Right now it feels like each day delivers a new portablist routine to my assorted timelines. This if anything shows the explosion in popularity for scratching on the go, which is weird considering it took so long that the tools of choice have been hard to get hold of. Realising this, Numark has reworked its PT01 portable turntable into the PT01 Scratch, to be a tad more turntablist friendly by adding a “DJ scratch switch”.
As ever copious words from Numark:
NUMARK SCRATCHES ITS WAY TO THE TOP WITH INTRODUCTION OF WORLD’S FIRST PORTABLE TURNTABLE WITH DJ SCRATCH SWITCH
World’s leading innovator of DJ solutions announces unique PT01 Scratch portable turntable at DJ Expo that delivers authentic, exciting DJ scratch effects anywhere—inside or out!
Cumberland, RI USA (August 15, 2016)— Numark (numark.com), the world’s leading innovator of DJ solutions, today announced the introduction at DJ Expo of their exciting new PT01 Scratch portable turntable with DJ scratch switch that enables DJ portable turntable enthusiasts (“portablists”) to play records with genuine scratch effects—anywhere!
DJs love the sound they can get by scratching records, but until now, that effect was limited to indoor, traditionally-powered turntables that plug into the wall. However, with the rapidly-increasing popularity of portable battery-operated turntables, DJs are finally able to practice their art outdoors, away from the limitations of the electrical outlet.
The PT01 Scratch introduces the industry’s first adjustable scratch switch on a portable turntable, enabling DJs to add their own custom scratch effects to their performance, anywhere, indoors or out. The adjustable switch easily accommodates scratching with either the left or right hand, so no matter what the DJ’s style, the PT01 Scratch is simple to use.
The PT01 Scratch also features a special non-slip cartridge system, meaning the stylus stays in solid contact with the record’s grooves regardless of playing angle or external vibrations, so records sound clear and sharp under virtually any condition.
Key Features:
- Built-in adjustable Scratch Switch
- Protective carrying case with integrated carrying handle
- Includes AC wall adapter or uses six “D” cells (not included)
- Built-in speaker
- Cartridge included
- Removable slip-mat
- USB connection for recording to computer (free downloadable software)
- 33 1/3, 45 and 78 RPM settings
- RCA outputs for easy connection to other equipment
- Headphone jack for private listening
“We know that DJs want to take their music outside and not be restricted to where they practice their art. That’s why our portable turntable business is exploding,” said Chris Roman, Sr. Product Manager for Numark. He added, “The PT01 Scratch takes the portable turntable to the next level, by being the only one to provide a real scratch switch. DJs everywhere are going to love this.”
US retail for the PT01 Scratch is $129.00 and it will be available in Summer 2016.
See and hear the entire line of exciting Numark products at DJ Expo, booth #416, in Atlantic City NJ, August 15-18, 2016.
SWITCH?
On one hand, I think it’s brilliant that Numark is supporting a small niche (portablism) of an already small scene (turntablism). There is also a chance that with the cost effectiveness of portablism and people’s desire to just scratch, portablism could be the gateway product to turntablism. Coffee shops will be littered with I just wish they’d gone a step further, and rather than adding a switch (essentially recreating the 80s and the discovery of line switch transformer scratches), they should have made it easy to add a fader.
My preference would have been to drop in a super cheap fader with swapping out to a mini Innofader or Pro X Fade an absolute doddle. I await videos of people crabbing with this switch before I’ll be totally convinced of its value to portablists. A few clips will doubtlessly leach out of DJ Expo in the next 24 hours.
I do understand though — retooling isn’t cheap, and that would have reflected in the price. But what Numark has done has made changes that are easy to implement to keep the price down for a market that is already nicher than niche and could be a passing fad.
With Handy Trax changing hands for increasing sums of money on eBay, there was certainly scope for a more expensive PT02 that allows for faders. I’m confident that people would be happier being able to do this rather than ignore the new switch and continue to use external faders in boxes, which is what I sense will happen.
But well done to Numark for looking after the portablist market. It’s great to see a new supply of hardware for the market. It certainly looks like an awesome thing to have on your lap.
A QUESTION
The inclusion of a switch has led me to ponder something. A friend of mine one said “all I need is a switch”, and given that we have curves set to minimum with lag times required in microns, the fader has become little more than a very long throw on/off switch. So why not just have a decent grippable fluid switch? I love the three-way one on my Rodec Scratchbox, and it’s not outside the realm of possibility that a luxurious switch could be the ideal thing for portable scratch devices. Discuss.
GALLERY
I saw this image and my head clicked ‘Virtual DJ!!!.’
Long time Virtual DJ user here.
It’s also very Innofadery too. I think it looks HAWT.
That was quick, we just had a good convo about this on FB yesterday..
1.
Look at the OS2 Optical Slide Switch from my SA-8 Signature Mixer…Very reminiscent, even the red Slipmats from my site…Just posted a picture yesterday…There is a point where it’s so obvious that to deny my influence and impact on the Scratch Culture is pure fantasy :-)…
2.
Yes, we have evolved to the point of Cutting with Precision and all you need is a Sharp Cut like a Switch…with the exception offf…
That’s a little bit going backwards…back to using a Paper Clip and Grounding the signal…Back to using a conductive ink pent to turn the Faders Into Switches…
3.
Back to…ewww keeping those for now :-)…
4.
Back to Reed switches, they have always been on the table, you now have some that are itty bity smd format…I experimented with Reeds and looks like others had the same idea…It’s a coo approach…
5.
If I hadn’t moved past the Contact Switch Phase then I wouldn’t of been motivated to create the Contactless Fader, the Vestax VCA made it simple and there was a synergy that happened…
6.
Looks like people are getting deprogrammed :-) Finally understanding that the Innofader is not the end all be all and as I mentioned before it slowed down progress because of the added cost, extra cost to everything…
When the Focus Fader came out it was in the $60.00 range…How did faders go over the 100$ mark? Pss…
Those Rane Faders are 2 hall effect sensors a magnet and a few resistors…They are $75 and up :-(
We can still have Contactless and Low Cost without having to go to a Contact Switch…
7.
Thoughts on the Turntable, a baby step forward. Curios as to what exactly is or how the Mini Fader is Made and Wired…Numark has been paying attention, it’s a way test the waters for possible future models…
…My Numark Upgrade Kit :-)…
The OS2 Switches were Focus Fader V1.0 shrunk down for the Stanton SA-8….Same Mechanism was used, check out the slots on the side for easy lubricating…
They debut on the Stanton Sk2f Limited 2001/2002 ish…etc..etc…
maaan…. thanks for you input and all the work!! shame you didn’t receive your piece of recognition for that… or have you??
Thanks…
There won’t be any acknowledgement from the Numark or any of the Big Guys in the scene, it’s not inline with the pocket book or their image…Gotta remember, there are Kids,Cars and Houses to pay for, the theme that it’s just for the Arts is misdirection…That’s why it’s Taboo to talk about many..
Even Jay Z will tell you he is just trying to feed his family :-) hahah…
Staying vocal with some of these things…
Showing you my influence on their new release :-).
Even calling it a Scratch Slide Switch…word for word
some of my lingo when I get into the Nerd Tal about Switches haha…
Some dork in the office is patting himself on the back right now or one of the Scratch Nerds that’s taking ideas from the Mods and using them as leverage to get in the corporate circles has a big smile on his face….Like yeah, I did it…haha…
That’s how you do it mang, one step leads to another and you leverage that to open more doors and get more interviews, then you use that as a point of reference for more shazammm haha…
The Switches are from 2001/2002…This Scratch thing is new too some but that doesn’t negate the fact that some of us were thinking bigger picture, back in the days….
This is what you see here, a culmination of what came before…We are still building on what’s to come after…
1. Only a fool denies your influence.
2. So would a plush engineered adjustable switch work for you? The short throw fader does look like a solid alternative too.
4. I have a video to post later that uses a reed switch. It’s really good.
6. It’s a matter of having competition. Let’s see if Galileo can deliver.
7. Perhaps this will stop Handy Trax from fetching silly prices.
Haha :-) …I have to be my biggest fan to stay relevant and remind these newbies or old timers…
They called it a Slide Scratch Switch but didn’t quote me :-)…
I haven’t enjoyed the financial success others have so it’s about rebuilding, not ego..but in end we all want to be recognized by our peers, even if it’s for doing a good job at mopping floors…
Those Reeds might be the best alternative but Switch Bounce might be an issue, I never used them for long periods of time…
There is more details an insight that I can add but want to keep somethings for myself for now…
The thing is that Contactless Faders Optical/Magnetic can be really inexpensive…10$ or less…
By the default there is still a tiny fade with the Optical/Magnetic Contact Free Switches so it’s not as harsh…
The circuits is not even the big issue, to me it’s always been the mechanical aspect…
For Portable devices if they don’t add the Circuitry to be able to implement a contactless then we are still in the same boat… Competition me likessss, Galileo or Excalibur, Siya need to works overtime on this…:-)…
I’m already there with the circuits to upgrade the portables and any other devices with Contactless but being patient and more strategic, since things get hijacked with no real credit or financial return…
This was more like half a baby step foward but everything is moving towards a real Portable being released sooner or later…
I ma still very curios as to what the Slide Switch is, regular Mechanical Switch? How it is wired into the turntable…
Numark could have just made it even more Mod friendly which is really coo..
These Numarks parallel the Vestax 05pro, it was and is a pleasure to Mod since it has plenty of space and the individual boards was a game changer for Mods too…
Thinking this might make it easier to mod your own fader in it since they’ve done some new wiring to get their “fader” going in there, might be something usable where we can throw in our own with a little elbow grease
Very good point. It depends what’s underneath. Hopefully I’ll get one sent that doesn’t have to go back. You know what I’m like with a screwdriver.
It makes sense and maybe it’s easy to implement nanofader and use the faceplate space too.
exactly my thoughts
this thing looks cool, but you’re still going to mod it for battery, ultra pitch, start/stop, tonearm, etc. it’d have to be cheap tho considering that. cool Numark is supporting the niche niche niche market with a product, but maybe should have R&D’d with some of the cats out there modding its products to make it better cuz a lot of people cannot solder and do the mods and will still likely want to have this piece upgraded.
This is just a quick fix with minimal if any tooling changes necessary. I’m sure that if Numark felt that there was a market for an all new portablist specific model, they’d have done it.
i’d actually like to know more about the market. i.e. how many JDDX2Rs sold or how many of the new Raiden faders sold. I saw this is $129 retail possibly, which isn’t bad but I need more hands on proof of the effectiveness of the clicker.
A short clip of it in action:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJI0Rk6gSkX/?taken-by=kev_fam
is it belt driven like the pt01 usb?? what about the platter , is it better?? if anyone has any info of course…
I’m pretty confident in stating that it’s the same, but made pretty and with an added switch.
hmmmmm…… great for the movement of portablism,but they could slightly improve everything the community has been noticing for a while… imo
A 3way switch would have to be very, very good for the flare heavy scratch community. Us Transformers though….
PT01 pro with built in fader.
Kind of a shame vestax went under RIGHT when a trend they could actually sell popped up.
Sadly I don’t think sales of a niche portable turntable that’s worth a couple of hundred dollars would be enough to salvage any company
This is not a real fader, this fader doesn’t slide left / right, it tilts left right. It looks like the same fader that Numark was going to release on their never released DJ game pad that also had Akai beat pads for last gen consoles that was to compete with DJ HERO.
nobody said its a fader, its a switch according to Numark wich is better to do sharp cuts with
At least the portable scene is getting some love and as someone has already said…get some guys that’s already in the portable scene to help and share ideas. We’re finally heading in the right direction and can only get better.
The switch kinda makes sense. Most people serious enough about portablism get an ext fader anyway, but even then an xform switch is still nice to have in addition to a raiden etc. And for beginners, a switch will do jus fine.
The no-skip feature, if true, will be killer and open up loads of avenues for utilizing “non-skipless” 7″ records for cutting.
The price is dead on as well
https://goo.gl/yHxEc8&ljvy
Hmmmm the design seems ok for people scratching with their left hand on the turntable….what about people scratching the other way around?
https://www.facebook.com/Numark/videos/10154403120816085/
He was asking about people scratching the opposite way round. RIGHT hand on the record and left hand on the fader.
aah yes
https://goo.gl/vQGGYK&ihjsu
https://goo.gl/4xTXvy&ybjxo
for right handed its great for others hmmm who knows
You can buy a fader and mount it anywhere you like. Some faders cut both ways.
https://goo.gl/1ZrETv&isemy
https://goo.gl/pDBcsF&ljbar
https://goo.gl/wBeRMw&alulu
https://goo.gl/YiU8KG&acotu
This looks sooooo awesome. Wasn’t too rushed to drop $100 on a unmark deck and then $70 or so on a separate fader so this fits the bill perfectly. When is this coming out? Also since the “switch”is interchangeable I am sure they will eventually be dropping a “fader” version, unless someone else comes up with it. Very exciting and definitely going to be getting into portablism as soon as this comes out. Thank you Numark! I can’t wait to get my hands on one.
I’m by no means a “portablist”, but I played around with it a little bit at the Expo. I was impressed. The feel is nice, the switch was sharp and does what you would expect. And at that price point, you can’t go wrong. I thought it was a cool piece.
Does it come with a 7 inch control vinyl?
No? Says nothing about a control record.
In ya face thud rumble !a mini qfo commence.everywhere I look:sites,reviews,hype etc. People are more excited about this unit than they are for the invader mixer!even thou it’s a dope mixer it didn’t received that omg/views reaction from masses.Numark thank u!analog skratching rules……..
i am so gonna get this, actually maybe two and dj with them for the fun of it….
i dont wanna hear it guys i own 6 technics 1200, this setup would just be fun to see and mix similar bpm’s and scratch a little
I wonder how nice/awkward it will feel when scratching left hand on fader, right hand on platter? Definitely need to have a test in store before purchasing I think