Several DJ apps appear to suffer at the hands of Apple with regards to accessing content within the iPod library. After many months of pressure, last year Apple finally gave the developers a way of reading files held in the iPod library. However, now it seems that access to the BPM ID3 tag (very important for DJ apps) seems to be either blocked or invalid meaning the BPM is always returned as null.
I only was aware of this after testing the latest version of Cue.Play.DJ which now has iPod library access and should display the bpm of the tunes imported. However, I suspect the impact of this will affect other DJ apps. This link was posted by Max (CEO of Capsulated on their forum today), I thought it would be of interest to other app developers as well...maybe pressure in numbers to Apple may get it fixed soon? (iOS 4.3 maybe?)
http://www.iphonedevsdk.com/forum/iphone-sdk-development-jobs/65446-12-paypal-solve-mpmediaitem-valueforproperty-problem.html
Red Bull BPM HD app
I've been playing with the Lite version of this for a while now and while I love the effects (nice X-Y Kaoss-like pads which can be triggered using the tilt feature) and the responsiveness of the buttons, I'm a torn on the multi-screen access of the app. I can't decide whether this is a good thing or not. It keeps the main screens relatively focused on what they're doing - so big buttons, clear display. However, it means you need to jump around between screens to load tracks, nudge the pitch and access other features. It could also do with multiple cue points and perhaps some looping ability. It also seems to be looking in the Comments ID3 tag for BPM information which feels rather odd...why not use the BPM ID3 tag?
Have you purchased the app? What are your thoughts on it?
The development team are also behind the DJ Player app, as well as a string of other DJ oriented technology (such as the Vinyl Touch Reverse modification which could be made to Technics decks to allow reverse spin on double-tap of the Start/Stop button). MicroFloat is also mentioned on their website. It seems this product is a battery operated soundsystem to work in conjunction with DJ Player, due sometime in the summer of this year.
Red Bull BPM Website
There are several different flavours of the Red Bull BPM app to choose from, since I'm on an iPad I've been trying out the Lite version.
Red Bull BPM HD Lite (Free)
Have you purchased the app? What are your thoughts on it?
The development team are also behind the DJ Player app, as well as a string of other DJ oriented technology (such as the Vinyl Touch Reverse modification which could be made to Technics decks to allow reverse spin on double-tap of the Start/Stop button). MicroFloat is also mentioned on their website. It seems this product is a battery operated soundsystem to work in conjunction with DJ Player, due sometime in the summer of this year.
Red Bull BPM Website
There are several different flavours of the Red Bull BPM app to choose from, since I'm on an iPad I've been trying out the Lite version.
Red Bull BPM HD Lite (Free)
Red Bull BPM HD (Full version) currently priced at $30.99
Cue.Play.DJ 1.6 arrives!
Brilliant news as this has been hotly anticipated since it was announced way back in December last year!
This app now has some neat features;
iPod Library Access
Finally, although you need to hunt around a bit to work it out. In the load track screen, press 'Edit' button in the top right corner then press 'Import'. This will take you to the generic iPod library access screen. For each track you want the app to access, click on the 'Plus' icon to the right of it. Once you've selected all the tracks, press 'Done'. You then have the choice of doing some BPM detection. By doing no BPM detection, the tracks willl get loaded into the app library quicker - during this process their waveform is detected/built. Strangely, it looks like all the tracks I've previously defined as having a BPM come in set to 60bpm which is incorrect. The app can do BPM detection itself, but the use of CuePlay SetList is still recommended. As previously available, if the BPM is incorrect you can always manually enter the BPM via the track load page. From doing a bit of reading, it's worth getting the latest version of QuickTime installed if you're using CuePlaySetList to calculate the bpms.
New cross-fader buttons
A button displayed at either side of the cross-fader (1 for each deck), these can be configured to one of 3 settings which are;
In-App recording
Another nice-to-have feature which has made it onto this app, but only if you're using iPad / iPod 4 / iPhone4. It's tucked away and I couldn't find anything in the help files about it, but if you double click on the central section (so you get the zoomed in view of the filter controls). Then swipe downwards so you get the top section of the screen displayed (where you'd normally adjust the master and headphone volumes), you'll see the 'Transmit/Rec' button on the left. Press and hold this until you see the Record option in the menu below. Recordings are made in wav format (stereo, 16bit, 44100hz) and stored in the shared files section for the app (accessible via iTunes when device is connected).
1 promised feature which wasn't quite as neat is;
'Scratching'
So...if you're expecting a DJay or TapDJ sound quality with the scratch audio you will be disappointed. In the horizontal view of the app you will be able to move the waveform back and forth, with some in-built momentum (a little like a turntable, possibly a bit over-eager) you can get a scratch-like sound. However, this sound quality for me is probably behind BabyDecks/FlareScratch/BabyScratch app sound. There is far too much digital interference for it to be of any great use to someone wanting to do serious scratching on the app. I will upload audio of this later to sit alongside the other app scratches I've done so you can compare.
Cue.Play.DJ is currently priced at $9.99
This app now has some neat features;
iPod Library Access
Finally, although you need to hunt around a bit to work it out. In the load track screen, press 'Edit' button in the top right corner then press 'Import'. This will take you to the generic iPod library access screen. For each track you want the app to access, click on the 'Plus' icon to the right of it. Once you've selected all the tracks, press 'Done'. You then have the choice of doing some BPM detection. By doing no BPM detection, the tracks willl get loaded into the app library quicker - during this process their waveform is detected/built. Strangely, it looks like all the tracks I've previously defined as having a BPM come in set to 60bpm which is incorrect. The app can do BPM detection itself, but the use of CuePlay SetList is still recommended. As previously available, if the BPM is incorrect you can always manually enter the BPM via the track load page. From doing a bit of reading, it's worth getting the latest version of QuickTime installed if you're using CuePlaySetList to calculate the bpms.
New cross-fader buttons
A button displayed at either side of the cross-fader (1 for each deck), these can be configured to one of 3 settings which are;
- Kill - cuts the track audio instantly on finger press, audio comes back in when finger removed from button
- Punch - 'punches' the track in quickly, track audio cut when finger removed from button
- Slam - instantly moves the cross fader to the track closest to the button
In-App recording
Another nice-to-have feature which has made it onto this app, but only if you're using iPad / iPod 4 / iPhone4. It's tucked away and I couldn't find anything in the help files about it, but if you double click on the central section (so you get the zoomed in view of the filter controls). Then swipe downwards so you get the top section of the screen displayed (where you'd normally adjust the master and headphone volumes), you'll see the 'Transmit/Rec' button on the left. Press and hold this until you see the Record option in the menu below. Recordings are made in wav format (stereo, 16bit, 44100hz) and stored in the shared files section for the app (accessible via iTunes when device is connected).
1 promised feature which wasn't quite as neat is;
'Scratching'
So...if you're expecting a DJay or TapDJ sound quality with the scratch audio you will be disappointed. In the horizontal view of the app you will be able to move the waveform back and forth, with some in-built momentum (a little like a turntable, possibly a bit over-eager) you can get a scratch-like sound. However, this sound quality for me is probably behind BabyDecks/FlareScratch/BabyScratch app sound. There is far too much digital interference for it to be of any great use to someone wanting to do serious scratching on the app. I will upload audio of this later to sit alongside the other app scratches I've done so you can compare.
Cue.Play.DJ is currently priced at $9.99
Cue Play DJ codes up for grabs!
Just noticed this via the capsulated website. Pop your details into the form and you maybe selected! Today (Friday 18th) is the last day for entries.
http://www.capsulatedsoftware.com/?page_id=451
Good luck!
http://www.capsulatedsoftware.com/?page_id=451
Good luck!
DJ app scratch testing
I've just added a new tab along the top which holds a comparative test with audio between the different DJ apps that offer scratching.
Update (19.02.2011): I've also added a slower set of scratches which highlight the sound differences between them. This really makes clear that my vinyl is battered, my CD deck has ground issues and BabyScratch introduces a lot of digital distortion.
This was in response to my earlier post which considered the realms of scratching music sources on an iDevice.
From the few I've looked at so far, I would recommend to any developers introducing scratching to a DJ app;
Update (19.02.2011): I've also added a slower set of scratches which highlight the sound differences between them. This really makes clear that my vinyl is battered, my CD deck has ground issues and BabyScratch introduces a lot of digital distortion.
This was in response to my earlier post which considered the realms of scratching music sources on an iDevice.
From the few I've looked at so far, I would recommend to any developers introducing scratching to a DJ app;
- Ensure the best sound quality possible. Currently TapDJ and DJay offer the best, but this could be improved. Especially at slower speeds, this is where any digital artefacts in the sound really do ring out (listen to the slower BabyScratch app test as an example).
- Ensure the area for scratching (whether a deck representation or a waveform) is really suitable for it - ie offering plenty of space for the fingers
- Ensure the track responds in accordance with the users movements and what you'd expect to happen with a turntable (ie not too slow and not too fast when starting the audio again from a finger-tip held position)
- Definitely offer split audio output...this allows the user to make full use of their own or club mixer and the physical cross-fader which will react much quicker than a virtual cross-fader within the app.
Skin the app!
A while back I listed what I thought would be decent improvements / additions for DJ apps, among the list I suggested the customisation of the UI to some extent to allow the DJ some personalisation of the interface. Initially I was thinking of moving sections of the UI about - putting the cross-fader where I like it, moving the nudge controls to a particular area on the screen. I then started thinking, wouldn't it be great if you could apply your own colour scheme or maybe upload images to act as a background?
It seems I wasn't alone in this either;
OK, so in order to achieve this you need to Jailbreak your iPad (not something I'd recommend or will be doing myself). But perhaps this sort of thing might open developers eyes a bit. If the Red Bull BPM app developers allowed customisation of the UI even to this simple extent, then I would be jumping at the chance to replace the Red and Blue colour scheme. Perhaps that app isn't a great example, since it's a branded app and once they lose control over the interface who knows what would appear as a background image on those X-Y controllers?!
I guess there is the possibility of opening this up to users to share somewhere. Yes, someone would need to moderate the submissions, but ultimately you'd get more people talking and using your app which can only be a good thing, right?
It seems I wasn't alone in this either;
OK, so in order to achieve this you need to Jailbreak your iPad (not something I'd recommend or will be doing myself). But perhaps this sort of thing might open developers eyes a bit. If the Red Bull BPM app developers allowed customisation of the UI even to this simple extent, then I would be jumping at the chance to replace the Red and Blue colour scheme. Perhaps that app isn't a great example, since it's a branded app and once they lose control over the interface who knows what would appear as a background image on those X-Y controllers?!
I guess there is the possibility of opening this up to users to share somewhere. Yes, someone would need to moderate the submissions, but ultimately you'd get more people talking and using your app which can only be a good thing, right?
Traktor 2 announced - due April 2011
I'm a little slow on the uptake with Traktor updates...but v2 will be available in April 2011;
...all this makes me feel a little old! I may just need to dig out my old 45s and do a lo-tech set instead!
...all this makes me feel a little old! I may just need to dig out my old 45s and do a lo-tech set instead!
i love gooooold! (Golden Launchpad and Dicers from Novation)
Love Gold? Then check the latest Golden Ticket campaign from Novation, Serato, Rane and Loopmasters. Looks like you can't just enter, you need to be buying some product;
"Golden Tickets can be found inside every special edition box of Rane SL1 and SL3 interfaces as well as TTM 57SL and Sixty-Eight mixers. Every single ticket unlocks over 500MB of Loopmasters sample content hand picked by the Loopmasters team - including the samples used by Blakey in the Golden Dicer video"
Here's the video;
"Golden Tickets can be found inside every special edition box of Rane SL1 and SL3 interfaces as well as TTM 57SL and Sixty-Eight mixers. Every single ticket unlocks over 500MB of Loopmasters sample content hand picked by the Loopmasters team - including the samples used by Blakey in the Golden Dicer video"
Here's the video;
Nice MIDI-To Serato iPad DJ video!
Quite a decent video showing off what you can do with the Midi-To app to control loops and FX in Serato on the iPad;
MIDI-To is currently priced at $4.99
MIDI-To is currently priced at $4.99
TouchDJ Evolution due in March
I've been meaning to pass this information on for a while (too many other things to do!). Developers Amidio (those behind an array of music-based apps) have confirmed that their next DJ focused app "TouchDJ Evolution" will be out in March as a universal binary.
They already have TouchDJ 2 out, so I guess the new (separate) app will replace this and provide a new stack of functionality.
They already have TouchDJ 2 out, so I guess the new (separate) app will replace this and provide a new stack of functionality.
Cue.Play.DJ v1.6 due on Monday
Max from Capsulated Software has just confirmed that the new version (1.6) of Cue.Play.DJ will be available in the app store on Monday. A lot of new features are confirmed for this release including 'scratch' capability, in-app recording (on some devices) and some enhanced looping features among many others. During the process, the developers re-wrote the audio processing section of the app to provide a more realistic sound and more responsive action of the waveform.
As far as I know, this will be the first waveform based app that will provide scratch capability (as opposed to audio scrubbing when cueing).
Cue.Play.DJ is currently priced at $9.99
As far as I know, this will be the first waveform based app that will provide scratch capability (as opposed to audio scrubbing when cueing).
Cue.Play.DJ is currently priced at $9.99
VJ apps?
As I look at more DJ apps, the more I'm tempted to pick up another iPad and use it as a video output source during a set. I expect I'm not alone in this thought either. Some apps (although not many) offer video output through the connector, although from the point of a DJ wanting to supplement the audio the choice is perhaps a little more limited. I've found the following apps to be quite intruiging;
iVJ - This app has been around since June 2010 (currently v1.1 released in July 2010) and gives you a basic 2 channel video mixer. You can adjust the speed of the video and fade into the other source. Although the app is limited in what it does (there are no effects or video scratching), it seems to handle everything quite well. To load a video into the left side is simple and you get a tiny preview still image of video in the list - but only if the video is over a certain size/time...anything less than 5Mb it didn't seem to preview). Once loaded the main output is displayed in the large box at the top and you can see what the cue'd video is doing underneath in the smaller box;
What is a little misleading about this image (taken from their website) are the 2 buttons in the centre (Effect and Sync). Neither are present, so perhaps this is a feature undergoing development? As you can also see, this is built for the iPhone so no iPad-centric version.
Video formats supported include;
tappr.tv - a 'build-your-own video loop' type of app. The website really doesn't give much information except showing you the visual element samples you can purchase within the app. The app itself is free and I think acts as some sort of looper. From the blurb in the iTunes store, the app appears to be moving towards functionality that will synchronise the visuals with music - just how this will be implemented is anyone's guess.
Tappr.TV is free, but there are a number of in-app purchases to make it useful to a VJ (such as video out feature!).
CosmicPainter - a spyrograph type app which has video output and therefore could be used by a VJ although perhaps in association with a number of other resources. The code has existed since 2004 when it was originally developed for Mac OS X (you can pick it up free here). The developer also played a key role in development of the Modul8 VJ software.
In an interesting twist, users on the Modul8 forum have put together some TouchOSC templates which they're using on their iPads to control Modul8. This is probably where I see the iPad fitting well into the world of VJing.
Cosmic Painter is currently priced at $1.99
Of course, you could use TouchOSC to control any other VJ software out there (such as Resolume), such as described in this detailed and very helpful video;
TouchOSC is currently priced at $4.99
iVJ - This app has been around since June 2010 (currently v1.1 released in July 2010) and gives you a basic 2 channel video mixer. You can adjust the speed of the video and fade into the other source. Although the app is limited in what it does (there are no effects or video scratching), it seems to handle everything quite well. To load a video into the left side is simple and you get a tiny preview still image of video in the list - but only if the video is over a certain size/time...anything less than 5Mb it didn't seem to preview). Once loaded the main output is displayed in the large box at the top and you can see what the cue'd video is doing underneath in the smaller box;
What is a little misleading about this image (taken from their website) are the 2 buttons in the centre (Effect and Sync). Neither are present, so perhaps this is a feature undergoing development? As you can also see, this is built for the iPhone so no iPad-centric version.
Video formats supported include;
- H.264 video: (.m4v, .mp4)
- MPEG-4 video: (.m4v, .mp4)
- Motion JPEG: (M-JPEG) (.mov)
tappr.tv - a 'build-your-own video loop' type of app. The website really doesn't give much information except showing you the visual element samples you can purchase within the app. The app itself is free and I think acts as some sort of looper. From the blurb in the iTunes store, the app appears to be moving towards functionality that will synchronise the visuals with music - just how this will be implemented is anyone's guess.
Tappr.TV is free, but there are a number of in-app purchases to make it useful to a VJ (such as video out feature!).
CosmicPainter - a spyrograph type app which has video output and therefore could be used by a VJ although perhaps in association with a number of other resources. The code has existed since 2004 when it was originally developed for Mac OS X (you can pick it up free here). The developer also played a key role in development of the Modul8 VJ software.
In an interesting twist, users on the Modul8 forum have put together some TouchOSC templates which they're using on their iPads to control Modul8. This is probably where I see the iPad fitting well into the world of VJing.
Cosmic Painter is currently priced at $1.99
Of course, you could use TouchOSC to control any other VJ software out there (such as Resolume), such as described in this detailed and very helpful video;
TouchOSC is currently priced at $4.99
Deej up for an award - 1 promo code available!
Marina has kindly noticed that Deej app has reached the finalist list for the Mobile Premier Awards in Barcelona;
http://www.mobilepremierawards.com/blog/2011/01/24/mobile-premier-awards-2011-finalists/
...and it's taking place today (Feb 14th!). Good luck to the dev team behind Deej (inqbarna).
I've also just realised I have a promo code for Deej to give away. So the first person who can respond via comment to this post and confirm the results of todays awards in Barcelona will get the code!
Deej is currently priced at $4.99 in the app store and has been reviewed on this blog!
Flare Scratch app to get pitch control?
Sneak Peek at FLARE SCRATCH with pitch control from File Spnr on Vimeo.
Pitch control is something the comments from buyers of this app have been after since the start.
Update: This is a video of a beta version of Flare, no idea on when this addition will be coming to the app though, hopefully soon!
Flare app is currently priced at $4.99
New 4-deck Traktor mixer...it's huge!
Just spotted this on the musicradar website; Glanzmann Digital DJ Solutions 4midiloop
It looks like this;
You can read their 2-page review here.
Personally, I don't think I've got a quick enough reaction or forward planning to make use of 4 decks - at times I struggle with 2! Anyway, I'm sure you'll see some fairly clever use of looping and multideck action on this quite soon.
Priced at £1385
It looks like this;
 |
| Glanzmann Digital DJ Solutions 4midiloop |
You can read their 2-page review here.
Personally, I don't think I've got a quick enough reaction or forward planning to make use of 4 decks - at times I struggle with 2! Anyway, I'm sure you'll see some fairly clever use of looping and multideck action on this quite soon.
Priced at £1385
Share the (digital) love...
While chatting with a friend the other night, I mentioned that I'm well out of date with modern music trends and I haven't purchased any new music for years (the last items I bought were from a second hand record shop nearby and included some old Pointer Sisters LPs - great for breaks and samples btw!). He kindly pointed me in the direction of this side;
You can trawl through a large selection of varied artists and download (for free & legally!) most tracks listed, while a few more popular tracks are stream/share only. I've just spent a bit of time restocking my mp3 archive on this site and while most the tracks are remixes, there are quite a few I'm already keen on.
I'll just run them through Serato's bpm analysis and I will have a whole new stack of tracks to play on the DJ apps!
Just thought you all may like to benefit from this as well!
You can trawl through a large selection of varied artists and download (for free & legally!) most tracks listed, while a few more popular tracks are stream/share only. I've just spent a bit of time restocking my mp3 archive on this site and while most the tracks are remixes, there are quite a few I'm already keen on.
I'll just run them through Serato's bpm analysis and I will have a whole new stack of tracks to play on the DJ apps!
Just thought you all may like to benefit from this as well!
Scratching tracks on the iPad
A DJ app which promises 'scratch' functionality is always going to generate a lot of interest. However, as I've mentioned before, if you really are into scratching (or turntablism - the preferred term?) then you may find the iPad a bit of a let down.
For starters, in the physical world, turntablism has been created and progressed using turntables (whether vinyl or cd) that offer a spinning platter and some resistance when manipulating the track. This provides the DJ with useful feedback via the fingertips on whether their actions are fast/slow and whether the needle on the record is likely to skip! The surface area available for moving the track is usually 12" (although sometimes 7" if you're careful and/or DJ Shadow / Cut Chemist!) and you can move the decks to your preferred position - mostly to give you quicker access to the cross fader and the pitch controls and if possible reducing the risk of knocking the tonearm of the deck when you are in full scratch swing.
Secondly, you have a physical mixer. This will often be carefully tuned to turntablism requirements, giving you various fade-curves on the cross-fader, hamster switching as well as the filter pots and possible other options. The importance of the cross-fader must not be underestimated. A decent cross-fader will be immediately responsive and can be 'clicked' using two or more fingers to achieve techniques like the transform or crab scratches.
By replacing this setup with a single iPad device you are immediately moving to a flat, non-moving interface. So straight away you don't have the resistance against your fingertips to give you the feedback on speed/motion during any scratching. The amount of available space is limited, because most DJ apps are trying to display 2 tracks (or decks) at once. The cross-fader representation on the screen is likely to be quite small and due to it's flat nature, you can't use 2, 3 or more fingers for the more intricate turntablist techniques already mentioned.
If the DJ app supports the split audio option (which many do), then you could hook it up to your physical mixer, with the Left channel playing the Left track and the Right channel playing the Right track. This would give you all the functionality of your mixer AND the functionality of the app!
All of the above is before we even consider how the audio sounds as it's being pushed back and forth at varying speeds. Replicating a scratch sound seems to be a very tricky process involving deep algorithms. For a true sound you are probably better off sticking to vinyl. CD decks have come a long way, but it has taken many years to get to the point they are at now. Serato and Traktor both sound pretty close but not perfect. So how about the DJ Apps on the iPad? Currently I've tried a few that list a vinyl mode and state scratch functionality as a feature. With some, the results are pretty bad leaving me thinking that it would have been better leaving the feature out and concentrating on something else. Only 2 apps so far I think produce a decent sound (not up to the Serato/Traktor standards, but getting close);
Of the two I think DJay probably wins out on sound quality. If you have a track loaded onto the deck and stopped, then slowly move the track back and forth - if the sound is slow but uniform then this is good, if it is slow but a little choppy / digital sounding then it's not great...at least to my ears anyway.
Although DJay has a more traditional layout and almost faithfully recreates 2 Technics SL1200's, the decks are slightly smaller than on TapDJ. This really has an impact if you're trying to do any sort of scratching...I've found that using the side of a finger is more effective than the print! However, the decks do seem to replicate how the vinyl moves as you spin back or push forward, if perhaps a little too eager at times. TapDJ I found easier to scratch with, maybe down to larger deck space, it also has 3 storable cue points which you can loop up and a couple of basic effects...it's just a shame that the app really needs a few major features like split audio support, a meaningful pitch control among others.
Cue.Play.DJ is promising scratch functionality (as well as a re-worked audio engine) in the next release, so it will be interesting to see how this compares.
In summary though, at the moment there's some way to go with scratch functionality and I'm curious to see how well this is represented with waveform only DJ Apps.
For starters, in the physical world, turntablism has been created and progressed using turntables (whether vinyl or cd) that offer a spinning platter and some resistance when manipulating the track. This provides the DJ with useful feedback via the fingertips on whether their actions are fast/slow and whether the needle on the record is likely to skip! The surface area available for moving the track is usually 12" (although sometimes 7" if you're careful and/or DJ Shadow / Cut Chemist!) and you can move the decks to your preferred position - mostly to give you quicker access to the cross fader and the pitch controls and if possible reducing the risk of knocking the tonearm of the deck when you are in full scratch swing.
Secondly, you have a physical mixer. This will often be carefully tuned to turntablism requirements, giving you various fade-curves on the cross-fader, hamster switching as well as the filter pots and possible other options. The importance of the cross-fader must not be underestimated. A decent cross-fader will be immediately responsive and can be 'clicked' using two or more fingers to achieve techniques like the transform or crab scratches.
By replacing this setup with a single iPad device you are immediately moving to a flat, non-moving interface. So straight away you don't have the resistance against your fingertips to give you the feedback on speed/motion during any scratching. The amount of available space is limited, because most DJ apps are trying to display 2 tracks (or decks) at once. The cross-fader representation on the screen is likely to be quite small and due to it's flat nature, you can't use 2, 3 or more fingers for the more intricate turntablist techniques already mentioned.
If the DJ app supports the split audio option (which many do), then you could hook it up to your physical mixer, with the Left channel playing the Left track and the Right channel playing the Right track. This would give you all the functionality of your mixer AND the functionality of the app!
All of the above is before we even consider how the audio sounds as it's being pushed back and forth at varying speeds. Replicating a scratch sound seems to be a very tricky process involving deep algorithms. For a true sound you are probably better off sticking to vinyl. CD decks have come a long way, but it has taken many years to get to the point they are at now. Serato and Traktor both sound pretty close but not perfect. So how about the DJ Apps on the iPad? Currently I've tried a few that list a vinyl mode and state scratch functionality as a feature. With some, the results are pretty bad leaving me thinking that it would have been better leaving the feature out and concentrating on something else. Only 2 apps so far I think produce a decent sound (not up to the Serato/Traktor standards, but getting close);
Of the two I think DJay probably wins out on sound quality. If you have a track loaded onto the deck and stopped, then slowly move the track back and forth - if the sound is slow but uniform then this is good, if it is slow but a little choppy / digital sounding then it's not great...at least to my ears anyway.
Although DJay has a more traditional layout and almost faithfully recreates 2 Technics SL1200's, the decks are slightly smaller than on TapDJ. This really has an impact if you're trying to do any sort of scratching...I've found that using the side of a finger is more effective than the print! However, the decks do seem to replicate how the vinyl moves as you spin back or push forward, if perhaps a little too eager at times. TapDJ I found easier to scratch with, maybe down to larger deck space, it also has 3 storable cue points which you can loop up and a couple of basic effects...it's just a shame that the app really needs a few major features like split audio support, a meaningful pitch control among others.
Cue.Play.DJ is promising scratch functionality (as well as a re-worked audio engine) in the next release, so it will be interesting to see how this compares.
In summary though, at the moment there's some way to go with scratch functionality and I'm curious to see how well this is represented with waveform only DJ Apps.
TraxPad v1.2.1 released
Latest version of TraxPad has been released to the appstore.
Here's the highlights;
- Live audio scrubbing/scratching!
- Sort tracks by date added (only works with tracks added after this release).
- Select all for crates.
- Lot of fixes and performance improvements.
The app is priced at $9.99
How to use a hardware mixer with iPad DJ apps
This is something that I expect more users of DJ apps might get more interested in, especially as more apps introduce 'scratch' capabilities. By that I mean pushing a virtual turntable or waveform back & forth as you might on a real world turntable / CD Deck. The limitations of a flat touchscreen device mean that you don't get the resistance and responsiveness you would traditionally and also the responsiveness of the cross-fader in most apps tends to lag slightly which means any fast style cut-ins / cut-outs are a bit sluggish sometimes.
The solution then is to use the Split Audio adapter and push the audio from Deck A out on the Left channel and the audio from Deck B out on the Right. As far as I can remember, only Sonorasaurus Rex has this as a dedicated setting in the audio options menu. However, I believe most other DJ apps which support the Split Adapter can achieve this. Simply make sure your cross-fader is all the way to the Left (so your Deck A is now your Master output) and ensure that Deck B is selected as your headphone source. Make sure your connections from the Audio splitter are correctly plugged into your mixer and you should be ready to go.
I might have a further play with this on DJay tonight. With Cue.Play.DJ v1.6 awaiting apple's approval, it might be time to review that app too!
The solution then is to use the Split Audio adapter and push the audio from Deck A out on the Left channel and the audio from Deck B out on the Right. As far as I can remember, only Sonorasaurus Rex has this as a dedicated setting in the audio options menu. However, I believe most other DJ apps which support the Split Adapter can achieve this. Simply make sure your cross-fader is all the way to the Left (so your Deck A is now your Master output) and ensure that Deck B is selected as your headphone source. Make sure your connections from the Audio splitter are correctly plugged into your mixer and you should be ready to go.
I might have a further play with this on DJay tonight. With Cue.Play.DJ v1.6 awaiting apple's approval, it might be time to review that app too!
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