons and your custom controller is assembled and finished.

The finished controller is plug and play with super high quality low latency drivers and will work with all midi compatible software.

Because it’s a kit, you can customize it. Use color-coded buttons. Use the extra analog and digital input ports toadd mod wheels, joysticks, sliders and knobs. And if you want to get hardcore, the kit is totally open source so you can hack the firmware.

Pricing is TBA, but we should know soon, because they plan to release this November 30th.

Anybody interested? Leave a comment!

NI’s new Traktor Kontrol X1, up close and personal….

DJ Tech Tools has an interesting scoop on a new DJ controller, the Vestax Spin, which they report will be carried exclusively at the Apple Store.

The Vestax Spin combines a DJ control surface, an audio interface and DJ software for $249.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Features:

• Built-in sound card
• Touch sensitive hi-res jog wheels
• Mic input
• Mix record function
• Discreet headphone outputs
• Automix and beat sync functions
• USB power
• Dimensions: 14”(w) x 9.5” (h) x 1.5”(d)
• Controller Weight: 3.2 lbs

Contents:

• Spin (DJ midi controller)
• Microphone with adapter
• USB Cable
• djay 3 with license key
• User manual (Set-up basic guide)
• 1/8” to 1/4” adapter for headphone or microphone

This is a video introduction to Native Instruments’ Traktor Kontrol X1, a new DJ controller designed by the team behind Traktor DJ.

Native Instruments today announced Traktor Kontrol X1, a performance controller designed by the team behind Traktor DJ.

Description:

Traktor Kontrol X1 provides DJs of all styles and genres with a way to control loop, cue, effect, track selection and transport functions of their system. The unit accommodates the two most common digital DJing paradigms – it complements a typical timecode-controlled Traktor Scratch setup consisting of a hardware mixer, turntables or CD decks, and also works as a self-contained controller for DJs who play beat-gridded tracks with Traktor software and mix externally.

Two X1 units can also be combined into a four-deck setup that controls all decks and effect units of Traktor Pro or Traktor Scratch Pro simultaneously.

Traktor Kontrol X1 is equipped with precise buttons, knobs and encoders, complemented by dynamic colored backlighting for additional visual feedback. The X1 integrates with the Traktor software through a dedicated high-resolution protocol, resulting in a level of precision and responsiveness beyond what regular MIDI-based controllers can provide, and allowing for true plug-and-play operation with no setup or specific configuration required.

Traktor Kontrol X1 has been specifically designed for usage in performance environments. Its compact casing is both robust and lightweight for high portability, and the special vertical form factor makes the unit fit seamlessly within a typical club setup. The optional carrying bag for the X1 doubles as a stand that raises the controller surface to match the height of typical DJ mixers.

Traktor Kontrol X1 can be used to control any MIDI-compatible DVS, DJ software or music performance application. The optional MIDI mode of the controller can be engaged on the fly via a dedicated button on the unit.

The X1 also comes with a carefully designed set of parameter assignments for the Serato Scratch Live system, matching the relevant features of the software to the controller without any setup effort. A special Serato Scratch Live overlay for the X1 is also available.

Traktor Kontrol X1 also ships with Traktor LE, software that provides two decks with essential looping, effects and mixing features, turning X1 into an entry-level solution for digital DJing.

Traktor Kontrol X1 will be available in February 2010 for a suggested price of $229 / 199 EUR. The carrying bag / stand for Traktor Kontrol X1 will be available for $49 / 39 EUR.

Novation has announced Novation Automap for iPhone and iPod touch, a new application that turns your device into a multi-touch MIDI controller.

Description:

The power behind Novation’s SL MkII, SL Compact and Nocturn MIDI controllers is now available for your iPhone / iPod touch, providing an instant and intelligent, wireless, palm-sized MIDI controller. Now you can use iPhone / iPod touch to control all of your music making software.

Whenever you want to control music software and the mouse is out of reach, Automap for iPhone / iPod touch delivers. And the possibilities are endless, give your artist remote control of reverb levels; a hand-held cross-fader for laptop DJ’ing; controlling multi-effects whilst tracking guitar; switching drum kits whilst you’re sat at your V-drums.

The Automap for iPhone / iPod touch app will be available to buy from the Apple app store in July. Combined with Novation’s free Automap 3 Standard software, or Automap 3 PRO, it provides two horizontal faders and eight buttons per page, displayed on a single iPhone / iPod touch screen. However, the number of pages and thus the number of controls is unlimited.

Automap lets you see at a glance how every control on your iPhone / iPod touch is assigned, both on the iPhone / iPod touch itself, and across your computer screen. Combining all this visual feedback with intelligent software browsing also helps you get to the right software fast! Control maps are automatically placed into categories depending on type (instrument, effects, mixer and so on) for quick and easy browsing and selection.

Although Automap automatically and intelligently maps to all major music making software, you will inevitably have your own unique way of working. Consequently, editing maps and re-assigning controls in Automap is extremely quick and easy. Simply click a parameter in learn mode, then touch a control on your iPhone / iPod touch to assign it. Double-clicking ‘learn’ allows you to ‘Click-Touch-Assign’ in quick succession.

Using your iPhone / iPod touch with Automap 3 PRO (available to buy from www.focusrite-estore.com) delivers some extremely powerful additional features.

Firstly, it harnesses the shortcut power of your QWERTY keyboard. It then allows you to assign almost any computer keyboard shortcut, and combinations thereof, to any of the controls on your iPhone / iPod touch. Editing maps is also improved, allowing you to simply drag parameters in the Automap Heads-up GUI from one control to another. Finally, with PRO you can use your iPhone / iPod touch alongside any other Automap compatible hardware controller and it’s all perfectly integrated for seamless control.

Details below.
Key features

• MIDI CONTROL IN YOUR PALM
  Now you can turn your iPhone / iPod touch into a MIDI controller, with multiple faders and buttons easily assigned to parameters in any software that allows MIDI control, and even some that don’t!
• AUTOMATIC PLUG-IN MAPPING
  Instant, wireless, palm-sized control of all automatable VST, AU or Pro Tools format plug-ins in any DAW.
• INSTANT VISUAL FEEDBACK
  See at a glance how every control on your iPhone / iPod touch is assigned, both on the iPhone / iPod touch itself, and across your computer screen
• LEARN AND CLEAR MODES
  Make and delete assignments directly from your computer screen using lightening-fast ‘Click-Touch-Assign’ facilities.
• AUTOMATIC MIXER CONTROL
  Ideal for remote track arming and muting, transport and master level controls in a growing number of supported DAWs. (Control these elements in non-supported DAWs using separate dedicated Automap systems, or your own custom mappings.)
• PLUG-IN AND MIXER MAP BROWSING FACILITY
• Get to the right software fast! Control maps are automatically placed into categories depending on type (instrument, mixer etc.) for quick and easy browsing and selection with hardware or software.

Features exclusive to PRO

• KEYSTROKE ASSIGNMENTS
  Place the shortcut power of your QWERTY keyboard in your iPhone / iPod touch. Automap 3 PRO can assign almost any computer keyboard shortcut, and combinations thereof.
• MULTIPLE DEVICE SUPPORT
  Use your iPhone / iPod touch alongside any other Automap compatible hardware controller, perfectly integrated for seamless control.
• DRAG AND DROP
• Make control re-assignments directly from your computer screen by simply dragging and dropping controls from within the Automap heads-up GUI.

Livid Instruments has posted some preview videos of their new Ohm64 DJ/VJ control surface, and it’s clear that we’re not going to have trouble finding sexy, powerful control surfaces any more.

Between the Ohm64, the Akai APC40 and a bunch of other cool new controllers, it’s going to be tough deciding which one is the best fit for you and your music.

Ohm64 Features:

• USB Powered
• Bi-Directional MIDI communication
• Class-compliant: no drivers needed
• 75 Programmable backlight buttons for talk-back and interactive performance
• Programmable MIDI mapping allows you to change the MIDI settings on the hardware
• Immersion Gold Platted Circuit Boards
• Anodized Aluminum Faceplate
• Open Source software tools to create your own LED talkback interaction
• Ohm Core software included for MIDI editing, and LED talkback programming
• Cell DNA video performance software included
• Standard MIDI IN and OUT jacks
• Made in the USA by humans
• Available in Aluminum and Wood models. Wood is available in blue,
  red, natural, and unfinished so you can stain or paint it any color you
  want.

The Ohm64 retails for $599. See our previous coverage of the Livid Instruments Ohm64 for more details.

Martha Stewart and her mom, in this completely unretouched photo, decide that the Akai APC40 Ableton Live controller is something good.

via SuzieSunshine, via MarkMosher

This tutorial covers the mapping designed by Ean Golden for the Vestax VCi-100 and Traktor Pro.

You can download and try the mapping for free here.

This Ableton Live 8 tutorial offers a quick demo of using the Vestax VCM600 with Live 8.

The VCM-600 is a $900 DJ MIDI controller designed with Vestax mixer technology. 160 parameters of your DJ software can be assigned to the advanced control section, and the VCM-600 has excellent compatibility with Ableton LIVE.

The VCM-600 shares the same quality control parts used on Vestax mixers and 2 LED panels are placed on each side of the controller to illuminate the top panel for clear operability and vision in clubs.

via AbletonAus

Wacom, best known for its line of graphics tablets, has announced the NextBeat DJ system, aimed at professional DJs.

Wacom’s Nextbeat is a fully integrated professional DJ system, incorporating touch sensor controls and innovative live performance functions. It also features a unique wireless portable control unit that docks with the main device:

Nextbeat combines two digital players, a mixer, effector and sampler in a single lightweight and compact unit.

Wacom’s DJ device will be presented at the Winter Music Conference from 24-28 March 2009 in Miami Beach, Florida, USA, and the Musikmesse from 1-4 April 2009 in Frankfurt, Germany.

The nextbeat DJ system is scheduled for release across Europe and Japan in Summer 2009.

via technabob

NAMM 2009 Vestax VCI-300 w. Serato Itch Demo

via agiprodj:

Joe Jack from Vestax demonstrates the VCI-300 Serato Itch controller at 2009 NAMM Show.

Numark NS7 w/ Serato Itch Overview

via agiprodj:

Numark sent DJ Ty a production NS7 to review last week.

We shot the first of many videos on this Serato Itch controller. This is a hot piece of gear.

This is a nice overview, via Dj TechTools, of the new DJ controllers introduced at the 2009 Winter NAMM Show.

NAMM 2009 Pioneer MEP-7000, DJM-3000 Demo

via agiprodj:

National Pioneer Demonstrator DJ Jay shows us the Pioneer MEP-7000 Media Controller and the DJM-3000 mixer.

At the 2009 Winter NAMM Show, Numark announced Stealth Control, a new professional DJ controller that comes with Native Instruments Traktor LE and MixMeister Fusion Live software.

Stealth Control is based on Numark’s other popular control surfaces, such as Total Control and OMNI CONTROL. Its layout mirrors traditional “two decks and a mixer” setups, and it’s housed in a heavyweight metal casing, so that it will stay in place on virtually any surface.

Stealth Control ships with Native Instruments Traktor LE 3 and MixMeister Fusion Live DJ software.

According to Numark’s Chris Roman, Stealth Control “puts our best-selling Total Control layout into a heavy duty form factor, capable of handling some serious abuse.”

Stealth Control is available from DJ and pro audio retailers at an MSRP of $399.99 and an estimated street price of $299.99.

A first look at the Denon DN-S3700 DJ controller, via DJMag.

2009 NAMM Show: Numark has announced that Omni Control, its professional DJ control surface with built-in audio interface, is now shipping.

Omni Control is a complete, professional computer-DJ system consisting of a hardware controller with built-in audio I/O. Omni Control is designed to plug directly into any sound system and perform. A built-in 24–bit computer audio interface feeds audio to two stereo outputs and headphones. The Omni Control features low latency 44.1kHz and 88.2kHz audio ASIO drivers. 

“Omni Control builds on our successful Total Control, adding upgrades that customers requested,” said Gregg Stein, Director of Marketing, Numark. “We took our popular USB hardware-control surface, tweaked everything for higher performance, added in a computer audio interface, and bundled it with a copy of Traktor LE 3 and MixMeister Fusion Live.”

Omni Control is now shipping, with an MSRP of $549.99 and an estimated street price of $349.99

You can preview the Omni Control with the videos embedded above. Let me know what you think!

Gearwire’s Bill Holland tackles this demo of Stanton DaScratch.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s the official Stanton SCS.3d DaScratch intro video from Richard Devine:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Remix magazine’s Markkus Rovito summed up the Stanton DaScratch like this:

Given the great design and excellent responsiveness of the multitouch-sensitive surface, DaScratch holds enormous potential as a controller. However, the full potential is really only unleashed when you have a decent control preset to work with. Luckily, Traktor and Serato Scratch are the two most popular DJ programs, so if you use one of those, you’re covered. If you don’t, you can still open a generic preset and set up DaScratch to do your bidding using your software’s MIDI Learn functions. DaRouter will remember your settings the next time you load up that particular generic preset.

About the Stanton DaScratch:

DaScratch™, a.k.a. the SCS.3d, is the latest innovation in the Stanton SC System control surface line. Revolutionary and compact, this controller is a necessity for any digital DJ looking for ultimate control over their software of choice. DaScratch’s compact and sleek profile makes it a space-friendly addition to any existing DJ gear set-up or can stand on its own as a complete controller solution. What makes this guy different from your average controller?

Stanton’s StanTouch™ technology allows you to use traditional DJ-style motions and gestures on a touch-pad style surface to take full control over music and software applications such as Traktor DJ Studio™, Traktor Scratch™, Ableton Live™, Serato Scratch Live™, or any other MIDI compatible software. Minimal moving parts ensure durability from gig to gig.

Resources:

• Stanton’s DaScratch site
• Remix review