The Midi Fighter in 3D

This is a really cool new midi controller. The Midi Fighter 3D is a better looking Midi Fighter that allows you to control additional parameters by tilting the device or rotating it. So you could turn on a bitcrushing effect by pressing one button, then tilt the Midi Fighter sideways and the effect would get more intense. Or whatever! You can set the parameters or use the included mapping.

Unlike in the video, you don't have to go swinging the thing around to make it work. You can just casually tilt it off your table, and the feet are curled to make that easier.  He uses a simple electro house song to demonstrate the Midi Fighter 3D, but I can imagine all sorts of possibilities with a whole range of music.

Plus it just looks so damn cool. There's something about LEDs and arcade buttons. The MF3D goes on sale in April for $249.

Over the past three years, I've been watching DJ TechTools grow up into a real consumer electronics company. This device got them more attention than ever from the tech press. Here are some short writeups.

Synthtopia: DJ TechTools Introduces MIDI Fighter 3D, ‘The Most Expressive Compact Controller On The Market’
CNET: MIDI Fighter 3D, the BFF for ADD DJs
Engadget: Midi Fighter 3D has arcade buttons and motion control, still can't throw fireballs
The Verge: MIDI Fighter 3D brings motion controls to DJing

Moog MINITAUR Analog Bass Synth

I'm hyperventilating over this. Every year, the National Association of Music Merchants hosts an industry conference during which music equipment manufacturers show off their latest products. There is a shit ton of awesome stuff. But perhaps none as awesome as the Moog MINITAUR.

Moog, whose line of synthesizers helped define modern music since the 1970s, has come out with its cheapest pure analog synthesizer ever! That position used to be held by the amazing Slim Phatty, which retails for $799. I know that seams like a lot, but it's crazy cheap compared to most of Moog's analog synths. For example, the blue Minimoog Voyager, which I would buy tomorrow if I won the lottery, retails for $3,395. 

But now we can all own a slice of the Moog magic for just $599. $599 for crying out loud! I'm saving up for a bike now, but once I get that (and maybe a subwoofer), I'm going to start putting aside cash every month for a piece of the dream. 

Introducing the new Midifighter Pro!!

Fuck I want one of these really badly to add to my existing Midifighter! Too bad they're $350 each. Gotta start saving!

Akai APC 20 + Akai APC 40 = Whoa!

This is freaking amazing! It's like the Semi-Homemade of DIY midi controllers.

Replacing VCI 100 overlay

I learned the hard way that if you want to replace your DJTT VCI 100 overlay, you'll need to remove every shred of glue left over from the old one. With some helpful advice from DJTT, I devised this easy method that requires no disassembly of your VCI 100. It will, however, require that you are extra careful not to allow any moisture into your device. It's all explained in the slideshow below.

For details on how to apply a DJTT VCI 100 overlay, check out their video.

DJ Nu-Mark at Scoot Inn

Saw DJ Nu-Mark of Jurassic 5 fame at Scoot Inn last week. I was stoked when I noticed he was using a midi controller with his Serato set-up, because often the experienced masters who learned on vinyl don't stray too far into button land. I was however a little surprised that he was using a piece of crap like the Korg Nanopad.

I bought one of those $60 pieces of junk, and several buttons stopped working after just a few months of fairly light use. It seems like Nu-Mark would be the perfect candidate for the new Ean Golden-designed Novation Dicer, a tiny midi controller that fits right on the edge of a turntable.

There was also another guy working video with an Akai APC 20. And to add some analog artistry to the performance, a dude in the background was painting a picture! Live!

We had a great time dancing that night, and when I took time to watch Nu-Mark it was totally educational. Here's a crappy iPhone video. Sorry it's shaky and low quality. I forgot my Mino Flipcam at home.

(Vimeo version)

Amazing DIY Midi controller

A guy named Ander made this insane midi controller. It reminds me of something you might see on the flight deck of the Starship Enterprise mashed up with an awesome disco floor. Really a work of art in and of itself. Obviously this is not your average weekend hobbyist.

Check out the video. Ander says he's not aiming to create inspiring music here, just showing us how this monster works.

Midifighter assembly pictures

I was sooo happy yesterday when after months of drooling over the arcade button-based midi controller, the Midifighter, my very own arrived in the mail! These are produced in very limited quantities and had been out of stock for months. Making matters even sweeter was the fact that I won this one in a DJ Tech Tools contest.

One of the cool things about the Midifighter is the ability to customize your own. This isn't a mass produced controller that everyone has. You choose the color of your Sanwa arcade buttons, and you can spraypaint the arcylic faceplate. The result is a whole bunch of different looking Midifighters.

There is a fair degree of assembly required, so I thought I'd walk you through it.

These are all the items that arrived in the box. The circuit board, two acrylic plates, screws and stuff, arcade buttons, a super high quality DJTT usb cable, four stickers, and a letter with assembly instructions printed on the back.

First step is to peel the plastic off the bottom acrylic plate.



Then remove the circuit board from the anti-static bag. This circuit board features hand soldered connections, so that you can just snap in the arcade buttons with no soldering required.



The next step was to peel off the protective paper from the second acrylic plate.



Then I had to insert these plastic rods into the plate. These will feed light from LEDs on the circuit board to the top surface of the Midifighter.



After that, you want to attach these little rubber grommet things to secure the tiny plastic rods in place.



Next I secured the bottom acrylic plate to the circuit board using screws and little metal spacer things. Then I screwed in those larger spacers on top.



These Sanwa arcade buttons are super high quality and made in Japan. Look for the Sanwa on the bottom of your arcade buttons to make sure they're awesome.



Inserting these buttons was a little scary for me. I was afraid of snapping the connections. They do require a little extra push (but not too forceful) just to get them to snap into place.

And voila! My new Midifighter! I chose colors that roughly match the excellent Traktor mapping developed by DJ Tech Tools. If you're interested in what the hell that is, here's a video explaining it. I opted not to spraypaint the acrylic plate because I like the clear look. If I change my mind, I can always remove it and paint it.



Once I plugged in this thing, I was elated to realize this is an extremely rare Midifighter with red LEDs! Usually they are blue.



I flipped it over, and realized for the first time that mine was one of only 100 with red LEDs. Number 89 to be exact.

Soon I'll be posting a video of this thing in use! Thanks again for the free Midifighter DJ Tech Tools!

My entry to the Midifighter contest

UPDATE: HOLY SHIT! I WON!!!  http://www.djtechtools.com/2010/05/20/midi-fighter-contest-winning-videos/  THANKS DJ TECH TOOLS!!!

UPDATE: Contest winner won't be announced until Monday, May 24  Friday, May 21. Stay tuned. 

I am in love with the concept of this midi controller.  (A midi controller is this.)  Not only does the Midifighter look cool as shit, but arcade buttons were designed by engineers to be rapid fire. That is a very useful thing with midi controllers.

Like a lot of cool things, Midifighters are also very rare. Only 200 were made in the first batch. Each was individually numbered. They are sold out, but 500 more are becoming available in late-May.

The guys who make this also run a blog called DJ Tech Tools. Last month, they launched a contest here to WIN A FREE MIDIFIGHTER!  People were invited to do a cue point juggling routine using any controller. You had to use their four songs.

Coincidentally, one of the tracks was a Gangstar acapella. I should note they chose this track before the tragic death last month of Gangstar's Guru at age 43. Turned out to be a timely selection.

Here's the DJTT example.

Now here's my vain attempt at winning! I'm using a Novation Launchpad, which I custom mapped to Traktor Pro. My mapping divides the Launchpad into four parts. Each quarter of the grid controls one of four decks in Traktor. Each deck has eight illuminated cue points that trigger specific points in each track. You can see the Traktor window in the bottom right of the video.

Contest deadline is May 16. A winner will be chosen May 18 Monday, May 24. Wish me luck! (Other entries can be viewed here.)

(Vimeo version of this video here.)

"Toys for big boys"

This video has been making the rounds on the internets. Air is decent band, but I'm not a die hard fan. I just love the hardware! All that hard-to-find expensive vintage gear just sitting there in the studio. Their job is just to sit around it until they "feel inspired". Bastards! I doubt they would miss it if I stole their MS-20!

You can also watch the video on the Guardian's website.

Matrix controllers everywhere!

First there was the Tenori-On.

Then there was the Monome.

Then the Block

Then the APC40

Then the Launchpad. (And probably some other stuff in between)

I picked up one of these. It's awesome! Expect a review in the future.

Now there's the (significantly cheaper) Bliptronic 5000 LED. Obviously it's a toy but it's only $50!


I'm liking this trend!