Archive for the iPod DJing info category.
There are many great benefits to iPod DJing, when you consider the way that DJing and the music industry is taking advantage of Technology and the affordability of iPods there is really no barrier to entry when it comes to iPod DJing, for any beginner this is the best way to get on to the DJing ladder as, chances are, you already own an iPod. so lets break it down, why is iPod DJing sooo much better than Turntables or `CD DJing?
1. Vinyl is very fragile and expensive, iPods, use MP3 even if you lost an iPod your laptop will have a back up, and whislt there is an argument about quality of sound, this has been answered simply by the fact that modern day studios use MP3 and other digital formats for recording. If anything the ‘vinyl sound’ is caused by damage to the vinyl.
2. CD’s Scratch - and guess what iPods contain the music digitally so you don’t have to worry about that.
3. iPods are small - small enough to fit in to your pocket, they can carry an entire catalogue of music, try squeeze your vinyl or CD collection into the same space…not going to happen
4. iPods can be used with any normal mixer and can work in almost the same way as turntables, and eventhe cost of buying two is comparable to how much you’d have to spend on a pair of decks anyways.
5. iPods can accomodate video as well so if you want to give video DJing a go you can also do this.
6. all those previous problems with altering pitch have pretty much been resolved meaning you can now bet match with an iPod just like CD and vinyl DJing
7. iPod DJing equipment is more affordable, easier to setup and more portable than vinyl and CD DJign equipment
8. its darn cool
9. there is a strong community spirit and a sense of DIY when it comes to iPod DJing, something now lost in vinyl and CD DJing.
10. becasue iPod Djing is still in its infancy there is loads of opportunity to expand and innovate and the digital format means there is a better opportunity for creativity.
Beatmatching or Beatmixing is an intergral part of modern DJing, and for iPod DJing has always presented a challenge due to the lack of pitch control, there have been DIY solutions to help iPod DJs to Beatmach but they talke longer to setup and are not an ideal solution to beatmatching, you can find out more about Beatmatching with an iPod here, this DIY technique allos iPod DJs to beatmatch using some of the most simple and basic iPod DJing setups, however for a professional sound and mix, an iPod DJ would be better off with the Numark IDJ2 or the Cortex Dmix-300.
Beat matching on the Numark IDJ2 or the Cortex Dmix-300 is identical to beatmatching on vinyl or CD DJing setup, and as both units have pitch control, you can alter the pitch of the track mid mix, giving you more functionality and freedom as a DJ. So how do you beatmatch on the umark IDJ2 or the Cortex Dmix-300?
1. play a track from one channel
2. get the BPM
3. put a track on the second channel, and adjust the BPM to match the first channel
4. play the second track an try and line up the beats, using the pitch fader to control the tempo/pitch of the second track
5. once the two tracks are beatmatched, take the second track back to where you want to play from and wait for the first track to get to the point where you want to drop in the second track.
6. use the crossfader to bring in the second track
7. use the high, mid, low knobs to bring in and excentuate elements of either track to make you mix more interesting.
iPods are unique both in relation to other mp3s and in terms of their looks and software, the iPod was developed by Apple, and is essentially a hard drive with a linux based software, in an effort to support the likes of Belkin and other iPod accessory producers the Apple iPod team have allowed certain information on the iPod to be made available about the iPod for iPod accessory makers, the aim of the Apple Developer connection (specifically for the iPod) is to provide iPod accessory makers with information and an accredited seal to ensure quality and a degree of partnership, effectively a seal of approval and standard that consumers can rely on.
So next time you go shopping for an iPod or an iPod related DJing tool, make sure you keep an eye out for these logos.
The iScratch is a homegrown software that takes advantage of the the job wheel present on most iPods, the iPod by Apple runs on its own software made specifically for the iPod, however, both Apple and iPod software is Linux based so with a little computer wizardry, you can put linux on your iPod and that when the iScratch application becomes possible. It’s possible to install linux on an iPod because the iPod is essentially a hard drive, and this is even more possible with larger iPods where the storage campacity of the iPod is comparable with your average desktop.
So what does the iScratch iPod Djing program do? and how does a DJ take advantage of the iScratch?
Essentially the iScratch iPod DJing program is a native linux program designed to work on the iPod, and use the job wheel of the iPod to scratch music playing out, this gives iPod DJs the chance to perform turntablism on the iPod directly. You can check out the iScratch iPod Djing program here.
Whilst the Pacemaker is a great all-in-one DJ tool that fulfills the needs of an iPod DJ with amazing ease, and whilst the iPod is a fantastic MP3 music player and when combined with the right iPod DJ equiment can be a fantastic tool for DJing on, there is one element of iPod DJing that hasn’t really been explored and for the big companies like Numark or Technics this is the perfect area to expand.
If you consider the needs of the modern day DJ, such as the need for beat matching and pitch control that the linkes of the Numark IDJ2 Now cover, there still isn’t a purpose built iPod DJ platfor that allows for loop mixing, that emulates the Akai MPC series, currently there are no iPod loop samplers, as such this really limits the flexibilty that iPod DJs have and means that when you DJK with an iPod you are limited to a few effects, maybe 6 short loops and your standard crossfader mixing, whilst this is sufficent, it doesn’t help push that concept of iPod DJing, as a more creative and experimental part of the DJ expereince where its more about set programming than it is about technical expertise.
It would be great for a MPC that uses an iPod as the audio source to be created to take adantage of the massive libary of music an iPod contants and to be able to extract loops that are flexible and easy to use/alter live in set.
One of the great things about the iPod, is that when you create a smart playlist in iTunes, it gets transferred to the iPod, this helps greatly with planning sets, categorizing music using formats other than album, artist and genre, and in the case of iPod DJing, categorizing music by BPM.
Creating and iPod smartlist in iTunes is really simple. And allows you to catagorize music based on a variety of criteria. for the purposes of arranging music on the iPod for DJing, you first need to find out the BPM for each track in your iPod music library. Once your iPod music has got the BPM you need to open up iTunes.
In iTunes, go to file >> new smart playlist
a window opens where you can “match the following rule”, here you have a series of drop downs that correspond with the various info columns that are related to your iPod music collection.
In the drop downs select BPM as the criteria to categorize your music with. In the next field you can choose various parameters, here you want to select ‘contains’ or ‘is’ as the qualifier, in the last field, enter in the BPM number. If you want further customization, you can click the + button and add other perameters, this can help if you want to get really specific in your Playlists. The window will close and you’ll see a new playlist in iTunes, labeling the play list is also very important, the best way to label is to order it as follows *BPM 123 by adding ‘*’ all the BPM playlists will appear together on your iPod, ‘BPM’ obliviously sets that the tracks are arranged by BPM and the numbers show the BPM.
If you have a large collection of music this can be tough, but once its sorted, everything is very organized and any new music will automatically be sorted into these smart playlists…pucker.
When it comes to getting these smart playlists onto your iPod, its just a case of plugging in your iPod and syncing your iPod with iTunes.
When the iPod was launched it changed the way we listen to music, and they way we collect music, the iPod was a ground breaking music storage device and player, created by Apple as part of its ‘digital hub’ category, the iPod was unveiled in October 23 2001, it was immediately apparent that the iPod was breaking new groups for music lovers around the world, the impact was further amplified by Apples characteristically mass appeal advertising and high brow design.
From a DJing perspective, there were already shifts in technology towards CDs from Vinyl, the invention of the iPod extended this evolution, and allowed, new blood, and more music to be carried around. DJing is inherently very resistant to technological changes and even after iPod DJing has started to become popular, some 7 years after the iPod was first launched, there is still a resistance to DJs using the iPod as a DJing device. Strange considering DJing is about the newest music.
The implications of the iPod for DJing has been fantastic, allowing virtually everyone to begin programming playlists using a feature of the iPod to select and queue up songs in playlists. Whilst there were (and still are) some limitations to DJing on an iPod, the iPod has meant that DJs can carry entire catalogs of music in their pocket in a format that is easy to navigate and control, add to this that (especially later generations of) the iPod is very cost efficent, and has its own software, now we see special docks and units specifically designed with DJing on an iPod being created, and whilst these are still costly, prices drop every few months, making the iPod more accessible to a wider audience, the implications are that more new DJs and potential DJing talent now have the means to practice and appreciate DJing, and due to the iPods popularity, the appreciation of DJing and music has also been increase, especially when the iPod has now become a must-have icon.
More than conventional DJing, iPod DJing is about programming, the art of DJing by selecting the right kind of music for the right kind of audience, in its essence this is what DJing is all about, and regardles of if you use turntables or an iPod, this is the core skill that forms the foundation of good DJing.
In order to plan a decent set you need to know your audience, understand what music they like and how they like it played. you want to build the set so it has a narrative and a beginning, middle and end, you want there to be peaks, mellows and surprises to keep the crowd guessing and excited about what comes next you don’t want to just rely on old classics, but also on new and cutting edge music.
The set needs to be tight enough that it has shape, but loose enough so that when you are DJing, you can edit the set to suit the crowds reaction, without having to rethink your set altogether.
DJing with an iPod is no different, however, the one benefit an iPod has in this case is that with an iPod you can create playlists, so you can pre-plan out the bulk of a set using the iPod playlist feature, or even create several inter-related sets using the iPod playlist.
Regardless, you need to ensure that technology doesn’t surpass good DJing (i.e. set planning)
Whist the iPod and iTunes are fantastic in their own right and offer tons of functionality, they have a major short coming, you can’t alter pitch on the iPod, or iTunes, to alter pitch you need DJ specific equipment to do this, which can be costly. However, as mentioned here, there are solutions to this iPod short coming.
Why is altering pitch so important for DJing? simply because of Beatmatching. Beats are matched from one channel to the other altering the pitch has the effect of altering the BPM (beats per minute) of the track. Assuming you’ve organized your music in the format shown here, you’ll be able to DJ music within the same BPM group, this will allows you to bypass the inherent flaw in DJing on the iPod.
BPM is calculated using various software that you can find free online, here are a few that you might be interested in:
iTunes BPM inspector
Vocalist BPM inspector
Whippinpost BPM inspector
Alternatively youc an calculate BPM by counting the number of beats in 15 seconds, then multiply that by 4.
You want to make sure you calculate BPM consistently on the most stable beat, so if your doing breakbeat you might find counting the cymbals more effective than the kick drum or snare for example.
Once you’ve got the BPM for a track it will make DJing with that track on an iPod a lot easier, and a lot more fun.
1. iPod DJing is the next big thing is DJing, the iPod has already changed the way we listen to and buy music, and the technology means that its cheaper and more longer lasting as a music play back format compared with vinyl or even CD, already we are seeing DJing equipment begin developed to take advantage of the vast storage ability of the iPod.
2. the iPod is constantly being developed, as such the price of the iPod keeps dropping and newer versions add to the functionality that the iPod already has, with the latest, the iPod touch, being touch sensitive and possessing wi-fi capabilities. for a DJ this means that there is huge potential to leverage off the price of the iPod and the added functionality.
3. the iPod is very small, with a miro mixer, it is amazingly portable. Making it the ultimate DJ travel companion for any high flyer DJ.
4. the iPod can store album after album of music without breaking a sweat, this means a DJ can carry an entire catalogue of music in an iPod the size of a box of smokes, without loosing a great deal of sound quality.
5. The ability of the iPod to sync with iTunes, makes buying new tracks, organizing those tracks and mixing those tracks to walk in the park.
6. The iPod looks cool, and keeps looking cool with that signature look, ok not totally related to DJing or being a good DJ, but hey lets face it, its cool.
7. iPod DJing is still in its infancy, if you wanna make it big in show biz, you better be an innovator, what better way to do it than take up a new form of DJing that no one is doing, at least if your crap, you can blame the equipment.
8. a single iPod and an iPod specific mixer costs a lot less than an equivalent vinyl or CD DJ setup. Making iPod DJing a good option for beginners and bedroom DJs without compramizing on functionality or quality,it also takes up far less room.
9. everyone has an iPod, for DJ this means there could be a chance to get really creative, by mixing in loops and samples from other iPods, it also means that getting a cheap iPod and a micro mixer won’t blow the bank.
10. Being in a digital format means that you can save, share, broadcast, and mix, using both a laptop and DJ software, and an iPod to have a fairly decent studio setup that will allow you to mix and record decent tracks without remortgaging your house or building an extension.
So what does that all really say about iPod DJing? its cheap, easy to take up, stores loads of music, allows you to try DJing in a new way and allows you to share and record music without shelling out on a massive studio setup.
