TECH News
APP REVIEW APP NAME :
iMINI
DEVELOPER : ARTURIA FORMAT : PRICE :
IPAD2+ £6.99
KING DJ CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT ARP SOLINA STRING ENSEMBLE SYNTH
King DJ’s new album ‘Let Me See You Feel’ is out now on Bearfunk. DJ Mag wanted to know what he Can’t Live Without…
“I already knew about the ARP Solina String Ensemble Synth, but never really suspected it to be all that essential. There are lots of cool string sounds out there, but then I heard it “live”. Its character isn’t in your face, but so unimaginably strong once you truly discover it. “It’s impossible to resist the simply unlimited richness of its sound, I had to have it. It was near impossible to find one in good shape though, until a friend of mine decided to sell his for about €400. I wanted it straight away, but apparently there was another candidate who was after it. Turned out to be my best friend Bobby E, my partner in Martians, so we decided to buy it together, and went for co-parenthood. “I use it practically all the time as an instant ‘track warmer’. It serves as a perfect melody carrier on most of my tracks. I actually prefer it over real strings. The modulation function is unequalled, and even though it basically just delivers one very characteristic sound — whether you use either the horns or string functions, or different combinations of both, it always very unselfishly seems to adjust its presence to the other sounds within the mix. It’s like a great actor — it automatically knows what the part requires, instinctively delivers the perfect performance and can handle any role you want it to play. I love it, and it loves me back. The most graceful and grateful synth I know. It’s perfect. And it’s mine,
EVEN though music technology is progressing at a blisteringly fast pace, some things will never change — things like producers wanting fat basses, and the fact that Bob Moog is still probably the fattest name in the world when it comes to bass. Arturia have used their True Analog Emulation (TAE) technology to bring back to life one of the most revered classic synthesisers, namely the Minimoog model D, as the iMini. The sound quality of the iMini is awesome: faithfully recreating those huge bass noises that put the Minimoog on the map. The mid and high ranges do not disappoint, either. The filters stay fairly true to the original Minimoog, and while not exactly the same as the original, they should keep
all but the most ardent chin-strokers happy. MIDI connectivity is supported via Core MIDI, allowing for either Wi-Fi control or direct cable control via the camera connection kit, and the iMini is also compatible with Tabletop. At such a sweet price, buying the iMini is as close to a no-brainer purchase as any paid app ever will be.
VERDICT 8.5/10
SOUNDBYTES
CUTTING EDGE
Numark continue to explore the compact controller sector with their new Mixtrack Edge controller. Styled similar to an iPad, the Edge is a true DJ tool, allowing selectors to control all sorts of DDJ software. In-keeping with the iPad theme, the Edge even comes with an integrated cover to protect it whilst on the move.
£99
Numark.com
SOUND CONTROL
Behringer have for many years focused on making quality equipment for the budget end of the market, and have now captured the crown in providing producers with pro-featured gear at amazingly low prices. Their newest bit of kit will transform a bedroom/project studio into a real, serious studio set-up. The CONTROL1USB is a monitor mixing hub that allows producers to switch between their DJ speakers or main studio monitors, control the volume levels of various sound inputs and outputs, has a built-in USB audio interface, and provides a talkback facility. This type of kit is usually found in pro studios, but now DJ/producers can get top-end functions for a fraction of the price.
behringer.com
BASS IN THE PLACE
Novation are celebrating 21 years of music creation and production, and as part of these celebrations, they have released an updated version of the ground- breaking Bass Station. The original Bass Station featured on many dancefloor hits, and no doubt the new Bass Station II will follow in this fine tradition. Bass Station II is a pure analogue monophonic synth with 64 factory presets. Totally designed for the modern age, the Bass Station II can be connected to a computer via USB to open up more sound editing and storage options. £399
novationmusic.com
86
www.djmag.ca
WAXING LYRICAL Lest we forget where it all started — turntables and vinyl. And with all this digital wizardry around us, it’s easy to forget some DJ essentials. Stanton have updated their cartridge range to introduce the Trackmaster V.3 and SM V.3. Suitable for all styles of DJs, offering improvements in sound quality, they are ideal for scratch performances. The new cartridges will also come fitted as standard to Stanton’s ST.150 and STR8.150 turntables.
stantondj.com
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