Sure, EKS’ MIDI driven DJ-controllers the XP5 and XP10 have been around for a while, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting them. I’ve been wanting a few of them ever since their release years ago, and recently I was able to buy them for a very nice price! (Thanks, internet.) Last month was Native Instruments’ “kickstart your summer”, which meant I could upgrade my Traktor DJ Studio 3 to Pro for next to nothing. 50% off for LE users, 65% for users of (the full) DJ Studio 1, 2 or 3.

I use my EKS XP5 controllers in two configurations, internal mixing using Traktor Pro and my M-audio X-Session-Pro for mixing and effects, and external mixing using Traktor Pro and a DJ mixer like one of the Pioneer DJM series and a KORG Nanokontrol for effects. Though, I prefer the second set-up; mixing externally, for it’s sound quality (endless debate about this subject, here), the feel of real hardware and the use of the mixer’s own built-in sound-effects. The effects supplied by the mixer itself also make up great for the lack of master effects in Traktor DJ Studio & Traktor Pro. EKS and Traktor Pro supply their one midi-configurations for the EKS XP5 (and XP10) for single or multiple XP controllers, but I prefer using yet another set-up by a Native Instruments forum user called lourma. I then edited the button-layout to match my demands and make it work like it did when I was using it to control Traktor DJ Studio 3.

The wheel to nudge and scratch the track works brilliantly in combination with Traktor’s midi capabilities. Allowing for all kinds of functions to be assigned to it using midi-pages like, effects, setting a high or low sensitivity for slight nudges or a hard backspin, and of course choosing the tracks from your library of music. I set loops using the controller and jump around the tracks using nothing but the XP5’s. Change the pitch, apply effects, it’s all possible combing Traktor Pro and the EKS XP5’s. However, the device does have it’s drawbacks. The buttons are a bit hard. But they don’t take much effort to be pressed, which makes up it. The controller is pretty lightweight, making it a no-go for a DJ who likes to play his or her tunes vigorously. All round it’s a bit on the small and light side of things, making it look less impressive than it really is. And last of all, the supplied USB cables are not the best around, one of them breaking after only a few months of use and only a few gigs where I used them. Not the biggest of issues, but having the cable break in the middle of my performance was very frustrating. (Which taught me the following, A-L-W-A-Y-S bring a spare pair of USB cables type A – B, male – male.)

The last months I’ve been using the XP5 controllers and Traktor many times for practice and gigs and they will be my main weapons of choice the following months during my performances in Japan. For now I can say that the combination of these machines and Traktor DJ Studio (3) or Traktor Pro produces a mixing powerhouse. Traktor has grew a lot in the transition from DJ Studio 3 to Traktor Pro in departments like effects and looks. The layout feels more intuitive and looks more tidy. Though I’d wish for the controllers to be a little bit more big and heavier. Not that I use them heavy-handedly, but because they look so fragile because of it. I’m guessing the Otus made up for this, but I’m not using the Otus, I’m using the way cheaper white XP5, two of em in fact. Which brings me to my final-final thought: Modding it, or building a heavy flight case to make up for the lack of weight. Browsing the web I found out that modding the device isn’t easy, which leaves me with finding or building flight cases for the devices. Anyone know any good ones?

I’ve got the scoop on this one! Before the launch tomorrow (it’s out now), this is the only place where you’ll be able to hear this release. I’ll add a download link tomorrow after the release. (Done, check the player.)

Dessben, ruler and overlord of the dark techno force that is Offaudio. I found the label through research for my own label Prowess Records, trying to find out how other net-labels operate. I listened to over 20 gigs of music while looking for deeper meaning behind the Creative Common licenses. Offaudio delivered, and I’ve been following their releases ever since.

These tracks are released under:

Download here: Offaudio – Dessben – Doss Por Cuatro

Tech-step is the name of the style Dessben chose for his latest EP. I would have called it off-beat techno, something I haven’t heard in a long time. But, the influences from dub-step are obviously present and sets the EP apart from most ‘off-beat techno’ I played before. The dark brooding sound of filtered saws and looming deep basslines to drag you further into the experience combined with sound-effects and breaks remind me of Leftfield, experimental producers from the UK who combined techno, dub, and breaks into their own sound.

Though I’m not a dub-step enthusiast, I, for one, welcome this new tech-step sound into the evolutional gene-pool that is electronic music and it’s plethora of sub-genres. Where D’n'B listeners looked back for new inspiration and found it in dub-reggae, this, to me, feels like taking the concept and looking back to the break-beat oriented sound of Electro-funk from Detroid. It’s more like the former rather than the latter, but it gives an industrial feel which I haven’t heard in techno for quite a while. I’m loving the rhythmic beats and basslines and with 8 tracks on the EP, I feel spoiled. Gimme moar!

And if an exclusive review wasn’t enough, Dessben was so kind to give me a first look at the new design of the Offaudio website. Version 5.0 of the site is going to be unveiled to the public tomorrow (along with the new release) and it’s looking slick. Very clean, useful and still good to look at.

The new website and EP will be launched tomorrow, Wednesday the 30th of June, 2010.

The Netherlands, Utrecht  (June 28th, 2010). Starting July the 8th, and all the way through till September, JordyVision (also known as Son of 8-Bits) starts a self-powered and improvised DJ tour in Japan. And with four DJ performances already planned things are looking up for the do-it-yourself DJ, producer and co-owner of electronic-music label Prowess Records.

His adventure starts in Kobe, where he’ll play four sets at three different venues. The names of these clubs are as of yet unknown, but will be announced soon on JordyVision’s website, Twitter, and Facebook pages as well as other social-networking websites. Along with these events he will also try to find his way into the clubs in Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo and any other places friendly to House and Techno music.

To stay informed on all the latest news follow JordyVision on Twitter or read his blog, where the latest gigs and information will be announced. After the adventure in Japan, a detailed report will be writen about his experiences. Ditto-Music, distributor of digital music, will publish this report on their website as a source of information and inspiration for DJ’s, bands or other music related live-performers who are looking for ways to play in Japan.

http://www.sonof8bits.com/
http://twitter.com/Sonof8Bits/
http://www.mixcloud.com/sonof8bits/

Usually The めがね〜ず make mixes for fun. But both members of the DJ duo are big fans of Techno. And thus they decided it was time for a demonstration of their favorite Techno classics.

The Megane~zu – Adventures Beyond The Delicious World by The Megane~zu

01. Captain Funk – O.Y.M. (Christopher Just Remix)
02. Buy Now – For Sale (Felix Da Housecat With Fan-ky Reredub Edit)
03. Bam Bam – Give It To Me
04. Motor – Flashback
05. Hardfloor – Acperience 5
06. Underworld – Kittens
07. Safri Duo – Rise
08. Orbital – Halcyon & On & On
09. Joey Beltram – Drome
10. The Stone Roses – Waterfall (Paul Oakenfold & Steve Osbourne Remix)
11. Phenomania – Strings Of Love
12. Karafuto – Shadow
13. Lo-Fi-Fnk – Marchin’ In
14. René et Gaston – Conte de Fées
15. Kleerup – Until We Bleed (With Lykke Li)
16. Cortney Tidwell – Don’t Let Stars Keep Us Tangled Up (Ewan Pearson Remix)
17. Pogo – Under A Spell
18. Fuck Buttons – Olympians
19. CoCoRosie – God Has a Voice, She Speaks Through Me
20. Kaito – We Are Living Here
21. Radiohead – Motion Picture Soundtrack

To be honest, I was very surprised! Usually blending together a selection of cool, fun and beautiful tracks, but just for fun without much need for skill. This time round it’s a serious mixtape with some cool surprises up it’s sleeve. I’m proud of my students, hehehe!

Inside scoop! Megane~zu will drop another mixtape soon, featuring your truly… Stay tuned..

Acid Over The Rainbow – The Megane~Zu – Adventures Beyond The Delicious World (日本語)
Nowhere - The Megane~Zu – Adventures Beyond The Delicious World (日本語)

I was looking for your track 今夜の東京ディスコ (Tokyo disco music all night long) since 2001 when I first heard it on a mix-CD by Thomas Schumacher. Last year, a friend gave me his vinyls of Kagami. I was so happy to finally have it on a non-digital release.

Sad you had to go so soon.

In the end I didn’t spread this mix since it contains a small error… One of the turntable ground wires slipped loose during play and a hum can be heard for about a second during The Hacker’s ‘Space Travel’. I remember my arm automatically leaping to the ground-cable to put it back in place!

Again, this mix is all vinyl and recorded using Audacity.

01 Jeff Bennett – reinforcing
02 Moguai – ataque
03 Argy – Unreliable virgin
04 Slam – We’re not here
05 Colorswitch – stuntman
06 the Hacker – space travel
07 Radio Slave – screaming hands (Wink’s acid interpretation)
08 Model8 – Lemon8
09 Literon – karma asound
10 Trickski – drakkar
11 the Hacker – it was tomorrow
12 Daft Punk – revolution 909
13 New Order – blue monday
14 Secret Cinema – timeless altitude
15 Leftfield – double flash
16 Mr Oizo – flat beat
17 Kraftwerk – home computer
18 Cybotron – clear
19 Hashim – al naafiysh
20 Squarepusher – my red hot car (girl)

I recorded this mix back in 2004, I guess sometime around summer. Vinyl only… I sure miss the days of hanging out at the record store..

01 Funk D’Void Versus Chicco Secci – Emotional Content
02 Agent 001 – When Pigs Fly
03 The Boogie Knights – On The Ball (Deep Dub)
04 Agent 001 – Tektonic Shift
05 Paranoid Jack – Bring Back The Jack!
06 Jay Tripwire Meets Dub Theory – Canuck Dubz
07 Killer Loop – Someone (Demarkus Lewis remix)
08 Jaranjah – Overcome
09 Jay Tripwire meets Dub Theory – Soun’clash II
10 Wink – Fill Me With Acid
11 Wink – Late Night Acid
12 Linus loves – Bene & Angela

A few of my friends remixed my song ‘Droomweg‘; _aa_, CASSETTi, Premini, DJ Now! & DJ Afre. They did a great job don’t you agree?

Listen right here:

Read all about it here: http://code.google.com/p/nitrotracker/

I took the midi from the original bassline and combined it with some home-made synth sounds. I decided to use the original kick-drum and layered it with an 808. You’ll also notice CR-78 and TR-707 samples for some of the rhythm-sections and a few percussion loops taken from the original. So that’s why I decided to call it ‘Reprogram remix’.

Download it for free: Monarken – OK (Reprogram Remix By JordyVision)

Edit: As of now you can also listen to the song and download it at Bandcamp or Soundcloud.