As DJ techniques evolve, so does software to enable them. But when you’re dealing with video, things get a little more complicated. Undaunted by arbitrary things like limitations, Inklen has embraced DJ workflows in a big way and added a sample player to MixEmergency 2.7, and has done it in style.

Inklen say it best:

Inklen releases MixEmergency 2.7 – adds new Sample Player

Inklen is excited to announce the release of MixEmergency 2.7 – adding a new Sample Player and GPU-accelerated video playback of Hap encoded videos.

MixEmergency’s new Sample Player features 8 Samples, 4 Banks, and 72 Preset Sample Player Sets. An advanced editing panel also allows users to edit how the media is composited and animated. It can be used for adding One-Shot Samples, Logos, Loops, and Lower Thirds over the video output. As the Sample Player is a fully independent video sample player, it’s possible to use other audio applications (e.g. Ableton Live) to play the audio portion of any sample.

The introduction of GPU-accelerated playback of Hap encoded videos is particularly useful when combined with the new Sample Player feature, as it allows for a significant reduction in the level of CPU use when playing short samples – especially for videos requiring Alpha channels. For example, encoding videos with the Hap Alpha codec produced files that use 50% less CPU, and 60% less disk space than videos encoded using the Animation codec.

What’s new in MixEmergency 2.7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGvfYBS10Y0

New in MixEmergency 2.7:

• Added new Sample Player feature.
• Added support for GPU-accelerated playback of Hap encoded movies.
• Added support for animated GIF files (for both decks and in the Image Overlay).
• Added a Rate control to the Transport view.
• Added right-click menu to the Quartz Composition and Image Overlay file-drop areas.
• Added Blend modes for Quartz Composition Overlays.
• Quartz Composition and Image Overlay file-drop areas can now display a preview image.
• Updated Syphon to the latest version (fixes some issues with Channel 1 and 2 output).
• Optimised RGB Delay effect.
• Fixed issues syncing beats when playing short video loops over longer audio tracks.
• Fixed an issue that could cause the FX Sequencer to fail to trigger when using the One-shot (synced) mode.
• Fixed bug where the window close buttons were not working on the split preview windows.
• Fixed file path issues when using Serato DJ 1.7 or higher.
• Fixed memory deallocation bugs.

Download MixEmergency 2.7 here: http://www.inklen.com/mixemergency/download

MixEmergency can be purchased online for $149. Users who own a MixEmergency 1 license are eligible to upgrade to MixEmergency 2 for $49.  For more information, visit: http://www.inklen.com/mixemergency/upgrade

MixEmergency 2.7 – what’s new?

An eight slot four bank MIDI mappable sample player with a load of presets and a lot editing abilities is a lot to take in all at once. It’ll most probably do the same for MixEmergency users as it did for audio DJs when such things first hit too. Usually features are added in bit by bit, but this implementation is pretty balls-out. How long before a Flip-like workflow is added?

Hap support is interesting. Peter Kirn over at CreateDigitalMusic did a detailed piece a while ago that I certainly learned a lot from. The only update I can give to Peter’s article is that Hap now has a PC version to match the Mac one. Not much help for PC users interested in MixEmergency of course because it’s Mac only. But it makes me happy to see people optimising video workflows for VJs.

Call me sad, but I love the support for animated GIFs. In a world that is dominated by social media and memes, it must be awesome to be able to drop that incredibly cool/annoying GIF right there into your performance to immediately engage with the crowd.

Hats off to Inklen for continuing to push the boundaries of VJing forward. This is very good work Nick.