LETTER OF THE MONTH
Oct 1, 2007 12:00 PM
ONCE UPON A TIME RHYME
I once contracted a man to build me a house. He was a handyman with his own set of Pro Tools and was not a fool. But a problem arose when I discussed needing my own office Cubase in the time we needed studio space. We called upon Ableton to see if the construction could be done Live, but the Logic proved that the cost in doing so may take a dive.
The handyman hired a worker said to be a Digital Performer, but what I got in the house were not very good transformers. I went for more suggestions from a few scientists who had their WaveLabs, with technology they used to give the gift of gab. But all I got from them were theories that were BIASed, so I didn't think this house could be built any higher. So, to get my Sound Forged and to get my house for more, I hired the CD Architect who couldn't forget that in the race for DVDs, we must build my house straight up from VST.
Now more workers came with heavy-duty Mackie Tracktion and built the house for less than a fraction. When the house was done, it was all just fine, but my family had to put up a fight about the loud noise that wouldn't let them Focusrite. It was a Family Feud hosted by Richard DAWson, and I had to take the most precaution. It was such a fuss for my digital age that I went without a rage. But I felt it was time for me and my house to have a talk, because in today's race, things seem to be more than a Cakewalk.
(All due respects to the noted companies mentioned in this tale).
DJ Lex Luthor
Rochester, NY
For sending in this month's winning letter, DJ Lex Luthor wins his own Numark DJ iO USB audio interface (MSRP: $199). If you send in the most inspired correspondence next month — or simply the letter we like best — you'll win the Numark DJ iO USB audio interface. All you have to do is send a letter to remixeditorial@remixmag.com. Please include your full mailing address.
TRAKTOR LOVE
Since its inception, DJing has been involving and evolving, and at its current state, there is only one choice — Native Instruments Traktor. You have PCDJ, Serato and Ableton, and none of them can compete on the level of versatility that Traktor has achieved. It is now the clear-cut choice, period. I hate to use such negative language, but I am totally in love with Traktor — it makes me quiver all over.
If you want to beat-match like with PCDJ, you can; if you want to scratch and beat juggle with your CDJs or Technics with your vinyl like in Serato, you can; if you want to line up multiple tracks and effects as in Ableton, you can. Traktor is so amazing, and it's just getting better — and I'm only scratching the surface of its abilities.
I am hating that I just purchased a Rane TTM 57SL within the past two months, as I am now wanting a Mackie d.2 Pro. Traktor will be the industry standard, along with the Rane TTM 57SL, Mackie d.2 Pro and the CDJs. It's that bad, baby. I kid you not.
Aaron “DJ” Couch
Chevy Chase, Md.
ON THE HORIZON
First off, you guys at Remix are doing a great job publishing this magazine; it is one monthly subscription I never plan on canceling! I am an aspiring producer, an old DJ from 1982-1990 and after a more than 10-year hiatus, I rediscovered my passion to produce music around 2000-2001.
Remix was one of the first magazines I started to read, and your articles have helped me tremendously. I learn something new with each issue, from what gear an artist is using to your tips on Reason, Ableton Live or Digital DJing. Once I get more production under my belt (I just completed producing my first official track for a well-known scratch DJ) and get my name more widely known to the market, I hope to be featured in your magazine and help inspire an up-and-coming producer as you did for me.
Daniel “Dust One” Vigil (aka Vig)
Vigco Entertainment Group
Herndon, Va.
ATTN: MUSIC-SAPIENS
I have subscribed to Remix since the beginning of this year, and I publicly confirm that everyone who put this magazine together (all the editors and art directors, etc.) have compassionately provided all kinds of resources and food for thought and banged-out interviews, and it has musically incubated me: a “fetal melody mogul.” Your magazine pollinates phonically and sonically to fertilize this game. So I commend you to keep doing what you do passionately, and in the meantime, I'm gonna continue to nurture this game umbilically 'til I'm born to claim the throne.
Keep the ultrapassion of music illuminated!
“Dzl”
Seattle, Wash.
OUT WITH THE MIDDLE MAN
I'm a Latin hip-hop producer/drummer looking to hook up my MPC1000 to electronic drum pads using ¼-inch TRS trigger inputs. How can I do that? I know big-time acts like Timbaland, Manu Chao, ?uestlove, etc. have it figured out. I don't want to use the Roland SPD pads because they cost $400-600. I also know I can hook up the pads via MIDI to, let's say, a Roland TD-20 drum brain, but drum brains cost lots of money! Plus, the sounds of stock gear are kind of wack, anyways. So, how can I cut out the middle man so I can rock some banging Premo drums live?!
Toro
Via e-mail
Hey Toro,
If you already have the drum pads, you could pick up the Alesis Trigger|iO (www.alesis.com). With a street price of around $150, it's more affordable than a drum brain. It has 10 TRS trigger inputs, which convert signals from drum pads to MIDI, so you can play sounds from any MIDI module, including your MPC1000. It transmits signals over MIDI ports, as well as USB, so you could even play samples off of drum software on a laptop. If you don't have the drum pads yet, they're going to cost some dough. New, full-size drum pad kits from Simmons and Alesis street out for about $500, and there aren't any full-size drum pad kits I know of that don't come with a drum brain. At least, all the latest brains include MIDI, meaning you can program the pads to play sounds off the MPC. To save some money, you could either look for a used drum pad kit with a MIDI drum brain, or a used drum pad kit with a non-MIDI brain and combine it with the Trigger|iO. Respect to you for cooking up a creative live show. Good luck. (Note: Guitar Center owns the rights to the Simmons name. You can find their drums at www.guitarcenter.com)
— Markkus Rovito
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