<a href="http://youtu.be/5TbT2mCLuF4%5B/embed%5D">http://youtu.be/5TbT2mCLuF4
Like it or not, DJing is rapidly becoming a pocket-sized pastime with a cheap if not free price tag. You can sit behind your keyboard and complain, but that won’t make it go away, nor will it stop the inevitability of the digital age continuing to rampage through the DJ scene. So it’s time to embrace the weird and wonderful that the new style is throwing our way, and one such quirky little thing is the Urbanears Slussen – the IKEA sounding pocket audio adaptor, and a free iOS app to go with it.
As ever, some official words to whet your appetite:
INTRODUCING URBANEARS SLUSSEN
A first of its kind from Urbanears, Slussen is the most powerful after-party weapon known to man. Slussen is the combination of pocket-sized hardware and free iOS software. Designed to hang on your keychain, the Slussen allows you to take the party with you, wherever you go. Slussen is available at nation-wide Urbanears retailers and online at Urbanears.com for $15. Urbanears comes in four color ways – Pumpkin, Grape, Tomato and Petrol.
GETTING STARTED
To unleash Slussen, plug the adapter into your iPhone, iPod or other iOS device and download the Slusen app. Connect your headphones and sound system into the adapter via the two 3.5mm jacks. Launch the app, and that’s it. Slussen’s pre-listening feature ensures that the tunes are always bumping, even while preparing the next track.
LOADING YOUR DECKS
Open a track by tapping the name field on top of each deck. Choose the track you would like to play in the drop down menu. Repeat the procedure on the other deck. The track will automatically start playing once loaded onto a deck. You can scroll through a track by sliding your finger along the waveform or by tapping the fast forward and rewind buttons.
MIXING TWO TRACKS
Once you’ve hit play on one of your decks, you can control whether the music is heard in your speakers or not. Slide the crossfader to the side on which you want to be heard. You are now ready to press play on the other deck. To make mixing easier, make sure you press the sync button so that the two decks are in perfect sync. Please note that the two tracks need to be fully analyzed before you can press the sync button. You know this is done when the waveform is fully visible. Once the two tracks are in sync you are ready to mix them.
USING THE EQUALIZER
Slussen’s powerful equalizer is accessible by tapping and holding the EQ button on the middle of each deck. Once that is done, you will be presented with four options. Slide your finger towards the option you would like to adjust. Slide clockwise to increase and counter clockwise to decrease. Similarly, you can adjust the other equalizers and the gain. Adjusting the equalizer is great way to make your mixing smoother.
PREVIEW NEXT TRACK THROUGH HEADPHONES
To pre-listen to a track you’d like to mix into your set, tap the headphone button and slide the headphone crossfader from side to side. If you don’t have the Slussen adapter plugged in, you won’t be able to use the pre-listening feature and you should change your settings in the settings menu.
OTHER FUNCTIONALITIES
- Kill all – Kill the EQ effects on the respective side
- 125 BPM – increase the BPM of a track or change the pitch by tapping the BPM button
- Sync button – press this button to make sure that two different tracks are played in perfect sync
- Equalizer – press and hold the EQ button to adjust the equalizer or gain
- Scratch function – press and move any of the decks while they are playing to scratch
- Crossfader – slide from right to left to choose which side should be heard in your speakers
- Headphone crossfader – lets you choose which deck you will hear in your headphones
- Cue feature – cue instantly, or set a new cue-point by tapping the cue button
ABOUT URBANEARSUrbanears makes headphones that fit your everyday life. Supplying the perfect listening device for anyone with a pocket full of music and a wish to make the most of it, Urbanears models are designed to optimize sound and captivate self-aware customers by matching preferences in size, style, design, function and relation to music. Other companies may try to emulate the brand, but Urbanears is the original in colorful headphones.
MORE INFO
Firs thing — am I alone in thinking that there really should be Black and White versions? Not everyone is feeling the whole tutti-frutti thing, and DJs in particular prefer their DJ gear to be a little more monochromatic.
Anyway, This is nothing more than a compact solution to the age-old iOS stereo output limitations. Think Griffin djay cable but in a very pocket-sized package. I’ve just ordered an Orange one (obviously duh) and will attach it to my house keys to see if it’s up to the daily punishment I meter out in my pocket. I’m betting that it’ll end up spending more time in my assorted pockets than attached to the keyring.
Regardless, it’s a handy solution to have around. I’ll report back once mine arrives and I’ve given it and the free app some punishment. I’m personally going to be much happier when Lightning based audio interfaces start to appear rather than putting strain on the headphone output. In the meantime, this is a very tidy solution for the ongoing audio issues of iOS DJing.