Last week, we published details of the Mixfader Kickstarter campaign, a bluetooth enabled crossfader from DJIT. There’s a lot of marketing spiel that makes some pretty bold claims, one in particular got my head spinning a little, and was perhaps missed by most. But I dug, and now I have an answer.
Take a look at the above image — it’s quite a way down the Kickstarter page, so I imagine that most of you didn’t make it that far. But it appears to show an iPad connected to a turntable via USB. So I wondered if this was oversimplification or a very literal description.
As the DJ Hertz video at the top of the story shows, this is definitely the latter. If you have a USB audio out enabled turntable (in the case of this video the Audio Technica AT-LP1240-USB), then you can hook this directly up to an iOS device with the right cable. And in the case of the video, Serato Noisemap (it’s not timecode OK?) is fed straight into the app, converted, and all audio pushed out through the headphone port. The app itself can be loaded with samples that are controlled by the incoming Noisemap, and play beats and most probably loops can be played underneath.
Now this is somewhat cool for those of you that own one of the very limited range of USB audio turntables, but for everyone else, the solution is to hook up an audio interface to the turntable via RCA, and then connect that to the iOS device via USB. Knowing these things as I do, I doubt that it’s a really simple plug and play affair with any old interface that you have hanging around, and I suspect that DJIT will be doing much playing to make the popular ones work. But it does offer some hope to those who would love to use a turntable, and have the wireless convenience and features that apps can bring.
There are two more videos from Aociz and Mr Viktor that show the ultra low latency (even after converting Noisemap), as well as the live fader clicks that were requested for authenticity. Hopefully this will appease the naysayers out there, and adequately show that this isn’t vapourware.
At this point, I am of course honour-bound to mention that DJ Player has done this for a while, because I know that Gábor Szántó will all over this post and ready to pounce if I don’t. But despite the popularity of the app, and the skills of Gábor himself, DVS within iOS hasn’t gone anywhere. But with another app developer picking up on it, and demonstrating a simple way to make it work, it might start to gather some steam. I hope something like this stimulates some development with small audio interfaces and even adding USB audio to more turntables and mixers.
This does make the current obsession with the sadly defunct Vestax Handy Trax a little more interesting. The later models had USB audio built in, and with the addition of a 7″ Noisemap vinyl, you’ve got a wireless fader that can be stuck anywhere and have an app laden with samples and beats. A strong message to Serato — stop messing about and get a fresh batch of 7″ vinyl made. Make a ton of them too. We don’t care about funky colours or picture disks — just regular black vinyl will be fine, and will stop the senseless butchery of 12″ vinyl by Dremel wielding modders.
Even though the initial Kickstarter target has been met, there are still ways to contribute and get your hands on a Mixfader before they hit the shops. You’ll have to wait until November before laying your sweaty mitts on one.
I would just get a Raiden Fader instead of messing around with all the software/interface stuff. It’s cool and all to be able to carry a bluetooth fader and cut with your phone/tablet anytime and anywhere, but IMO, this seems like a hassle just to cut on vinyl. However, I do think that this is a cool product, but it would have been even better if there were analog connections to use it both ways.
I kind of disagree as the audio connections on the raiden fader seem a bit limited and the device only offers a “right side cut” and a “left side cut” (As if you just couldn’t turn it upside down). This seems to offer exactly what I would want from such a device, a high quality fader using bluetooth for signal.
I could also argue that the connections on this device are also limited being bluetooth only. So that boils down to you only being able to use this fader with bluetooth enabled devices. Maybe it’s just my old school thought in terms of skratching, but I never took skratching on any digital device seriously. It’s a fun gimmick, but to actually practice your technique and hand control… that can only be done on analog, IMO. I’m not trying to knock the device, like I said before, I think it’s a great device.
As stated by QooleeKid the lack of analog input/output leaves much to be desired. Bluetooth is great and the whole wireless aspect of it all. But again, you’re limited to bluetooth devices. Yes in the above video they’re able to use a real turntable. If anything they should’ve used the Handy Trax USB or even the Numark PT01 USB for a better comparison when it comes to a portable setup. Using a full turntable does require a power source. I still like the idea of the Mixfader but it’s lacking in things I personally want in something portable. And I’m not a fan of mobile DJ apps even if they’re capable of delivering a system similar to DVS.
You digitised the turntable, you made an app to do things that apps do well, and you made a physical device to do the one finction an app can’t do, and to top it off, you made it wireless. It shows the kind of vision that the major players in this business dont have. Its brilliant, what more can i say.
You’ve proved. I was wrong. I apologise. I would keep my part of the bargain and buy one, but at this point it feels like yelling at the waitress and expecting her to not spit on your food. Congratulations on creating a milestone.
Not sure about the fader, but I defintely want that app. What other turntables does it work with. There’s stanton ones that have usb. Will it work with those?
Anything that has USB audio out.
Why’d you remove your comment? Are they unsure it’ll work with other usb decks?
it looks silly, better to bring your mixer and records to the stage instead of a mini fader glued to the surface and a tablet, the pushing (virtual) buttons is not impressive and never will be
I thought it was a great display on the videos. And the DMC world champions seemed quite at home with it too.
It’s hardly being sold as install gear or aimed at replacing traditional dj gear is it? Why get sand in ya vagina (feel threatened) over tech that’s clearly a bit novelty but is actually decent enough for dmc champ level cut practice/muck about.
it still looks silly, and prob also a lil uncomfortable because you want to rub your pinky on a steel surface while cutting, its like cutting on a QFO wich i never really was too excited about, thats why Q-Bert switched back to 2 turntables after a year or so promoting the QFO and sitting on stage like a pianoplayer, nobobody could see him then lol.
Way to go mixfader, props to putting out some quality videos on the fly like that. Pretty interesting setup going on there and I can see a lot of potential for some great creativity. With these three videos I went from laughing to interested :P
Nice work, looking forward to what’s next.
Wow djplayer got caught sleeping and got scooped on the usb thing.
bring on the USB-C turntable so it’ll charge the iPad. This could really be the start of something great. How cool would a hub inline in the cable be?
What is up with all the replies in here like “you have successfully digitized the turntable” and such, have you all not seen Serato/Traktor etc?
How is this really any different from Serato except being set up with two smaller computers instead of one larger one? Because the crossfader is bluetooth??
Serious question.
No interface, self contained digital player, usb cable to ipod. Each turntable is its own single “digitised” entity. Sure you could do that with serato at a cost of a 1000$ each, and with a lot of bulky gear, but its impractical. This will digitise a turntable in an afforadble and practical way. An ipod 7 is only like 140$.
This has made the first real usb turntable, at least in respect to djing.
Have you ever hooked up each turntable to it’s own laptop, and mixed the two sources with an audio mixer in the same way we used to mix? There’s something that occurs mentally when you do that. Like it gives each separate audio signal “more weight” or importance. So this has the potential to that, but with less gear, which is by way of the touchscreen, more useful.
Could they have not used a Handy Trax USB or Numark PT 01 USB? Using a full turntable is veering off the whole portable aspect of this niche market. I know they’re trying to prove that it can handle an analog system by digitizing it via USB. But again, even though it is Bluetooth, it’s still limited to one type of connection source.
Im not sure its about portable. In my experience, an ipad can do a lot of things well as a controller; cues, loops, fx, but it cant match a real crossfader. i think this is way bigger than just some novelty scratch toy. I think were talking about trading the laptop for a tablet, maybe even a phone, ditching the interface altogether(about FN time), and having a nice crossfader that can be placed at a spot of our choosing on our real audio mixer; which again, this is something midi just cant match.
I’ve been baffled for years as to why our turntables were not simple easy plug n play for dvs through usb, and i’m even more confused that now that we’ve seen this, its like nobody’s amazed. i think “one cable, no interface, dvs on my phone” what they have in mind, and i think its brilliant.
Professorbx to the rescue please. Meine freunde, can you please get on here and school us all on how the different usb turntables work, bitte schon?? And what the options might be for connecting a tt directly to an ipad sans an interface