Posts

Options For Your Old DJ Gear

/in /by

Technology moves at a fast pace these days and audio/music technology is no exception. Due to this there will come a point when as a DJ you will have to upgrade your equipment for better performance. But unless the DJ gear to be replaced is truly no longer in good working condition, throwing it in the trash would be a real shame, not to mention that this would not be helpful for the environment.

Fortunately, there are better alternatives for your old DJ gear. These options not only lessen the impact on people’s health and the environment, they also put your gear into good use in a way that others will benefit from.

Read more

What a DJ/Producer Should Do in Case of Theft

/in /by

For a DJ or producer who has spent blood, sweat and tears to have enough money to purchase equipment and other items needed for their music, theft of such equipment can be a hard loss to bear. The fact that it can happen anytime, anywhere and to anyone should be a cause for great concern. Of course being alert at all times is helpful in preventing such incidences, but it does not hurt to know what steps to take if the worst does happen.

Read more

Paco Osuna, Nicole Moudaber and Matador Are the Latest Ambassadors for Richie Hawtin’s PLAYdifferently MODEL1 Mixer

/in , /by

Screen Shot 2016-08-17 at 7.31.54 PM

It was just at the beginning of this year that Richie Hawtin unveiled his latest project to the rest of the world. Alongside Andy Rigby-Jones and Allen & Health, the Windsor-born producer, label head and DJ introduced PLAYdifferently’s MODEL1 Mixer, aiming to revolutionize the way DJs perform.

Throughout the prototype testing, Hawtin enlisted the assistance of several other elite DJs in trying out the product, all of them endorsing it as true ambassadors of what they felt was a truly unique and much needed new addition to DJ gear market. Later, PLAYdifferently welcomed Dubfire, DJ Tennis, Chris Liebing, Maceo Plex, Mike Servito, Hito, Loco Dice and many others to join Richie on his Prototype Tour across the world performing exclusively with the new MODEL1.

Now, this illustrious group of artists is joined by Nicole Moudaber, Paco Osuna and Matador, the latest ambassadors to have endorsed PLAYdifferently’s vision and MODEL1 as an ideal mixer for both DJ and live sets. Together with this announcement, PLAYdifferently has also introduced a key technology partnership with one of UK’s most renowned nightlife brand and venue, The Warehouse Project in Manchester. The goal with the collaboration is to allow a wide array of artists to have access to Hawtin’s first released mixer at several elite events yet to be specified.

Each of the new ambassadors had the following to say regarding their involvement with the project:

“Finally a refined mixer is available. It was instant love when I played the MODEL1 in Palm Springs. The sound experience and attention to detail implemented is second to none. This 6 channel mixer is a game changer for the DJS who seek to enhance their sets as well as playing back to back.” – Nicole Moudaber
“I’d been searching for the right analogue summing mixer to glue together all the elements in my live set, something that could also give me hands on control with certain familiarities. The MODEL1 has become the centre-piece, the engine room for my live performances, delivering next level sound and opening up sonic possibilities & techniques that I could only dream of in the past, a truly inspirational piece of kit!” – Matador

“It’s important to have a tool that facilitates the musical expression as MODEL1. The features of the mixer allow me to be much more creative; as it has such precise equalisation and such a great range of frequencies, I get to keep using many more tracks at once without making the mixing sound too stuffy. Also, for me it’s essential that all channels have a filter, be it independent or general, as that way I can use six channels at once; and by using the general filter the sound is uniform and compact. The tool I need to maximise my creativity when I’m DJing is finally here!” – Paco Osuna

 

Pioneer DJ Launches the DDJ-RZX All-In-One Audio and Visual Controller

/in , , /by

ddj-rzx-news-head

Pioneer does it again. Think of an all-in-one unit that incorporates features from the CDJ-2000, DJM-900 Nexus, as well as live visuals control via Pioneer’s Rekordbox Video and you have the brand new DDJ-RZX.

The latest addition to the DJ controller world goes leaps and bounds beyond anything the DJ gear fanatics have seen so far. A welcome competitor to the latest releases by Native Instruments, Pioneer’s DDJ-RZX has grouped a long list of features to provide a complete product for artists attempting to do more behind the decks of a controller.

The features of the industry-standard CDJs-2000 are perfectly mimicked via the “media player” section of the controller, coupled with a brightly-lit sample section featuring Beat Sync, quantize and trim. On the mixer side, the console attempts to replicate the set-up of the familiar DJM-900 Nexus, with 4 channels and an FX unit that includes Mic FX, Combo FX, Sampler Repeat and Release FX, as well as the Sound Color FX. Not to be outdone by other top-of-the-line controllers, the DDJ-RZX model includes three 7-in LED screens which highlight the same complete track details as users see on the CDJ-2000NXS, on top of displaying the loops and Hot Cues when in mixer display mode.

And to think that the most revolutionary element of this new hardware hasn’t even been mentioned yet! Included in Pioneer’s latest product is Rekordbox Video, the company’s latest software offering in direct competition with Serato on the visual element of today’s electronic music market. With the DDJ-RZX, a DJ will be able to load images and video files and output them to linked projectors or screens, or to include a USB-connected camera to the set-up for an added live video element to the set. Essentially, the technology allows the artist to fully incorporate live visuals on the fly to their mix, enabling them to modulate the video feel with the deck controls available before him.

Although the DDJ-RZX won’t win every heart, it sure brings a lot more to the table than past controllers on the market, especially in the form of a more complete approach for artists looking to incorporate more to their DJ sets.

For more information on the DDJ-RZX, which is priced at $3000, visit Pioneer’s official DDJ-RZX page.

Connect with Pioneer DJ: Online | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube