TECH NEWS TECHNEWS words: MICK WILSON
BRAND NEW AND GOOD FOR YOU... Numark drop two new DJ products designed to get your groove on ot to feel left out of all its sights. The NS6 was a solid bit of Up next is the other new offering, the NTX1000 is packed with all new the fun their cousins are well-built kit and gained itself a lot of the NTX1000 Turntable, which — as technology to ensure that the deck having over at Denon DJ, fans. Now Numark have redesigned with Denon DJ’s new VL12 turntable is perfect for DJs from all walks of N Numark have announced the NS6 to bring you the NS6II; a — shifts away from the usual 1200 life. Scratch, mix or mobile DJs will the release of two new bits of DJ completely reworked version of the clone styling and adopts a design find the NTX1000 perfect for their gear — the NS6II DJ Controller and original with even better specs. that gives Numark’s new deck its needs, with a start-up torque of 4kg, the NTX1000 Turntable. It’s been a own identity. The new deck looks S-shaped tone arm, adjustable pitch- while since Numark have announced The NS6II is a four-channel DJ pretty cool, with its black and silver range from ±8%, +16%, +50% as well anything major in the DJ arena, controller with eight performance metallic casing taken from the styling as the ability to change the start and so the timing couldn’t be better as pads per deck that can be utilised and design of the top of the range stop speed of the platter. Aside from they also look to get in on a piece of in a variety of ways with the Serato NS7III controller, making for a sturdy the obvious offerings of the deck, it the action. inMusic have certainly DJ software — for controlling your and rugged build construction. The also comes with its own dust cover to stepped up the assault on the DJ hot cues, loop points, samples etc. deck itself is not over-complicated, protect it from bangs, spills etc. booth with the launch of the Denon It also allows two laptops to be with it being simple in layout and £560 NS6II / £320 NTX1000 @ Prime Series and whilst that is connected to it at the same time via design, but don’t let this deceive you, numark.com getting a lot of attention, they have dual USB ports. This gives DJs using now turned their attentions to one of Serato DJ the ability to go b2b in a their longest and successful brands, more expressive way than before, Numark, with the launch of these two both using their laptops and the one new bits of kit. controller — or simply for making DJ hand-overs even more stress-free and The Numark brand has easily easy. Adding to the flexible nature of been one of the staple marquees the NS6II is the stand-alone mixer, associated with the dance music which has connection options for scene and mobile DJs, covering all external media players or turntables aspects of the marketplace from via the RCA line/Phono inputs, beginners to the pros. The original making the NS6II the hub of your DJ NS6 was punted as a controller for set-up. The mixer section comes with DJs who needed something with a the usual array of EQ and FX controls, lot more grunt than their entry-level with filter knobs on each of the four offerings, but also at a price-point channels. that would sit favourably with the Another new feature is the central jobbing DJ and the hobbyist — colour LCD display embedded into the while offering top-flight specs and jog-wheels, which offers DJs instant professional performance. And it visual feedback as to the status of certainly had Pioneer DJ’s DDJ-SX in their tracks.
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BLOCK-ROCKING BEATS ROLI’s modular Blocks controllers can now be used with third party software. DJs and producers can now use their Blocks modules with Apple’s Logic pro and Garageband, IN NEED OF A BOOST? Ableton Live, Bitwig Studio as well as Native Instruments Kontakt and Spectrasonics We look into Sample Magic’s new plug-in, Boost... Omnisphere via the new Blocks Dashboard BOOST is Sample Magic’s third plug-in, alongside Boost can be used to master a processed track, software. The new software is free to their Magic AB and Stacker plugs. It’s a simple, subtly enhance an already finished project or registered Blocks users. powerful, mix-finalising utility, designed to completely sculpt the dynamics of your song from • roli.com get your music sounding as full and polished as start to finish, breathing fresh life into your music possible using a minimal amount of processing and readying it for commercial release, club or power. radio play. Boost comes with a wealth of modes to help The new plug-in is also perfect to bring your radio producers get a really good mix. Multiband show or music for TV to broadcast level and even compression, four-band EQ, stereo enhancement, process vocals, drums and other elements within high- and low-pass filtering and brickwall limiting your mix. Boost is the perfect all-in-one mix-utility are all available to help create a fuller, louder and tool to give your mixes that polished sheen. wider mix. £49.95 @ samplemagic.com
STUDIO ESSENTIALS Alex Arnout marks 10 years of ADDED PROTECTION Dogmatik Records with a label Decksavers continue to provide essential retrospective compilation. Here protective covering for all the latest and are his studio essentials... newest DJ and production gear. The new covers keep all your gear safe from harm’s way whilst showing it off to the max. Made from a shatterproof polycarbonate material, the new range of covers come in either a clear or smoked finish. • decksaver.com ROLAND TR 808 ROLAND TR 909 “This is definitely my first go-to bit of kit in the studio. I “Love this machine. For me it’s the sound of house don’t always start with creating a groove but when I music, it shaped the music we play today and is still do, it’s the first thing I turn on. The 808 is what got me going strong — both in its original form and as the into making music in the first place — crisp hats and TR-09. The shuffles are amazing and add so much to snares and with enough decay, the meanest kick the way I write.” drum you’ll ever hear coming from a drum machine.”
ROLAND JUPITER 8 “I’m a bit of a sound stalker, so I’ve always tried to find where the sounds from my favourite records came from, and this came up again and again, even on film soundtracks. I use this for everything; bass, chords, arpeggiators etc. I really couldn’t imagine studio life without it, so many ways to modulate and create new sounds and twist them up — it’s a firm favourite.” ACCESS VIRUS TI2 UP TO DATE... “This is the only digital synth I have but it easily Serato continue to push forward their flagship REALISTIC CONCERTMATE MG1 competes with all my analogue ones, even goes a Serato DJ software with yet another update. “The innards were designed by Robert Moog and little further. I remember these being used by friends Version 1.9.6 brings with it a host of produce a grainy-sounding polyphonic gem; I’ve had that were writing drum & bass back in the day; I was improvements in the DVS department with a so many little distorted riffs coming out of this piece always impressed with the banks of sound and how new Anti-Drift option to stabilize BPM, Smart of equipment. I just had it restored a few months back futuristic they all sounded. Love the control and Sync and improvements to needle-drop and I can’t seem to put it down at the mo, I’m always shaping on this too, I’ve definitely over-used it, but sensitivity. In addition, it has support for amazed at what I can get out of it — an you can download new banks all the time so it never Reloop’s RMX-90 DVS mixer. underestimated bit of kit, for sure.” gets old.” • serato.com
djmag.com 143 TECH NEWS SOUNDBYTES APP REVIEW
APP: AUXY STUDIO DEVELOPER: AUXY FORMAT: IOS PRICE: FREE+
AUXY AB is a new player to designer, Henrik Lenberg, the world of mobile music has a lengthy background in production. In fact, they are app design and mobile music approaching this fast-growing creation (one of Soundcloud’s market place with a different founder employees) — slant, aiming to shake up the with the aim of the app way that DJs and producers to drastically reduce the HYPER FANTASTIC make tunes using mobile complexity of the traditional Sanho’s HyperDrive is a new compact devices. Auxy AB are looking studio by rethinking the Thunderbolt 3 USB-C hub for the 2016 to the future when it comes to interface for mobile users. The MacBook Pro. The hub plugs into two of the the Auxy app. The app for iPad GUI is a fusion of the grid style laptop’s USB-C ports and provides users with and iPhone aims to deliver and linear approach found on bring more sounds to the app a host of connection options that are not something different to the other apps and will take some via in-app purchases. The available on the new machines. The current crop of music-making getting used to. However, collaborations will embed HyperDrive offers two male USB-A 3.1 ports, applications, by not just being once you’ve got to grips with valuable content into the app SD and micro SD slots, HDMI output, a a scratch pad for your ideas it, it is quite intuitive and and give users a head-start Thunderbolt 3 and a USB-C port. but a one-stop, music-making there are plenty of online when shaping their tracks. •hypershop.com production suite — and being resources to help if you get a Swedish house and techno the first app that allows music little stuck. Users can arrange producer/DJ Jeremy Olander creators to make professional colour-coded blocks around has already been one of tracks from start to finish the screen, which build up the first DJ/producers to solely on their iOS devices. your track. Once you’ve come contribute to Auxy’s first A bold shout, but one the up with something decent, it artist collaboration, with more company are determined to can be exported to MIDI for available on the app store. pursue. additional tinkering. Auxy has been designed and Auxy are working closely with optimized for iOS devices — its producers and engineers to VERDICT 8/10
KLUTE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT MIXING IT UP ‘SUBPAC S2’ Pioneer DJ have launched their latest Tom Withers, aka Klute, returns affordable two-channel mixer, the after a four-year hiatus with his DJM–250MK2. The new unit is an upgrade of eighth long-player, ‘Read Between one of their most popular mixers, the DJM–250MK1. The new mixer is the entry- The Lines’. Here is what he can’t live point into Pioneer’s DJM range but it’s not without... lacking in detail, incorporating some of the professional features found in Pioneer DJ’s top-of-the-range model, the DJM–900NXS. •£299 @ pioneerdj.com
“A relatively recent acquisition of mine, the of a mystery zone, a lot of monitoring at high volume SubPac S2 is now something I cannot with a spectrum analyser and a lot of guess-work. The live without. SubPac has removed about 90% of that guess- The SubPac is a low frequency vibration work and now I can actually ‘hear’ through the pad, designed to strap onto the back vibrations what’s going on down there! It’s of your chair and sit on your back like being given a pair of those all-revealing when you sit down in the studio. sunglasses from They Live. Now I can hear Bass frequencies are converted what my bass is doing. I can feel those into a vibrating surface, and those long sub-sonic kick-drum tails that need vibrations are in turn passed onto to be trimmed. I can hear when the TAKE OFF you. It has a frequency response bass is soaking up too much room and Music promo company Inflyte have from around five to causing the entire mix to be announced their latest innovation for 130hz. muddy. I can hear the truth! delivering promos to DJs and the music “I got this about a It’s not just the low-end but industry, Amazon Echo Streaming year ago, not entirely the mid-range too. It has a integration. DJs and users of the Inflyte sure how I would get knock-on effect. promo platform can now stream their Inflyte on with it, but I soon saw that we “Combined with my Audeze LCD music promos through any Alexa-enabled would be best friends. It’s been a headphones or my Adam monitors, I’m device using voice-activated commands to complete turning-point in my studio in heaven. It’s a great place to be. I’ve play, pause, skip, control volume and more. monitoring system. turned so many people on to these — it’s an •inflyteapp.com “The low-end of my productions has always been a bit essential.”
144 djmag.com GET YOUR MIX ON
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Untitled-1 1 11/11/2016 17:00 TECH NEWS TECH TALK Queen of drum & bass, DJ RAP, talks all things tech with DJ Mag, spreading light on her amazing DJ and production career spanning over two decades, and how she got into music and production from an early age...
BORN IN SINGAPORE, the daughter of an Italian father and an Irish-Malaysian mother, Charissa Saverio (aka DJ Rap) is one of the world’s top female DJs operating within the sphere of drum & bass and other forms of progressive dance music. Rap, who put herself on the map as a DJ at Fantasy FM, is more than just a turntable goddess. An industrious CEO of two record labels, Propa Talent and Impropa Talent, she is also a full-fledged producer who conquered the house and d&b genres with her multi-platinum-selling debut album, ‘Leaning Curve’. Throughout her career, Rap has collaborated with numerous leading lights in the music industry, including BT, Erick Morillo and German soundtrack legend Hans Zimmer. Always enthusiastic to spread her knowledge and experience, Rap also offers one-to-one private tuition for music production software, Ableton. Little wonder DJ Mag Tech jumped at the chance to pick the brains of one of our most cherished and long-standing DJs and producers…
How did a classically-trained pianist end up being the ‘queen of d&b’? “That is a great question! My mother had me playing piano when I was five and I learned the Suzuki method, which meant developing my ear rather than focusing on theory. When I was 14, I left home and worked in various studios as an intern and became fascinated with Neve desks, wires and all that good stuff. Then I became a DJ and fell in love with the whole production process.”
What was the first gear you bought? “I still have the first turntables I ever bought — two Technics SL-210 Mk2s. I would never part with them. The first production gear I bought was an about adjusting the parameters, grouping them Any tips for building a drop? Ensoniq keyboard that sampled for four seconds. and creating modulation that way.” Yes, make it big! I don’t care what anyone says, It was an amazing synthesizer, but it had lots of but when you have a big drop the crowd goes nuts. tuning issues… Wow, I was so creative on that Are there any VSTs/soft-synths you would Why on earth would you not want that? Teasing is thing!” specifically recommend to d&b producers? fine, but I detest weak tracks. Go big, go hard or “I keep it simple with plug-ins as I prefer to make don’t go at all.” Talking about turntables, what does your DJ set- every sound from scratch, but my go-to plug- up comprise of at the moment? ins are Native Instruments’ Massive and Xfer Do you feel female DJs and producers have the “I use two CDJ-2000 Nexus and a DJM-900 Nexus Records, and I use everything from Steve Duda, same opportunities as men in the dance music Pioneer, which is the best — and I’m not saying CamelCrusher, Melodyne, Sausage Fattener and industry... even today? that because they endorse me! Two thumb drives BazzISM to iZotope (love that). I also use Nexus, “You want the truth? Not really. I feel women get in my pocket and I am ready to go! I’m old school Spire, Kick 2 and the Waves bundle. For beginners, more exposure than before but very little has — the last thing I want to see is the top of your there are great sample packs like the Vengeance- changed. I feel sorry for anyone new. Equal pay — head buried in a laptop, jerking off to yourself Sound series.” that is a joke, promoters and agents act in a totally (yawn). I want to see a real artist, with charisma different way if you’re a guy. It’s very much a boys’ on stage, that’s including the crowd and letting How would you recommend people treat their club — now more than ever. Of course, they are not them into his or her world.” bass frequencies? all bad, there are great agents and managers who What techniques do you use for twisting and “There’s no exact science, it all depends on the I feel blessed to work with. So yeah, sexism is alive modulating sounds? genre you’re making and what sounds you are and well, but I see women being sexist too. Are “It’s all about racks for me. I spend hours and using. House is all about the kicks and drum & bass you getting gigs because you’re good or because hours creating racks in Ableton that I can use at is another animal entirely. One thing I can say that you look like a model hitting the sync button?” a moment’s notice. I love my two-notch filter rack always works is to listen to everything quietly first, and my EQ rack where I split the EQ bands — it then turn it up and use reference tracks to A/B gives the basslines so much movement. It’s all your tracks.”
146 djmag.com Decksaver DJ Mag Advert Feb 2017 PRO PRINT.pdf 1 15-Feb-17 2:53:14 PM
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Untitled-1 1 17/02/2017 11:17 Untitled-1 1 20/04/2015 16:58 TECH IN THE STUDIO
PLEASURE IS OUR BUSINESS Principal Pleasure Studios in LA provides more than just a happy ending… Words: MICK WILSON
harooz Raoofi, one-half owner of Can you tell us more about your Principle living there on and off and knew a lot of great Sample Magic, is also the young studio Pleasure Studios and how it’s developed over people who helped get things off the ground. We impresario who owns the feted Principal the years? got an old warehouse in an old industrial factory S Pleasure Studios in LA. With a client “My first studio was in North London, I moved in the Arts District neighbourhood and gradually list that includes DJ Tennis, Tensnake, Riva Starr, there around 2005 and stayed for about ten brought everything over. Most of the pieces are Eagles & Butterflies, Felix Da Housecat and many years. It was a great space, but was the size of from my own personal collection, but a lot of it — others, the Principle Pleasure Studios in LA is a a cupboard. I amassed so many synthesisers like the Emulator II and bigger pieces — I bought real hot-spot to record in. The former warehouse over the years that there was really only enough locally.” space has been turned into a vibesy music studio practical space for one person in there by the — oh, and did we also mention it’s a working time I left. Last year I finally decided I needed And what about some of those tasty synths in museum for Sharooz’s expansive collection of a properly designed space for everything, and your collection? classic analog synths? decided to ship it all to Los Angeles. I’d been “Synth-wise, the Oberheim OB-8 and Roland
What is your musical background? “I grew up playing guitar in a number of garage/ punk bands in Belfast, and started playing keys and programming synthesisers when I was about thirteen. When I left school, I did a degree in music technology and have been producing tracks under one guise or another ever since.”
What was the first bit of kit your acquired? “I got a Roland MC303 when I was at college and had several Boss drum machines that I used to program as an accompaniment to whatever guitar band I was in at the time. My first real synth was a Roland JX3P, which I sold to a guy from Razorlight for £150 because I thought it sounded too noisy.”
How long have you been collecting hardware synths and kit? “Since around 1995, when I was at junior school. I had an Atari ST and a couple of drum machines, and that to me was far more exciting than playing computer games on it. Over the years, I’ve sold some incredible pieces and passed on the opportunity to buy some classics for next to nothing. I did get a TR-909 for £350 around 2006, which was a steal.”
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MKS-80 are at the heart of almost everything we do. The OB-8 hasn’t got MIDI but has such a rich beautiful tone at its heart. I just play it in and quantise the audio when I need to. The arpeggiator just spits out instant hooks. The MKS- 80 is the go-to pad machine, and in many ways is preferable to a Jupiter 8 because of its overall stability and MIDI implementation. The Emu SP- 1200 is used a lot and I’ve built a decent library over the years. The Akai MPC 60 has over 200 discs including loads of drum hits Masters At Work had used in their ‘90s remixes. I also have an Emulator II, Linn Drum and Linn 9000 that were bought off a big ad-scoring guy in LA, and the 9000 from Trevor Jackson. They took some work to restore but have amazing libraries, including all the stock stuff. The Beatstep Pro 2 and Elektron Analog Rhythm are indispensable too. They are in many ways the beating heart of the entire set-up and do an amazing job of bringing the old into the new.”
It must have taken you a long time to get it to this point? “As I mentioned, I’ve been collecting synthesisers and drum machines since I was a kid. The collection has taken over 20 years to get together and every piece has its own unique history. They’ve almost all been used first-hand on some classic record or other, and of course on virtually everything I’ve done over the years.”
Obviously you have a lot of hardware — is this UAD does, and of course our own Bloq instrument your preferred method of work? and Stacker. I’m teaching myself Juce in my spare “Not solely, of course. There are times when it just time and honestly, I’ve gotten rid of a lot of my isn’t practical, and other moments when it works buss compressors and outboard because the plug- perfectly well to break up or disrupt a creative ins just sound so similar. If they don’t, I doubt flow that isn’t happening. Having it all hooked up anyone will care for that little difference the via MIDI clock makes it perfect for collaborations outboard makes. Only the Distressor and the old because it gets away from the monotony of having Dbxs and preamps have survived.” one person at the computer and the other just sitting on the collab chair. There’s some chemistry What is your workflow/working process when it in two people vibing off each other and just comes to the studio? handling a bunch of machines in their own unique “I have a template in Logic or Cubase, with ways. To me, as a musician, it’s exactly the same Ableton rewired. Usually I have sixteen devices as jamming with real instruments.” set across sixteen inputs on the soundcard and have effects and compression plug-ins already set So you’re happy to delve into the box and use up on those channels, so I can jam in real-time virtual instruments and the likes? with my soft synths and audition loops on Ableton “Absolutely. It would be impossible and alongside the hardware. Next, I’ll patch MIDI into impractical not to. Like I mentioned, the hardware whichever keyboards I want to play. I’ll run MIDI has its place but at least half my workflow is clock on all the drum machines from the computer using samples and plug-ins. Having the analogue and sync that real-time with some loops, so I only stuff to play in some toplines and perhaps pad have to print the audio from the hardware at the things out helps me get the sound I want, but last minute when I’m ready for it to be committed. in reality, I’m just as likely to make a track using I put our Boost plug on the mix buss with a low only software. I’m equally as excited in the virtual latency preset from the start, as it gives an idea modelling and software world, and that’s why of how everything will sound once it’s finalised. we’re putting so much focus on Sample Magic When I’ve got something I’m happy with, I’ll developing plug-ins now. commit to say recording a sixteen-bar loop and “There is some incredible stuff out there right just arrange upwards from there.” now. I love Sinevibes, Xfer’s Nerve, Sonic Charge, milocostudios.com/studios/principle-pleasure especially Synplant, Valhalla reverbs, anything samplemagic.com
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Pioneer DJ’s DDJ-SZ2 Words: MICK WILSON
SWITCHING IT UP! DMC World Champion Mr Switch drops the lowdown on Pioneer DJ’s new DDJ-SZ2 controller...
r Switch, aka Anthony everything I want out of a DJ set- Can you talk us through some of eight cues, Serato FX, pitch play, Culverwell, is one of up is in this one unit — and more the new enhancements to the DDJ- Flip… all these extra features that the most talented (and besides. It gives you that feeling of SZ2 that you find useful? are yours to control straight away. M decorated) DJs to come being a kid, when you can lose an “The biggest one is how closely this With a CDJ set-up I’d need an out of the UK, noted worldwide for entire day just playing around with a unit works with Serato software — I extra MIDI controller or something his versatility, party-rocking abilities brand-new toy and finding out what think having dedicated flip controls, — which is fine, but I like that and scratch skills. Having made it can do.” and the brand-new key-shift stuff, at everything has its own separate his name and reputation on the DJ your fingertips makes those features button, compared to a CDJ set-up. battle circuit, Switch’s efforts led The styling, how do you find this? feel very accessible and easy to use. Plus, you can run four decks off a him to take the ultimate prize and “The layout is great, everything is I can see many more DJs being able two-deck set-up with the controller, become the reigning DMC World in a logical place and I can find my to use them instantly. The new set so it saves you twice as much space!” Champion in 2014 — the longest- way around it fairly quickly. There’s of options for the in-built oscillator standing DJ competition in the a lot of features in the unit, which (in particular the 808 ‘drop’ trigger) What about the performance world. This is his fourth world title, does make it a big size, but it doesn’t jumps out straight away. They’re all features of the controller? following his back-to-back wins in feel cramped. I colour-code my cue good ones to use during your set.” “If you check the launch video for the ‘Battle for World Supremacy’ samples, so those pads being big, the SZ2, (spoiler alert) I’m the three years in a row. bold and colourful really works for How do the jogs feel in comparison guy under the hood, so you get me.” to a regular CDJ? to see how I handle the unit in a Under his previous guise of DJ “The platters have improved performance! There are so many Switch, Anthony performed as How about the quality of the build low latency, and that definitely features built into the unit, finding soloist in Gabriel Prokofiev’s — buttons, jogs etc? shows. They can even take double- where some controls are placed can ‘Concerto For Turntables’ alongside “The trigger buttons are one of handed scratch moves, as well as be tricky — if you haven’t gotten the National Youth Orchestra in Pioneer DJ’s best developments in any CDJ-style platter could. They familiar with the front panel, or if 2011, becoming the first DJ in recent times. I feel like I can bash handle extremely well. I wouldn’t you need them quickly — though history to perform on the BBC Proms them as much as I want or need to, be uncomfortable doing a scratch I don’t know if most DJs generally — the UK’s largest classical music and they respond wonderfully — I showcase with them. The feeling need them quite as quickly as I festival. We figured here at DJ Mag don’t have that worry of triggering adjusts are there for your own did for the video! But that’s when Tech: who else would be the deck a sample lots of times and the unit individualisation, but the build it becomes useful that there are technician best suited to put Pioneer missing a cue. The Velocity feature is quality speaks for itself here.” that many controls, for that many DJ’s new DDJ-SZ2 through its paces? a testament to that. The jog-wheels individual features, you can trigger a and new Magvel fader are both very How do you find DDJ-SZ2 lot of things at the same time.” What do you like about the Pioneer strong. As someone who does a lot comparing it to a CDJ/DJM set-up? DJ DDJ-SZ2? of scratching, I feel on safe ground “I generally use Serato to play off, What are the Key and Pitch “Coming to the SZ2 for the first with both.” and the SZ2 has the straight-up features like? time, I was struck by the fact that advantage of directly controlling “The Key Shift elements are brilliant.
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Mr Switch
They have been so much fun to use, you don’t feel like you’re missing potential feature that can add real and pretty easy to find your way around out on anything at the moment. colour to your set, this is the unit to VERDICT for the first time. Simple, clever and Virtually every feature is either on do it with. You can go down the road easy-to-understand. You can either the surface, or one shift-layer away, of MIDI controllers and other stuff, BUILD QUALITY 9.0 key sync the tracks together (so Serato so each individual feature is only two but it won’t be as instant and as fun EASE OF USE 9.0 chooses the nearest key to match), or buttons away at most. I think and hope as everything is here. The improved FEATURES 10. scroll up and down through the key this gets DJs, who might have been platters and sound quality are a good VALUE FOR MONEY 6.5 options yourself. While I was coming nervous about adding in more exciting bonus on top.” SOUND QUALITY 9.0 up with the routine for the demo features into their DJs sets, more video, the key sync feature got me so excited about those possibilities.” Are there any other observations that HYPE excited, and I wanted to showcase it Everything you need bar the you would like to discuss about the kitchen sink is here — very strongly.” Would you advise DJs who own the new DDJ-SZ2 player? possibly the definitive last incarnation of the DDJ to trade “It’s been filled with every feature you single-unit DJ controller. In use, how does the new DDJ-SZ2 up to the new DDJ-SZ2? Do the could possibly need in a DJ set — this compare to other set-ups, notably improvements warrant this course of is a unit for high-end performance GRIPE speed of operation with the new action? DJing, and testing limits. Some There are a couple of features that require a bit of digging to features? Does it make for an easier “I would definitely recommend the features may need a bit of time to work out how to use. life as a DJ? upgrade. Obviously, it all comes down figure out (flip slots are one of the few “I would say it definitely makes my DJ to individual taste, and it is a big I don’t know my way around yet), but The DDJ-SZ2 is a step up from life easier. It actually adds another investment. But if you use Serato, virtually everything is well placed, easy its predecessor in every layer of excitement, even though and you want to make use of every to access… the fairly cheeky phrase respect, and feels truly ‘ultimate DJ solution’ does spring to symbiotic with Serato. mind, but it does fit this unit.” Swapping is a big question to ask yourself if you own the previous SZ, but with a better Would you ever think of going back build quality and instant easy to the CDJ and DJM NXS2, or do you access to some unique prefer controllerism and the DDJ- features, it may just make you SZ2? fall in love with DJing all over “I would definitely still use a DJM at again. shows, those situations where it’s easier to turn up and use the existing set-up. The FX bank is always dope to 8.7/10 use, and the X-Pad is a wicked feature. But in general, if I can I would rock PRICE £1,759 every show with the SZ2, there’s pioneerdj.com nothing missing from it.”
djmag.com 153 PRIVATE FUNCTIONS / BRAND ACTIVATIONS / FESTIVALS CLUBS / LIVE PERFORMACES / VILLAS VENUE DRESSINGS / AUDIO VISUAL / BAR COCKTAIL SERVICE / GOURMET CATERING / BESPOKE BUILDS TALENT BOOKING / STAFF + LOGISTICS / STAGING + STRUCTURES / SFX
Untitled-1 1 13/04/2017 12:09 TECH
Roland Boutique Series Words: MICK WILSON
VERDICT
BUILD QUALITY 9.0 EASE OF USE 9.0 FEATURES 9.0 VALUE FOR MONEY 10. SOUND QUALITY 9.0 HYPE Bringing the sound and the heritage of Roland’s legendary classic drumbox and bassline to a new generation. GRIPE Mini pots, buttons and knobs may not be to everyone’s BACK TO THE FUTURE... PART I liking. Can you capture the classic Roland sound of the past with the new Roland have smashed it with Boutique range? the Boutique range, the TR-09 and the TB-03 really do bring J Mag Tech has equipped In the modern world, however, to source and buy the originals the sound, fun and the vibe of its studio with a selection the option is there. Nevertheless, today. And for the young producers their classic vintage gear to the modern-day producer at a of Roland’s Boutique we want to keep to the old track/ who want to get in on the action, price that will keep you D synths to create a modern- pattern-step style of programming the Boutique range is affordable and smiling all-day long. day classic house track using some of that was synonymous with the perfect for them. the kit that defined a period in dance original machine. Tracks and music culture. But can we capture patterns can be recorded and then Next we turn our attentions to the the essence of those days and make a linked together to build a song; that TB-03 — the original 303 single- 9.2/10 track using the authentic sound that was the basis of how the original handedly gave birth to the acid PRICE £349 these new machines are modelled was used, so that is what we’re doing genre. Originally designed as a roland.com on? Here, we take a look at the TR-09 here. replacement for a bass guitar, the and the TB-03. We’ll focus on the JU- Then we record it into our DAW — dance community took it on board 06 and the JX-03 synths next issue, we could keep the whole affair old and started using it in a whole new in part II... school, with all four machines just way — Hardfloor’s ‘Acperience’ is a say that the TR-09 and TB-03 are the running off MIDI and having that fine example. Once again, we decide closest to sounding like the original The 909 sound characterised an live touch, but here we mix it up to use it as we would the original machines. Roland have recreated era. Music aficionados call out with the modern trappings of music and go about recording a pattern via the analogue circuitry using the these sounds instantly. Detroit and production. the pitch/time sequencing method. same ACB (Active Circuit Behaviour) Chicago were defined by it. Daft Once we have something fairly technology found in the AIRA range, Punk, Laurent Garnier, Derrick May, The build of the TR-09 is great, the decent, we start messing with the which mimics every stage of the Kevin Sauderson, Joey Beltram are metal and plastic casing makes for resonance, cut-off filter and accent mechanics of the original machines. just a few of the names that used a pretty decent construct. Sitting knobs to give that well-known 303 To an untrained ear, it’s hard to the 909. next to an original 909, they look tweak to the sound. As with the TR- distinguish between the modern-day However, here we are: creating a identical, though the TR-09 is now a 09, the Boutique TB-03 is a faithful version and the original. These two rhythm track using the TR-09 — the fraction of the size — this is where a recreation of the 303 in looks and in machines really do hold their own remake of Roland’s classic TR-909 few grievances have been aired, as sounds. The build is almost identical, and are perfect for electronic music drum machine — using the same the pots and buttons are all on the even down to the sizing. Of course, production. process that would have been used small side. This does ring true of all the new Boutiques come with USB when programming the original. The the Boutique series, however this and MIDI and a few other features The TR-09 and the TB-03 both come little unit begs to be programmed in doesn’t bother DJ Mag Tech, we just which were not available on the with a docking unit that houses the a hands-on manner. Of course, with love the fact that what producers original machines. two machines, and also doubles up MIDI we could simply create a drum get with the range is the chance to as a stand which allows the machines track on our DAW then select sounds own machines that defined a culture Focusing on the sound, we’ve used to be tilted into various positions via the TR-09, but what fun would at a fraction of the price of what it originals, clones and reproductions for use. Both run off battery or USB that be? would cost if you were lucky enough of both these units and we have to power. We’ve had a lot of fun using these machines and the smile never leaves our faces as we tinker around making the track. DJ Mag Tech definitely rates Roland’s Boutique series highly just off the back of these two machines, and would recommend them to any producer who wants to get involved with the vintage hardware scene.
In Part II, we’ll look at the JU-06 and the JX-03 Boutique synths — once again bringing the classic sound of two of Roland’s famous synths to a new generation of music producers.
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In our new feature, DJ GO PRO HERO 5 Mag Tech takes a look at SESSION what’s on offer around the technology world... Words: MICK WILSON
I NEED A HERO GOPRO’S HERO5 SESSION is the smallest camera in the GoPro range capable of shooting 4K stabilized video, with a whole host of view ranges. The small cube-shaped camera is great for recording all types of situations, PRICE £249 and not just extreme action shots. We used it gopro.com to record one of our DJ Mag TV In The Studio features and have to say that the results were impressive for such a small compact camera. sure that you’re capturing the right shots in When we uploaded our footage to the computer It’s pretty much perfect for DJs and producers a convenient and easy-to-use manner. The we were really impressed at the high quality who film their sets, or for those ‘day in the camera also has on-board audio recording and of the images. It shouldn’t come as a shock life’-style artist videos. the audio it picks up is of a very high standard. considering the fact that the Hero5 Session is To get the most out of using the Hero5 Session For outside shoots, it also has wind and noise recording in 4K format. There are a range of it’s worth using it in conjunction with the reduction. formats that can be used, but if users want the GoPro Capture app, as the controls on the Obviously with the GoPro name attached to full glory they just need to let it do its thing in minuscule camera are quite fiddly due to it, the camera will take a battering. It comes fabulous 4K. the size. However, the app — which can be with a cool outer-casing that gives additional The recording angles of the camera are also used on Android and iOS devices as well as protection to the camera and is also waterproof good, and deceptive. This little square cube on stand-alone computers — gives you all up to 33FT without having to be placed in a can capture a good depth of field as well as the controls needed to record a session, plus protective shell. The Hero5 Session can also be a decent close-up, and is even still doing its it offers camera record previewing to make voice-activated. thing in poor light conditions.
LOFELT BASSLET BASS IN THE PLACE BASSLET FROM BERLIN-BASED company Lofelt is a new, novel way for DJs and producers (in fact, anyone who fancies a bit of extra punch while listening to their music) to get deep, down and dirty with the bass while using portable music devices. The Basslet is a portable micro subwoofer that is worn on the wrist. It utilises haptic technology that makes it vibrate with the bass frequencies of the music the user is listening too. A cool-looking black watch-like device, the Basslet is the first subwoofer for your body that fits on your wrist. It is extremely light, which comes as a shock as the Basslet does provide a hell of a bass hit when in use. The actual device is made up of two parts — the main watch body, and the wireless headphone module that users attach to their devices, which the headphones are then inserted into. It is the headphone module that sends the information to the receiver on your wrist. These two parts of the Basslet are connected together (for charging via a mini USB lead) by a slick magnetic system which also doubles up as the discreet controls for turning the Basslet on and adjusting the level of bass coming from the main module. We must admit it’s a strange sensation at first because it depends on which wrist the Basslet is attached to as to where the initial bass rumblings are felt. The strength and ferocity of the bass effect can be dialled in, and once you’ve found that sweet-spot for yourself, you’re good to go… It takes some time to realise but after a few hours of use, the feeling of bass appears to move around the body and is not focused on the wrist that the Basslet is attached to. After a while it is tricking the brain into believing that the bass is being delivered directly to your body — as it would if you were in a club, venue, concert etc. You can literally feel the music. The result is a powerful sound experience that headphones alone cannot provide, adding a physical element to the listening experience. The high precision of the LoSound engine found in the Basslet results in a deep sound experience — creating the illusion of PRICE £159 standing next to a subwoofer. This is perfect for music-lovers who fancy a little more bass in their face. lofelt.com
156 djmag.com LOOPMASTERS.COM SAVE 10% GREAT SOUNDS. SERIOUS INSPIRATION. Quote code DJMAG10
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Untitled-1 1 13/04/2017 13:37 PRODUCER Welcome to Plug-in TECH Words: MICK WILSON Corner, our monthly We reveal some handy tips and tricks to help you on the exposé of some of the best plug-ins around for road to wicked productions... creating electronic music... sponsored by
MANUFACTURER : OUTPUT PLUG-IN : ANALOG STRINGS FORMAT: MAC/WIN PRICE : £195
ANALOG STRINGS is a modern string instrument from LA-based creatives, Output. This hugely unique instrument combines three main modules in three categories (one-shot, pad and tape loops), which can be accessed from the sound source menu. FICTION FACTORY First, we have the ‘Orchestral’ module; this gives users a total of 30 different MONTREAL-BASED Frenchman two distinct sounds, depending at different times. Sound-wise, orchestral sound sources, spanning from Olivier Alary isn’t just your on where they are struck. They the first section is entirely played large harmonic pads to looped phrases straightforward dance producer. also have a darker tone with less with the Thai gongs, then the and solo parts. Users also have the choice Happy to experiment with shimmer than other gongs. As marimba comes in gently around of both ‘close’ and ‘far’ microphone sound for film scores as well as their tuning is often less than 40 seconds, then the vibraphone placements for these sources, meaning dancefloors, he has previously perfect and their sound rich with appears around one minute so that producers are able to achieve both collaborated with Bjork as well odd harmonics, I had the idea of there’s a whole sonic progression. as releasing albums on FatCat doing a piece which would pair it From one-minute-15 the sound is and Aphex Twin’s Rephlex label. with very well-tuned instruments finally full, and the piece develops Here’s how he got his Killer Sound such as marimba and vibraphone, towards new directions. on his experimental piece ‘Pulses because I knew that the tones “When all these elements are in (For Percussion)’ from new album would gently clash and fuse quite place, the piece starts to get a ‘Fiction/Non Fiction’… well. bit unstable and leads towards “Back in 2013, I went to a studio in “Keeping these sonic possibilities a climax intended to break free Montreal that has a huge selection in mind, I decided to create from these interlocking patterns. of percussive instruments from all a canon made of a rhythmic A more lyrical melody allows the around the world. I was looking palindrome split over three voices piece to leave the canon and then for lesser-known percussion for a played by each instrument. A collapses on itself — as if the project when I discovered a whole canon (or round) is a piece of canon helped to propel the melody cinematic and more focused sounds. set of Thai gongs. These gongs instrumental parts, which sing to reach its collapse in the final Next up is the ‘Synths’ source; this are quite peculiar; they offer or play the same music starting section.” opens up another 30 different sounds, all sampled from vintage analogue synthesizers which span the three familiar categories. The last collection of sound SAMPLE TANK TOUCH LOOPS: ‘TOKYO ELECTRO’ sources are covered in the ‘Creative’ TOUCH LOOPS is a new name to the sample library market, module. These sources include an array of offering a more refined collection of sample packs that sampled instruments and time-stretched target specific genres — not so much the usual straight-up samples, using a variety of different dancefloor genres like house and techno. While they will effects including tape echoes and granular still appeal to dance music producers, they offer something synthesis. slightly different — something that is immediately The two main sections are Main and apparent. Edit. These allow you to edit amp/pitch ‘Tokyo Electro’ is one of the packs on offer and focuses ADSR, pan, pitch flutter and more. The on the underground electronic music scene of Tokyo. It’s ‘advanced’ tab allows more experienced inspired by mainly Japanese artists such as Seiho, Sam users to go deeper to achieve their desired Gallaitry, Kyoka, Steven Porter and Tofu Beats. If you’re into sound. There is also an FX, Rhythm and the styles of electronica produced by people like Superpoze, Arp section. The FX section enables six Hauschka and James Blake then Tokyo Electro is the pack different effects including filter, EQ, for you. As mentioned, there is a distinctly different flavour distortion, compression, delay and reverb. to the samples and sounds on offer in the pack. The drum These are used on a specific layer or grooves, percussion and beats can make for a great bed for globally on the complete instrument. your productions. Add to this lead synth/basslines, strings, Ultimately, Analog Strings help anyone melodic riffs, chords and FX and the ability to build cool electronic tracks is at your disposal. attempting to add cinematic life to The pack has 15 starter kits to help producers build a track. They aren’t swamped with a myriad of sounds and loops productions, or simply looking for high- — the focus here is on quality over quantity. The one-shots are ideal for producers who want to create their own quality string/synth sounds. Analog patterns, and come in three basic categories — Bass, Drums and Synths. You’re also given MIDI files to get you Strings is available at Plugin Boutique for started for building up parts for your tracks. We like this pack a lot, and we also like the Kontakt and Kontakt Player. other packs on offer from Touch Loops. If you’re looking for something that is different PRICE £20 and offers a unique sound and style, ‘Tokyo Electro’ is the pack for you. touchloops.com Plug-in Corner is sponsored by pluginboutique.com, your login for plug-ins!
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VERDICT
BUILD QUALITY 9.0 EASE OF USE 9.0 FEATURES 9.0 VALUE FOR MONEY 9.0 SOUND QUALITY N /A HYPE An excellent slim-line controller that looks and feels far more expensive than it is. GRIPE You only get 500 presets instead of the original 5000. A great tool for studio use and for travelling producers who need a quality controller for their set-up. 9/10 PRICE £85 arturia.com SLIM-LINE TONIC Arturia’s MiniLab MkII USB Controller is slim in design but big onfeatures…
ARTURIA’S MINILAB was one cool bit of kit that used in a variety of ways. Another standout feature Arturia, making sure that they are covering bases came with a wicked piece of software — Analog Lab. of the MkII is the keyboard and the action of it. The for a wide range of users and uses. Analog Lab, coupled with the MiniLab mini keyboard slim key-bed found on the MkII once again gives the The pads on the MkII also work great for enabling controller, made for a pretty tasty set-up feature keyboard a feel of a more expensive controller. The Ableton users to launch clips or scenes. This can that constituted a collection of Arturia’s finest action of the keys inspires playing and performance, work well in the studio, on stage gigging or even sounds from their virtual analog synth recreations. and we also have to add that it is velocity sensitive. when using the MkII as an add-on to a creative DJ In fact, over 5000 presets were on offer from some set-up. of the most sought-after analog keyboards that The controls on the MiniLab MkII are mapped so that have ever been built. they offer full control for the Analog Lab Lite and Whipping out the MiniLab MkII while on a recent Arturia are specialists in software recreation of Ableton Live Lite software. Oh, we didn’t mention train journey drew some envious and interested classic synths, and have been in the market place that the MiniLab comes with a collection of free looks from fellow travelling DJs and producers. for a long time. The MiniLab was loved for its software, with UVI Grand Piano Model D also thrown In fact, we got into a studio-based conversation compact nature, decent number of knobs and pads in so that producers can literally start making music with a fellow traveller about how good the MkII is and a solid build, which meant it could be thrown once the MkII is taken out of the box — it just seems for using in this situation — out and about on the into your backpack and used for creating music to keep getting better. However, there is a downside move, coupled up to the laptop, creating music as while on the go. in that the original MiniLab came with a full version and when creativity strikes. The MiniLab MkII draws of Analog Lab which gave users access to over 5000 its power once it is connected up to your laptop SUMPTUOUS preset sounds. The new Analog Lab Lite software or computer via USB, also adding to the portable Jump forward to now and Arturia have revamped only gives users a ‘measly’ 500 presets. Saying that, nature of the controller. As you can tell, we like it a the Minilab in the guise of MiniLab MkII — a proper it is still plenty of sounds to get you going and the lot. For less than £90, users get a lot of controller compact keyboard controller that will take pride of trade-off is that for roughly the same price as the which is feature-rich and probably one of the best place in anyone’s studio or set-up. The build and original model producers now get a better-made options in the mini-keyboard controller market. look of the MkII is sumptuous — off-white coloured keyboard that has some serious upgrades on its plastic with a metal base and wooden side-ends predecessor — a trade-off DJ Mag Tech is happy to give the controller a look of professionalism that live with. The UVI Grand Piano is a lovely piece of betrays its easy-on-the-pocket price tag. The feel software, so let’s stop complaining and talk more of the knobs is top quality and responsive when about the good things that the MiniLab MkII brings used with the Analog Lab software. The MiniLab is to the table. a MIDI controller and can be used entirely with any software that is MIDI-capable, and really does come EXPRESSIVE into its own when playing around with Arturia’s V Another feature that might not appear to be a big Collection. deal is the inclusion of a sustain pedal input, which The eight-velocity and pressure-sensitive RGB back- makes for more expressive performance. This is lit coloured pads also have a great feel and can be a feature for the players and a nice touch from
PRODUCER TIPS: VOLKER BERTELMANN (AKA HAUSCHKA) “When it comes to mixing your tracks, make sure that you use the best takes. I think the better the original takes and the original recordings in general, the less you have to EQ, the less you have to fix in the end. It’s just a matter of using the best take — using great microphones, and the best recordings. It will make the mix process so much better than ‘fixing it in the mix’ later. Preparation at the beginning stage will save you a lot of time afterwards when it comes to your mix-downs.”
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Untitled-1 1 14/12/2016 12:03 LIVING & BREATHING DANCE MUSIC
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Untitled-1 1 14/12/2016 12:04 Lucky Seven DJ Zinc Words: HELENE STOKES Ben Pettit, aka the mighty DJ Zinc, works on most of his Zinc, of course, made his name initially in the drum & music from the shed at the bottom of his garden. OK, so it’s bass scene, but now he makes anything he feels like. A not really a shed. “It’s like a tardis. It’s like a pro-studio, like a collaborative EP is on the cards with contributions from MJ mini version,” he tells DJ Mag. “It’s just really nice to work in Cole, Jack Beats, Shift K3Y, Chris Lorenzo and My Nu Leng. there, it sounds good, everything’s set up well.” “All of them are really cool people to work with. That’ll be It’s the very place where he produced his current stream of on my label,” Zinc says. “It’s been a lot of fun. I really care jumped-up, housey anthems, the latest of which is released about music and I care about what I listen to. I think it’s really through Armada Deep — ‘Friday Night’ and ‘Feel the Love’. important that you only let the good stuff in.” Vocals get recorded in a fancy-pants Sony studios, and then the rest is taken care of a la jardin de Zinc.
The track that reminds you of your turn it over and listen to side B. And there “I really care about music and I care about what I childhood? would be tracks that initially you didn’t listen to. I think it’s really important that you only let “When I really started to get interested in like but then they would end up growing the good stuff in.” music was when the electro thing started on you and they’d end up being your happening. I guess in terms of technology favourite tracks. I miss that part of the there were these new samplers and drum way that we now consume music, but as machines and keyboards, and I really liked soon as you were able to be more picky that sound. There were a set of and choosy about what you like it was compilations called ‘Street Sounds great for me. I’ve got quite definite Electro’. That was the first music that I musical taste, like if I listen to one or two heard that connected with me.” seconds of it, I either like it or I don’t — there’s hardly any middle ground. But if The first record that you ever bought? you are twisting my arm, well I reckon “It was by Whistle and it was called ‘Just probably Wiley, his last album — I listened Buggin’ and it starts off using the vocals to every track on that. I really like Wiley, I as a sample, which at that time was think he’s a genius and he deserves any completely revolutionary. In music you’d props that he gets.” never had people’s voices being manipulated like that, it was just The record in your collection that you completely new and I loved it. And it’s got most treasure? a rap in it.” “Looking at my records now, it would be ‘Emotions Electric’ by A Guy Called Gerald. What do you listen to that isn’t dance That’s one that’s so connected to that era music? when I first started buying records, and I “My go-to playlist on Spotify is 12 Bill couldn’t afford to buy turntables. I was Evans albums. So I just click on that, so just obsessed with it and I couldn’t get it’s a really easy one. I find that it doesn’t enough of it. Pirate radio was the only need my attention in any way — it’s just place you could hear this music. You’d go there. It’s really nice background music. to a club or listen to pirate radio or go to a And I quite like opera as well. But I’m not record shop and try to find out which were a buff. I realise my taste in that is quite the right records. You didn’t have pop. With opera and ballet for years and Shazam. I love the way it is now, but it’s years I just thought it was pretty much really important to remember what we pointless, it was pretentious. We went to lose with this transition. Part of what was the Royal Opera House for my sister’s good back then was this lack of birthday, and I was surprised, these are availability, so I think I valued things very good musicians that are playing more because there were less of them.” music that has stood the test of time. And so actually, as someone that is very into Your all-time favourite track of all time? music, I found that I really liked it.” “My favourite track of all time is ‘It Is What It Is’ by Rhythim Is Rhythim. For me this is The track that’s guaranteed to make you the perfect song, in terms of instrumental cry? dance music. I know that if you want a “I reckon the one more guaranteed to pop song this is not going to do it and if make me cry would be Stevie Wonder ‘As’, you want an opera song this is not going because I sing it to my kids. And because to do it. It’s kind of like the blueprint for it’s saying I love you until this, that and most of the songs that I’ve made because the other, day becomes night. It’s a nice it just is a catchy melody and a great thing to sing to my kids, and so it’s quite bassline. Well maybe it’s not the blueprint emotional.” for anything that I’ve done because I don’t think I’ve done anything as good as What’s an album that you’re currently that. It’s got amazing strings, it’s got into? every element you need for a really good “When I was young you would buy an track.” album and you would put the needle on the start of side A, and the chances are you’d listen through side A and then you’d
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