Scratch: The Ultimate DJ controller spins into life
By Ross Miller 
posted May 27th 2009 9:00AM
posted May 27th 2009 9:00AM
NUMARK AND GENIUS PRODUCTS REVEAL SCRATCH: THE ULTIMATE DJ VIDEOGAME CONTROLLER FOR XBOX 360® AND PLAYSTATION®3
Designed by Leading DJ Technology Manufacturer, SCRATCH DECK Gives Players an Authentic DJ Experience Like No Other
Cumberland, R.I. (May 27, 2009) – Numark Industries, the world's leading manufacturer of DJ technology, and Genius, Inc., released today the first images of the videogame controller for Scratch: The Ultimate DJ for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. SCRATCH DECK will be showcased for hands-on play at a special event in Los Angeles on June 3, during the week of the videogame industry's most high profile trade show, the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo.
"For decades, Numark has been developing turntables, DJ mixers and digital DJ controllers. We know what professional DJs demand, and we used that knowledge to produce SCRATCH DECK," said Adam Cohen, Director of Business Development, Numark. "It was critical that we deliver an authentic DJ experience to gamers, whether they be experienced DJs or players who have never put a needle to vinyl."
SCRATCH DECK combines two essential elements of the DJ and hip-hop experience - a free-spinning, touch sensitive turntable with a crossfader and 5 Akai Pro MPC-style drum pads. The turntable allows players to add their own style and manipulate the songs in real time, while the MPC-style drum pads give players the opportunity to perform and customize tracks by triggering samples using the very same pads that are the cornerstone of professional hip-hop beat production. Samples can either be pre-loaded into the game using 60 unique battle records that will ship with the software, or players can record and upload their own samples using a compatible USB microphone.
In addition to the features created by Numark, SCRATCH DECK also contains standard game controls found in music rhythm games. The turntable features a realistic surface that feels remarkably similar to a vinyl record. The drum pads and the crossfader also deliver an authentic and realistic music production experience. Left-handed DJs will appreciate that SCRATCH DECK is designed for use in right or left-handed configurations.
"Being involved with Hip-Hop for so long, Numark has consistently been the standard for innovation and leadership in computer DJ controllers, their quality is second to none," said Quincy Jones III of QD3 Entertainment. "We are very excited to partner with them to deliver the most authentic DJ experience for gamers and look forward to letting gamers and Hip Hop enthusiasts get their hands on the controller for the first time at E3."
Scratch: The Ultimate DJ combines free-form DJ tricks with great rhythm game play similar to top-selling rhythm games. Scratch: The Ultimate DJ is set in distinctive urban environments and will feature songs from the biggest names in Hip-Hop. Scratch: The Ultimate DJ, featuring the Numark SCRATCH DECK, will be available in Fall 2009.
About Numark Industries
Numark Industries is the global leader of professional DJ and audio equipment, and is recognized for providing progressive breakthrough technology. Since 1971, Numark has designed and delivered innovative products and numerous music industry "firsts." For more information, visit www.numark.com; images are available at http://www.numark.com/media.
About Genius Products
Genius Products, Inc. (GNPR.PK - News <http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=gnpi.ob>) is the owner of Genius Products, LLC, a leading independent home-entertainment distribution company that produces, licenses and distributes a valuable library of motion pictures, television programming, family, lifestyle and trend entertainment on DVD and other emerging platforms through its expansive network of retailers throughout the United State
Finally my dreams of living out the movie "Juice" will come true.
Juice he had two turntables and a mixer. this doesn't even fake that. Like one turntable and a that game Simon is attached. seems illogical. I play guitar. i get guitar hero. I dj, this phyically i don't get.
That's a pretty cool looking piece of hardware. I wonder if there will be a new youtube movement behind it - like Mario Paint's?
This is a joke, right? Nobody is going to set this up in their home and pretend to scratch, right? Right!?
I guess in a world where people play Guitar Simon in two different games religiously anything (lame) is possible.
Its ridiculous, but then again theres that tony hawks board thing which I believe will destroy the franchise for good.
yeah its weak, but at least the damn platter spins unlike that travesty dj (an) hero
Hipsters aren't fans of Guitar Queer-o, and they need love too......wait, they don't work so they probably won't be able to afford this. Scratch that.
They don't have to afford it, their parents do. And "SCRATCH" that, get it?
Wow, I got low ranked... lots of losers on Engadget, it seems. DO YOUR WORST, FAKE MUSICIANS! Pound that minus sign like the red button on a plastic guitar. Ow ow!
You know what? Fuck you.
I started playing Guitar Hero when the first one came out, because it looked fun as hell. And it was. And with it, I began learning song structure and things about guitar. It made me love music so much, that now I can play real guitar, bass, drums, AND keyboard.
So, in conclusion, go fuck yourself.
You are calling people losers when you are the one having a hissy fit over a "blog post". Let people have fun with their fake instruments. What did they ever do to you?
Well Steven, see, you were a total fuckin' loser, and now you actually play instruments rather than mime them. Thumbs up.
Way to go.
Oh yeah, and Steven, if you just started playing instruments when Guitar Hero released (a few years ago), and now you play... let's see... guitar, bass, drums, AND keyboard?
Stretching it a little, don't you think?
Ease up AVG, there's such a thing as overreacting, I mean I also get pissed sometimes if people vote down my sensible posts, but I don't know, I have a feeling you are going too far with these last 2 post.
Incidentally, AVG was a nice virus killer until they went completely nuts in their useragreement elevating their anti-virus to the level of malware/virus itself.
Personally I'd not want to be associated with them (anymore)
This is not new.. It is a Beatmania clone, which is great fun. It is no more DJing than GuitarHero is playing the guitar, coloured blocks come down the screen and you hit the buttons accordingly. The turntable is (presuming a 100% rip of Beatmania) actually just another button, but you push it by 'scratching'.
If you wanna rage at PCDJs, rage at Numarks Total Control, not this... No one thinks this is actually for DJing..
errit errit
If the quality of this controller for a game is the same as the quality of their actual DJ gear.. kill it with fire.
+1
a friend went through 3 ppd001s in a year while my xone:02 stayed firm...
he couldn't be bothered with it after that and switched the last one for a hak360
Indeed, I have two pieces of Numark DJ equipment and they are utter crud. Luckily I didn't have to use them for six months while I was waiting for Numark to provide Leopard compatible drivers...
Real DJ gear = Denon, Technics, Pioneer and Rane...
you wouldn't call allen & heath and ecler equipment "real dj gear"?
I didn't say that...The A&H stuff is great, just not nearly as common in most of the DJ rigs I have encountered.
Nice (and fairly subtle) sarcasm there ximon, kudos.
And nicely held back too.
At least it looks more usable than the DJ Hero controller.
Is this made for left-handed people? I would think you would want this setup like the guitars... with the right hand "strumming" and the left hand working the buttons... maybe you can turn it upside down?
oh i guess i should have looked @ the gallery... doh!
You know what's stupid? DJs.
Should that not be who's stupid?
Actually it should be "who're"...
Ah well.
Apparently you are stupid because "what's" makes no sense. Of what can what be in possession?
what's = what is
Source: Internet grammar rule book.
A DJ isn't an object but a person.
Wwhat:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/27/scratch-the-ultimate-dj-controller-spins-into-life/comments/19048770/
Argh, we are trapped in an eternal loop, somebody do something!
Ctrl+Z!
and so ends yet another aspect of modern culture
It's the red one with the minus sign, folks.
I'm holing out for "Bent Speak n Spell Hero".
Sure is Beatmania around here.
I'm so buying one of these controllers and hacking it as a FCP control deck.
Hmm... that's not a bad idea!
Numark as in DJ Nu-Mark of Jurassic 5?
um no
funny cause i'm right handed but have more control over the fader with my left hand
that whole setup looked out of place for a sec. then i saw [& read] that u can just flip it.
but yea.
obligatory boo for making this thing in the 1st place
i'm a lefty and my right hand cuts much better than my left, plus my left has record movement down pat
i also play a right handed guitar
When will they learn...
\me digs out Beatmania.
looks like the same platter off the ns7
should be interesting.... i've used a number of numark products in the past, cdx, hdx, icdx.... they've always been alright when maintained... so we'll see
someone at numark didn't get the memo -
PS square button is pink. not yellow.
also, x and trianngle colors are switched.
i mean, i know, i'm anal, but how f-ing hard is that?
2 seconds to glance at a current ps3 controller?
Maybe they fear being sued over color/symbol combos :)