Is the Turntable a musical instrument?

Can it work as a ‘classical’ instrument?

These were the first questions posed by idea of a Concerto for Turntables.

Gabriel Prokofiev’s Concerto for Turntables & Orchestra (Heritage Orchestra Feat. DJ Yoda) attempts to answer those questions.

Should the turntable join the instruments of the classical orchestra?

Give it a listen and let me know what you think.

via apc

According to Nielsen Soundscan, sales of vinyl albums in 2009 have already topped the 2-million mark.

This beats 2008’s, 1.9 million, which means that 2009 sales of vinyl LPs are on target to be the highest since at least 1991, when Soundscan began tracking music sales.

Digital music sales aren’t doing too bad, either.

Total purchased album downloads are on pace to top last year’s figure of 65 million.

This is a cool trend. In my book, the perfect music format is Vinyl + MP3; you buy your nice big sexy album and you get a download code along with it.

What do you think about the resurgence of LP sales?

Is this just a vinyl fetish – or do you think vinyl actually offers a better way to get your music fix?

via LATimes

Image: karola riegler photography

Click here to view the embedded video.

uses four IR transmitter/receiver pairs to detect reflective objects (such as coins) passing under one of four tracks. When such an object is detected, an audio sample is triggered on the computer.

This is an intro video for the new Pioneer CDJ-2000.

The CDJ-2000 is a DJ controller that features a 6.1 inch screen and a touchpad controller. It can be used a CD deck and also as a DJ MIDI controller.

The CDJ-2000 retails for $2,150. Details below.

If you’ve used the Pioneer CDJ-2000, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Here’s the info from the press release for the Pioneer CDJ-2000 & CDJ-900:

Prepared For Any Performance

Adapting to today’s variety of media formats, the CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900 enable playback of MP3, AAC, WAV and AIFF audio files from CDs and USB memory devices, and from DVDs and SD cards as well on the CDJ-2000. A USB port located on top of the turntable enables users to quickly connect an external storage device such as a Tonium Pacemaker™² or a hard drive packed with music files, minimizing the need to bring a laptop computer to performances.

Both the CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900 turntables include rekordbox™, Pioneer’s proprietary music management software that organizes and catalogs a DJ’s entire music library. When music files are imported to rekordbox, the software analyzes each file and prepares them for use specifically with the new CDJ turntables. Key elements of Pioneer’s rekordbox software:

• Analyze:
  • Beats Per Minute (BPM) Data – BPM / Tempo information for each song is identified and processed into rekordbox for use by the DJ in preparing and performing a set.
  • Waveform Data – The waveform of each song is identified and then displayed on the bottom screen for quick data visualization and for use with the needle search function on the CDJ-2000 turntable.
• Customize:
  • Tag Info & Artwork – Edit and customize the file information to performance needs.
  • Hot Cues, Cue Points, and Loops – Prepare and customize cues and loops as well as create and manage hot cue banks.
  • Playlists – Create, edit and manage customized playlists for various performances.
  • Beatgrid – Utilizing the new Quantizing feature, cue points and loops can be set perfectly on-beat. The Quantize feature ensures cue points are set accurately and automatically, correcting and synching beats during manual looping or a real-time cueing, preventing off beat mistakes.

Users can then transfer analyzed music files to their preferred storage media and play them directly from the new CDJ turntables. The software offers song information that can be viewed easily during performances on the CDJs’ large displays to quickly search and access content by genre, title, BPM, etc. Also, as analyzed tracks are played through the CDJ products, the turntables automatically create and save a play history enabling users to review past performances on their PCs.

Pro DJ Link

The new turntables feature Pioneer’s Pro DJ Link that enables up to four CDJ-2000/900s to be connected via the Link Port to share a single music source, whether it is a hard drive, USB and/or SD memory card. Once linked, users have the ability to quickly find, display and choose the music file from a connected source through the CDJ’s built-in display and control knobs. A quick turn of the knob lets users scroll through created files and folders and a push of the knob confirms the song choice.

Advanced Connectivity

The new turntables feature a 24-bit/48 kHz sound card and HID and MIDI control compatibility via USB port. Up to 35 controls on the surface of each player can be used to trigger other devices, such as DJ effecters and software by way of HID and/or MIDI.

The HID controls were implemented into the players for superior interfacing with software, faster communication speed over MIDI, audio/visual streaming and two-way information on displays. HID enables easy, precise and native control of DVS systems such as Serato™ Scratch Live³, Native Instruments’ Traktor⁴ series and MixVibes Cross⁵ without the need for time-coded discs.

CDJ-2000 Enhancements

• LCD panel and Graphic User Interface – The flagship CDJ-2000 features a large WQVGA 6.1-inch full-color 480 x 234 LCD panel for displaying song titles and jacket art as well as detailed track information so DJs can select songs at a glance. The wave data of each song is also illustrated on screen, showing high and low amplitude to further assist DJs.

• Needle Search – Helps DJs instantaneously get to a specific part of a song with a simple touch of the Needle Search pad. Found directly below the CDJ-2000’s high resolution LCD panel, the touchpad lets the DJ “place the needle” and jump quickly to a specific part of a music track.
• Jog Dial – Adjustments for tension were enhanced from previous models allowing the DJ to further customize the feel of the jog dial from a light to heavy sensitivity. Four illuminated areas on the sides of the Jog Dial aid the DJ in finding the desired spot on the plate in dim lighting environments.

CDJ-900 Enhancements

• Slip Mode – When activated, Slip Mode silently continues song playback during a loop, reverse or scratch and continues audible playback at the exact time when the loop, reverse or scratch is ended creating smoother transitions.
• Advanced Auto Beat Loop – The CDJ-900 generates a four-beat loop at a touch of a button creating a customized sound to provide more time for DJs to blend in transitioning music.

The Extras

For more accurate tempo control while mixing, each player is enhanced with increased frame increments of 0.5 frames that allow the DJ to set a cue point or loop point with more precision.

To achieve the highest sound quality, both the CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900 were equipped with the audio industry’s highly respected Wolfson DAC processors, delivering a very transparent, accurate audio signal resulting in a highly improved signal-to-noise ratio and increased headroom.

This video, from Neurosonics Audiomedical Labs Inc., is the best music video I”ve seen in a long time.

Check it out and let me know if it leaves your head spinning.

And if you think decapitated heads belong in music videos, give this video a DIGG, below!

via the Synthtopia Flickr Group

This is a demo of the Denon DN-S3500.

The DN-S3500 CD/MP3 player offers a 12-pole Direct Drive motor, 7 on-board effects and intuitive controls.

Features:

• High Torque Direct Drive Motor
• 7 On-board Effects: (Echo, Echo/Loop, Filter, Flanger, Brake, Dump, & Reverse)
• 15 Sec. On-board Sampler w/ Sampler Copy Feature!
• Next Track Reserve With Crossfade

via gearwire:

I am not entirely certain what that title means either, but rest assured that Bill Holland makes use of the Denon DN-S3500 direct drive turntable, among many other fine features, in this demo. He also shaves with his left hand, but unfortunately that’s offscreen.

This is an official overview video of the Numark HDMIX DJ system.

via NumarkVideo:

What do you enjoy about being a DJ? Is it the hours of moving heavy racks and cases, running cables, and testing levels, or actually playing the gig that makes DJing fun and exciting? HDMIX gives you everything you need to DJ anywhere. Just add a pair of powered speakers or patch into the house PA, and HDMIX puts everything at your fingertips in a single, rugged console.

Image: chaosbit

Doesn’t this delicious image of a Technics 1200 turntable sync ring make you want to spin some vinyl and actually feel some music?

It’s Record Store Day 2009 – so go visit your local record store and dig up something fun.

If you make a cool find, leave a comment and tell us about it!

DJ Getdown rocks the Numark N7 at Remix Hotel Miami 2009.

via NumarkVideo

This video demonstrates Jack Lykins’ Static: an Interactive Approach to Animation.

Lykins triggers video clips via MIDI and then manipulates them, using a turntable as a control interface.

The animation is cool by itself, but it’s even more interesting how Lykins uses technology to blur the lines between music and animation.

via Peter Kirn at CDM

OT: This is a video demo of the Mikiphone Pocket Phonograph, a sort of steampunk precursor to the Walkman and iPod.

via bb

DJ Ty hooks up with Jay, a national Pioneer demonstrator, who provides an overview of the DVJ-1000 (four of em) and the SVM-1000. 

via agidjpro

A look at the new SC System from Stanton.

SCS.1d Features:

• Flagship deck controller for laptop DJs and remixer / producers
• Adjustable high-torque 10 motorized platter with vinyl surface and superior tracking
• 100mm motorized pitch fader with recall for sync with software
• Velocity-sensitive pads assignable to loops, cue points, etc.
• Assignable Encoder section with 360° of LED feedback
• LCD scribble strips for two-way communication with selected software
• Familiar Transport section for direct music control
• Perfect for adding maximum control capabilities into existing DJ software
• Easily controls multiple virtual decks for powerful multi-channel mixes

SCS.1m Features:

Who doesn’t need one of these babies?

This is a promo video for the Vinyl Recorder T-560. 

Made in Germany: “Schallplatten selbst herstellen!”

OT: Amazing Phonographantasmascope of Jim Lefevre.

Using the Zoetropes principle, Lefevre created a bunch of special 3D discs that he set spinning using an old fashioned turntable to create the illusion of 3D movement.

DJ Jungleboy demos DaScratch (SCS.3d), Stanton’s MIDI software controller, using two DaScratch units with Scratch LIVE.

Scratch (2001) is a documentary film, directed by Doug Pray, that looks at the birth and evolution of hip-hop disc jockeys (DJs), scratching and turntablism.

Interviewees include:

• Grand Wizard Theodore (the inventor of the scratch)
• Grand Mixer Q-bert
• Grand Mixer DXT, Z-Trip
• Mix Master Mike
• Rob Swift
• DJ Premier
• Afrika Bambaataa
• Jazzy Jay
• Cut Chemist
• NuMark
• DJ Craze
• DJ Shadow
• DJ Babu
• DJ Krush
• Madlib
• Peanut Butter Wolf

You can watch the whole thing for free; YouTube is experimenting with hosting full movies.

BestDocumentaries, via wiretotheear

The Graphite Sequencer is an art piece that explores turning a record player into a tangible interface for sequencing music:

Disc are coded with graphite, which conducts electricity. Two wires touch the paper discs as they spin.

The wires are connected to a simple tone generator.

When a line is drawn across the disk, connecting the two wires, a tone is heard. The quality of the line affects te sound. For example, if the line is thick, more current can pass over it, creating a lower tone.

Via Neural

Yuri Suzuki is an artist and musician interested in “revamping and giving new forms and meanings to the turntable, a device which very few of us still have in their house.

Music is become more and more digital and abstract, and Suzuki is interested in exploring the physical, tangible representation of sound.

The Prepared Turntable, above, is an analog answer to the digitalized DJ. The turntable has 5 tone arms, each of which can have its volume controlled by its own fader. Users can make or play music with special loop groove records.

More examples of his work are available at We Make Money Not Art.