Very well said and in this case it is the music made by others in fact. I suspect that some DJs are there thinking anyone gives a rats ass about their cool technology and they imagine everyone admiring it. Whereas in most cases all the audience care about is very loud (often distorted) base booming with some strong dance beat and where the next drink is coming from. If they want to test this theory try playing a top dance hit on the iPad and then Barry Manilow on the high tech fabulous equipment they so love and see which is received the best way.
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Promising iPad Apps: Mixr and iMockups
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Very well said and in this case it is the music made by others in fact. I suspect that some DJs are there thinking anyone gives a rats ass about their cool technology and they imagine everyone admiring it. Whereas in most cases all the audience care about is very loud (often distorted) base booming with some strong dance beat and where the next drink is coming from. If they want to test this theory try playing a top dance hit on the iPad and then Barry Manilow on the high tech fabulous equipment they so love and see which is received the best way.
I dont need to use the ipad to know that it doesnt feel like a record, that it doesnt have multiple audio outputs for pre-listen, and that it wont be able to deliver half the functionality of an actual turn table.
I'm sure its a great app considering the limitations, but implying that a professional DJ will even touch it while on a job is a ludicrous assumption to make.
This is all really pertaining to a post on the first page where someone claimed DJs will be all over the iPad because of this. They wont because the iPad is little more than a toy and when you have real work to do you are going to use a real machine, whether that be an actual keyboard, turntable, or whatever.
Sure, it might actually run on magic and unicorn blood and be the greatest turntable app since the beginning of time, but whats the chances of something so limited actually competing with a product designed for DJ-ing to begin with. I'm getting sick of people claiming the iPad can do everything because we havent used it yet, so we cant assume limitations. Thats BS. ANyone with half a brain can tell the iPad wont be a substitute for actual equipment. I guess if you are doing a free gig for a school prom or whatever the iPad will be fine, but in the professional market it is a joke.
iTunes plug-in wanted.
I just want a button that lets me overlay a slider on any currently playing iTunes track to let me time stretch. I use iTunes and sometimes my iPhone to teach ballet class. Often the tempos are too slow or too fast. I have a Pioneer CDJ-1000MK2 that does the job very well; but, I have to limit my song choices to what can fit on a CD; there's only so many times I want to subject my students to the same plié music I see some apps that are close; but, I want a, nice-sounding (preferably zplane), time-stretching algorithm with a very simple interface. Is there such an animal and I don't know about it?
I just want a button that lets me overlay a slider on any currently playing iTunes track to let me time stretch. I use iTunes and sometimes my iPhone to teach ballet class. Often the tempos are too slow or too fast. I have a Pioneer CDJ-1000MK2 that does the job very well; but, I have to limit my song choices to what can fit on a CD; there's only so many times I want to subject my students to the same plié music I see some apps that are close; but, I want a, nice-sounding (preferably zplane), time-stretching algorithm with a very simple interface. Is there such an animal and I don't know about it?
+1
I can see someone using this app for a bit of fun for say 10 mins, but why would you use such a device to record/play records on a device with such limited functionality in an environment outside your own home?
I can see the ipad being used to control software already running on a laptop, but decent hardware controllers already do a much better job.
I recall many years ago owning a two inch, sixteen track Studer based recording studio. With the amazing mixing desk and effects I had so many extra boxes and wires and gizmos you wouldn't believe it. Nothing could replace all of that! Only problem in is in truth even Garage Band leaves it in the dust let alone the Pro apps. I learned never to assume that over time a new innovation is a joke too soon. Meanwhile I have a ton of analog stuff in the garage the wife is about to throw out lol.
Look...you guys will never agree of understand because you don't DJ. It's that simple. If you look at industry standard DJ software "Serato" they started out as a software only studio mixing app, which means you could mix "in the box", but really you could emulate a record stopping/slowing down etc. They were smart enough to realize that you couldn't effectively scratch without allowing DJ some versatility, so they created a breakout box so the DJ could play a vinyl record that output a signial that the software could decode and emulate as a record.
That all great in the studio when you only need one channel but it doesn't work in the real world.
So they created a MULTI Channel break out box that fed into a real physical mixer. That way you could mix your tracks and still hear the tracks in the headphones. Now of course, they build serato into the mixers which I use. 57sl
So in theory, you would only need a break out dongle to feed into your mixer, but that's not obvious because they clearly have a fader to mix left and right. It would be smarter to have the fader be the headphone fader and let your mixer do the actual mixing. You would always need some form of mixer.
If you are a straight CD dj, than this would probably serve you just fine. But if you are a Vinyl DJ, or a creative DJ that scratches beat juggles, etc...this would simply not work.
Just an observation from an actual DJ that has used orginal vinyl, CDs and now virtual vinyl software. I know everyone wants to defend and rationalize a product, but if you don't DJ in the now, you really won't get it.
That all great in the studio when you only need one channel but it doesn't work in the real world.
So they created a MULTI Channel break out box that fed into a real physical mixer. That way you could mix your tracks and still hear the tracks in the headphones. Now of course, they build serato into the mixers which I use. 57sl
So in theory, you would only need a break out dongle to feed into your mixer, but that's not obvious because they clearly have a fader to mix left and right. It would be smarter to have the fader be the headphone fader and let your mixer do the actual mixing. You would always need some form of mixer.
If you are a straight CD dj, than this would probably serve you just fine. But if you are a Vinyl DJ, or a creative DJ that scratches beat juggles, etc...this would simply not work.
Just an observation from an actual DJ that has used orginal vinyl, CDs and now virtual vinyl software. I know everyone wants to defend and rationalize a product, but if you don't DJ in the now, you really won't get it.
This is a giant LOL. I make no claims about how good or bad the software is (I haven't used it) nor how better or worse the tactile experience is to a real turntable (I'm not a DJ). But anyone that doesn't think you're going to see iPads ALL OVER bars and clubs being used by DJ after DJ for perhaps no other reason to look hip and cool, you're crazy/naive/unaware of market forces at work. Again: LOL.
And professional photographers miss film, too.
Two things
I dj and understand perfectly what I need and the required functionality of a product.
I realise that this could be developed into a fairly decent piece of software, but the hardware functionality is just not good enough on the ipad.
Since when has 'Serato' become industry standard? Or did you just make that up?
Any dj who uses anything more than the usual cds or vinyl normally brings their own gear and I'd bet that traktor and live get used just as much.
This is a giant LOL. I make no claims about how good or bad the software is (I haven't used it) nor how better or worse the tactile experience is to a real turntable (I'm not a DJ). But anyone that doesn't think you're going to see iPads ALL OVER bars and clubs being used by DJ after DJ for perhaps no other reason to look hip and cool, you're crazy/naive/unaware of market forces at work. Again: LOL.
And professional photographers miss film, too.
Every bar and night club has either one of 2 mixer setups - Pioneer or Rane 57(sl) 2 technics turntables with maybe CDJs or one CDJ used as the house CD player. If you are a DJ use have serato or one of the other fine virualization softwares and you just plug your computer/breakout box in. This makes it easy for DJs to switch out thru the night. No club or promoter is going to hire you if you tell them you mix through your iPad. It hard enough when you tell them you use CDJs.
Serato is industry standard in the US. I know overseas traktor and live are more renowned. I am only speaking the US, and in the US for the most part if a club is setup, they won't let you bring your own gear. Takes too much work to break down and set back up. I have not been to a club in years that didn't have serato built in. I have never been to a hollywood club that had a traktor hookup.
Ah a voice of reason in this screwy noisy debate...
I have a friend who's a DJ, and he has several iterations of his setup, and the kind of gig he's doing determines the setup he brings. There are some gigs that he brings only a couple of iPods to for running music off them. I think he also has a simple mixer, so he can easily switch between the two. It would be for simple gigs like this that I'd bet he'd be game for getting an iPad with an app like this...
You know, it's funny, here you're arguing that the iPad and this Mixr app won't ever work unless "you are a straight CD dj", but then you outline the process by which this software "Serato" evolved from being something that you probably would have said the same thing about into being "industry standard". I doubt anyone would argue that Mixr (or the iPad, for that matter) are fait-accompli. They are obviously going to be works in progress. And, just as obviously, they will evolve to meet the needs of their market. For Mixr, that market is DJs, whether professional or hobbiest. As they get feedback, and assuming they are serious about providing a top notch product, they will change their product. As has been suggested many times on this thread already, they may move to creating custom dock hardware, as well, to provide things like multiple output channels. Long and short, it seems a bit premature to be so judgmental to me....
And you know this because... you know all of the capabilities of the iPad hardware, including everything that could be done through custom dock interfaces? You're that good a hardware engineer, and yet you work as a DJ? Huh...
QUESTION FOR DJs:
How much music do you need to bring to a gig? I've heard several people on this thread say that 64GB of space on an iPad isn't enough, and others argue that the best music comes from vinyl. So, if you're using vinyl, how many boxes of records do you bring to a gig? How much space would they take up if they were converted to a "lossless" format? In theory, 64GB should hold in excess of 100 hours of music, even in a "lossless" format, or in excess of 50 hours in a non-compressed format (i.e. AIFF). So, again, how much music do you need to bring to a gig that's going to last at most, what, 4 to 5 hours?
1st: I didn't say the app couldn't evolve, as a matter of fact I also said a way which it could work.
So in theory, you would only need a break out dongle to feed into your mixer, but that's not obvious because they clearly have a fader to mix left and right. It would be smarter to have the fader be the headphone fader and let your mixer do the actual mixing. You would always need some form of mixer.
I am not a straight CD DJ, so it wouldn't work for me. I would be taking a major step back. If you or someone you know wants to use it, more power to them. I have seen very creative people do great things with devices that were not intended for specific uses. I'm sure it will be fun. It's just very realistic to assume that these jaded night clubs and promoters are not going to hire you with an ipad. That's reality. I have been in music production for a while too, and everytime I talk to an artist or manager, they ask me, "What software are you using?" I answer, ProTools and they say, good. Even though Logic Studio works perfectly.
To answer your second question, If I'm doing straight audio - I can do just fine with about 30GBs. In reality if I got rid of the stuff I don't use much or at all, probably around 16-20GB
Didn't think of that..
ooops
But, the custom dock interface would have wires coming out of it which would then take the ipad out of your hand and back onto the desk/table, where all the other hardware controllers/interfaces currently sit.
Thus making the multi touch the only redeeming feature.
edit: i suppose you could pick it up, but trying to manipulate effects/tracks while holding it could be tricky.
Goldie does it. He would rock the iPad
any DJ worth anything should be able to beat match on the fly. I have done that on several occasions, but that is not the norm. You do it because you have to, not because you want to. Also if you are mixing that fast, you probably have your line preset so you know exactly what the tempo should be. But what happens if you have to call on something outside of that, or a live record (band) with varying tempos? Now you have more of a problem.
I can vouch for the other guy who said Serato is industry standard. Along with CD-J's and 1200's, I thought it was a given.
And scratching on this this thing would be the equivalent of Flare Scratch on the iphone. Even if the nonexistent platter didn't bother you, you still can't do much without a physical fader.
I fail to see why a slimmed down version of most audio would not run perfectly well ?
I used to use reason v1 on 500mhz pentium back in the day, it also ran perfectly well in live situations on 500mhz ibook g3's.
Regards DJ applications, i'd love to see a SINGLE REALLY well designed touch turntable application for use live .. one that would somehow link 2 pads together (for sync) would be UBER cool or a hardware controller that docks the ipad and uses it as the visual interface, storage and fx unit ?
I'd imagine lots of lemur style apps will be hitting the pad pretty soon as well which would be seriously excellent as an additional midi controller (I currently use a nanokontrol for external fx in traktor).
Roll on the possibilities
how about a virtual otus ?