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Moving considerably quicker than we can, Mojaxx has leapt headfirst right into the new Serato Remote app and shot an extremely detailed (i.e. nearly 20 minutes) video going through just about every nook and cranny of the new app, and offers his first opinions using Serato DJ and Scratch Live.
Mojaxx does point out something important — Apple have been incredibly restrictive with what they allow developers to do. Connecting to a laptop with a 30 pin cable is usually reserved for Apple’s own purposes i.e. syncing with iTunes and charging. The unofficial route has been plugging in via the Camera Connection Kit (CCK), which Apple could shut off with a few code changes. So this is quite significant, and means that your iPad gets charged while in use as well. I guess it depends on how many USB ports you have spare, but definitely looks like the way to go.
What the video does show is the true 2 way communication between computer and iPad. This isn’t just MIDI signals going from iPad to Serato software — Serato Remote has a real conversation with SSL and Serato DJ, and properly understands what is going on and acts accordingly.
I feel it’s important to underline that this isn’t a competitor for Traktor DJ or djay — those apps create whole new and separate experiences from your existing one. Serato Remote simply aims to make your existing Serato experience that much better. So at first glance, $20 for a remote is expensive in the app market, but when you realise just how deep the integration is, and just how much the app can do, it feels like a total no-brainer to grab this app without delay.
I guess we’ll have a review soon, but having watched Mojoxx’s excellent video, I suspect it’ll most probably reflect exactly what he already says anyway. Great work Mojaxx.
Never dreamt I’d see the day I’d be on the front page of the mighty ‘Worx! Thanks so much. I doubt I’d even be doing these videos without you guys firing up my gear-acquisition-addiction every day. Cheers!
really well put together video nice work Mojaxx & (Djworx) ipad is becoming more of a must for my setup
Yeah, that was a great walkthrough, Mojaxx. Honestly, this is a tool that makes me reconsider using Traktor. This is the first tool I have seen yet that would make me want to switch.
At first I was all “it’s just a remote”. But then I watched the video, started playing myself and realised just how important a release this is. It’s a really great move from Serato that should redress the ever changing balance between the big 2. And I’m pretty certain that there’s more to come too.
So how long before a Traktor remote comes out? And a fully fledged Serato DJ app?
I could see Serato putting out a low feature SSL version that works with an iPad, using an SL box or something similar, or possibly a mixer. Judging from their history, though, I couldn’t see them doing a full Serato DJ software.
Similarly, as much as I’d love to see a Traktor remote, I’m hesitant to see it happening. Maybe I’m just a cynic toward both developers, but I think they are each going in drastically different directions with products in general, let alone their mobile apps.
This looks pretty killer, though. I’d be much more apt to integrate this into my rig if I had it for Traktor than using Traktor DJ strictly for track prep or for mix ideas.
Too bad you still have to look at the laptop when loading tracks. It’d be cool if there was a separate track loading page that displayed your library.
Some technical notes:
– The CCK way is not unofficial. USB Audio is advertised as an iOS feature since 2 years and it appears on many important WWDC videos and presentations.
– The CCK route has nothing to do with this app, they are not connecting a USB Class Compliant device here. They made the USB connection thing for the easiest network communication, as no local network is needed to set up, just plug and play. This is networking, not USB “hosting”.
– Apple doesn’t need any code changes to shut something off. They can do anything with anybody and anytime.
– There is nothing in this app which can’t be done on iOS 5. I wonder why they choose to limit their market with iOS 6, leaving the first iPad out of the game. There is no audio processing here, the first iPad could handle this app perfectly.
Great walk through with serato remote, I totally feel I can take advantage of the effects way better with the remote.
The more I ponder this, the more I am being sold on it. My wife wants an iPad anyway…
As good as it looks now, I can see it getting substantially better over time.
rs
This app is properly brilliant! Thank god it appeared on the same day I nearly bought an akai lpd8, now I can just use my ipad!
Hello sorry for my english (french), but i want to know if serato remote send midi that can be mapped by serato DJ (for hot loop for example). I got a ddj sx and serato remote do the same that i can do with the sx (except little difference with fx)
Thank you