THE STANTON ARTIST & GEAR MAGAZINE > VOLUME 1, 2008 Control Yourself Introducing DaScratch, the revolutionary new touch sensitive controller that will blow your mind. DaScratch features the intuitive StanTouch™ interface, a sizable scratching/control area that combines touch, gestures, and visual feedback, allowing you to easily Control your music. LEDs react in real time to buttons and triggers, and virtual faders glow to indicate their position so you can Control your mix. Rock solid construc- Welcome to tion and compact size ensure that DaScratch travels well from gig to gig, and the included DaRouter software Richard ensures control over most DJ, DAW and audio applications. Seattle A DJ’S GUIDE TO THE EMERALD CITY Control your world with DaScratch. You can trigger samples, set loops, change pitch, scratch, jog, scroll, set volume levels, adjust effects, modify EQs, control plug-ins... Whether you are a DJ, VJ, musician, multimedia artist or producer, you can stimulate your creativity and fuel your performance using DaScratch. Available now for $299 (MSRP). Devine Get your hands on DaScratch, and learn what it means to Control yourself. Get the full story at stantondj.com. > THE HARDEST WORKING DaScratch DJ IN THE GAME. STANTON’S TOUCH-FRIENDLY DJ CONTROLLER www.stantondj.com From the Editor Features Contents WELCOME TO FOR LIFE. This is the premiere issue of > welcome to seattle something we at Stanton DJ have been meaning to create A DJ’S GUIDE to THE EMERALD CITY for a long while. Namely, a hybrid magazine-catalog to bring you the latest in DJ news, artist profiles, BY SEAN Horton useful tips and techniques, and — of course — all the Seattle isn’t technically a “major” market. It’s no LA, NY, freshest new gear. or Miami. But what it lacks in size, this little city makes up for in cultural impact. Here’s your own “travel guide” In this issue, we spent some time with one of the busiest DJ / producer / sound to one of our favorite cities, from a DJ’s perspective. pg. designers in the game, Richard Devine. He gave us a rundown on all the projects 8 he’s got on deck — from video games to car commercials — as well as an insight into his massive gear collection and innovative production techniques. Because we want to bring you something useful in each issue of For Life, we’ve also got a rundown on one of our favorite cities, Seattle, Washington. Forget the hype about rain, coffee, and Microsoft — there’s lots more to this amazing city, especially from a DJ’s perspective. This all coincides with one of the best new gear lineups in Stanton history, spear- headed by the amazing new Stanton Control System 1 and brand-new DaScratch — a compact and affordable DJ control surface that goes anywhere and controls just about any DJ or music production software you’re likely to own. ARTIST PROFILE: So sit back, relax, and enjoy the mag. We’ll see you in another six months or so... RICHARD DEVINE pg.5 Sarah Lombard He‘s easily one of the hardest working > Editor in Chief DJs / producer / sound designers in the game. We interrupted Richard Devine for an hour long interview. And he probably tap tempo‘d the whole thing. Volume 1 > 2008 CURRENTS pg. Sections > PUBLISHER 3 TIMOTHY DORWART Read the latest news on LA’s > Currents 3 Scratch DJ Academy; check in on > profile: riChard devine 5 > ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Roc Raida’s infamous Gong Battle TONY RODRIGUES series; and get the lowdown on the > welCome to seattle 8 the C.324 Professional CD Player. > sC system 13 > EDITOR IN CHIEF > dasCratCh 15 SARAH LOMBARD > SC SYSTEM pg.13 > Dascratch pg.15 > IN STUDIO pg.33 > headphones 17 > CREATIVE DIRECTOR ERIK HANSON It’s no secret that pro DJs are Stanton’s latest compact KRK Rokit 6’s have become a > Cartridges 19 going digital. And the best way control surface, DaScratch, desktop and personal studio > turntables 23 > CONTRIBUTING WRITERS to professionally control your is like nothing you’ve ever classic. So how did we im- > mobile dJ FOCUS 25 JIM MOORE digital DJ software is the flag- seen, or played. Compact prove them? Hint: we looked to ROBERTO ARAMBURU ship Stanton SC System 1. enough for a gig bag, with bananas for > Cd players 27 control for days... inspiration. > mixers 29 > COPY EDITOR > dJ paCks 31 ROBERTO ARAMBURU > in studio foCus 33 > ART DIRECTORS > the baCkSPIN 37 THANH LE JUSTIN MARX (3DB CREATIVE) Stanton For Life magazine is published by The Stanton Group, 3000 SW 42nd St. Hollywood, FL 33312. "Stanton DJ," "KRK" and "Cerwin-Vega!" and their products and technologies are trade- marks of The Stanton Group. All other trademarks mentioned herein are property of their respective owners. All product specifications and appearances subject to change without notice. Use of an artist's name or likeness in this publication does not constitute an official endorsement of Stanton, KRK, or Cerwin-Vega! products. Opinions expressed by authors herein are not www.stantondj.com Contents necessarily those of The Stanton Group. Each separate contribution to this magazine, and the issue as a collective work, is copyright (c) 2008 by The Stanton Group. All rights reserved. 2 > CURRENTS Product Spotlight Currents > C.324 PROFESSIONAL CD PLAYER > FOR LIFE - VOL. 1, 2008 • SCRATCH DJ ACADEMY • PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: C.324 THE C.324 is the new flagship tabletop CD/MP3 • GONG BATTLE player from Stanton. This innovative unit offers a massive platter, intuitive remixing and looping capa- bilities, MP3 playback, 7 onboard effects, a sleek slot drive, S/PDIF digital output, and much more… Designed for DJs/Producers who want to play and scratch CDs like vinyl, the C.324 features a huge touch-sensitive jog wheel that allows you to mix, scratch, and beat juggle like a turntable. This way, you not only keep the “analog feel” but also expand your performance techniques. An easy-to- Gong Battle read LCD display with a track position marker, along with > ROC RAIDA’S DJ CHALLENGE adjustable pitch range, key lock, pitch bend, auto cue and instant playback give you powerful control options. Roc Raida has been inspiring millions since he won his first DJ battle years ago. These days, in addition be- ing one of the busiest DJs in the world — and recently But the most innovative part of the C.324 is prob- earning the “Grandmaster” distinction to join the ranks ably the real-time sample/loop sequencing through of Flash, Kool Herc and others — Roc has been working its trigger pads. Trigger patterns can be recorded in tirelessly to give back to the scene that made him famous. real time and looped instantly using the unit’s internal Specifically, he’s been expanding the tradition of the memory — so you can still “drum” without the CD…or DJ battle with his unique Gong Battle series, of which Stanton is proud to be the title sponsor. Put simply, sequence a sample and play it back. if a DJ contestant in the Gong Battle is not cutting it, the crowd boos, and he or she gets gonged. Insert Setting perfect loops with the C.324 is easy. Just record loops a healthy dose of comedy from the hosts, and fun is and samples and determine their length through the Time guaranteed. We spent a few minutes with the legend setting. Additionally, the C.324 allows you to create beat syn- himself to get some of his thoughts on the project. chronized loops based on the current song’s BPM. A perfectly Scratch DJ What inspired you to start the Gong Battle? timed loop can be set on the fly with a single button press. I had the idea for a long time, and I just wanted to add some humor to the DJ battle scene, so I made the time Academy As a whole, the C.324 offers outstanding design, un- to do it a few years ago. I just had to do it. > PARTNERING TO SPREAD THE ARTFORM OF DJ’ING matched reliability, and a set of very unique features. So How do you expect it to grow over the coming years? if you’re interested in going beyond traditional turntables I hope to take it to another level. As crazy as it sounds...I or basic CD decks, the Stanton C.324 is the answer. FOUNDED IN 2002 by the legendary Jam Master programs with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and want to pitch it as a reality TV show so people can see, from start to finish, the work that goes into it from, both Jay of RUN DMC, Scratch DJ Academy is the world’s Beaches Resorts, where guests can learn how to DJ For more information, visit the Stanton C.324 page: ends [as performers and event producers]. It really first and leading DJ and urban music production school. during their family vacations. Scratch DJ Academy http://www.stantondj.com/v2/prod_c324.asp could be a funny hip hop DJ show. Combining copyrighted curriculum, hands on training, currently teaches over 100,000 students annually and celebrity instructors, Scratch DJ Academy offers an through these programs. To help these graduates Do you have a favorite Gong Battle moment? incredible opportunity for amateur and aspiring music on their way, The Stanton Group also now offers I would have to say when we did the X-ecutioners/ Xmen show. enthusiasts to learn how to DJ, from mixing and blend- a graduation gift to students upon completion of ing, to scratching and beat juggling. Scratch’s current the program. Any other new projects on the horizon for you? faculty features some of the most respected DJs in the I have an album called “Cutting Comes to Harlem.” I re- world including Grandwizzard Theodore, Rob Swift, DJ Interested in polishing up your skills? Scratch offers cently shot a music video with Diamond and Sadat X Irie, Craze, Mr.