Alright... I think everyone here is familiar with turntables and mixers by now.

But there's a lot more out there. Thats why I want to make a thread dedicated to all the other cool toys that DJs have, and just to discuss DJ'ing beyond mixing 2 tracks back to back. I'll get things started:

Pioneer EFX-500


A familiar sight for most of you around here, and the next toy on my shopping list. Probably doesn't need much introduction.

Roland HPD 15


If you're a D:Fuse fan, you'll probably recognize this. It's an electronic drum pad that has a few hundred different sounds on it, as well as some other nifty features (click the link). Definately a powerful little tool in the right hands. It's on my shopping list as well (if I'll ever be able to afford it.


Xone CTRL


Richie Hawtin's custom A&H Xone, built with Midi controls right on it (specifically for Ableton). Unfortunately, there's no plan to put these into production... but if I had the money, I'd tear one down and do it myself.

So post your contributions, or just discuss trickery/technology/whatever.

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NEW MIX [Feb/March 2008]

If I ever get the cash I want to get an Ecler Nuo-5 and Ableton Live. I think that combined with FS could be real cool. I have been messing around with the demo to try and get a feel for it. With a MIDI clock signal coming from the Nuo-5 it seems like it would be real easy to add this to a set, particularly because I am not an ex drummer (unlike D:Fuse if I recall correctly).

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"You can only drink 30 or 40 glasses of beer a day, no matter how rich you are." - Colonel Adolphus Busch

Major Johnson - February Progressive Mix

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its all about the 3rd deck complicated as fuck at first, but once you get your head round your technique, its plain sailing + logic. i have great fun with it now, and i rarely cock it up (although when you cock it up it sounds fucking awful! don't try and do it when you are stoned ). it probably keeps me busy for 85% of the time i spend behind the decks instead of standing around doing nothing..

as far as kit goes, effects units rock. they are so much fun, especially when it boils down to making simple noise. the amount of noises i can get out of my efx500 is ridiucous, and then that doubles when you hook it up to an effect mixer

other FX units to look at; pioneer efx1000 (warning, only look at this if you are rich), korg kaoss pad 2, alesis airFX (looks cool to use but limited in its use). there are also a lot of single FX boxes that only do a filter, or a flanger etc. the variation you can get from these is cool, but as a creative mixer, i think its best to have more of a variety of FX to use as opposed top variations of the same effect. this is why i prefer an efx500

definitely if you are looking beyond 2 decks, hook things up through an effect mixer. not only can it save you money on a seperate effects unit later, but if you want a stand-alone effects unit too you can create some amazing noises and FX, particularly if you have one unit on a beat effect and the other on flange/filter.. much fun!

one thing i keep meaning to learn to use is a sampler, but i don't have one at home. you can have some massive fun with these, and can really get creative with your sets with them. it sure beats the loop systems on most cd decks.

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MUGGETS

stuff like these are fun, i borrow em from friends all the time, whats cool is you can do step based loop production and analog sounds on the fly and use it directly in your dj set. Since these models are discontinued, i may go out and grab one from gc.


Electribe Analog synth.


Electribe Rhythym

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quote:

Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot. He who laughs last thinks slowest!

Yeah 3 deck stuff is awesome. I made a nice little set of myself going wild the other day with the 3 deck trickery. It's not that hard, you just have to pay close attention. Split cue on your mixer also helps a lot.

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NEW MIX [Feb/March 2008]

quote:

Originally posted by Nou Yea, I been looking to do some more "innovative" stuff recently. I been messing with taking hip hop beats on my CDJ and looopin them and speedin them up a ton to 138-140bpm, so you get crazy break beats.

i love chopping random stuff in, my current faves are adamski - killer & a loop of the riff from artful dodger - movin too fast i am also a fan of dropping the original of sweet dreams by eurythmics every now and again.

i also try and chuck a bit of breaks in from time to time too, its refreshing after some relentless techno to put the breaky kick in with the perc for a bit.

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MUGGETS

Basically the newer versions of what DJ Chex posted, the Korg Electribe EMX-1.

More for production, but you can also run external audio through the effects, and layer your own beats or melodies over your set.

I realllly want one

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-tom

quote:

Originally posted by cheesy Basically the newer versions of what DJ Chex posted, the Korg Electribe EMX-1. More for production, but you can also run external audio through the effects, and layer your own beats or melodies over your set. I realllly want one

so do i... Ummm yummy valves.... :drool:

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quote:

Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot. He who laughs last thinks slowest!

looking very nice.

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Not to sound dumb at all, but can someone please tell me what is the purpose of using three turntables during a set? I quite never understood it. Maybe someone can break it down for me.

Thanks In Advance

MOS

So that there is always more than one song playing, or for dropping quick samples or a capellas, or for quick cuts a la DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist.

quote:

Originally posted by MOSEuphoric Not to sound dumb at all, but can someone please tell me what is the purpose of using three turntables during a set? I quite never understood it. Maybe someone can break it down for me. Thanks In Advance MOS

well in some genres of music, the writers of the music often leave it open for input from the DJ, particularly in the case of techno. sometimes i hear people complain that techno is boring, this is usually because they are listening to single tracks and not a set. techno is made to be played in a set where you can blend certain elements from one track with elements from another track, whilst beatmatching the next track you are playing, and often bringing that in with the other two. i often have track 1 & 2 playing, then when i have finished mixing i have track 2 & 3 playing. some people who are bloody good (see chris liebing, richie hawtin) can do 4 tracks at once, this takes a lot of skill to make it sound good, and not cluttered.

check out adam beyer's essential underground 9 (stockholm) or sets by liebing, beyer, cox etc etc.

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MUGGETS