Controllerism

It's a brave new world for digital media manipulation. A concept that started decades ago is finally taking hold.

For DJs, timecode vinyl (i.e. Serato) has been a standard for a while. This is where the DJ uses a piece of vinyl with timecode on it to trigger digital files. To the uneducated, it might look like the DJ is playing actual vinyl. In a way she is, except this vinyl has no sound on it, just timecode. It's a hybrid of old school and new school, and allows the Dj to use the feel of vinyl to trigger digital songs and sounds from a computer.

More recently, DJs are using MIDI controllers to progress their sound and technique. I made the switch a year ago and love it. I guess that's why I like to follow this trend closely. The equipment and the people who are using it are exciting.

One of the first names that comes to mind is Daedelus, who rocks out with edgy controllers and Ableton Live. There's a vast number of boutique and big company units out there. One company that is established, uses open source, and makes futuristic controllers is monome. Since it's open source, anyone can write their own programs for these boxes.

OK, enough with words. Here's some video.

Bitbasic rocks the monome's 40h and his own dj64 software.

dj64 for Monome - by Bitbasic from simon on Vimeo.

Interview with Daedelus.

XLR8R TV Episode 71: Daedelus from XLR8RTV on Vimeo.