Following on from the original Deadmau5 Touch Mix comes the new version (App Store link), featuring 20 tracks including tracks from his new album For Lack of A Better Name, new effects, tilt control and an integrated Twitter feed.

It retails for $2.99.

Amidio announced that Touch DJ (App Store link), described as the first full-featured DJ MP3 application on the iPhone platform, has been approved and is now available.

Touch DJ offers realtime independent manipulation of 2 MP3 files, including scratching, looping, positioning, equalization, effects and and pitching.

Touch DJ gets around the limitation of one set of stereo outputs by focusing on “visual mixing” – the graphic display of the track waveforms next to each other. The low-bass (kick) parts are detected and rendered in different color compared to the rest sonic frequencies, making beatmatching as easy as adjusting the tracks position and pitch so that the kick parts become visually matched.

As an alternative for users who prefer to prelisten to tracks, Touch DJ also offers a second “Split” mode of mixing which requires the usage of a special l/r splitting adapter.

Other features include LP filter FX for each track, vinyl Spin and Break effects, onboard sampler with 3 sample slots (accepts .WAV files) and the ability to record samples via the microphone.

Touch DJ uses its own music library, independent of the iTunes music library. The app is shipped with 25 dance tracks provided by DanceMusicHub.com, and you can load up more using a utility available at the Amidio site.

Touch DJ retails for $19.99.

If you’ve used Touch DJ, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Note: DJ apps have been slow to be approved by Apple. There’s a petition you can sign to ask Apple to speed up the process.

DJTechTools‘ Ean Golden demonstrates how he uses white noise “to create build ups and drama in your dj sets.”

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

DJTechTools’ Ean Golden discusses the steps he uses to important digital music and prepare it for DJing.

via eangolden:

How do I bring new music into my dj collection? Here are the important steps that will take a file from newly purchased to ready to play in just a few minutes.

Mixware Rapid Evolution is a free advanced harmonic music library tool for DJs, designed to be used while you mix.

Description:

Rapid Evolution helps profile your songs by saving important properties, such as the BPM, key, time signature, styles, comments, etc. You can then instantly see which songs are within BPM range, in key harmonically and in similar styles. More importantly, it lets you save comments and information about each individual mix you come up with.

Use it to enhance your knowledge of your music and remember the important details of what you do.

The software includes automatic BPM and key detection, as well as tools to determine this information yourself–a BPM tapper and a MIDI keyboard. It is designed for the power user, and offers extensive searching, filtering and browsing capabilities. You can create custom hierarchical styles to help organize your tunes. It also lets you share all song and mix information with other DJs.

If you are a software based DJ, you can take advantage of features like dragging and dropping the songs to play them. Otherwise the program can act as a reference or guide as you mix. If you don’t have a computer near your turntables, it is still useful for planning mix sets and finding compatible songs ahead of time.

See the Mixware site for  details.

via KeyOfGrey

This tutorial looks at setting tempo anchors with M-Audio Torq 1.5 DJ Software.

via eangolden:

Full article at: DJTechTools.com. Tempo Anchors in Torq 1.5 help you sync up songs that have a fluctuating tempo or that have a complex beat the automatic tempo anaysis can’t read.

This video takes a look at using Ableton Live to create DJ friendly edits for use with Serato Scratch Live.

via SeratoHQ

Algoriddim has upgraded DJay, their mixing software for iTunes, to version 3.

Many new features have been added, including Automatic Beat and Tempo Detection, Auto-Cut Scratching, Beat-Matched Looping, enhanced Audio FX, Automix Queue, Auto-Gain and MIDI Learn.

Algoriddim DJay 3 retails for $49.95.

If you’ve used DJay 3, leave a comment!

Features:

• Automatic Beat & Temp Detection is djay’s on-the-fly song analysis that calculates the beats per minute (BPM) and exact location of each beat, laying the groundwork for a host of other features including Auto-Sync, looping and beat-synchronized effects.
• Auto-Sync djay’s automatic beat and tempo detection allows you to easily match the playback speed of two songs for a perfect transition with the click of a single button. djay calculates the volume perceived by the human ear for each song and automatically ensures that all your songs play at the same volume level. This allows you to seamlessly fade one song into the next without sudden changes in loudness.
• Real-time effects, scratching, pitch-shifting and more with solid sound quality and improved low latency. djay’s new audio engine builds upon the Mac’s extended audio support and claims to meet the highest standards in digital audio processing.
• Auto-Cut Scratching automatically applies the rhythmic pattern of the currently playing song to your scratches in real-time. Create sounds like professional scratch DJs and go beyond the possibilities of the analog world. A breakthrough in digital scratching.
• The Automix Queue lets you queue up your favorite tracks in advance. Enable Automix and let djay take care of the mixes while you cruise the party. Or use the queue to build a playlist on-the-go from your audience’s song requests. Plug in your favorite MIDI controller and easily map all features in djay to the buttons and sliders on your controller using MIDI-Learn. With Beat-Matched Looping, you can continuously loop part of a song perfectly in sync with the beat.
• Spice up your mix with djay’s new audio effects including beat-synchronized echo to various reverb types with adjustable wet/dry settings.

Native Instruments

Traktor 1.2 Features:

• Users of TRAKTOR PRO and TRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO are treated to three extra effects in 1.2. Taking the total to 24, this update adds a Beat Slicer, Formant Filter and a Peak Filter.
• The TRAKTOR effects section just got twice as nice. With the addition of two more effects units (in PRO versions only) the potential for warping and twisting your tracks has been vastly increased.
• TRAKTOR now supports the HID (Human Interface Device) protocol for the Pioneer CDJ-400 and display support for the Denon DN-HC4500. HID is an alternative to MIDI control that boasts a much improved sensitivity, meaning even more precise control over pitch control and effects parameters etc. HID also utilizes the product displays to show TRAKTOR info such as track name, remaining time etc, directly on the hardware.
• The new advanced Élastique time stretching algorithm delivers a new level in time-stretching quality at an amazing workload efficiency. The algorithm has been developed to detect tonal and transient components in your tracks with high accuracy, making the Keylock function in TRAKTOR 1.2 sound pristine. The new algorithm also ensures exceptional efficiency in CPU usage.

Other Updates In Traktor 1.2

• Drag and Drop from decks to playlist
• Two additional favorite playlist slots
• New Progressive Sensitivity option for Pitch Bend
• Customizable Cue Play button behaviour (Instant On Release)
• Additional Preparation List features with diamond icons, Append/add next menu functions
• Adjustable minimum playtime filter for play count and history functions timecode
• Internal EQs enabled for external mixer mode
• New track caching technology with reduced memory footprint
• Improved Tap Tempo function
• Direct tag editing in Explorer node
• Pitch Bend controller assignable to jog wheels
• One-Click setting of hotcues

Traktor Version 1.2 is a free update.

This video takes a look at sensual dub mixing with Touch DJ on the iPhone.

If you’re expecting the sensual dub mixing to somehow involve Scarlett Johansson, though, prepare to be disappointed.

According to Amidio:

The whole mix is done visually (no cueing in headphones). This is a totally new way to DJ and I’m really enjoying it.

I never heard the full tracks before (only previews) and (frankly) loaded them on a random basis. Of course this is wrong because you must know the music that you play. But it was an experiment anyway.

This is a tutorial video that looks at how to DJ with Ableton Live, demonstrated with Tom Cosm’s free DJ Megaset 1.0.

It’s a deep tutorial that should offer something for just about anyone learning DJing with Ableton Live.

See Tom Cosm’s site for more of his videos.

GPS Beatmap: Planet as Control Surface.

This video is a demonstration of Face Removal Services‘ Beatmap – a GPS-based music instrument that transforms the face of the planet into an enormous DJ booth.

Yeah – it’s insane and awesome. I want to try this on my next road trip.

Details below!
Beatmap

Looping musical phrases are represented on a map as overlapping circular territories. As the vehicle approaches the center of a circle, the volume increases. In areas of the map where territories overlap the vehicle generates dynamic mixes of the overlapping musical phrases. By exploring a very large map of many overlapping territories the Beatmap creates complex, dynamic mash-ups.

The map can be explored on foot, by plane, boat, train, or automobile. In this footage the map is explored by car on the Bonneville Salt Flats, allowing the user to freely accelerate, swerve, and slam to a stop for optimum musical control of the instrument.

The Beatmap can be positioned anywhere on Earth and expanded or contracted to any size by manipulating a continuous stream of GPS data. The Beatmap can thus be used to create drive-through mash-ups on any surface of any size, from a tennis court to the Atlantic Ocean.

Exploring the Beatmap is like investigating a new city while navigating a DJ’s crate of records. Obscure landmarks begin to gain new significance by their association with unique musical juxtapositions. For instance, a treacherous pothole may invite multiple drive-bys simply because of its proximity to a particularly satisfying polyrhythm. The Beatmap is currently be readied for deployment in locations near and far.

Rockstar Games and Timbaland have announced that Beaterator, a new DJ/remix game previously announced for the PSP and Playstation Network, will be coming to the iPhone and iPod touch this fall.

Beaterator features thousands of loops and sounds, made by both Timbaland and Rockstar, and is designed to make making professional-sounding music portable, accessible and fun.

Details are available at the Beaterator site.

DJ Tech Pro has introduced “the most powerful mouse in the world – the one that you’ve always dreamed of.”

The promo video for the DJ Mouse is pretty laughably bad.

But you know what? The time has come to transform your PC or Mac into an ultimate dance machine.

Should this thing be dismissed on the basis of its horrifically bad promo video, or do you think there might actually be something here worth checking out?

Leave a comment with your thoughts!

Details on the DJ Mouse below.

DJ Mouse Features:

Left Click Functions:

• Drag and Drop songs from the play list
• Play 4 different CUE points
• Access to the Effects
• Play Samples
• Play Loops
• Play the 3 Reloopers
• Activate Effect
• Preview song
• SYNC and downbeat

Vertical wheel:

• Rewind and fast forward effect
• All faders and knobs control
• Scroll Playlist

Right click:

• Memorize 4 CUE points
• Toggle Loops
• Toggle 3 Reloopers
• Reset Effect
• Lock the SYNC : get a perfect and permanent beat match

Jog wheel:

• Control faders and knobs
• Control Crossfader
• Scratch or rewind Effect

Scratch Knob:

• Activate the digital Scratch mode with any position of the DJM
• Lock the control of the X,Y parameters for the effects
• Lock control of Fader/knobs without clicking

DJ-Software:

• Real time Mixing and Scratching on MP3’s
• 6 effects with X and Y Control pads
• AUTO BPM , AUTO MIX
• Works with Windows XP & Vista , MAC
• Real Dj’ing with real time Monitor function

DJ Mouse:

• Heavy weight 120g laser mousse for Dj Application
• Multi Function jog wheel with blue ring specially for dark area
• Scratch Direct access Memory
• Optimized for Deckadance Dj software for MAC and PC
• Aluminumfeel and mini jog wheel for controlling fader and Scratch
• USB powered

DJ scratch mat:

• Turntable design
• Optimizedfor Scratch Performance

This is a video guide to getting started with Traktor Pro.

If you’ve got your own tips or tricks for setting up Traktor Pro, leave a comment below!

via eangolden:

This video will walk new djs through the steps required to get going with Traktor Pro and a midi controller including setting up a sound card for headphone listening and setting up a controller for the first time.

Quixonic has released a new DJ application for iPhone and iPod Touch, Quixpin DJ (App Store link). The app translates the concept of a two-channel DJ mixer into a multi-touch environment.

The above demo is from the DJ’s perspective. See below for another video from the “dance floor” perspective.

Limitations:

Quixpin DJ has two notable limitations: the two channels of audio offered by the iPhone and an inability to access the iTunes music library. These limitations aren’t specific to Quixpin DJ, though, but are a reflection of Apple’s iPhone design decisions.

Quixonic works around the lack of iTunes music library access by letting you upload songs into Quixpin DJ. It works around the limitation of two channels of audio by treating the left and right channels as independent mono channels.

In spite of its limitations, though, Quixpin is a milestone in mobile electronic music.

It’s a real DJ app that demonstrates that the iPhone is viable as a platform for DJing. It also demonstrates that there are usability benefits to a multitouch screen.

Extrapolate out from this a year, and it’s likely that we’re going to have some very powerful iPhone DJ apps available.

Let’s hope that Apple sees this as an important development direction to support and opens up the OS to let developers make the iPhone a full-fledged DJ platform.

More details on Quixpin DJ below.

If you’ve used Quixpin DJ, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Description:

Quixpin gives DJs of all levels everything they need to mix music with their iPhone or iPod Touch. It has the capability to simultaneously play two digital audio files at once using its dual decks, and then mix them with its digital mixer. It also contains a number of innovative features unique to mobile platforms including a multi-touch graphical audio view that allows users to scrub through, speed up, and slow down tracks using swipe and pinch gestures.

Quixpin’s two channel mixer offers a 3-band parametric EQ, faders, and the ability to cue a track in one channel while the master is playing in the other. This is accomplished by splitting the stereo channel into two independent mono channels. All a DJ needs is their headphones or a commonly available and inexpensive stereo splitter cable if they wish to hook up to a sound system.

Quixpin is available now for $6.99.

Xylio has updated FutureDecks Pro, DJ mixing software for Windows and Mac, to version 1.5.

Changes in FutureDecks Pro v1.5 include:

• New skin (widescreen).
• Video preview screen (for both DirectX and OpenGL mode).
• New CUE points logic (for the small cue points buttons).
• Special AutoMix playlist.
• Allow Auto-Mix on all lists (use current list when Auto-Mixing instead of special list).
• Inserting/selecting multiple songs (works with Drag&Drop, Remove, Physical Remove, Analyze).
• Searching works also with comment and album and preserves last cursor position (when leaving search mode).
• Shuffle function.
• Move song to top/bottom of list (Ctrl + PgUp/Down).
• Current time on the standard skins.
• Complete rewrite of several parts of the software to allow further improvements and better stability.
• Numerous small improvements.
• Performance optimizations.
• Lots of stability improvements.
• Error on mouse leaving button still pressed (the button remained on).
• Video quality fixed (both OpenGL and DirectX).

FutureDecks Pro is available for Mac & PC, and retails for $99 USD / 79 EUR / 59 GBP.

Check out this insanity!

The 5 Gum Augmented Reality Music Mixer uses augmented reality – the idea of combining real world and computer-generated 3D graphics in real-time – to create a virtual DJ mixer that you control with controller “glyphs”.

The glyphs are used as the input device and allow users to:

• Change the volumes of each track by moving the glyph relative to the central reference glyph.
• Modify the tracks themselves by rotating the glyphs on their axis. This will add distortion, bit crusher and echo effects.
• Remove the audio track from the mix by covering or removing the glyphs.

The project is part of Wrigley’s 5 Gum “Stimulates Your Senses”promotion.

The technology

The Wrigley 5 Gum project utilises Releas3D, which combines:

• Flash
• Papervision 3D
• 2D video technology and workflow
• Augmented Reality technology
• An Entity/Resource Management system
• Video Capture and Encoding system

Features

• 15 music tracks to create your own mix
• 3 animated flavour orbs
• Control volume and add effects: distortion, bit crusher, echo
• Record, add to gallery and share your mix
• Vote for your favourite mixes
• No software downloads
• No security warnings
• No browser restrictions
• No platform restrictions

The Mixxx team is proud to announce the final release of Mixxx 1.7.0.

Mixxx 1.7.0 features an overhauled MIDI mapping system with advanced scripting capabilities, improvements to vinyl control, and many other tweaks and optimizations.

The new MIDI scripting engine allows both users and developers to add complex behaviour to their MIDI devices.

Download Mixxx here. If you’ve used Mixxx, leave a comment with your thoughts!

New in Mixxx 1.7.0:

• Improved MIDI device support:
  • MIDI learning wizard
  • MIDI mapping editor
  • Upgraded, faster mapping system
  • MIDI output now fully supported on Windows, OS X, and Linux
  • QtScript/JavaScript-based MIDI Scripting Environment – Script complex behaviour for your MIDI controller!
  • Added full support for the Stanton SCS.3d and SCS.1m on all platforms.
  • Hercules MK2 and RMX improvements
  • Added Mixman DM2 mappings for Linux and OS X.
• Vinyl Control:
  • Scratching responsiveness improved, with needle-skip prevention option added.
  • Signal quality indicators added to vinyl control preferences.
  • Improved support for soundcards with multiple stereo inputs
• Convenience features:
  • The default skin is now widescreen, and fits nicely on netbook sized screens.
  • Stereo master VU meter added.
  • Cue points are now saved in the library for each track, with “auto-recall” cue option added to preferences.
  • Support for more platforms: 64-Bit Windows and a Universal OS X package for 10.4+.
  • Over 100 bug fixes.