TECHNEWS words: MICK WILSON
138 TECH TALK — MANU GONZALEZ The Ibiza-based DJ/producer talks about how the island helped launch his tech voyage.
DIGITAL LOVE 141 IN THE With the release of four new digital STUDIO products from Denon, has a new era We hear about French producer for DJs dawned? Vitalic’s studio gear. t’s undeniable that 2016 saw some pretty seismic shifts. Except, perhaps, in the DJ technology community. We kept on doing what we did with the I same old, same old. However, the new year may hold some surprises. We can now reveal a potential game- changer in the world of DJ technology, with the release of Denon DJ’s new DJ gear. Four new products aim to confront the dominance of Pioneer DJ in the booth: the SC5000 media player, Engine Prime music management system, X1800 mixer and the VL12 turntable. We suppose the biggest announcement was the new Denon 140 808 STATE DJ SC5000 Multimedia Player. When we first saw it, we Is Roland’s new DJ-808 controller were impressed by the way it looked, even before we had a set to become legendary? chance to get hands-on and find out what it could do. The DJ Mag Tech crew were amongst the first people to ever see and touch this array of new DJ technology. We welcomed it — after all, whilst there has been a cycle of industry standards over the years, there have only really been two periods of dominance without anything else really making a dent. Technics had its 1200s and Pioneer DJ had its CDJs; many tried to buck the trend but fell by the wayside. It must be said that perhaps Denon with its earlier SC range was the only one that even had a chance to topple the mighty CDJ, with the SC3900 and its motorised platter, and then the SC2900. Both very capable machines, but they 143 INTO THE didn’t capture the hearts of the DJ community. Now the new SC5000 has been launched, with a plethora of features XONE and innovations that might just make the CDJ look like Allen & Heath’s new XONE:PX5 DJ yesteryear’s equipment. mixer reviewed. FAMILIAR FEEL The Denon DJ SC5000 looks a little bit like the current CDJ-2000 Nexus, with its large tilted touch-screen display, jog-wheel and pitch-slider position and knob/button placement. A deliberate trick in that, if a DJ was to use the SC5000, they would be immediately comfortable without 150 TECH having to undergo an extensive learning curve. As soon as PRODUCER we set about the SC5000 there were no surprises. It was Killer Sounds, Sample Tank, immediate. The large multi touch-screen display beats the CDJ’s hands down. It’s almost like having an iPad Mini, Plug-In Corner and more... with swipe touch gesture manoeuvrability. The rest of the controls and dials and the eight performance pads at the base of the unit felt equally assured and offer up a feel
134 djmag.com TECH NEWS SOUNDBYTES STUDIO ESSENTIALS Polish DJ/producer Deas drops five of his Studio Essentials
TOUCH SENSITIVE Algoriddim has released djay Pro for iPhone. The popular DJ app has been redesigned exclusively for iPhone 7, taking advantage of the phone’s unique haptic feedback and 3D Touch capabilities. DJs can now feel the beats while scratching and scrubbing the music. And with 3D Touch, users can precisely set a cue point without having to lift up their finger, while interacting with the waveforms. £3.99 alogriddim.com
TAKE TWO Pioneer DJ has upgraded its Thermionic Culture Vulture flagship Serato DJ controller Mastering Plus with the all-new DDJ-SZ2. The “This is one of the most characteristic of quality. The new player will analyse music files on-the-fly. updated and upgraded four- devices in my studio. Built around five Just stick in a USB containing audio files and it does it in the channel controller now allows analogue saturator tubes, it is what I use on machine. It has dual-layer decks with dedicated outputs, and DJs to get hands-on with the a group of instruments. Everything sounds the 8” jog-wheel will display custom artwork and the current latest additions to Serato DJ, closer, and crunchy.” playing track. including key shift, key sync, This is the first media player to fully analyse both beat grid pitch play and Serato Flip. Elektron Analog Rhythm and musical key onboard the unit. All this is done utilising the It also comes with improved “This is my drum machine, I use it in every all-new Engine Prime software, Denon DJ’s take on Pioneer jog-wheels for more accuracy song. Very quickly I can build up the main DJ’s Rekordbox software. Engine has been around for a while, in the mix. rhythm parts. It has a great sound, and the but this new incarnation has been pimped up. Engine Prime £1799 pioneerdj.com device speeds up my workflow.” is a librarian and analysis system that lets DJs import music by dragging and dropping songs, or via direct integration Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor from existing iTunes or Serato DJ collections. Completely “I use this compressor almost always in the rewritten with a host of new features, the Engine application is final stage of my mixes. The compressor is optimised for use with the new SC5000 media player and X1800 actually a set of four mono compressors Prime four-channel mixer. plus a set of transformer outputs, which allow me to colour the sound recordings The X1800 is a four-channel club mixer with creative and without aggressive operating of the device. powerful sweep and BPM-based FX controls, and a hi-def One of my favourite things.” audio engine. The X1800 is designed to work hand-in-hand with the new SC5000 media player via the Engine Connect R etro Instruments 2A3 protocol, sharing the beat grid and time information with LEGO BEATS “Well-known reproduction of a Pultec EQ, the mixer, from the player, to align the FX LFOs. Denon DJ’s Check out these wicked new just on steroids. Beautifully brightens the expressive ‘Flex-Fader’ cross-fader adds a new level of physical Lego kits from Numode. The upper band in my recordings and thickens performance flexibility, while the all-new frequency-controlled German company specialises the mixes, I love it!” ‘Band-Isolation’ brings even more creative possibilities in Lego replicas of some of for DJs. And last but in no way least is the impressive VL12 dance music’s most legendary Looptrotter Satur8/24 turntable. Denon DJ has decided not to go down the Technics kit — Roland’s TB-303, “The Looptrotter recently came into my route with its new turntable and has plumped for an original- Technics’ 1200, Akai’s MPC studio. It’s built by a Polish company — a looking deck with a host of equally cool features. and a classic ’80s boom 24-channel summing mixer, containing eight box. The Lego replicas don’t channels, with analogue saturation. I must It’s an interesting time for Denon DJ and it will be intriguing generate any sound, but look admit that for years, I used a ‘tube’ to see what Pioneer DJ (and the rest) does next in response as good as the originals, with summing unit. The Looptrotter is a nice to this quartet of products. What can be said is that this new the attention to detail being change. It sounds very good and it is hard ‘arms race’ will benefit DJs as both companies and others look truly outstanding. for me to imagine my mixes without it now. at ways of improving and using the new technologies. numode.net Satur8/24 is really great.” •denondj.com
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APP REVIEW SOUNDBYTES APP: KADO VERDICT DEVELOPER: KADO FORMAT: DESKTOP APP PRICE: FREE 30 DAY TRIAL 8/10 links, which takes users to the usual popular dance music download stores. It can be run alongside iTunes or DJ software, and its smart filter GO WITH THE FLOW options allow DJs to search via Talented producer Tim style, BPM, key, track popularity Exile has released a new KADO IS A NEW desktop app that as well as other options. It also loop sequencer called allows DJs to research tracks tells users which DJs have been FLOWs, which is packed for their sets. It’s an intelligent playing the tracks. with over 1GB of loops, musical search engine that will Kado can also suggest new created from improvised EMANUEL SATIE find tracks that are a match. Call releases. For example, if the app jams with his Flow Machine CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT it a personal music assistant. has learned that the user has instrument. The loops are APPLE MACBOOK PRO It searches/analyses 200,000 played multiple tracks from a royalty-free and can be DJ sets to find music that works label in their last set, Kado will used by anyone as long as Emanuel Satie doesn’t name just one piece of with the sort of sounds you tell inform them when that label they have a copy of Native kit but manages to eke out five… it to look for. Simply drag and releases a new track. We used to Instruments’ free Reaktor drop a track into the Kado app get friends and contacts to do 6 Player. “I thought long and hard about what piece of from a computer and Kado will this for us, to help whittle out • FREE equipment I wanted to choose for this feature. match it against its library of the tracks that were no use — My first thought was picking a piece of analogue millions of tracks, then preview now this handy app takes away equipment, just because it looks more interesting, the tracks that Kado suggests some of the issues of checking but this wouldn’t have been 100% me. To tell you right inside the app. Add them out new music, and recommends the truth, the only piece of equipment I absolutely to a crate or download them stuff that DJs will actually find cannot live without is my Apple Macbook Pro using Kado’s smart download useful. computer. Let’s face it, the more sounds you have at your disposal the better, so having lots of equipment is not a bad thing, but in the end what it really comes down to is making sure that the basics are spot-on. A perfect kick, grooving NUMERO hi-hats, a killer clap, and then the most important UNO thing for me is ideas. It’s in your head, not in a COME TOGETHER £2000 machine. My first really successful track was MIXARS HAS just Native Instruments has produced with a pair of headphones in my little added a new mixer to been doing some nifty bedroom. I didn’t have the money to buy monitors, its range — the UNO. behind-the-scenes let alone any outboard gear. I can only recommend The UNO is a two- updates of late to the investing more time into looking for ideas and channel professional- range of its premium figuring out your creative flow, than always buying grade DJ mixer with products. MASCHINE, the next hot piece of studio equipment. Also, when some great basic TRAKTOR and REAKTOR 6.1 touring a lot, it’s quite important to be able to keep features. Featuring now come with Ableton making music even when you’re out of the studio, a full-metal chassis, Link for simple, reliable so I like to collect ideas and make changes after the mixer is perfect syncing across multiple testing a track on my laptop. for DJs who need a applications and devices. “If you ask me what gear I really like, it’s definitely no-nonsense mixer Link offers hassle-free the Roland TR-909 and the Roland SH-101. The 909 for scratching and the syncronisation across is the king of hi-hats and rides. There’s a 909 ride likes. With hi/low pass multiple devices, apps, in all of my tracks. The SH101 I like for more techy filters on each of the and Ableton Live for synth sounds. You can hear this a lot in my newest channels and sturdy spontaneous jamming, release on Moon Harbour ‘All The Time’. Plug-in- faders, it also comes collaborative creation wise, I love to use the Subboombass for sub-basses with the new Galileo and perfectly timed and as a source for all kinds of weird percussive Kallisto Crossfader. performances. sounds.” • mixars.com • native-instruments.com
WIRE FREE AKAI PROFESSIONAL is cutting the wires with its latest products — two new Wireless Bluetooth MIDI controllers, the LPD8 and the LPK25. These two new portable controllers can fit easily into a laptop case or backpack, and are battery- powered for ease of use whilst out and about. The LPK25 Wireless is a 25-key MIDI keyboard, whilst the LPD8 Wireless is an eight-pad MIDI pad controller. • £70 akaipro.com
136 djmag.com GET YOUR MIX ON
Industry first Hybrid Design to work plug ‚n‘ play with SeratoDJ (full version included) and djay PRO n Multi-Platform support for iOS/Android/PC/Mac n First, integrated docking station that holds up to an iPad PRO (12.9“) n 8 colour-coded performance modes including brand new Pitch Play n Unique Macro FX Mode: Combine any Effect with the Sound Filter on each Channel n Dedicated LOOP Control Section with Length Indication LED-Bar n Large Aluminium Jog Wheels with LED illumination (Virtual Needle & Track Elapse) n Mix millions of tracks instantly with award-winning DJAY 2 and Spotify integration n Power House Interface with multiple In- & Outputs (XLR Master, 1/4 Jack Booth, 2x RCA Out, Mic, 2x Headphones)
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Untitled-1 1 11/11/2016 17:00 TECH NEWSNEWS
TECH TALK Being born and growing up in Ibiza is a great starting point for anyone wanting to get into the dance music scene — just ask Manu Gonzalez, Ibiza’s leading son. He has a touring schedule that sees him DJing around the world as well as gracing the decks at some of the finest clubs on the island. He can count Marco Carola as one of his fans and not only that — his productions are being supported by some of the biggest names in the game. DJ Mag Tech spent some time with Manu as he talked us through how it all began, and some of his production techniques...
How did it all start? KRK 8 speakers and a second-hand productions. All my basslines I create One tip for making good tracks? “When I was 15, my dad got me a job MacBook Pro. That’s what I needed with my Moog Little Phatty, for me “My tip for making great tracks is to in a local record store here in Ibiza, to have once I finished my music it’s the best, it’s so good, a great love music and live for the music. Disco Delta. I was always into hip-hop, production school period in Madrid, analogue synth, you can make some Listen to other artists, other genres, funky music and started getting into and how I started making my first great sounds from it. search for new producers, spend lots house. I was really hungry for it. I tracks. I think with this kit and the “I also have a Novation SL that I use of time basically listening to music. grew up here in Ibiza with the house right plug-ins you can start doing as my MIDI controller. I use a lot of Be passionate and focus, work every music scene, so I was always exposed beats/music.” plug-ins from Native Instruments. day, your skills will go to the next level to the DJs and the clubs. Disco Delta With everything I have in my studio, it if you work every day. Enjoy what you was a great shop, we were sending What kit do you have in your studio is enough for me to make my music. I do, be happy, every time you sit in records all over the world, and I met a now? have been working in some pretty cool the studio, you should feel like you lot of important DJs who were coming “I’ve got a Roland TR-08 drum studios but they can have too much don’t want to leave the space because into the store. It was a great place to machine, basically it’s a modern-day kit. Of course it’s amazing to work on there isn’t anything you love more be involved in the dance music scene.” version of the 808 and 909. It has all those machines, but when you find than being in that room. Find your the sounds from those classic groove the things that make you comfortable own style and don’t try to focus too How long have you been producing boxes, some great kicks, snares… in the studio, the bits that you really much on what other people produce, music? everything that can be found on the know how to work, that’s all you need you will never have the same sound “I started to make music six, seven 808 and 909 can be found on it. It really.” as them, because you are you and can years ago. After the record shop, I sounds just as good as those original be amazing! Triple eight (eight hours went to Madrid and studied music for boxes. What are you working on? studio, eight hours sleep, eight hours three years. I had a tiny studio and “I’ve recorded on the laptop my own “I’ve got about 20 releases coming free). Try this.” spent a good period of time getting to kicks and claps using it, so that I have out over the course of the year. I’ve know my craft, before I was ready to my own unique sound. I then use been really working hard in the studio, To find out more about Manu release music.” the TR-03 (Roland) for acid sounds gigging a lot, but coming straight off Gonzalez’s production techniques and and stuff. I’ve got a few presets set planes and locking myself away in the studio secrets, check out the video What was the first bit of kit you up on it, I use it to add harmony studio just making music. I’ve just interview on our YouTube Channel. A bought? to the tracks — some people use finished a remix for Marshall Jefferson really insightful masterclass into how “The first kit I bought was a Novation it as a bassline [creator], but I like that is a proper jacking-style house this Ibiza wonder DJ/producer goes MIDI keyboard, a Focusrite soundcard, to use it for adding elements in my mix — so much music coming!” about doing his thing…
138 djmag.com Untitled-1 1 20/04/2015 16:58 WOW! SPECIAL CUSTOM MUSICIANS EARPLUGS OFFER
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Untitled-1 1 16/01/2017 15:58 TECH
In the studio with Vitalic Words: MICK WILSON Pics: HUGONO PETIT VITAL STATISTICS Both the name and sublimely retro- futuristic artwork of ‘Voyager’ clearly announce the musical direction that French electro producer Vitalic, aka Pascal Arbez, has taken with his new album — a cosmic space odyssey, packed with energy- filled retro-futuristic analogue hits perfect for dancing in outer space…
How did you get into electronic music production? some musicality and depth in my music. So I tried OK. It takes time to think about a project and give life “I got into production in the late ‘90s, right at the different directions, and initially anything I would to it. To sit and think and let things happen. I don’t end of high school and the beginning of university. It make was really ‘70s ambient stuff. It was like I could make a song every night. A song takes days, weeks... took a while before I could gather the money to set up produce either bangers or ambient songs, but nothing I am not in any hurry anyway. Also, I make my music a proper studio because I didn’t have the funds. So I inbetween. So I took some time to find a balance myself. No ghost producer writing my songs while I gathered together the pieces of equipment bit by bit, between the two extremes, and when I got it I also am farting around in Ibiza or LA.” one after another. I didn’t feel the need to DJ, I was started to work in a studio in Barcelona and in LA with sure that I wanted to produce all my stuff from the Joachim Garraud, who helped me on the vocal songs The album features tracks with Miss Kittin and very beginning.” mainly.” David Shaw — how did you work together on the production process on these? What was the first bit of kit that you acquired? And the varied influences that resonate throughout “I see Miss Kittin on a regular basis in our favourite “My parents gave me 500 euros as a present and the the record? restaurant in Paris, but we never talked about making first piece I picked up was a Roland Alpha Juno 1. The “I think I finally got back to the basic Vitalic sound, a song together. Once I told her I had a song in mind second piece was a Korg MS20 that I got for 200 euros, which is deviant disco with a techno energy and and the instrumental was done already. She came then an Ensoniq Sampler. The mixer was a very used some new-wave vocals. You can find some obvious down to my place and she liked it a lot. She said she Ibanez piece. All that was very cheap and low-end influences like Moroder, [Patrick] Cowley or The had everything in mind already and she could send considering my friends had real TBs and TRs but it was Normal. But I also listened again to some very old me the lyrics within an hour. Which she did, and it was about learning how to use the gear alone without any stuff from the ‘70s and discovered newer music on perfect. knowledge, and that’s how I also got my very personal Correspondant and Kompakt. My influences can also “As far as David is concerned, I liked his music for sound.” be some unconscious stuff from my childhood like TV a long time and we were chatting without really jingles, or just sensations I experienced myself and try meeting. After coming back from Mexico, I told him I Tell us how you went about producing the new to convert into music.” had some great Tequila from there and also a cosmic album, ‘Voyager’? disco song ready. He came along and we recorded “I started on my own here in Paris — in the beginning How come it took two years to finish it? the song in the night. The whole process with the two I didn’t know what to do, really. I wanted to recover “I think it’s not that much. Two years for an album is singers was very pleasant and fluent. We had a great
djmag.com 141 TECH
time doing that, and also actually working together then go back to it some weeks later. In this way, I am “I do need some pressure and some low-end in the in the same room.” always working on different tracks at the same time. studio, to have some club feeling — so I turn the Some tracks can take ages to make, like ‘Eternity’. volume up. But if you play too loud all the time, then Walk us through the key pieces in your studio — I can’t play the piano, so I needed to memorise just a bass drum with a hi-hat and a snare can make how do you use them and what do they mean for melodies and sequence them note by note.” you dance. Playing at lower volume can help you your productions? focus on melodies and details. I would say I am in “The Buchla Music Easel, plus Buchla Skylab — What tips can you give for producers looking to between the two.” these are interesting pieces of equipment that are achieve that Vitalic electro-style sound? difficult to tame. The Skylab is delivered without any “I think that more than a sound, it’s about certain Do you prefer to use a mixing desk rather than manual and it takes a while before actually making types of melodies — maybe French-style chord mixing in the box? something interesting. They are both very different changes. Then, concerning the production itself, “I still like using a desk to make a pre-mix, and make from anything I used to use. They have a distinctive everything is slightly out of tune and nothing is sounds evolving all together before I actually record sound and colour and in a way, they are ‘alive’. straight on the beat. There is a lot of instability.” them. I am still old fashioned about that, and I still “Analog Solutions Polymath — this English semi- use a desk for my live work too.” modular synth has a fat sound and very unique Do you try to get as close as possible to replicating filter. Moog Subphatty — Moog sound for basses and a club sound in the studio, or is it more of a sound •Check out the video interview of Vitalic: In the analog drum sounds. Studio Electronics Boomstar for listening at home? Studio on our DJ Mag TV YouTube channel. 4075 — I used it for basses and drones, mainly. ARP 2600 TTSH — the last piece I got. Great for leads and ‘80s electro-pop sounds. I haven’t had the time to really tame it yet. Roland V Synth XT is an old piece that I used live a lot — now mainly to vocode voices. And a Novation UltraNova — my Swiss army knife of synths.”
What other bits are you using? “I did the last album on Ableton. The only soft-synth I used was Xfer Serum. As far as FX are concerned, I love the Valhalla reverb, the Sigmund delay, and Fabfilter stuff for delay and distortions.”
What key pieces of outboard are you using for audio processing? “I don’t use any. I only compose in my project studio, and I don’t mix. The outboard audio processing is used at the final mixing session at another studio.”
Talk us through your production process... “Usually I go to work with an idea in my head. I make a draft and I leave that draft aside for some time. I
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Untitled-1 1 16/01/2017 15:58 TECH Roland DJ-808 Words: MICK WILSON
PRICE 808 STATE £1239 Will Roland’s new DJ-808 controller CONTACT become a legend in its own right? roland.com
hen DJ Mag Tech first heard of the another option for a controller, but DJs who The instrumental side of the controller sits on Roland/Serato hook-up, we were are now breaking out of the standard two-deck top of the DJ section, which is made up of the intrigued. Roland, which has cut mixer-type performance will quickly see what the usual deck and mixer components. The ‘Ultra Low W its chops in the music technology attraction is with the DJ-808. Potentially, this Latency’ jog-wheels have a great feel, and the industry for years, a leading player with an controller could find its mark in this tightly-filled tightness and accuracy with which they control undeniable history in regards to its synths, drum sector. the Serato DJ software is apparent. The rest of machines and hardware now looking to enter the deck section is in-keeping with most of the the DJ controller arena; and Serato, one of the INSTRUMENTAL MIX modern controllers out there, with eight RGB industry leaders in digital DJing software. What Roland has created an instrument that includes performance pads (four of those being velocity- could they both bring to this already saturated DJ functions. What makes up the DJ-808 is a sensitive), loop, pitch, sync, mode select buttons marketplace? drum machine (the TR-S) featuring sounds from and transport controls. When we initially saw the first images of the DJ- Roland’s classic TR range of drum machines The mixer section is made up of a crossfader and 808, we weren’t quite sure what to make of it. (808/909/707/606). The drum sounds can five upfader channels. Four of these are audio Would it be taken seriously by DJs, or would they be routed through the Serato software with channels with EQ, independent track load buttons see it as a novelty product from companies that FX applied to them — this shows the deep and FX control dials that control the channel should know better? integration that the two companies have applied FX, while the fifth in the middle takes care of to the build of the controller. The parameters of the volume level of the TR-S drum machine and Well, on unboxing the controller, we were happily the drum sounds can also be adjusted directly sampler. The mid sector also contains the master surprised. The pictures that we initially saw were from the hardware. Also, part of the make-up is a level knob, visual volume LEDs and a menu/track deceiving. The look and the build quality of the MIDI sample step sequencer, of which 16 patterns scroll dial. controller were immediately impressive. This was can be saved in the unit. Again, there is deep The mixer is also capable of being used as a reinforced when we turned on the controller and integration with the software, as the sequencer standalone unit independently of the Serato started playing on it. The visual LEDs, the firm can sequence the Serato DJ sample decks. Just DJ software. It has a good selection of inputs action of the knobs, sliders, pads and buttons and this alone makes for some serious DJ/musical and outputs. Extra hardware and external audio the thoughtful layout all came together nicely. performance capabilities. sources can be hooked up to it in addition to the Additionally, the weight of it, just the right side of usual media players and turntables; it also comes heavy, was a relief. Straight away, from our initial The other element that makes it not just a with MIDI out as well as having two additional tinkering it was obvious that Roland was serious standard controller is the vocal transformer, AIRA Link USB ports, reinforcing the possibility of about entering the DJ sector. We suppose this which can be utilised by singers or DJs to creative using the DJ-808 as the central hub for a DJ/live/ should have been obvious in the first place, as we effect with its auto-tune capability. We messed studio set-up. And with Roland leading the charge doubt Serato would have jumped on board if it was around with this, but as we are not accomplished with its AIRA and Boutique range of synths, it is not going to be a product to garner respect. vocalists, our attempts to do a James Blake/ a no-brainer that it sees the appeal in creating a Nicolas Jaar were limited. Still, it is clear to see custom set-up with the DJ-808 as the centrepiece So, who is the DJ-808 aimed at? Straight-up DJs the potential of what can be done in this section of the action that can sync up to their other bits of who simply mix their records will probably choose alone. kit and also be the central MIDI clock device.
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VERDICT
BUILD QUALITY 9.0 EASE OF USE 9.0 FEATURES 9.0 VALUE FOR MONEY 9.0 SOUND QUALITY 9.0 HYPE A quality controller that goes beyond just a DJ tool. GRIPE A built-in soundcard would have been the icing on the cake.
The DJ-808 is a great controller with a lot of facets that make it very versatile indeed. It takes its name from another of Roland’s legendary products, however time will tell if this controller will take its place in the DJ kit hall of fame.
99/10
CREATIVE POTENTIAL begs the performer to be more creative with its of synths and other tasty bits of kit all hooked The sound quality of the DJ-808 is good. We use. Roland could be on to something here. up together. Unfortunately we didn’t have the matched it up against a few other controllers in DJ-808 long enough and everything else we the price bracket, as well as other media players It’s obvious that Roland and Serato have seen needed (Roland AIRA/Boutique synths and a and mixers and were happy with the depth and what can be done when DJs start to explore ‘live’ band/friends) to really test it out to this level of quality of the sound. performances, and this collaboration places musicianship. But we’ll be back with a separate We had fun putting the DJ-808 through its paces. both companies in a good position to expand review sometime in the near future when we have As a controller it is solid and rates up there with on this ever-growing sector of DJ performance. had a chance to delve deeper into this side of the the best of them, but we think its strength lies as DJ Mag Tech would love to see a full-on band DJ-808. For now, we were impressed with what an instrument with additional DJ capabilities. It performance with the DJ-808, a choice selection Roland and Serato have done.
djmag.com 145 Untitled-1 1 20/8/13 10:17:44 TECH Allen & Heath Xone:PX5 Words: MICK WILSON
VERDICT
BUILD QUALITY 9.0 EASE OF USE 9.0 FEATURES 9.0 VALUE FOR MONEY 9.0 SOUND QUALITY 9.0 HYPE A wicked mixer that has a wealth of connection possibilities, looks good and — above all — sounds great. GRIPE Only one filter control shared across the four channels.
The XONE:PX5 is the next generation of Allen & Heath mixers that has a lot of functions at a competitive price. It has the famous Allen & Heath sound quality, and is a joy to use.
9/10
PRICE £1149 CONTACT allen-heath.com INTO THE XONE The XONE:PX5 heralds the dawn of a new generation of Allen & Heath DJ mixers… ixers have come a long DJ’s mixers that will be gracing the and outputs giving users a wealth away you go. The DJ gets to adjust the way since the basic booths where most DJs play. Allen & of connection possibilities for more parameters of the FX using the Decay, models that consisted of a Heath’s mixers are readily specced on adventurous DJ set-ups. Each channel Focus and Level knobs as well as the M two-channel box with no many top DJ’s riders as an alternative to has the usual three-band EQ, but unlike Beat tap and Interval knob. Dialling in EQ — just a simple conduit for merging that more common mixer because they other mixers there is only one filter more of each makes the effect heavier, two records together. Now mixers come are rock-solid performers, sound great, section (to the right of the four input and toning it down makes for a far with a wealth of features that are truly and come with a very good heritage — channels), which can be switched on subtler implementation. astonishing and allow DJs to do all and the PX5 carries on this tradition. and off for each channel. Some DJs may A nice tip that the Allen & Heath guys sorts of wizardry. prefer a separate filter knob on each told us about was to route the internal Different mixers have different vibes The build and look of the PX5 is — as channel, but in use one shared by all FX in send mode and apply it to a depending on your style, the way to be expected from Allen & Heath four channels doesn’t detract in any channel, offering up some interesting, you mix and what you want to mix. — up there with the best of them. An way as combining this with the FX gives cool trippy FX moments. The use of FX in It now isn’t just a case of putting all-black metal casing makes up the more than enough creative control for the PX5 is more akin to how FX would be two records together side by side, or chassis. The upfaders and crossfader DJs who like to really work their mixes. used in a production sense and with the in the transition — mixers are now have a firm, nice flowing feel to ability to add external FX hardware via instruments in their own rights, them, whilst the pots, rotary knobs The FX which can be found to the the send and returns makes for a very enabling DJs to get really creative in the and buttons also have a firm assured far right of the mixer are fun to play powerful tool indeed. mix to add to their performances. action. We like how Allen & Heath have with, and add extra dimension to implemented the LED peak meters and the mixer. Allen & Heath integrate The PX5 is great for DJs taking it to the Allen & Heath’s latest offering, the the colour scheme that goes with them. FX in their mixers differently to what next level. Some mixers do take time to XONE:PX5 is a new four-channel In fact, Allen & Heath’s use of colours in some DJs might be used to with other get to grips with but the simplistic — or analogue mixer (with digital the new mixer is a welcome departure competitor’s mixers, but after a good a better word, straightforward — nature sensibilities) that is aimed at the from the norm and gives the PX5 an few hours in the mix — and messing of the PX5 means that the learning upper end of the scale. It can easily be identity of its own. around with what’s on offer — DJs curve is a short one. Though, while installed for club use or for a rather The PX5, as mentioned, is a four- should be pretty up to speed with it may be straightforward, it is also a decent home DJ set-up. channel mixer that has three standard how the PX5 does its thing in the FX very powerful mixer, especially with Allen & Heath mixers are one of the inputs — Phono, Line or USB. The department. the X-Link, MIDI and USB connections industry standards — they can be found USB input allows DJs to connect To be honest it is pretty simple. Select that allow drum machines, synths and in DJ booths the world over. Generally their laptops and use the PX5 as a your FX from the list available, decide controllers to be added into the mix. it will be either one of theirs or Pioneer soundcard — offering five stereo inputs which channel to put it on — and then
djmag.com 147 TECH Pioneer HDJ-700 VERDICT Words: CHARLOTTE INA STERLAND BUILD QUALITY 8.0 EASE OF USE 9.0 FEATURES 8.0 VALUE FOR MONEY 9.0 SOUND QUALITY 9.0 HYPE These headphones deliver great sound and employ passive noise cancelling. They rate well on durability, and are comfortable when used for long time periods. GRIPE The bass could be even more defined.
A good headphone at an affordable price that gets the job done with minimum fuss.
8.6/10
PRICE £115 CONTACT pioneerdj.com PIONEERS IN SOUND Pioneer DJ’s HDJ-700 headphones are perfect for all listening situations… ioneer DJ’s HDJ-700 headphones were of the room and booth noise. The ear-cups are studio-grade mixes, but that is not the intended released last year, as part of Pioneer designed to ‘cup’ the ears snugly so that noise use or market for them. DJ’s ever-expanding DJ headphones reduction is ensured in all environments. It’s P range. They are a great choice for dance easy to underestimate the importance of noise When we tested these phones on some pretty music DJs and producers who need to mix it up cancelling in headphones — it’s good that many tasty dance music, we were impressed with between DJing, studio or general listening duties headphones that are on the market today employ the sound reproduction. They have crisp note as they come with a well-balanced soundstage passive noise-cancelling, which helps to deliver a definition and a good balance between kick, that applies itself well to multiple uses. clearer sound without the user having to run the snare, hi-hats and other audio elements like dirty phones at a high-volume level to block out any crunchy snaps, slides and synth sounds. They have The HDJ-700s have a compact design, and share unwanted elements. The HDJ-700s do this well a tight delivery, and although they could have some design features from the top-of-the-range and make for a great option for DJs and producers more enhanced bass, they are good when used HDJ-2000 as well as from the HDJ-C70. The looking for an inexpensive headphone that not just for DJing but across everyday and studio compact nature of the headphones makes them delivers the goods. purposes. easy to slip into a small bag, and in general they One other noticeable feature of the headphones We’ve really enjoyed using these headphones. are quite a bit smaller than many headphones is that they are quite light, and in use you don’t Given their affordability, we would recommend across the DJ/studio headphone market. While really notice you’re wearing them or what else is these headphones to DJs in a flash — especially they may not fold up all that small, they are going on after a while. This is good, as it means as they bring to the table Pioneer DJ’s know- extremely robust, with their slider headband and you can definitely get lost in your music space. how in this arena. In terms of styling, we like solid ear-cup to headband fixings. the classic look as it gives the phones an air The sizing is easy to adjust while wearing the The HDJ-700s deliver punchy highs and lows, of professionalism whilst holding onto that headphones, and the 60-degree rotatable right making them particularly suitable for everyday fashionable look that some users will prioritise. channel ear-cup makes it easy to adjust to one-ear listening, as well as studio or DJ applications. We monitoring style. The coiled cable is good for set- would like a little bit more of the low range and ups that require the DJ to move around freely, and wouldn’t mind the sound being more ‘coloured’ there is a spare straight cable in the box in case — as they are not intended to be used as studio the coiled one needs be to replaced. reference headphones — but they are still good They are comfortable in-use and easy to hold for DJs who like to produce on the road on their around your neck when you’re not in the mix or laptops. Saying that, the 40mm drivers do an listening to anything in particular. They feel very adequate job at pushing out the sound at a practical rather than just a fashion statement, decent level, with 45 Ohm impedance and 105 which is how we feel about some designer dB sensitivity. The frequency response is 5Hz to headphones. 28000Hz and the headphones are quite loud — The brushed black plastic is classic and simple, especially when turned up to the max. However, rather than too colourful and gimmicky. the definition of the sound suffers when they are Although, saying that, the headphones can come pushed to this degree and in all honesty, users with some slight colour adjustments as an option, shouldn’t really be listening to volume levels this to add a wee bit of flare to the proceedings. high anyway as it will most certainly damage your ears! The larger size of the ear-cups means that the The HDJ-700s provide a good overall sound, but headphones have a good amount of passive noise we would say that they are more suited to DJing. cancelling, which is great for DJing as it’s always Even though they can be used for production, good to be able to cancel out a decent amount they are not quite accurate enough for delivering
148 djmag.com PRODUCTION MANAGMENT • LOGISTICS • CREATIVE DESIGN 3D REALISATION • VISUAL CONTENT CREATION • SPECIAL EFFECTS INSTALLATIONS • LASERS • LED SCREENS • STAGE LIGHTING EVENT AUDIO • PROJECTION MAPPING • BRANDING • LIGHT BOXES
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Untitled-1 1 16/01/2017 14:25 PRODUCER TECH Words: MICK WILSON Welcome to Plug-in We reveal some handy tips and tricks to help you on the Corner, our monthly exposé of some of the road to wicked productions... best plug-ins around for creating electronic music... sponsored by
MANUFACTURER : CABLEGUYS PLUG-IN : TIMESHAPER FORMAT: VST, AU PRICE : £32
FOR THIS MONTH’S Plug-in Corner, we’re taking a look at TimeShaper, one of Cableguys’ brand-new products that accompanies the release of FilterShaper Core, WidthShaper and updated versions of VolumeShaper and PanShaper. Things are really starting to take ‘shape’ for Cableguys with this very impressive new line of products but for this review, we will be focusing on our favourite — TimeShaper. TimeShaper is the ultimate multi-effect. It allows the user to create everything from SUPER HANDS! essential everyday FX to unique multiband GUILLAUME ATLAN from Supermen and family objects. I’m using analog limit/compress behind, it gives transformations. The built-in parameters Lovers has a few handy tips for DJ and digital plug-ins when I am you a chorus or a phaser that include: Glitch, Multi-band Stutter, Mag Tech on his killer sounds... producing. I like to use the power of sounds really good. But sometimes Repeat, Reverse, Scratch, Tape-Stop, Time, analog for the very low frequencies, I do it the opposite way — using Transform and Twist. “What I’ve always needed — and which are more colourful. For Soundtoys plugs for Phaser or Because TimeShaper uses the same had — is a place where straight example, in my track ‘Walking On Chorus, and send them through a Cableguys trademark waveshaping curve away I feel good to produce my The Moon’ I used a Mini Moog for hardware compressor like the DBX tools, if you are a previous Cableguys user music. I need a window to see the the bass, for the low frequencies — 160XL Signal processor. you will feel right at home. However, we’re city. By night you’ve got all those I mixed it with two different basses “In ‘Parallels’ from my new EP, I’ve confident that new users will not find the lights, and I feel good making from reFX Nexus 2. This way I get mixed synth sounds from Korg R3 very well thought-out GUI to be too much electronic music with that view. the perfect ‘killer sound’ for the and Arturia Prophet. I’m taking the of a learning curve. That’s why I’ve always chosen to ultimate bass. best frequencies of each ones to get Accompanying that, TimeShaper’s audio put my studio in an apartment from “I also love to use hardware effects the perfect killer synth sound. Same engine is of very high quality and you where I can see and feel the whole like the Ensoniq DP4 audio effects for the drums — I used a Linn drum will struggle to find any clips or pops, city. processor or the Urei compressor. machine that I’ve equalized with even when programming comprehensive “I also love to feel at home and This analog stuff always takes a Softube plugs. There are many ways patterns. have lots of pieces of my life in the lot of space in your mix but if you to mix analog and digital and like Time, Tape-Stop and Scratch are very studio — oriental carpets, pictures use digital plug-ins to equalize/ that, I keep that funk alive!” useful parameters if you are looking for the DJ effect, but the real fun for us was running drums and vocals through the SAMPLE TANK: LOOPMASTERS ‘ULTIMATE LOOPMASTERS 2016’ Multi-band Stutter. You can very quickly SHARP-EYED READERS will notice that the title for this transform a vocal loop into another month’s Sample Tank makes reference to 2016. The guys from interesting layer for build-ups or even Loopmasters have put together a monster pack of sounds melodic vocal glitch hooks. We see this that reflects a year of their premium sample libraries. As parameter being very popular specifically the blurb states: “‘Ultimate Loopmasters’ has been created with dance music products. intentionally to not only show off the highlights of 2016, but Overall, TimeShaper is incredibly to serve as a powerful melting pot of sounds for producers impressive for the price and we can see and songwriters, who look for a truly flexible collection this being popular with all sorts of music of sounds with wide-ranging creative possibilities”. producers and sound designers. It’s a very ‘Ultimate Loopmasters 2016’ features big beats, heavy intuitive and affordable piece of software. bass, warm vocals, shimmering percussion, twisted FX and Cableguys — we look forward to more. serene atmospheres — covering a range of tempos from 60- 175bpm. It covers a whole spectrum of genres from ambient to drum & bass, from hip-hop to techno and from house to breaks. This is essentially the Swiss army knife of sample packs, with all musical content key-labelled for instant use in your productions. This is a big pack with over 3G of sample content available. It contains 1000 Loops including 218 Bass Loops, 220 Drum Loops, 59 FX & Atmos Loops, 230 Music Loops, 57 Percussion Loops and 54 Vocal Loops. 21 Construction kits are included with three Horn Loops, five PRICE Piano Loops, four Sub Loops, 15 FX Loops, 15 Full Drum Loops, nine Kick Loops, £29.97 two Live Drum Loops, nine Snare Loops, and even a Bagpipe Loop! The list is truly endless — there are enough loops and samples in this pack to satisfy even the CONTACT pickiest of producers. Samples are available in the popular formats. loopmasters.com Plug-in Corner is sponsored by pluginboutique.com, your login for plug-ins!
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VERDICT
BUILD QUALITY N/A EASE OF USE 8.0 FEATURES 8.0 VALUE FOR MONEY 9.0 SOUND QUALITY 9.0 HYPE Bringing back the sound of one of the great digital synths of the ‘90s. GRIPE Even though it’s easier to program, it still is a bugger.
A great app that captures and recreates the sounds of what has turned out to be a classic synth, the WAVESTATION.
8.5/10 PRICE £19.99 SURFING THE WAVES CONTACT Making musical ripples with Korg’s new iWAVESTATION app... korg.com KORG ARE MAKING full use of the popularity of found on the units, that changed the balance of four new sounds. It also works perfectly with Korg’s the iOS/iPhone/iPad format to push out a range of oscillators, and allowed users to place waveforms in Gadget music production app. It is compatible with virtual versions of their classic and current synths, a desired sequence to create sequenced patterns. Audiobus and Inter-App Audio, and can also be used and their new iWAVESTATION app is the latest to be It sounded great, and continues to be considered as a sound module for GarageBand. released that deserves a mention. a legendary and still unique-sounding instrument. It’s easy to connect a MIDI keyboard and use The iPad has come into its own as a conduit for Even though it was a bugger to program! iWAVESTATION as a stand-alone synth, helpfully manufacturers to release some pretty hefty versions Korg has now turned its attentions to re-creating combined with a selection of Korg’s products such (and new releases) of their synths, and Korg have this classic sound and synth with the iWAVESTATION as the plugKEY MIDI/Audio interface, nanoKEY or been at the forefront of all this iOS activity. The app, albeit with a refreshed design that makes it microKEY Air controllers, of which the latter supports beauty of it is that the apps that some people used a lot easier to get deep into the sound-shaping Bluetooth MIDI for wireless performance — there are to regard as ‘toys’ and ‘things to pass the time away’ capabilities of the WAVESTATION sound. The touch- plenty of connection options. have now become fully-blown instruments in their based operation that iOS devices allow, combined DJ Mag Tech loves the iWAVESTION app. It sounds own rights. The computing power that lies inside with a new graphic interface, allows users to visualize great, is (slightly) easier to program than the these mobile devices far outstrip the technology that and edit the time-varying timbre changes that are original, and is a true synth in its own right. was found in the original hardware, and the guys and distinctive of the WAVESTATION. girls who program these amazing virtual synths are The sound and functions are taken directly from the modelling the apps on the technology that made it all WAVESTATION itself, but the speedy and intuitive PRODUCER TIPS: OCH happen in the first place. sound-shaping which were previously impossible are Now what is on offer to producers, musicians and now made possible by the app. synth fans are faithful recreations that even surpass — in terms of technology and sound (some would As mentioned, the programmers have reproduced still argue the point) — what was available back then. every detail of the original parameters, based on New initiatives such as Ableton’s Link protocol even an analysis of the original hardware circuit diagram take the whole synth app world to new dimensions. that delivers a faithfully recreated sound that just At the push of a (virtual) button, everything can be isn’t possible by sampling alone. Also available are linked up and synced to work perfectly within your the complete PCM memory bank of sounds from the live, production or musical set-ups, and all of these original WAVESTATIONS covering all models of the things can be controlled and played via a wealth of series: WAVESTATION, WAVESTATION EX, WAVESTATION hardware controllers due to the fact that they are all A/D, and WAVESTATION SR. The 1500 sounds and MIDI enabled. seven cards are the total number of optional PCM and program cards that were available at the time — they The WAVESTATION synthesizer was released way back are now being offered as in-app purchases. All in in 1990. It was something else, and its sound could all, what is on offer is a pretty hefty 1500 sounds, “My one tip covers a few bases — is that be heard on many Sasha remixes and dancefloor hits more than 700 waveforms, 55 effects, and a powerful allowed? Here goes: from a technical point of of the time. It was a bit of a bugger to program, but random sequence engine. We were lucky enough to view, make sure you understand the basics of the presets were out of this world — offering dance use the original WAVESTATION back in our early studio EQ and compression and practice, practice, producers a new digital sound that sat perfectly with days, and we have to admit that the sound of the app practice mixing. This will mean that the quality the emerging electronic dance genres. is indistinguishable from the original synth. of the recordings is taken care of, but most The synth featured an advanced vector synthesis The new iWAVESTATION app has a few new features importantly from a content point of view break system which created sounds by combining and that were not found in the original synths — one the rules everywhere else. Strive to be as unique connecting multiple waveforms. Users could mix/ being a random sequence function, which will give as possible.” morph these together with a little joy-stick (or pad), users different perspectives and avenues to explore
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Untitled-1 1 14/12/2016 12:04 Lucky Seven Kim Ann Foxman Words: HELENE STOKES Yes, the cover artwork for Kim’s current ‘Energy’ EP really into her rave roots. “Firehouse is going to have some solid is a photo of her from years ago. “My mum forced me to releases this year,” she tells DJ Mag. “And I’m also working be in a pageant when I was fourteen, and I tried not to on a compilation of artists that I admire, and my friends.” win because I really hated being in it — and I accidentally Based in Brooklyn, Kim has just returned from a month- won,” she laughs. Embarrassed about it at the time, Kim long tour of Asia. “I feel like I’m definitely going to do it now embraces the image as part of her history. Four every year now, it’s been really amazing,” she says. She’ll tracks make up the nicely balanced EP released on her be DJing on the 18th of this month at London’s newest own imprint Firehouse Records, which taps ever deeper venue, Printworks — definitely one for the diary.
The track that reminds you of happy that I got to see them a “Firehouse is going to have some solid releases this year. your childhood? couple of times in the ‘90s in San “I would have to say Debbie Debs Francisco.” And I’m also working on a compilation of artists that I admire, ‘Lookout Weekend’. It’s a Latin and my friends.” freestyle track and it was big What’s an album that you’re during breakdancing days, and currently into? freestyle was really popular in “The most recent album that I Hawaii. It reminds me of school bought, because it’s rare these
and going to a dance. Sometimes days that you buy a whole album. I NEIL ALINE
they would have dances in bought this album by Pilotwings Pic: sixth-grade school. Yeah, it and the album is called ‘Les Portes reminds me of that. It was on the Du Brionnais’. It’s their most radio all the time, I think they recent one and it’s pretty, actually might still play it on the electronic music. I don’t really radio in Hawaii. The ‘80s was such know how to describe it but it’s a great time for music. My dad was really nice, it has an organic more of a hippie and more of a feeling to it. I think it’s a really Simon & Garfunkel kind of guy, pretty album.” and my mum was more into the pop stuff.” The record in your collection that you most treasure? The first record that you ever “One of the most expensive bought? records I have — and I love this “The first record that I ever got song, and I don’t normally spend was for my 10th birthday, and I got that much on records — is Da it from my next-door neighbour Rebels ‘House Nation Under A — it was JJ Fad ‘Supersonic’. And Groove’. Whatever the value is, it’s that started my record-buying one of those tracks that for me I situation, so then I’m pretty sure was going to spend money on it the first record I bought after that because I have a lot of memories was probably MARRS ‘Pump Up The from it. It’s on a lot of great tapes Volume’. And, of course, I still have that I have and it was quite both — I have multiple copies. popular when I was going out. I They’re pretty good first records to loved it as a raver and I bought it have, I have to say! (laughs). I as a DJ. I buy vinyl less than I used totally get duplicates, because it’s to, but I still buy a lot of vinyl. I try always nice to have more than one to buy vinyl that I know is going to of something that you really love.” feel timeless for me, and stuff that I can’t find easily digitally. But What do you listen to that isn’t there’s definitely stuff that if I’m dance music? so in love with it, I want the vinyl “That’s a good question. I like a lot too.” of stuff that gives me memories. I like stuff like Art Of Noise, I used Your all-time favourite track of to be a big Cocteau Twins fan — I all time? still am. Stuff like that. In my “I’m going to go with the house house, and when I’m chilling with music genre, although I have a friends, I like to listen to stuff like favourite for every genre. I would that. I don’t want to eat to dance have to say one of my favourite music. (laughs)” records is Coco Steel & Lovebomb’s ‘Feel It’. As far as one of my The track that’s guaranteed to favourite DJ tracks goes, and that make you cry? is because I have so many “Oh wow. I don’t remember the memories from that. I think I’ve last time I cried to a track, to be carried that record around in my honest. I was a pretty big Depeche bag for the longest time, that one Mode fan, I think the ‘Violator’ didn’t leave my bag. It was always album — I don’t know if it made in my bag when I was driving me cry but I definitely felt it. I’m records around all over the place.”
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