WinterMusicConference
Latest
Native Instruments' open music format is designed for DJ mixes
DJ equipment has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years, but digital music formats? Not so much -- unless your software is clever enough, you usually have to mix whole tracks rather than just the parts that make sense for your set. Native Instruments aims to fix that with Stems, a free and open file format tailor-made for the DJ crowd. The tracks will play as usual in most music apps, but the right software lets you independently control the bass, drums, melody and vocals. You could drop singing if you don't want it during a transition, for instance, or apply effects to the beat without touching anything else.
Native Instruments teases a portable, touch-sensitive DJ deck
Native Instruments has a full-fledged DJ deck and mixer combo, but it can be a big hassle -- do you really want to lug a giant controller with you on tour, especially if you already have a preferred mixer? You won't have to make that sacrifice for much longer, it seems. The company is teasing an upcoming Traktor Kontrol system (likely to be called the Kontrol D2) that is essentially the deck half of the Kontrol S8, complete with a display and touch-sensitive faders, knobs and track controls. In other words, you have a a proper, modern deck (more than a basic controller) that's both easier to carry on the road and lets you use a different mixer. NI hasn't said when this machine will ship or what the price will be, but it's safe to say that it'll cost less than the $1,299 S8.
Wannabe DJs compete Lumines-style
Who's Junkie XL? I don't know either. But, if you're in the DJ scene, you may be familiar with him, and the Winter Music Conference. Buena Vista Games wants to take you (yes, you!) to this event in sunny Miami, and all you have to do is play with the Lumines II video mixer. Looks a little familiar to me... Even if you don't want to enter the contest, it might be a good way to pass the time.[Via Joystiq]
