I played with Final Scratch at Guitar Center for about 20 min. It was pretty neat, I didn't notice any latency and loading up tracks (mapping them) was quick and easy. When you move the tone arm on the table from one position to another on the vinyl, the program reorients itself on the track that is currently mapped on that turntable. They didn't have headphones hooked up to the mixer and I didn't want to turn it up loud so I didn't get to test it extensively so the next day I came there with my friend and a cd filled with mp3s but their Final Scratch system was turned off. The only downside I see so far is that it operates solely on Linux (not that im complaining much) and I don't know much about the installation procedures, but I am thinking others would need to learn a bit about Linux before they can install the software. The website says that the Mac version of the software will come out soon. The guy at Guitar Center said that when they get more units they will sell it at $499. Can't wait till they start selling it.

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- Sequence Productions -

Installation procedure prolly isn't difficult... they would be fools if they were to make a system that's only for ppl with extensive linux experience don't you think? they prolly found a way to make installation easy...

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...We had that lightswitch installed so you could turn the lights on - and off. NOT SO YOU COULD HAVE LIGHTSWITCH RAVES! now let's go break open that glowstick and poor it into homestarrunner's mountain dew! I heared they have to pump your stomach when you drink that stuff...

I thought they include a copy of Linux with the software... no prior linux experience required...

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mmmm.. delicious...

I haven't personally tried it, but I've heard it and it sounds pretty darn good. You just gotta make sure your mp3s are decent quality (192kbps+) and u got a decent computer so there's no lag. I kno there's a final scratch pro package that comes w/ a sony vaiio pre-installed with linux. check out more details at their website:

www.finalscratch.com

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It's a damn fine program. Latency is very low (although the actual model sometimes has problems with massive spinbacks if your comp is just at minimum specs. But then again, spinbacks shouldn't be used every 3 seconds). Installation is easy as hell, you don't need to know linux at all it's all very well explained in the manual. Anyhow, it's better that way. I just can imagine you are rocking the place until you need too reboot your comp because Winblows crashed.

It's a little bit expensive (if you count the whole setup, PC included), but it's worth it in my opinion). It doesn't really replace the old beloved turntable as it uses it. The only thing I can really say bad about it is that it may encourage music piracy. But I think most people don't care about that anyway...

nah, i don't think it will encourage piracy.

i mean, you need decks to use it right, so, you are obviously going to be buying records anyway. I doubt anyone will go out and buy 2 decks and final scracth, just so they can play stolen mp3s, when they can simply do that with tracktor for free.

I want this thing!

sony vaiio sucks though, i want a custom built laptop, i can handle putting linux on it.

Nah I didn't mean it that way (cmon comparing traktor to finalscratch...)

Let me give an example. I know a lot of guys (me included) that, when they really like a tune, they have it on mp3, while searching for that tune on vinyl. Once they have the record, they get rid of the mp3. Well I know for a fact (I asked those guys personally) that when they get Finalscratch, they won't do that anymore. They just wanted the vinyl because of "that vinyl feel" vs an mp3 (with traktor or even burned to audio cd). Well now you can have that vinyl feel without actually buying the record...

Still I'd search for the real record. If I find a tune good enough, I think it's fair to pay for it.

yeah, i'd keep the mp3 too, and get the vinyl..

some are simply impossible to get though. either they haven't been pressed on vinyl, (Parker - Beams of Gaia), or extremely rare (Pulser - Cloudwalking)

OR, you could also just have some mp3, that you wanted to spin, a spoken word of jello biafra or whatever.

anyway, yeah, i want final scratch big time. I think that it might contribute a little to people not paying for music, but not much at all.

You can scratch with mp3s now? Fuck, i might return my newly ordered TT's.

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When you start to criticize the times you live in, your time is over. ~Karl Lagerfeld

is there any software/hardware familiar to finalscratch?i bet there are companies trying to compete finalscratch by copying it. what about that digiscratch??? what is it? any adress ?

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Allways keep your friends close, and your enemies closer

the only catch is that you can load songs no longer than 7 mins. So if a song is longer than 7 mins it won't load. I knew it was to good to be true. So some trance classics really wouldn't work, you would have to throw in the radio edit or some bullshit. Kind of a draw back but it's a pretty damn amazing program!!

Armando