A DJ iPod?

[MacRumors]

This New York Post article (http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/76293.htm) claims that Apple is rumored to be developing a "professional" iPod for DJ's:

There's a rumor afoot that Apple may even be developing a new professional version of the iPod, which will allow DJs to change the pitch and speed of the tracks.

[P-Worm]

It seems that the closer we get to WWDC, the more different rumors are coming out. This is shapping up to be a huge show. Before most of the macworlds, you would get a lot of info about the same stuff. Cool.

P-Worm

[mproud]

This would be pretty cool for DJs playing at clubs and stuff.

But I hate it when radio stations speed up the tracks...

[sparks9]

I don't believe it.

[bennetsaysargh]

couldn't they just release an OS upgrade to do that?

[InstantCool]

Apple seems more hip to what DJs are doing with Macs and MP3s. At least that's what the addition of BPM (Beats Per Minute) in iTunes 4 means to me.

It won't do me any good, but it would be neat for those professionals. Now if they could build in a mixer...

[Freg3000]

The New York Post......Page 6....:) I can't imagine a Pro iPod, or a Pro Pod as others have stated before. I don't know, maybe, but I seriously doubt it.

[deepkid]

Would be interesting to know how they'd easily and quickly let the DJ adjust the mp3/ACC. Most are accustomed to pitch sliders and touching either the record or platter to blend in the track while beat matching.

I have both the original 5GB scroll wheel and the new 10GB 3rd generation touch wheel pod and the scroll felt more natural to handle to me.

I suppose Apple or some third party could introduce some sort of super dock that allow more control over the mix.

[noel4r]

oh men, that would be awesome... ipod would be the new Technics SL-1200

[Windowlicker]

Seriously, this is not cool, it's not cool.

I really don't think DJs are gonna use mp3s/aac :P cds are okay since there are proper cd dj systems (such as the pioneer thingy), but I myself couldn't think of a dj that played the tunes from an ipod (or two).

still, it would be kinda spectacular;)
still, it's not cool, kyle, it's not cool mmkay?

[nascarcm24]

This would be perfect for a local DJ service my friends are starting.... I dunno if it would be right for our needs, but still cool..

[Abstract]

I just wanted to jump into this thread early and say this:

YIPPIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pfranzen]

a 'professional' ipod would have to be nothing like the current ipod. there is no way youd get a DJ mixing up two pods (as they are today) to a mixer and DJing. Theyd get laughed out of the venue.

However, if Apple would release a mixing station based on the harddisk and/or airport for fileserving then this would be very cool indeed. Something I think people would be interested in. Carrying those records around aint fun hehe.

Have a good one:D

[alset]

It would have to use a better output. Maybe if they found a nice way to add on a +4 level out.

Dan

[julzmon]

sound quality does not come near to vinyl let alone CD.
You play that thing on a slammin sound system and it will sound like ****.

It will never happen!

[QCassidy352]

Originally posted by pfranzen
a 'professional' ipod would have to be nothing like the current ipod. there is no way youd get a DJ mixing up two pods (as they are today) to a mixer and DJing. Theyd get laughed out of the venue.

However, if Apple would release a mixing station based on the harddisk and/or airport for fileserving then this would be very cool indeed. Something I think people would be interested in. Carrying those records around aint fun hehe.

Have a good one:D

I'm no expert, but this sounds right to me. People expect DJs to have records, turntables- big, impressive set-ups. Maybe it makes no sense, but I would feel a little cheated if I went to a club and instead saw some guy just standing there with an ipod in his hands. The DJ is part of the show...

[pfranzen]

I'm not sure I agree with the 'bad' quality of the AAC encoding for two reasons...

First, in my opinion it sounds excellent when compared to CD even at low compression of 160k. We did some tests on studio equipment and decided its good enough for our businesses non DJ areas.

Secondly, you can keep the compression as high as you want on the file to suit your tastes. You could even take the digital file from the CD uncompressed. Storage would be the big issue then...

Just my 2 pennies worth :)

[Chef Ramen]

wow...a digital audio mixing product from apple would be amazing

id buy it

[pfranzen]

Oh and by the way...We have started to experiment with iTunes for playback of Music in our restaurants and Bars and it is great.

We have to buy the CDs of course, but instead of buying the same disc 5 times due to scratching and theft we buy it once and store it as a backup.

Also, the amount of grime that gets into the CD players in my industry is crazy so the cost of serving big 200+ CD changers is a thing of the past...

Anyone else in here in the Bar/Club game and doing this?

:D

[copperpipe]

Another option for DJs? Aggghh! One more tool someone can decide to use or not use? NOOOOOO! Apple, what are you doing? Please stop giving us all more options in the way we live our lives!

That's all I have to say about that...

[stuepfnick]

That really would be very fine! You would just use one iPod like a Turntable.

So you need two pro ipods, and a separate mixer.

So you have the same setup, as with two turntables and a mixer.

It just needs pitch bend from -8 to +8%, like a normal technics, and some scratching capatibilities.

Maybe a real cool idea, with the original scroll wheel! I would love it!

cu,
Baboon

[evilfunkgenius]

Ok, let's think out of the iPod box here:

What if they were going to find a way to automatically sync-up songs with similar BPM settings. (remember that new iTunes 4 addition?) and thus remove the need for a hardware pitch wheel, thereby making an iPod easily mixable. All that would need to happen is setting up a internal crossfade adjustment.

[mactastic]

Damn thats cool... hard to believe, but cool. But with uncompressed files the DJ's gonna be walking in with a crate full of ipods.

[refinery]

i would think, if anything, that some sort of apple pro-pod would not be a different kind of iPod, but some sort of hardware dock with dj-style controls on it. Imagine it.... a hole in the top of the unit for an iPod, and a control surface with your familiar crossfader, pitch controls, source select.... perhaps a small LCD on each side to select individual tracks for each side of the fader.... In addition, there could be line-level and phono inputs on the back so in addition to iPod playback, you could hook up an external CD or record player and be able to fade to those as well.
i think it would be foolish for apple to introduce a different version of the iPod, as they seem to be very much about avoiding consumer confusion (eliminating seperate windows and mac versions of the iPod, etc.... something i wish they would do in the rest of their product lines)

[elo]

Originally posted by julzmon
sound quality does not come near to vinyl let alone CD.
You play that thing on a slammin sound system and it will sound like ****.

It will never happen!


You do realize that even a current iPod will play back an uncompressed AIFF file, don't you? I don't see the problem here.

elo

[painandgreed]

Well, I've already seen DJs play mp3s and use much worse systems to do it. I've seen portable players, I've seen console game systems hooked up to sound systems because the normal systems were out, and I've seen plenty of laptops. If you have a song that everybody wants to here and it's only on mp3 format, that's what you play. In the middle of the night, few music snobs will be sitting around critiquing the sound quality over their fifth drink instead of dancing or hitting on people they're trying to take home. Chances are, unless you're in a gay club (they always have the best lighting and sound systems), the sound system probably isn't good enough to tell the quality difference in the middle of a busy night anyway.

Add into that the convience of not having to lug around boxes of records and CDs everywhere, and some Djs would jump at the chance. Of course, those Djs are probably already using laptops.

[Mudbug]

there's just not enough market for them to make a different - or stand-alone "pro" model ipod, if this is the only pro feature available. It would have to include other features to make it worth the astronomical development and manufacturing costs associated with bringing any new product to an international-level market.

There's just not enough people making a living at DJing around the country to justify this being an identifiable market niché. (thank goodness!)

And to that effect, don't they already make a "pro" level ipod, and call it the ibook? or PowerBook for that matter?

[mim]

Originally posted by julzmon
sound quality does not come near to vinyl let alone CD.
You play that thing on a slammin sound system and it will sound like ****.

It will never happen!

Well, actually it's already happening;

http://www.traktor-dj.com

There are already a number of "pro" mp3 dj systems out there - some with specific hardware. The above one (Traktor) is software and already links pretty well to iTunes and uses the music straight from your iPod. I've seen a number of dj's use it - they always plug into club mixer - and some even have the software slaved to the cd decks for bpm adjustments. If the Pods could be set up to act as dial conntrols and audio out-puts they'd be an idea tool.

In a club. it would be very rare for you to notice the difference between a cd and mp3. Even if the club PA system had the dynamic responsiveness to make a difference, the room acoustics would make the point moot anyways.

I also know a number of bars that use their iPods as a jukebox. Looks cool and always draws coments. Sounds just fine thanks too.

So if it's really happening, I can't wait.

[mim]

Originally posted by Mudbug
there's just not enough market for them to make a different - or stand-alone "pro" model ipod, if this is the only pro feature available. It would have to include other features to make it worth the astronomical development and manufacturing costs associated with bringing any new product to an international-level market.

Errr - are you sure what you're saying? If the 'pods already have the functionality to a degree, then there's not that much to making the couple of extra widgets you need, and adding a bit more RAM.

Also maybe you shouldn't let people like this http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powermate/ know that making low volume cool products is not feasible.

Originally posted by Mudbug
There's just not enough people making a living at DJing around the country to justify this being an identifiable market niché. (thank goodness!)

Well, again I think you'd be surprised by just how large this maket is. There are a huge number of DJ products and manufacturers. Seems like every second person I know these days is getting into mixing. And I'm sure a whole lot more people would too with a low cost portable option.

edit: As refinery said - this functionality will probably be provided by the dock - all it needs to work is some high level line outputs, and some way of linking the pods (that is if it doesn't use the laptop...).

[Kid Red]

Originally posted by sparks9
I don't believe it.

I know, NYPost is the MacOSRumors of print.

[ennerseed]

I really have been a good boy so far this year. Since Apple released the ITMS I haven't downloaded a single song I didn't pay for. If I continue to be reeeaaal good will you please make Apple release a Pro DJ iPod, and stick it in my stocking?

-always good
Teeny Timothy

[ennerseed]

Originally posted by Mudbug
there's just not enough market for them to make a different - or stand-alone "pro" model ipod

Yeah, I agree TOTALLY! and there is not enough people making digital music for Apple to buy Emagic.

*wink, wink, nudge, nudge*

[bennetsaysargh]

i think it won't be a new iPod, but a superdock. plug the iPod in, and it has a bunch of dj controll on it. the have a scratch wheel (wheels from 5GB models).
maybe a tiny OS upgrade to display more information on it, somehow a way to make it small, yet big enough to use.

[di0nysus]

As a DJ/producer, I'm totally for it. I use what ever medium I can play to make the performance sound better. CDs, records, effect processors, samplers, synths. There is no diffrence between mixing mp3s, AFF, WAV or AAC. All you do is adjust the pitch to line the beats up. People who think this won't happen because you won't look cool are fools. Right now, I'm planning a party in a cabin we'd have to hike 2km into. Do I really want to lug 70 pounds of records or a couple ipods. Think of the possibiblites...Apple has just doubled the size of the pods in one year. They'll be 60 gigs in a year. We'll be using aiff, and 300k mp3 compressions. It'll sounds fine. And for all your record purists. The music on wax was made digitally on a computer.

Peace

[Sincere]

... the day I bought an iPod (which was DOA, and is awaiting to be mailed back to Apple)... The combination of this rumour and my DOA 30G is making me think twice... This could be possible, there have been other rumors about advanced iPods and that new dock... The new machine would have line in, I pray, which would be the best friend of those in creative fields, or even business...
Also, +/- 8 % would not cut it for many pro DJs, I use Stanton STR8-100 and it has up to +/-25. I can't see it being marketed solely for DJs, but rather to all in music (or if video is incorporated as rumoured, tv and film) fields. I hope it comes out, certainly, but remember that nearly no publication has more falsities and stretched truths than the Post... Though the Times these days is questionable too.

Hope I don't have to try and sell the 30G within a year to get one of these new ones, but the thought of a unit with pro audio professionals in mind is very exciting... Also remember that Apple owns Emagic, that could factor into this as well...

--Sincere

[mim]

Originally posted by Sincere
.. Also remember that Apple owns Emagic, that could factor into this as well...


Well well well well well!

I actually didn't know that. Starts to make quite a bit of sense to get pro-level functionallity onto the iPod. With that huge damn connector on the base of the new ones there should be no limit to what kind of goodies that a breakout box/super dock could bring.

[alxths]

All of you suggesting that this sort of ipod would be a bad idea because DJ's would never use it at their gigs; I partially agree with you. Hardly any DJs out there would actually use an ipod to spin their tracks(yeah im down wit da DJ lingo), but these features could come in handy if their testing out playlists on the go. But more significantly I thikn, is the fact that this sort of ipod would not be marketed towards DJs at all, but people who think they could be a DJ, want to be a DJ, or are just suckers for paying extra for some seemingly neat, yet useless product features...

...I'd probably get it if they made it possible to do some scratching with the scroll wheel:D

[Wry Cooter]

Originally posted by deepkid

I suppose Apple or some third party could introduce some sort of super dock that allow more control over the mix.

Google on Final Scratch, Native Instruments, and "Ask The DJ". The tech is already here... I just don't think it needs to be built into the iPod.

The New York Times must have hired Jayson Blair back. Even before the Blair case became news, I noticed too much NYT news using the future tense for my comfort.

It's News after it happens, or while it happens, not BEFORE it happens.

[illumin8]

Originally posted by Windowlicker
Seriously, this is not cool, it's not cool.

I really don't think DJs are gonna use mp3s/aac :P cds are okay since there are proper cd dj systems (such as the pioneer thingy), but I myself couldn't think of a dj that played the tunes from an ipod (or two).

still, it would be kinda spectacular;)
still, it's not cool, kyle, it's not cool mmkay? You don't know what you're talking about. I'm a Trance DJ and I play with both MP3 and vinyl. Have you ever heard of a product called Final Scratch? (http://www.finalscratch.com) Now you can get a Mac OS X compatible version. Seriously though. Playing both formats allows me to get songs that vinyl only DJs can only dream of (out of print stuff), and Final Scratch gives me the same level of control that I get with vinyl.

I love it when someone pretends they're an expert on something they obviously know nothing about.

[Mudbug]

Originally posted by illumin8
I love it when someone pretends they're an expert on something they obviously know nothing about.

Ok - I'm claiming to know nothing about this.

a few questions as they come to me:
You make money doing this? Full time? People pay you to play music? At parties, I assume? Do you host the party, or does someone else throw it, and hire you? Or do you work at a nightclub/disco? If at a nightclub, why would you be the one to provide the equipment, unless you own the place.

I mean no disrespect, I guess I'm just getting old. I use my music to listen to, and I'm pretty good at multitrack editing for commercial advertising production, but I just don't get this. Are you like Moby or someone? Please help.

And please don't flame me - I really just don't get it. :confused:

[h'biki]

Originally posted by alxths
All of you suggesting that this sort of ipod would be a bad idea because DJ's would never use it at their gigs; I partially agree with you. Hardly any DJs out there would actually use an ipod to spin their tracks(yeah im down wit da DJ lingo), but these features could come in handy if their testing out playlists on the go. But more significantly I thikn, is the fact that this sort of ipod would not be marketed towards DJs at all, but people who think they could be a DJ, want to be a DJ, or are just suckers for paying extra for some seemingly neat, yet useless product features...

...I'd probably get it if they made it possible to do some scratching with the scroll wheel:D

There are DJs who do use the iPod to play tracks. RES had a brief article on a bunch of dudes doing it (Jan issue).

There are four different types of DJs (roughly):

1. There are DJs like Kid Koala and DJ Tokoloshie who use the decks as an instrument. They're unlikely to use a DJ'ed iPod cause its not like you can flutter scratch with an iPod.

2.Then there are DJs like DJ Vadim and Rip-One who beat mix tracks and throw in some tricks now and then. They, again, are unlikely to use an iPod DJ system. But hey, they're unlikely to even use a CD mixing system. Vinyl is life to these guys. Not just for sound, but for the culture and the tactile sense. (And anyone who doesn't see vinyl as a culture hasn't met any crate diggers).

3. Then there are your regular club DJs. These guys have moved from mixing on vinyl to mixing on CD cause its cheap, you can keep up with the latest popular tracks easy (you don't have to go digging for white labels), and you just have to beat mix. Most of these guys burn MP3s to CDRs. I know this cause I'm friends with a few. If the iPOd (and iTunes) supported pitch shifting and there was a third party interface (like Final Scratch, but possibly just a USB/DOCK slider), these guys would lap it up. The interface would have to be worked on, but it could potentially be very popular. Being able to carry the equivilent of a few crates of LPs/CDs in your pocket would appeal - although it lacks the cool of the slouched record bag and the headphones look.... the wheel also makes sense as a pitch shifting interface. I've been waiting for Apple to do something like this. It makes a lot of sense and doesn't require that much engineering on their part.

4. DJs who just crash-mix tracks (like DJ Muro) - these guys are mostly funk DJs cause beatmixing funk is ****en hard.

Market #3 is massive and it makes sense for Apple to go after it.

Also, a lot of electronic music producers would dig have an iPod to mix from. MOst of em just burn CDs (dubplates are too expensive) and mix on Pioneer decks. Being able to play straight from an AIFF would be awesome. Hell some of em just mix audio files directly from their laptop cause it makes it LOOK like their performing (i've done that personally in front of a few crowds). Live electronica is a myth :)

h'biki.

(who is currently listening to a DJ Vadim mix type off his iPod! Bah. Gotta transfer the rest of my mix tapes to Mp3s)

[Kwyjibo]

Originally posted by Windowlicker
Seriously, this is not cool, it's not cool.

I really don't think DJs are gonna use mp3s/aac :P cds are okay since there are proper cd dj systems (such as the pioneer thingy), but I myself couldn't think of a dj that played the tunes from an ipod (or two).
I work in a banquet hall and i'm there until the end of the party. I usually hang out with the DJ for a little and honestly, i've seen some Djs with like a mixer speakers and an laptop running musicmatch and they were as popular as the ones spinning CDS or whatever else. I think its an awesome idea i would love something like that if the price was right.

[mim]

Originally posted by Mudbug
Ok - I'm claiming to know nothing about this.

a few questions as they come to me:
You make money doing this? Full time? People pay you to play music? At parties, I assume? Do you host the party, or does someone else throw it, and hire you? Or do you work at a nightclub/disco? If at a nightclub, why would you be the one to provide the equipment, unless you own the place.

I mean no disrespect, I guess I'm just getting old. I use my music to listen to, and I'm pretty good at multitrack editing for commercial advertising production, but I just don't get this. Are you like Moby or someone? Please help.

And please don't flame me - I really just don't get it. :confused:

Ok - I'm not a pro-dj, but I know a couple and I've owned some decks and a PA and held my own raves....enough of the disclaimer.

I've seen a couple of DJ's at clubs in London use Final Scratch. It seems to provided the best of both worlds - vinyl and mp3. It basically consists of a special record pressed with accurate time code clicks. These clicks are picked up by a box that tells the computer what speed the record is running, and where the needle is on the record. It is impresssivly responsive. These guys make money from DJing, but also have dayjobs. Most of their spare cash goes into finding new tracks - those elusive white labels....

Moby is like the Tom Cruise of DJing - appeals to some masses but is hardly on the cutting edge. As far as I know he doesn't even DJ anyway. Most DJ's get invited by clubs to do a "residency" ie, play on a certain night each week. Most DJ's have a certain style they play, which is why people will go to one club on Wednesday, and a different one on Friday. Most DJ's have their own decks, but so do most clubs and bars. DJ's usually just bring their music, unless they need special gear (3rd turntable, mixer, laptop, etc)

Anyway - back to topic. In my experience, there are a load of people who would not be seen dead using anything but vinyl - it's very cool to be real snobby like that. But the majority of guys and gals who travel around Europe doing gigs would only be too happy to see something like this. As said above (kinda) it's not too hard to mix digital and vinyl tracks together either, with the right gear.

I think that with a recording input, almost every DJ would try and get hold of a 'pod to record their sets - very easy and convienient for them.

And BTW - it's cool to pretend that vinyl gives a great quality sound, but in reality it's really only on a par with mp3's.

[maradong]

Originally posted by sparks9
I don't believe it.
same for me.
what is the purpose of such an ipod ? the amount of people who will buy something like that is REALLY little. I can t beleive apple is investing ressouces in something like that.

[pfranzen]

Hey man. These days the top DJs are like Rock stars. They get flown around the world to do gigs. I live in England and work with some of them. In the summer in Europe people go to Ibiza to party. Its like a pilgrimage of sorts and the DJs there are like Gods to the kids.

I think people underestimate the kinda money a great DJ can make...people like Boy George are DJs now etc...

P:cool:

[pfranzen]

I have more friends that have 1200's in their basements doing mixing for fun than I have friends with Macs...That should tell you something about the home Mixing market...

P

[freddiecable]

[i]
There are already a number of "pro" mp3 dj systems out there - some with specific hardware. The above one (Traktor) is software and already links pretty well to iTunes and uses the music straight from your iPod. I've seen a number of dj's use it - they always plug into club mixer - and some even have the software slaved to the cd decks for bpm adjustments. If the Pods could be set up to act as dial conntrols and audio out-puts they'd be an idea tool.

In a club. it would be very rare for you to notice the difference between a cd and mp3. Even if the club PA system had the dynamic responsiveness to make a difference, the room acoustics would make the point moot anyways.

I also know a number of bars that use their iPods as a jukebox. Looks cool and always draws coments. Sounds just fine thanks too.

So if it's really happening, I can't wait. [/B]

I couldn't agree more! I use Traktor on my iBook 800 and it's awesome! Imaging syncing iPod with some kind of Traktor device and the party will never stop ;)

[cdburrows]

i wasn't at the iPod launch but didn't Apple have a DJ setup at each store... where they were able to mix (etc) two iPods side by side....

Maybe this is were the rumour has developed from?

[visor]

Originally posted by deepkid


I have both the original 5GB scroll wheel and the new 10GB 3rd generation touch wheel pod and the scroll felt more natural to handle to me.

Yes, there are slight problems with the touchwheel. It works ok when I have very short clipped fngernails and scroll having the thing sticking in the dock.
OK, makes me care for my nails more often, thats good - but what about women?

Just a thought.

[SlowX]

Originally posted by pfranzen
a 'professional' ipod would have to be nothing like the current ipod. there is no way youd get a DJ mixing up two pods (as they are today) to a mixer and DJing. Theyd get laughed out of the venue.


actually, should it be able to go up to 11?
;)

[bennetsaysargh]

at the iPod release party, the dj's were just playing songs, not scratching:( but i seriously think that it is the advanced iP{od dock which I am dubbing the superdock. scroll wheels. they have do do something with them.:rolleyes:

[druggedonions]

Originally posted by julzmon
sound quality does not come near to vinyl let alone CD.
You play that thing on a slammin sound system and it will sound like ****.

It will never happen!

I can assure you it is far from **** and even further from ****e. :p

[druggedonions]

Originally posted by pfranzen
Oh and by the way...We have started to experiment with iTunes for playback of Music in our restaurants and Bars and it is great.

We have to buy the CDs of course, but instead of buying the same disc 5 times due to scratching and theft we buy it once and store it as a backup.

Also, the amount of grime that gets into the CD players in my industry is crazy so the cost of serving big 200+ CD changers is a thing of the past...

Anyone else in here in the Bar/Club game and doing this?

:D

Just about to free up an old iMac which I'm going to put in to service as a music jukebox in the cafe/venue I work at. I really like the feature to allow streaming over the network, which means we can have one computer that the staff can put their tunes on and one upstairs that can be updated with up-coming bands then have iTunes with another app change to a different playlist at different times of the day. :D :D

[aasmund]

Originally posted by julzmon
sound quality does not come near to vinyl let alone CD.
You play that thing on a slammin sound system and it will sound like ****.

It will never happen!

This is offcourse complete rubbish. Have you heard the sound quality on the Pioneer DJ-CD players? it is easily matched by an iPod, I don't believe this either, however they may add some functions to the current line (cross fading, beat sync, and use the wheel as a slider) to make it more dj-like.

Regards.

[makkystyle]

Just to clarify something as I think a lot of people haven't thought about this...

Yes, an iPod would be absolute crap for a DJ who is playing House, D&B, Hip-Hop, Trance, Rap, etc.

...BUT...

What a lot of you are forgetting is that the majority of DJ's throughout the world are just playing Pop Hits from the 50's through to the 90's at Weddings, Birthday Parties, Reunions, School Dances, etc. A DJ iPod would kick *ss for any one of the people playing these types of gigs. Think about it... no lugging around crates of vinyl, huge books of CD's and component/rack mount CD players.

Think about the bigger market. Do you really think that DJ Scribble, Funk Master Flex or Digweed are going to give up vinyl? No. But do you think that the tens of thousands of DJ's playing Bat Mitzvah's every weekend would? Absolutely.

[MorganX]

I don't think a Dj would get laughed out of the venue. A good DJ rules his booth.

I think that if a DJ ipod had a cue button, and the scroll wheel had a turntable mode, this would be great for mobile DJs. In Da Club, it would probably be too small and too hard to see. Battery may be an would be an issue.

You would really need 2 of them, but that's not a must. The iPod would just be another in on the Mixer. I don't know many DJs that are CD only, even if that's all they play, they still have vinyl and keep a TT around.

I dont' think in it's current form factor it would be huge, but it would be doable.

[illumin8]

Originally posted by Mudbug
a few questions as they come to me:
You make money doing this? Full time? People pay you to play music? At parties, I assume? Do you host the party, or does someone else throw it, and hire you? Or do you work at a nightclub/disco? If at a nightclub, why would you be the one to provide the equipment, unless you own the place.
No problem. Yes, I make money doing this. No, I don't do it full-time, just Friday and Saturday nights at my friend's club.

This is how the setup works:

My friend has a standard Pioneer mixer and 2 Technics 1200s at the club in the DJ booth. Most of the DJs that play there just use vinyl and bring a crate of records. I bring a small record bag, my laptop (currently an HP, but soon to be replaced by a Powerbook), and my Final Scratch box (a little USB thingie with RCA ins and outs). When I get there and am ready to go on, I setup my laptop off to the side of the turntables, unplug one of the turntables from the mixer, and plugin the final scratch box in between the DJ mixer and the turntable. I stick one of the specially recorded Final Scratch records on the turntable, select the song I want on the laptop, drop the needle on the record and mix in. Once I've mixed out of the last DJ's record, I hand it back to him, connect the other turntable through the final scratch box, and now I'm totally setup. I select records on the laptop, or create a playlist there, then using the special final scratch records on normal turntables, mix them together. Pitch control works. Beat matching works. Most people in the club think I'm just mixing vinyl except for the fact that most of the time I have the same two records on the turntables always.

I hope that makes sense. If you want to know more about how it works (I can't really explain it as well as they can), you might want to check out the Final Scratch website (http://www.finalscratch.com). Now that they have a Mac OS X version, I'm going to be buying a 15" Powerbook soon.

[danishboy]

Originally posted by Mudbug
there's just not enough market for them to make a different - or stand-alone "pro" model ipod, if this is the only pro feature available. It would have to include other features to make it worth the astronomical development and manufacturing costs associated with bringing any new product to an international-level market.

There's just not enough people making a living at DJing around the country to justify this being an identifiable market niché. (thank goodness!)

And to that effect, don't they already make a "pro" level ipod, and call it the ibook? or PowerBook for that matter?

While I agree that maybe there's not much of a market yet (it could be developed...) what about just adding the nice lil' feature of being able to mix on the fly. Ergo - I'd really like to pick what song from my entire library I'd like to hear next and have my iPod remember that and then switch to that song (maybe even automatically mix it for me) when I'm listening. While iTunes4's new playlist thingy is nice (I've not really played with the new features) I more commonly am just listening to my iPod on a plane and would like to pick a list of songs I'm in the mood to hear and let it play while I relax instead of having to scroll to each song when the song I'm listening to ends.

Just wanted to get this in print out there - maybe Apple's watching...

[siberian]

Maybe this will make Apple fix the annoying 'Gap Between Tracks' problem and put real crossfade into this new 'iProd' product..

That would be sweeeet.

[bennetsaysargh]

to add the croos fading feature, they would probably just need an OS update. software issue, it hardware.

[TSEliotLives]

I see this as being an absolute golden move on the part of Apple...something that I've been pining for for a long time.

I'm a DJ...but not the beatmixing kind. I lug hundreds of pounds of gear all around the state for weddings, school dances, fraternity formals, and the like...and I run my entire show off my PowerBook G4 and iTunes.

Do people laugh when they first see the laptop? Sure. But they shut up pretty quick once the show starts.

MP3's (even the poorly encoded ones) sound just fine through my system, which is nothing but the best. Running the output of the PowerBook through an iMic even furthers the quality. I've already convinced my mentor (a professional mobile DJ of over 20 years) to convert to MP3...and winning those old-school folks over is no easy task.

An iPod tailored to the mobile DJ crowd would be a massive boon for Apple. There's a LOT of us out there...and ANYTHING to lighten the load to a gig is a blessing. If I could find a way around putting my precious PowerBook in harm's way, I would. Having a drunk sorority girl spill her Cosmo on an iPod would be far less devastating than on what serves as my main machine when I'm not working.

[springscansing]

There's no way you could DJ on an iPod. Period. It would need many more controls to be able to handle all the real-time beat matching and such that DJs have to do.

Anyone here who says its practical doesn't know what a good DJ actually has to do.

Currently... I think the best tool going is NI's Traktor.

Then again, I'd never be caught dead DJing anything...

[tjwett]

yeah, this sounds really lame. it's a cute idea but no serious DJ would ever do this. don't get me wrong, the iPod is cool, i have one, and it's cool for playing tunes at parties but for real creative DJ work it's just not gonna work. i do live DJ sets with a laptop running Ableton Live but i would never attempt it with an iPod, doesn't sound like very much fun. all this technology and still nothing can touch vinyl.

[mim]

Originally posted by SlowX
actually, should it be able to go up to 11?
;)

lol...ok, I got that. ;)

Took a minute though!

[Freg3000]

Originally posted by tjwett
yeah, this sounds really lame. it's a cute idea but no serious DJ would ever do this. don't get me wrong, the iPod is cool, i have one, and it's cool for playing tunes at parties but for real creative DJ work it's just not gonna work. i do live DJ sets with a laptop running Ableton Live but i would never attempt it with an iPod, doesn't sound like very much fun. all this technology and still nothing can touch vinyl.

Yeah I agree. I think they did this at the Apple store after the big Music special at the Apple Store. But it isn't practical, and only total mac heads would do it.

[gwangung]

Folks who are saying there's no way that this could happen generally don't know what they hell they're talking about or don't know what's currently being done in the field and have no clue as to the considerably large market that this product could appeal to.

Hm. Sounds like half the posts here on ANY topic. And it sounds like what people were saying about the iMac before it came out.

[mymemory]

It is possible to use an iPod as an audio source. Many DJ's uses CD with files downloaded from the internet in mp3 format. Acc sounds good, vinil sounds better but no one can tell the difference in a club at such high levels.

Tho change the speed/pitch all you need is a small variation in the actual iPod software, I'm not sure if the processor can handle the information, I bet it can. You are gonna need an external controller for speed/pitch, that is the key element.

Using 2 iPods it is a bit too expensive I think, one would be ok.

About the sound quality, it is good enough for clubs. I have a friend who mix from his iBook using Reason and you can not tell the difference in the sound quality. Now, if there is a difference, yes there is but no one will tell unless you are fully aware of it, average people just won't tell in a thousand years.

[bennetsaysargh]

Originally posted by gwangung
Hm. Sounds like half the posts here on ANY topic. And it sounds like what people were saying about the iMac before it came out.

we do go through this every time there will be a new product like the iMac or the iPod. i remember a lot of people being skeptical about the iPods before they came out, but it turns out to be one of the most awesome products of all time! i might do a sketch of what i think the superdock will look like later.

[tjwett]

Originally posted by gwangung
Folks who are saying there's no way that this could happen generally don't know what they hell they're talking about or don't know what's currently being done in the field and have no clue as to the considerably large market that this product could appeal to.

Hm. Sounds like half the posts here on ANY topic. And it sounds like what people were saying about the iMac before it came out.

i'm not saying it couldn't happen, i'm just saying it would be lame. i work as a musician for media and i also do live sets sometimes with vinyl or laptop. the amount of processing power it would take to actually make this thing cool is well, alot. it would need more than just a simple tempo adjustment feature even to be worth it's weight in dog crap. it would have to be fairly large if we are to assume it will have some sort of "scratch" feature. it would need a decent spec processor to handle the DSP. to get quality stretching/pitching results with an Mp3 is near impossible. to be of any use to DJs it should also incorporate some MIDI i/o for syncing. some internal effects wouldn't go amiss either. also it would need to have the abilty to cue up loop points and be able to punch them in and out on the fly. a basic sampler/looper function should be standard too. basically this thing would have to take the features of the current iPod and throw in the advanced timstretching algorithm technology of Ableton Live or Traktor, plus a new proprietory onboard FX format unless you expect it to handle VST plugins or something (yeah right), a decent size realistic feeling scratch wheel/jog, quality audio in/out, MIDI, etc, etc, etc. without all these things it's nothing special and certainly does nothing software can't do already for cheap. if it CAN do all these things Apple will have just taken their first steps into the hardware musical instrument business which currently is suffering sales drops of up to 80% over the past 2 years, thanks to you guessed it-SOFTWARE. i can't imagine Apple waiting to get into the hardware sampler industry a year after it's pretty much been declared dead. even Akai and E-mu are jumping ship and will soon be pushing software versions of all their stuff. i think Apple is a little smarter than to try and release a hardware musical instrument into a saturated and depressed market where everything you need to do and more is being handled by low cost software. and even if they squeeze all that magic into a box it would probably cost well, i don't even want to think about that.

[rt_brained]

Interesting. I was having that exact same conversation with the DJ who was spinning in the Apple store during the launch party a few weeks ago.

We were talking about how cool it would be if he could control the pitch and speed of the music through the 2 iPods and a Powerbook.

He said MP3s wouldn't work, but was amazed at the sound quality using the other music format.

I dunno how many other stores had the same set-up, but all he had to do was bring his mixing board, amp and speakers.

I guess we weren't the only ones who had that same conversation across the country that day.

[gwangung]

Originally posted by bennetsaysargh
we do go through this every time there will be a new product like the iMac or the iPod. i remember a lot of people being skeptical about the iPods before they came out, but it turns out to be one of the most awesome products of all time! i might do a sketch of what i think the superdock will look like later.

Well, what it points out is that what technically savvy (or half savvy) people want out of a product is not the same as what people actually want (or, more particularly, what a good chunk of people want; what people forget is that you can make a good living out of just a segment of the audience)(and that being technically good can make as much money as technically superior [see Windows 3.0]).

[dutchmaster]

there numerous dj events in NYC every week where the dj's use ipods. the post had a whole 3 page "spread" on ipod gear, accessories, events and it really only
touched the subject. Using software like Traktor, Final Cut, Ms Pinky (check that one out!) mp3 dj's are able to approximate many typical dj techniques in dance, hiphop, turnablist genres. i myself have done a basic set with itunes and traktor and other sources mixed. as stated if you use AIFF's the sound quality is superior to most CD's. I don't think QBERT or Shortkut are going to be abandoning their 1200's any time soon, nor will I, but I do find the convenience
of taking beats, tracks, effects, sounds, etc. straight from my computer or DAW to Traktor an incredible alternative to burning your own vinyl! The Pioneer's scratch wheel doesn't come close to the sound of a true skilled dj cutting on a 1200 at all, but I've still seen a lot of dance dj's use them. Truly Innovative products create their own market.

[frinky23]

I've been to shows and clubs and have seen stuff being run from turntables, Powerbooks, etc. As long as the music is good nobody cares what you're using. If this rumor is true, it could be a very successful product - I'm sure a lot of DJs would love not having to lug around crates of equipment.

[WannabeSQ]

What I think would be cool, is not a new iPod, but as someone else said, a superdock. My vision of the product would be a dock that holds 2 iPods, and has additional controls, whatever may be needed like fade, pitch, etc. Or, maybe the "pro" iPod would be mostly self contained, but have a dock for a second "regular" iPod, either for more tracks, or for more control on crossfades etc. I think it would be pretty cool, especially for weddings, birthday parties, etc. That way those types of DJs can have more pop tunes to please more people, and hopefully land more gigs.

Another thought, why not make the pro iPod slightly bigger, and incorporate regular laptop HDs, or even full size drives, so you could put 250GB of music, so uncompressed audio would be very feasable. Laptop drives are up to 80gb, and im sure they are working on getting them bigger.

[bennetsaysargh]

if apple decides to use bigger drives, it will take away from the effect of the iPod and it being sleek and whatnot.

[MorganX]

Originally posted by springscansing
It would need many more controls to be able to handle all the real-time beat matching and such that DJs have to do.

Basically all you need is a cue, forward and reverse. Beat mixing is in the ear. And yes, it is a talent.

A talented DJ with a trained ear can beatmix with whatever they have.

If you can beat mix, you can do it with an iPod or anything else.

[Abstract]

Originally posted by h'biki

2.Then there are DJs like DJ Vadim and Rip-One who beat mix tracks and throw in some tricks now and then. They, again, are unlikely to use an iPod DJ system. But hey, they're unlikely to even use a CD mixing system. Vinyl is life to these guys. Not just for sound, but for the culture and the tactile sense. (And anyone who doesn't see vinyl as a culture hasn't met any crate diggers).


Haha, DJ Vadim. He's aiight. I have his USSR album (forgot the actual name :o) and h'biki is right in saying that guys like Vadim cannot use these iPods. But if these pro iPods are only a variant of the current iPod, and accessories produced by Apple are sold to accomodate the different possible uses of this technology, then I think Apple can be very successful.

[couch]

i don't believe it. this is not a market big enough to develop a special dj-edition. the ipod was developed for the mass-consumer market.

couch

[jhaeusler]

There really is no need for new hardware for a DJ iPod, if you want to change pitch etc. it only takes a software update.

As for mixing within one machine (and not hooking up two iPods to a hardware mixing desk, which of course is possible and people already do it), you need proper DJ software and a screen big enough to handle your file list, the mixer, pitch control, overview... in other words: You take your iBook, PowerBook, whatever and use software like Native Instrument's Traktor (http://www.nativeinstruments.de) to control your internal or external harddrive's (or iPod's) song collection. Traktor lets you pitch, synch songs, everything a hardware mixer does and more.

The iPods's wheel makes you think about DJing, of course, but a DJ iPod would basically mean a large iPod with two wheels, mixing hardware and pitching etc. via software. The thing would need a larger screen as well. It would sure look very cool, but let's face it: It would come close to a 12" PowerBook in size or at least wouldn't be portable enough anymore. On second thought, it would look *very* cool... :)

Another possibility would be a software update and a new dock with two stereo outs and a headphone out, that's the minimum need for a DJ. I am not sure if handling the pre-listening tasks, cueing and all that on the iPod screen with only one wheel would be fun and practical, but it could be a reason for some DJs to finally by an iPod. You'd have to hook it up to a hardware mixer then.

And for the quality bit: If you use MP3s only, you can adjust the sound system to get the most out of it (if you mix vinyl and MP3s, you're in sound adjustment hell...). It'll never beat vinyl, though, but that's the price we all pay anyway and that's the one argument that the record industry never thought of in their "fight" against piracy... The ongoing loss of sound and dynamic quality in recordings we pay for.

[aasmund]

Maybe cross-fading is not possible on current line of ipods, because mp3/aac decoding is done in hardware, and this hardware may only be capable of handling one stream at a time.
:(

[bennetsaysargh]

Originally posted by aasmund
Maybe cross-fading is not possible on current line of ipods, because mp3/aac decoding is done in hardware, and this hardware may only be capable of handling one stream at a time.
:(

well, all i know is that even the origional iPods (5, 10, slim 10, and 20) all had the processing power to decode a lot of different file types and even burn cds if the OS was enabled to! that woud truely be one of the pivital innovations if they were to just enable the OS to. i don't think it woud have trouble managing multiple streams at one time.:);)

[ennerseed]

Originally posted by tjwett
i'm not saying it couldn't happen, i'm just saying it would be lame. i work as a musician for media and i also do live sets sometimes with vinyl or laptop. the amount of processing power it would take to actually make this thing cool is well, alot. it would need more than just a simple tempo adjustment feature even to be worth it's weight in dog crap. it would have to be fairly large if we are to assume it will have some sort of "scratch" feature. it would need a decent spec processor to handle the DSP. to get quality stretching/pitching results with an Mp3 is near impossible. to be of any use to DJs it should also incorporate some MIDI i/o for syncing. some internal effects wouldn't go amiss either. also it would need to have the abilty to cue up loop points and be able to punch them in and out on the fly. a basic sampler/looper function should be standard too. basically this thing would have to take the features of the current iPod and throw in the advanced timstretching algorithm technology of Ableton Live or Traktor, plus a new proprietory onboard FX format unless you expect it to handle VST plugins or something (yeah right), a decent size realistic feeling scratch wheel/jog, quality audio in/out, MIDI, etc, etc, etc. without all these things it's nothing special and certainly does nothing software can't do already for cheap. if it CAN do all these things Apple will have just taken their first steps into the hardware musical instrument business which currently is suffering sales drops of up to 80% over the past 2 years, thanks to you guessed it-SOFTWARE. i can't imagine Apple waiting to get into the hardware sampler industry a year after it's pretty much been declared dead. even Akai and E-mu are jumping ship and will soon be pushing software versions of all their stuff. i think Apple is a little smarter than to try and release a hardware musical instrument into a saturated and depressed market where everything you need to do and more is being handled by low cost software. and even if they squeeze all that magic into a box it would probably cost well, i don't even want to think about that.

ok, you should have just changed your first line to say something like:
"i'm not saying it couldn't happen, i'm just saying it would be better if it had a whole bunch of features in it that is not even available for people that are using cd or vinyl setups."

Then I could say something like:
"man you are right, that really would make it far better than cd or vinyl setups. without all those features it would be just at the same level as cd or vinyl setups (of course with pros and cons on both sides) and nobody is purchasing those."

[makkystyle]

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE MAKING ANY MORE SILLY POSTS

Originally posted by TSEliotLives
I see this as being an absolute golden move on the part of Apple...something that I've been pining for for a long time.

I'm a DJ...but not the beatmixing kind. I lug hundreds of pounds of gear all around the state for weddings, school dances, fraternity formals, and the like...and I run my entire show off my PowerBook G4 and iTunes.

Do people laugh when they first see the laptop? Sure. But they shut up pretty quick once the show starts.

MP3's (even the poorly encoded ones) sound just fine through my system, which is nothing but the best. Running the output of the PowerBook through an iMic even furthers the quality. I've already convinced my mentor (a professional mobile DJ of over 20 years) to convert to MP3...and winning those old-school folks over is no easy task.

An iPod tailored to the mobile DJ crowd would be a massive boon for Apple. There's a LOT of us out there...and ANYTHING to lighten the load to a gig is a blessing. If I could find a way around putting my precious PowerBook in harm's way, I would. Having a drunk sorority girl spill her Cosmo on an iPod would be far less devastating than on what serves as my main machine when I'm not working.


I quote this to prove the point I made earlier. SOOOOOOO many of you are so small minded and not seeing the BIG PICTURE. A product like this would NOT be for dj's who are mixing beats or scratching. It's for people like my man TSEliot above who are carrying all their own equipment AND records/cds and playing gigs like weddings, parties, etc. All of you people whining about how it can't compare to vinyl, it wouldn't be anything without ableton and it would definitely need two scroll wheels, a crossfader, line-in, built in sampler and an OS that is able to run reason please take your head out of the sand and realize that this product (if it even exists) is not targeted at you. There are thousands of DJ's like the guy above who would jump at the chance to lighten their load by about 50 pounds every time they played a gig. The 'DJ' world is not only alive in nightclubs and dance venues; in fact they are probably the minority.

[jhaeusler]

The 'DJ' world is not only alive in nightclubs and dance venues; in fact they are probably the minority.

I hear what you're saying and I agree. But what's your point? *Any* DJ, be it a hip club DJ or someone who spins top10 CDs on a wedding party, needs to pre-listen and cue and start the songs in time. My (and other's) above posting wasn't meant for club DJs, but for anyone who puts on songs in a chosen order. So please stop calling other's posts "silly", but read them carefully and think about it. ;)

[technocoy]

moby is an "electronic music producer" not a dj in the traditional sense... at least not anymore... people like the crystal method and fluke and kraftwerk and such are often creating completely new music from samples and digital effects... they have come to be called DJ's, but the term isn't meant in the original sense. and they often have crap-loads of digital processors and laptops on stage... now it could be cool to make the iPod into a sampling device with a dock that could do simple processing and such. sorry just throwin' out my two cents... i've seen moby live and he often has live guitars and singers with him.

technocoy:D

[makkystyle]

Originally posted by jhaeusler
I hear what you're saying and I agree. But what's your point? *Any* DJ, be it a hip club DJ or someone who spins top10 CDs on a wedding party, needs to pre-listen and cue and start the songs in time. My (and other's) above posting wasn't meant for club DJs, but for anyone who puts on songs in a chosen order. So please stop calling other's posts "silly", but read them carefully and think about it. ;)

I've read the posts, and I feel I've read them with a fair amount of care. I'm not saying that all the posts are silly, just that many of the posts don't seem to really understand that a product like this is not targeted at the beat-mixing dance DJ. Many people that have posted don't seem to realize that the "DJ" market does not ONLY include the aforementioned house, trance, hip-hop, rap, drum & bass, breakbeat, etc. club dj's.

Any amount of thought would make the obvious clear, that there is a market for a product like this. Many people just don't seem to be doing the simple mental arithmetic to realize that this is the case. This can be quite frustrating and annoying, especially since it has been pointed out in earlier posts.

So the point you were looking for :) is: People should take a look at where and to whom this product is marketed to before making SILLY statements like "this would be stupid", "no dj would have any use for this" and "I'm not giving up my vinyl". Additionally, the people saying these things are the ones who should be reading these posts more "carefully", because if they did I probably wouldn't be writing this right now.
:rolleyes:

[WannabeSQ]

Just to stir up this rumor more, what ever happened to the new plastic enclosure that MacWhispers said was being made? Maybe that is the new casing for the DJ iPod. Who knows?

[yuri_koval]

I don't beleive they are going to make a dj ipod, maybe a newer system with better song transitions that'll be cool

[hermes369]

I teach classical ballet from my PowerBook. Sometimes the tracks are too fast or too slow to use. It would great to be able to adjust the speed of the tracks. I hope this feature is added to iTunes and not just the iPod. I've been suggesting it every so often on Apple's feedback page. I'm hoping they listened. Now, if only I can get them to use me in the commercial!

[jhaeusler]

Originally posted by makkystyle
People should take a look at where and to whom this product is marketed to before making SILLY statements like "this would be stupid", "no dj would have any use for this" and "I'm not giving up my vinyl". Additionally, the people saying these things are the ones who should be reading these posts more "carefully", because if they did I probably wouldn't be writing this right now.

Ok. Point taken and agreed. :)

[makkystyle]

Originally posted by WannabeSQ
Just to stir up this rumor more, what ever happened to the new plastic enclosure that MacWhispers said was being made? Maybe that is the new casing for the DJ iPod. Who knows?


MMMMMMM, New enclosure! MMMMMMMM

[tychay]

Originally posted by pfranzen
Oh and by the way...We have started to experiment with iTunes for playback of Music in our restaurants and Bars and it is great.

You might also want to look into MegaSeg (http://www.megaseg.com/). There are other solutions (some free) that are better for live DJs, but this product focuses on automation which is what a restaurant or bar needs.

Not sure what advantages it has over iTunes since I don't use the product nor do I run a restaurant/bar. :)

Take care,

[tychay]

Originally posted by hermes369
I teach classical ballet from my PowerBook. Sometimes the tracks are too fast or too slow to use. It would great to be able to adjust the speed of the tracks.

Try Amazing Slow Downer (http://www.ronimusic.com/) which will speed up or slow down music without changing pitch. There might be other solutions out there in live DJing software.

Unfortunately, it is not integrated with iTunes (a pity since iTunes is easily scriptable). With a bit of work and the new system events Scripting (http://www.apple.com/applescript/GUI/) you could integrate the two from iTunes.

Anyone know of others?

Take care,

[hermes369]

I have this program. I didn't think of scripting it, hmmm. I would have to make something that would work quickly. I wouldn't want to spend any time when using it. It's takes long enough to think of combinations! Great idea though! Thanks.

[JSRockit]

Originally posted by pfranzen
a 'professional' ipod would have to be nothing like the current ipod. there is no way youd get a DJ mixing up two pods (as they are today) to a mixer and DJing. Theyd get laughed out of the venue.


Well...start laughing... I live near NYC and there are people using two ipods and a mixer. Do a search on the internet for Apt. They even have a permanent iPod rig set up for all to use.

[JSRockit]

Are you fools this ignorant that you cannot see how a redesigned Pro iPod with a cross-fader, the ability to play two songs at once (one through RCAs, one through the headphone jack for previewing), two LCD windows and pitch controls could work?

If you have ever used NI's Traktor, then you would know that this is possible....and useful. Pioneer not only makes CD "turntables" (as well as others), but an MP3 player for DJs!!!!

Stop thinking of the iPod in its current form as the solution and think of a redesigned Pro iPod along the lines of what i mentioned above.

People already use two iPods and a mixer to DJ...even with all the shortcomings.

I'd buy it in a second.

[JSRockit]

http://www.djzone.net/pg/0208/dn020801.shtml

http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/2002/07/29/dj/

[Grog]

I have to mention DeKstacy (http://www.sonophile.com) since it's easier to use than Tracktor, it's free and the folks who wrote it know their ******. All you need is a powerbook and some mp3s and you can start mixing as only the best djs in the world can (3 decks, 4 decks, external drum machines, etc. all in sync...). Of course, you still have to know what sounds good...

[Wry Cooter]

Originally posted by JSRockit
Are you fools this ignorant that you cannot see how a redesigned Pro iPod with a cross-fader, the ability to play two songs at once (one through RCAs, one through the headphone jack for previewing), two LCD windows and pitch controls could work?


No. They are intelligent enough to see this isn't the best business decision for Apple, with third parties filling the niche already.



If you have ever used NI's Traktor, then you would know that this is possible....and useful.

And why it isn't necessary for Apple to build one. Get Final Scratch, Traktor, and an iBook, use an iPod or two to store the songs and samples. Get Ableton Live if you want to get even fancier.

If you are a DJ doing the weddings Partys and reunion circuit, you don't even need to match beats. You could do a lot of these jobs with an iPod and a PA system, although a notebook would be handier for seeing playlists and available library.

Why aren't you screaming for a Karaoke iPod?

DON"T YOU REALIZE HOW INSANELY EASY IT WOULD BE FOR APPLE TO ENABLE KARAOKE IN THE IPOD!!!!!!!!??????




;)

[JSRockit]

Originally posted by Wry Cooter
No. They are intelligent enough to see this isn't the best business decision for Apple, with third parties filling the niche already.




And why it isn't necessary for Apple to build one. Get Final Scratch, Traktor, and an iBook, use an iPod or two to store the songs and samples. Get Ableton Live if you want to get even fancier.

If you are a DJ doing the weddings Partys and reunion circuit, you don't even need to match beats. You could do a lot of these jobs with an iPod and a PA system, although a notebook would be handier for seeing playlists and available library.

Why aren't you screaming for a Karaoke iPod?

DON"T YOU REALIZE HOW INSANELY EASY IT WOULD BE FOR APPLE TO ENABLE KARAOKE IN THE IPOD!!!!!!!!??????




;)
I use Traktor 2 and Live 2.0 and would still love to have one of these "DJ iPods"...
Computers are a part of most DJ set-ups these days. A professional ipod would go over well with DJs...we can always say there is always "This", so why do we need "That"...why? because we are all addicted to technology and this would be one cool piece of tech. While your arguement to use a laptop is a good one...there still is no reason not to make a professional iPod. You have to admit that using the wheel on the iPod would be more comfortable than a mouse for browsing through menus no?

[jaredbbauer]

Look, I own a very large club in SLC, and we use nothing but mac products. for those of you who say you would not like a dj who uses mp3's over vinyl you are dumb as a brick! The amount of technical items you can do with an mp3 far exceeds that of a cd or a record...

We actually use ipods right now as back up in case something happens to our house dj's.

I think this would be a great idea!

[JSRockit]

Originally posted by jaredbbauer
Look, I own a very large club in SLC, and we use nothing but mac products. for those of you who say you would not like a dj who uses mp3's over vinyl you are dumb as a brick! The amount of technical items you can do with an mp3 far exceeds that of a cd or a record...

We actually use ipods right now as back up in case something happens to our house dj's.

I think this would be a great idea!

Some people will have to be hit over the head time and time again until they will see the usefulness of such technology.

[JSRockit]

Originally posted by Grog
I have to mention DeKstacy (http://www.sonophile.com) since it's easier to use than Tracktor, it's free and the folks who wrote it know their ******. All you need is a powerbook and some mp3s and you can start mixing as only the best djs in the world can (3 decks, 4 decks, external drum machines, etc. all in sync...). Of course, you still have to know what sounds good...

Thanks alot for the tip.

[Grog]

Originally posted by JSRockit
Thanks alot for the tip.

My pleasure! BTW, forgot to mention that it's OS X only. But of course, the cool djs wouldn't use pcs anyway :D

[bennetsaysargh]

i can't see a lot of creative people using PCs at all. it's ust the way it is i guess:rolleyes:

[JSRockit]

Originally posted by Grog
My pleasure! BTW, forgot to mention that it's OS X only. But of course, the cool djs wouldn't use pcs anyway :D

I use PCs as well as Macs. But was happy to see it was OS X and not stuck back on OS9. I guess I'm only half cool.

[JSRockit]

Originally posted by bennetsaysargh
i can't see a lot of creative people using PCs at all. it's ust the way it is i guess:rolleyes:

This is just not true. There are alot of people using PCs to make music. Just look in Computer Music magazine and Future Music magazine.

[Kai]

Pitch and speed-shifting was *exactly* in a lengthy email about possible improvements to the iPod i mailed to Apple about a week ago! ;-)

I'm not ****ting you.. I have deja vue all over here!..

If they add a BMP-counter, Sherlock-integration, ogg-Support and a Filebrowser, too, you definately know they did read my email! ;-)

[JSRockit]

Originally posted by Kai
Pitch and speed-shifting was *exactly* in a lengthy email about possible improvements to the iPod i mailed to Apple about a week ago! ;-)

I'm not ****ting you.. I have deja vue all over here!..

If they add a BMP-counter, Sherlock-integration, ogg-Support and a Filebrowser, too, you definately know they did read my email! ;-)

and I thought noone wants this stuff? Where did you e-mail, so I can send it as well?

[bennetsaysargh]

i know that there are djs that use pcs, but usually people who are creative, like djs, use creative comuters:D

also, before i forget...I have deja vue all over here!..

oh no! they changed something in the matrix!

[JSRockit]

Originally posted by bennetsaysargh
i know that there are djs that use pcs, but usually people who are creative, like djs, use creative comuters:D


Ok...then I must be doing something other than being creative when I use my PC. The software is what allows you to be creative, not the hardware...unless you are one of those that think newer PCs crash every five minutes...which, mine do not (nor does my mac).

[bennetsaysargh]

sorry if it was taken that way. im not saying anything about you or any other dj direclt, i guess i meant to say that most people on OS X use it for very creative jobs. not saying that pcs are uncreative, just that mac is more so.

sorry about that.

[JSRockit]

Originally posted by bennetsaysargh
sorry if it was taken that way. im not saying anything about you or any other dj direclt, i guess i meant to say that most people on OS X use it for very creative jobs. not saying that pcs are uncreative, just that mac is more so.

sorry about that.

Fair enough. I'm not a DJ either...more of a beat maker. But I use some DJ programs. I would love to see this iPod.

[djgafi]

iPods for DJs are cool, however i wish apple released an iPod with a real time recording/encoding feature.

it'd be great to record a live set straight to the ipod, and listen it later or drop it into iTunes, or be able to edit it ....

this would be an AMAZING feature!

every musician/DJ/performer would benefit.

apple, if you're there... knock!!

[JSRockit]

Originally posted by djgafi
iPods for DJs are cool, however i wish apple released an iPod with a real time recording/encoding feature.

it'd be great to record a live set straight to the ipod, and listen it later or drop it into iTunes, or be able to edit it ....

this would be an AMAZING feature!

every musician/DJ/performer would benefit.

apple, if you're there... knock!!

Recording will be here soon.