Pioneer Nexus – The New DJM-900

Re-blog from DJTechtools

Pionner has now announced a new mixer in their ubiquitous DJM line of DJ consoles. Its the DJM-900 “Nexus” with direct Traktor support, USB connections and a multitude of new effects and features. At a price of $2000 its heavy on the wallet, but perhaps low enough to become another club standard. Read on for video, photos and more.

Multitude of Effects

The DJM-900 Nexus follows Pioneer’s traditional control layout enabling an easy transition to the mixer. As with other Pioneer mixers, the DJM-900 Nexus features a variety of advanced sound effects that allow DJs to have more creative expressions while mixing their music. Three new Sound Color FX, two Beat Effects and an X-Pad control were added to the mixer to enhance the user’s performance.

• Sound Color FX – The DJM-900 Nexus includes Space, Dub Echo and Gate/Comp in addition to Filter, Crush and Noise for its Sound Color FX. At any time with a simple twist of the knobs, DJs can quickly add their choice of audio effects bringing numerous combinations and arrangements to currently played music.
• Beat Effect – A total of 13 effects, including two new ones called Spiral and Melodic, can be added by the user at any time to the beat effects is accomplished through a selectable knob located on the right side of the mixer.
• X-Pad – A touch screen control bar that enables quick access, control, and manipulation of the thirteen built-in beat effects. With a touch and/or slide of the X-Pad control, the user can change the parameters of each effect for further creativity in performances.

Sound Quality

Part of the DJM-900 Nexus’s design attribute is combining functionality with great sound quality. The mixer utilizes high quality components that ensure the best possible audio output when connected to other components.

• Built-in 24bit/96kHz High Performance USB Sound card – Pioneer developed an onboard USB sound card that can simultaneously handle input and output audio signals from up to four (4) stereo sources through a single USB port¹. The sound card supports 24-bit/96kHz high resolution signal processing, and can input and output all audio signals with no degradation of sound quality. Once connected to a PC or Mac, the settings utility tool can be used to customize the mixer’s output signal path to suit various purposes, such as DJ play, song recording or production². Furthermore, smooth transfers between DJs are possible with the easily accessible USB ports on the top surface of the mixer.
• Sound Quality Design –The DJM-900 Nexus is equipped with the same audio input and output circuits as Pioneer’s flagship DJM-2000 to achieve the most accurate audio reproduction from connected sources. The 32-bit digital to analog converter supports all outputs of the mixer, including the master audio outputs, booth outputs as well as headphones. Additionally, the built-in high performance 32-bit digital signal processor (DSP) suppresses any digital and analog circuit noise by way of high quality balanced hybrid operation amps and full balanced output circuits.

Connection

With more DJs continuing to use their personal computers as part of their rig, the new DJM-900nexus is ready for a direct connection to a laptop PC or Mac, increasing its convenience and functionality.

• PRO DJ LINK – Via an Ethernet (LAN) cable, the mixer can quickly link to the latest Pioneer PRO DJ LINK compatible CDJ-2000 and CDJ-900 players (with firmware version 4.00 or later³) or a personal computer running Pioneer’s rekordbox™ software, giving users fast access to a song’s beats per minute (BPM) and beat location information, resulting in a precise beat matching capability. Furthermore, the built-in quantize mode compensates for Beat Effect operation timing errors automatically, so effects are matched perfectly.
• TRAKTOR™ Functionality – Using a USB connection with a PC or Mac, the four decks (players) inside TRAKTOR can be connected simultaneously with the mixer, enabling enhanced flexibility with the software. In addition, the mixer is also TRAKTOR SCRATCH⁴ certified for TRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO / DUO 2, allowing scratch control functionality when using a time code disc⁵.
• Time Code Output – Through its USB port, the mixer can output time code disc signals for DVS (Digital Vinyl System) software⁶ when used with a Pioneer CDJ player or analog record player. DJ play using DVS software can be done without difficult and complicated connections⁷.

Feature Packed

The DJM-900nexus is equipped with additional features that add to the user’s DJ play.

• High performance channel faders – The slide mechanism supports the fader knobs with two metal shafts for both longevity and smooth operability Furthermore, the new mechanism’s design minimizes the effects of moisture or dust particles on the mixer’s performance capabilities.
• Integrated input selector – Enables users to simultaneously switch all channel inputs.
• Indicators – The DJM-900nexus is equipped with a “USB connection indicator” to display the status of sound card and PC or Mac communications as well as a “USB audio input indicator” to display audio inputs from a PC or Mac.
• Industry’s First MIDI Signal Output⁸ – The DJM-900nexus features the industry’s first musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) signal output that changes at beat-by-beat intervals. The mixer also includes a “MIDI LFO function” to control external devices such as effecters.
• Assignable MIDI Functionality – Nearly all knobs and buttons operation information can be assigned to control other devices. The mixer can also be used as a MIDI controller.
• Switching 3-Band EQ/Isolator – Each channel of the mixer is equipped with a switchable 3-band EQ (+6dB to -26dB) and 3-band Isolator (+6dB to -?dB).
• P-LOCK Fader Cap – Keeps the fader channel and crossfader knobs (caps) locked preventing them from physically slipping off during use.
• Auto Standby – Automatically senses the presence of active operation and input signals and switches to standby mode when inputs are not detected for a long period of time.

DETAILED FEATURE LIST

Channel	4
CD/Line Input	6
Phono Input	2
Digital Input	4 (COAXIAL)
Mic Input	2 (XLR/PHONE, PHONE)
Pro DJ LINK (LAN)	1 (LAN)
Touch Panel
Beat Effect	13 types
Sound Color Effect	6 types
Inst Effect
USB Audio Interface (USB TypeB)	4IN 4OUT
USB recording (USB TypeA)
MIDI Interface	DIN/USB
Traktor Scratch Certified

Mic Connection	XLR/PHONE, PHONE
Mic EQ	2-Band
Mic EQ Range	-12 / +12dB
Talk Over
Advanced Talk Over
Talk Over Level Control
Mic Effect

19 inch Rack Mountable	Yes (Optional)
Frequency Response	20Hz – 20kHz
SN Ratio: Line	107 dB
SN Ratio: Phono	88 dB
SN Ratio: Mic	84 dB
Distortion	0.004% (JEITA)
Sampling Rate	96 kHz
A/D, D/A Converter	24 bit
Digital Sound Processing	32 bit
Headroom
Power Consumption	42 W
Auto Stand-By Function
Dimensions (W x D x H inches)	13.0 x 16.1x 4.2
Weight	15.7 lbs

Traktor Pro 2 – Officially Announced!

re-blog from DJTechtools 

After a well placed teaser weeks ago, NI finally gave up the goods and announced Traktor Pro 2 today with a release date of April 1st 2011. T Pro 2 is the newest succesor in the Traktor line, taking the S4 features and rolling them into Traktor Pro with a few nice extra touches. They include colored waveforms, multi channel support, and potential for up to 16 concurrent loops! Continue reading for our extensive 10 minute tour of the new software plus a breakdown of every new feature.

ESSENTIAL INFO

• available in April
• $229 for the software
• $79 if you have Traktor Pro
• $129 if you have LE
• $0 if you have an S4

THE NEW FEATURES

Side By Side Install

• T Pro 2 uses same analysis files as Traktor Pro 1,  but does a side by side install so you can revert to T Pro 1 if needed.

New GUI

The new style is similar to the S4, and has a dark rich color palette that may be perceived by some as more professional. It’s actually starting to look more and more like the original Traktor 2 layout which was dominated by black and green tones.

New Deck Sizes

To make your screen less clutter and more feedback, NI offers a few new deck sizes that maximize or minimize space.

• Essential Deck
• Micro Deck

Multi Colored Waveforms

There are now 4 colored waveform options. Sadly, the one option that is not present is the Traktor 1 style waveforms. Instead you can choose from:

• X-ray
• Infrared (Above)
• Ultraviolet
• Spectrum (Above)

Zoomable Waveforms

• The new waveforms also zoom in really tight for the most accurate cue points you can possibly imagine!

Grid-Lines

The style of grid-lines can be customized in the Deck Preferences. There is now:

• light
• strong (above)
• tick
• invisible

New Platter and Scope

• The size of the platter has been increased by reducing the width of the phase meter.

LOOP RECORDER

4 Sample Decks

• S4 supports samples and loop decks on all 4 decks.

4 New Effects

• Tape Delay

• Ramp Delay

• Bouncer

• Auto Bouncer

Additional Features

• Plugging in a NI sound card will automatically change the audio from internal to the NI sound card and route the outputs so you don’t have to worry about changing settings.

• You can send multiple decks out over the same channel – 4 decks over a 2 channel sound card. (Only with the audio 6 or 10.)

• Future S4′s will ship with Traktor Pro 2 CD’s and all S4′s can also run Traktor Pro (no word on a upgrade price yet)

• Multiple decks can now use the same CD or turntable input.

• Dragging a loop from a deck into a sample slot now copies the tracks filter position.

Pricing and availability

In stores: April 2011

Suggested retail pricing:

• TRAKTOR PRO 2 – $229 / 199 €
• TRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO 2 – $669 / 599 €
• TRAKTOR DUO 2 – $119 / 99 €
• TRAKTOR SCRATCH DUO 2 – $399 / 349 €

Epic Photography by Christian Stoll

Epic Photography by Christian Stoll:re-blog from TheCoolList


Photographer Christian Stoll has a knack for finding futurism in the modern world. From the cities of the world and the ships that traverse them, Stoll uses daring perspectives to capture today’s techno culture in motion. With a wide angle lens and the backing of major ad agencies, Stoll’s photographs [...]

Computational Art, From Screen to Paper: Prints by Jer Thorp, Marius Watz

Computational Art, From Screen to Paper: Prints by Jer Thorp, Marius Watz: re-blog from CreateDigitalMotion




From generated pixels on a screen to artwork, translating computer art to prints can give computer-produced visuals new life. This week, Christina Vassallo lets us know about her new series of silkscreened limited editions from two artists whose work in code (via Processing) we already know and love. Christina writes:

February 1 was the online launch of Random Number Multiples, a curated collection of limited edition artworks. This extension of my practice supports artists in their exploration of printmaking processes, and connects contemporary art appreciators with new and collectible work. Random Number Multiples debuts with two silk screened data visualizations by Jer Thorp, and two abstract compositions by Marius Watz. Both artists use custom software as their medium, but for this project they have chosen to experiment with an analog print process.

It’s a treat not only to see the output, but in the Flickr slideshow here, some of the process that went into that output. Just seeing that MacBook Pro and big buckets of color next to one another is a reminder that something special happens when you use the digital medium alongside traditional craft, when the continuity with art is restored.

And lest people assume that making work for browsers has to make art somehow valueless, that really doesn’t have to be the case. It does make art affordable – the limited runs are just US$100 for an edition of 50.

Random Number Multiples

A look at the results after the jump, with low-resolution works that give you some small taste of the quality of the physical objects… and having seen some of those, it really is special to see the beauty of these works when they’re no longer limited to screen resolution. Digital art can be cold and abstract onscreen but have a sensual quality as a print; it’s hard to describe.

I’ll be curious to check back in to see how this project goes. Random Multiple has done a number of interesting projects. I was part of an installation that took over an abandoned convent; more recently, artists reimagined the miniature golf course. (Really.)





















All photos courtesy Random Number; used by permission and (C) Random Number / Christina Vassallo — see her Flickr stream.

Random Number

Jer Thorp aka blprint

Marius Watz: Generator.x, Code & Form