Digital vinyl system
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A digital vinyl system enables a DJ to play music from a PC and control and scratch it using special timecode records . The classic, intuitive handling of the record player is combined with the capacity of hard drives. Well-known systems include Rane Serato Scratch Live and Final Scratch .
functionality
A digital vinyl system consists of a PC, a normal record player , special time code records, an intermediate interface and a vinyl emulator.
Timecode record
The records contain an additional code. The method is known from the fax or the data cassette and from analog-digital converters . Here digital information is transmitted acoustically. The special records ( timecode vinyl ) are recorded with a control signal ( timecode ) and are available on average for around € 20–30. They are played back on a turntable as usual, the signal is sent directly to the mixer or via the ScratchAmp to the laptop. There the vinyl emulation software decodes the signal in real time and calculates the speed and position of the pickup on the record. The corresponding part of a selected audio file, e.g. B. on the internal hard disk drive , is output again at the calculated speed via the ScratchAmp / mixer, where the song can finally be mixed by the DJ. The high resolution of the control signal enables a practically negligible delay between movements of the record and the output of the music to the mixer. This means that backspinning and scratching are also possible as with normal records.
ScratchAmp
The ScratchAmp is used to enable a connection between the computer and the turntables with phono connections and a USB connection. Since the ScratchAmp also feeds the signal from the record directly through to another channel of the mixer, normal records can also be played without the software having to do anything, which is useful in the event of laptop crashes, for example. The prerequisite, however, is that the ScratchAmp is connected to its own optional power supply.
Software solutions with timecode records
The following table lists various vinyl emulation software that works with special time code records
| Manufacturer | Product name | program | Website | Available external sound card | status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ms. Pinky | Ms Pinky's IWS | Maxi patch | Ms Pinky Maxi Patch | No | available |
| Atomix Productions | Virtual DJ Pro Full | Virtual DJ | Virtual DJ software | No | available |
| M-Audio | Torq Control vinyl | Torq DJ software | M-Audio Digital DJ | Torq Connectiv | set |
| Native Instruments | Traktor Scratch Duo 2 / Pro 2 | tractor | Traktor DJ software | AUDIO 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 | available |
| Serato | Scratch Live | Scratch Live | Serato DJ software | SL1, SL 2, SL 3 or SL 4 | set |
| Serato | Serato DJ | Serato DJ | Serato DJ software | SL 2, SL 3 or SL 4 as well as various third-party manufacturers | available |
| Reloop | Spin 2+ | Spin 2+ | Reloop spin | Reloop Spin 2+ | set |
| Stanton | Scratch DJ Academy | MIX! | Stanton MIX! | ScratchAmp | available |
| Mix vibes | Cross, DVS Ultimate | Cross, DVS Ultimate | Mixvibes software | Mixvibes U46MK2, U-MIX44, any | available |
| Alcatech | DigiScratch | DigiScratch 2 | Alcatech Audio | No | available |
Pure software solutions
This table lists some digital vinyl systems that are based solely on software.
| Manufacturer | program | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Stanton | Deckadance | stantondj.com |
| Adion | djDecks | djdecks.be |
| Mark Hills | xwax | xwax.co.uk |
| The Mixxx team | Mixxx | mixxx.org |
Advantages and disadvantages
- In contrast to regular CD players or MP3 player software, the music can be mixed and edited as if it were actually on the record. On the one hand, this enables intuitive operation by DJs who are used to records and, on the other hand, makes the sensitive and restrictive operation of computer mice superfluous (two hands instead of a cursor ). It allows scratching and pitching in particular , but practically all turntablism tricks can be performed.
- No more multiple purchases of records that have been destroyed by turntablism. Scratching, back-spins and other techniques permanently destroy the sound track of a vinyl. Timecode vinyl, on the other hand, can be used over the entire area and is inexpensive to replace.
- Easier and more comfortable transport: a record bag with 100 records weighs around 25 kg, DVS with laptop and the special records weighs a few kilograms and is only limited in capacity by the laptop's hard drive. A current computer hard drive can hold tens of thousands of songs.
- No tedious putting together of live sets, as the entire music library can always be taken with you. Very beneficial for performances where the audience's taste is unclear.
- Music that is not available on vinyl can also be played. This is particularly interesting for DJs who produce music themselves and want to put it on. For some time now, music from netlabels and music portals such as Beatport has been enjoying growing popularity among DJs. In the past, expensive dubplates had to be cut to play such music .
- Some DJs see the disadvantage that the usual system of order in the record case and the "visual search" (the quick finding of records based on their cover / label , especially in dark clubs and under time pressure) is lost. All DVS offer a text search in the ID3 tags of the MP3 files and the creation of any number of virtual record cases, whereby a track can also be present in several cases. In addition, with most DVS, the cover of a title is displayed if it was previously saved in the tag.
- In contrast to turntables, computers run the risk of crashes and other system malfunctions that lead to the PA being immediately silent . Laptops tend to be less able to cope with the heat, humidity and the harsh environment in clubs than turntables and mixing consoles specially designed for club use; Programs and operating systems can crash. After eliminating the initial teething troubles, the systems have proven to be quite reliable, so that at least the risk of a program crash can be seen as small.
Comparisons and alternatives
Various manufacturers of DJ equipment are also continuously developing DJ CD players. Current players, for example from Technics , Pioneer or Denon, can also pitch, enable scratching with imitation turntables and technical finesse on the inside, can process CDs with MP3 files and are usually equipped with a wealth of additional features. However, such players are about twice as expensive as a DJ turntable.
After all, there is an abundance of MP3 DJ software that allows you to mix MP3 files on the computer. For example, Visiosonics PCDJ and ALCATech's BPM Studio can be operated via a hardware interface that is based on a DJ double CD player. The DigiScratch DJ software also shows the cover of the songs so that you can “hang up as usual”.
Serato Scratch Live and Traktor Scratch are quite similar in how they work.
The audio hardware and software manufacturer M-Audio has also launched a similar system. Like Traktor Scratch, it consists of a software and hardware part (Torq or Connectiv). It can be controlled either by time code vinyl records or time code CDs. The special thing about Torq is that it allows the integration of VST plugins and can communicate with other audio programs using Rewire.
A Belgian programmer named "Adion" set himself the goal of developing an inexpensive alternative. This system, called djDecks , does not use its own timecode disks, but can be controlled with almost all disks from the major competitors. It offers the best price-performance ratio and is no longer inferior to the other programs in terms of functionality. However, the license is only supported and sold online via the manufacturer's website and you have to purchase the appropriate hardware separately.
Deckadance takes a similar path as djDecks in that it supports different timecode systems. Quad is a complete software solution that allows mixing and scratching of up to four audio files, controlled by up to four turntables. Quad runs with all ASIO sound cards and is supplied with four specially manufactured vinyls, the timecode of which allows analog-accurate scratching.