iLounge

1

It’s a publically held belief that DJ’s were quick to embrace iPods over vinyl. The truth is that more and more are moving from vinyl to CD. Take a look at the Pioneer CDJ’s. We have reached the point where a digital-mechanical interface can truly replace vinyl. With Setato Scratch Live or Stanton Final Scratch you don’t even have to give up your old turntables, or you can use a club’s and simply bring your laptop. That is one huge technical leap!

The iPod on the other hand, while pretty, is not well suited for DJ’ing. If you cannot change the pitch (speed is what’s actually the matter) you cannot mix.

Quick FYI - Scratching is something relegated to hip hop DJ’s and turntablists. It really doesn’t matter to most DJ’s.

If a CD deck could use the iPod as a hard drive to retrieve it’s music, this would be the best solution. I’ve been waiting for a company to simply include USB2 and FireWire interfaces on their CD decks for a couple years now.

Now go have your flights of fancy of the iPod being able to do everything…lol

Posted by minty on April 14, 2005 at 12:37 PM (PDT)

2

Interesting to see if this really isn’t all just a whole lot of vaporware. Let’s see the proof-of-concept, Numark.

Aside from a bit of crossfading and some overdub mic work, what can this conceptually do without cracking into the iPod’s firmware?  Apple’s legal department probably would love a shot at this. Now if it goes through the trouble of bufferring data or copying songs off the iPods into RAM or flash memory and using that to mix/cue/scratch/crossfade/etc., then why not forego the need for an iPod interface altogether and build a machine using regular a regular hard drive(s) instead?  At least then any software/firmware can be written specifically for the purpose of a DJ’s needs without having to complicate matters by attempting an interface with an iPod or two.  And it would be a heck of a lot cheaper (TWO iPods and a mixer vs. a mixer with an internal HD or two).

Right now, this ranks as another lame idea trying to cash in on the phenomenon known as iPod.

Posted by flatline response on April 14, 2005 at 10:41 PM (PDT)

3

Why don’t Numark make something that just uses ordinary hard disks?

Cos that won’t get any headlines or reportage in the sadly increasingly iPod fixated media.

Posted by PugRallye on April 15, 2005 at 4:16 AM (PDT)

4

I wonder who will be the first to mix with three iPods at once ... Carl Cox style.

Posted by Cyberwhore in Perth on April 15, 2005 at 4:34 AM (PDT)

5

I think it’s already been done by Richie “plastikman” Hawtin?

Not sure if that was just two iPods though….

Posted by PugRallye on April 15, 2005 at 4:48 AM (PDT)

6

I’m with ‘flatline’ on this one, could not even see the point only came out of dumbfounded curiosity.. What sort of solution is it..it can’t work without caching the song in ram, so the iPod display has only a limited function and any Mp3 players should be capable . .and why do you need two iPods if all you are doing is browsing then moving to cache.. 

if vinyl is going to disappear the cd for most dj’s is a workable alternative, the technology is there it’s reliable and affordable and you won’t crick your shoulder carrying around three hours of music even in uncompressed aiff format.. and they can survive a dousing in beer.

The hardware supply is the clubs problem ..unless you are looking to do a two day set ( god help us) who really needs the library capacity of the iPod or any mp3 player. The shuffle would be ok for many, few club audiences are as eclectic in their choice of music on a night out as they may be infront of their own hifi. .and imagine the worse- the possibility of seeing the DJ humping into a room a cut up crate full of iPods. If you have a lot of music .. flaunt it

if the venue only provides sound out to the PA you can get great results with a Laptop, Traktor DJ, external bus powered firwire harddrive with music on and a hercules usb mixer, all of which fits on the lid of an SJ1200 and all carried in a shoulder bag without getting a hernia. The whole set up can be picked up second hand for under £500 complete .More seasoned DJ hacks can prepare the set at home and just switch on hit play and ham it on the night.

Posted by iPodista in Wales UK on April 16, 2005 at 3:43 AM (PDT)

7

Come to think of it this would be perfect for Tiesto when he’s playing a live set.
He’s basically a human jukebox when playing live.

He mixes one track into the next then leaves it playing, bounces around looking like an idiot for a bit then makes himself look like he is really busy out there (doing nothing) whilst randomly shuffling through his vinyl collection.

At least with two iPods no one would have to watch him shuffling through his vinyl for no reason. They could just watch him bounce around like an idiot which is much much funnier.

Posted by Cyberwhore in Perth on April 16, 2005 at 7:44 PM (PDT)

8

for 1.5 years
2 cheap laptops
2 ipods
Win media player
mixer deck/amp
speakers
away you go
more thatn enough for anyone tired of scratchin

Posted by Maddog on April 18, 2005 at 9:46 AM (PDT)

9

It’s so cool and so rad

Posted by Arae on July 26, 2005 at 1:33 PM (PDT)