Gearfuse

While the upcoming DJ Hero and Scratch titles will be the first games of their kind to hit the next-gen console circuit, Nintendo is going another route and trying something a little different. Rather than rely on hip-hop as a selling point, it’s teamed up with popular DJ Armin Van Buuren to created In The Mix. The game will allows players to mix beats, play with equalizers and tweak effects to keep the flow of the music going. Due out for the Wii during Q3 of this year, it’ll also feature exclusive tracks from Van Buuren himself. Good news for fans of electronic music, bad news for neighbors around the world.

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I’ve been DJing since I was 15. Never professionally, only at parties, the occasional event or for my own pleasure. My first set of decks were made up of old Numark belt-driven turntables. After I got a little better, I bought Technics 1200s with Ortofon cartridges and a nice Rane mixer. That lasted me until I went digital and started using M-Audio’s Torq Xponent controller in conjunction with Traktor 3 on my Macbook.

Now it’s 2009. For the last few weeks, I’ve been messing around with the Tonium Pacemaker. It’s a rather expensive little DJ device coming in at around $850 but it packs a lot of power.
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DJing has really evolved since the 1990s. Nearly everyone uses some kind of digital interface to spin, whether it be Serato Scratch Live, Traktor 3 or even the Pacemaker. Wacom, the tablet guys, are entering into the DJ controller market with the Nextbeat. This device features a removable, wireless scratch controller that you can use to dance around the room whilst still scratching. Quite a neat idea.

In addition to the wireless gimmick, the Nextbeat features plenty of knobs, some buttons, sliders and even a touchscreen to use for mixing it up. It includes FX units and a sampler to ensure you can keep the asses shakin’ into the night.
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If your neighbors piss you off or if you’re just an angry, bitter soul who wants to watch the world burn, then why not blast loud and obnoxious music to annoy everyone as you drive around the block? This mobile multichannel speaker car is every DJ’s wet dream. Can you imagine pulling up to the Minitek Electronic Music festival in one of these as you blast “Who Let the Dogs Out?” People would run for their lives.

Dutch artist Olaf Mooij is responsible for this monster stereo system that goes more than just bump in the night. He’s integrated 14 powerful speakers into the back of this hatchback he’s calling the DJ Mobile. It was originally designed to be used as a drivable PA, but now it is strictly for partying – hard.

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DJ Spock knows how to lay down the hot beats. As publicity stunt for the release of Star Trek Seasons 1, 2 & 3 on Amazon.com, CBS put this ad online that shows Spock, from Star Trek, hanging with Kirk on the Enterprise while mixing up some Vulcan rhythms that are so fly, your ears will turn pointy.  Bust out the beers, grab the Enterprise bottle opener, it’s time to get down.

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DJ’s love using all kinds of strange setups for their scratching pleasure, but this instant turntable technology has to be the craziest DJ workstation that I’ve ever seen. Designed by DJ MoCap to work with the Traktor digital DJ system, this homemade controller lets you use drawings as replacements for records.

Don’t expect to be able to make one of these yourself. For now, MoCap says he’s “keeping part of the system secret because it a little different from traditional motion capture approach.” MoCap’s top secret system uses a camera to recognize movements within hand-drawn circles on any surface to make real time scratching effects. This visual turntable technology is the perfect solution for audiophiles who want to throw house parties in cramped studio apartments like mine.

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The FolDoub is a fold out caravan that provides the ultimate camping experience. It’s a bed on the go, yet so much more than that. It can also be used as a sweet party room. FolDoub doubles the available floor space of an average mid-sized caravan due to its clever compact design.

Pull up to someones house with it, unfold it, put a disco ball in it and people will flock to it like pigeons to trash.  It has plenty of space to set up a table full of spiked juice. As an added bonus, you can DJ it up through the car stereo while ghost riding your vehicle and party caravan down the street. Sounds laid back. With my mind on my money and my money on my mind.

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Aleks Kolkowski’s exhibit at the Futuresonic 2008 festival in Manchester is turning heads. He owns an original vinyl cutting device intended for making 45rpm records that is now being used to draw grooves in CDs.

During the festival, spectators were invited to bring in their old, unwanted CDs and have them etched with a song so they can be played on a turntable. Talk about regression!

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Unless your name is Paul Van Dyk or Matthew Edwards, chances are you won’t be able to spend $3120 on a DJ workstation. After all, if your card-table-in-the-living-room setup isn’t working out, you’re probably destined for your local bar instead of a nightclub. Those of you who have mastered the 1200s, however, can can gaze upon designer Reynold Rodriguez’s DJ workstation.

Made from composite wood with four areas that can hold sets of Technics, CDJs, laptops or whatever it is you use, it’ll really do a nice job of hiding the ugly sets of cables and dust that come associated with DJing. Should you need it custom-built for your setup, it can be done for a heightened price.

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Whatever happened to the good old days of the traveling DJ. The days when turntabilism was a sought out art form for any rockin’ party. DJ’s are starting to get lazy, that’s what. Tired of lugging the same old equipment back and forth from gig to gig.

The DJGO concept understands that what the modern DJ wants, isn’t to make 20 trips back and forth for all of his gear. Packing in a pair of CD/ MP3 turntables and a mixer, which when not in use can be folded in half and carried around like a purse. It’s pretty much a Pacemaker Portable DJ System for the pro. — Andrew Dobrow

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