It’s only a proof of concept, but today’s video, from the DJ Player team, clearly shows digital vinyl controlling iPad DJ software.
Do you think the idea of DJing on an iPad touchscreen just doesn’t cut it? While there are plenty of aspects of the touchscreen that are great, like X-Y FX pads and music library access, there are things it doesn’t do well – with scratching being top of the pile. Overall, as a DJ surface, even the iPad’s biggest fans have to concede it is not ideal.
Recently some iOS apps have started allowing DJs to hook up to DJ controllers, in the same way laptops do. This is all great, but unlikely to shake laptops from the pro DJ booth. However, as today’s video shows, all that is about to change. Because DVS has just arrived for iOS…
What is DVS?
Digital vinyl systems (DVS) from Serato, Traktor and others are popular in “real” DJ booths. You play a specially created piece of vinyl or CD that sends a signal (or “timecode”) to something that decodes this signal into a digital format and sends the information on to the software.
Digital vinyl systems (DVS) from Serato, Traktor and others are popular in “real” DJ booths.
The digital signal indicates the exact position of the track as well as changes in playback speed and direction. In short, it lets you control music tracks in DJ software using “normal” decks and CDJs.
Ever since the advent of DJ apps on iOS, the long-running question of whether an iPad could use timecoded media as a DVS has always been dismissed as unlikely or impossible. But this video, quietly uploaded on Saturday by the DJ Player development team and first broken by us a couple of days back on our Facebook Page, blows that presumption out of the water…
The first video
What it shows us
The iPad is using the 30-pin connector cable for the incoming signal. The vinyl on the turntable is a DJ Player-branded DVS “Pure Sinus” (no timecode) 33RPM 12″. I’m unsure of the small box on the bottom left of the video, it will be an analogue-to-digital converter of some sort. the company behind DJ Player, iMect, has confirmed that the DJ Player app will be able to handle control from two turntables, in the same way existing DVS systems work.
Why it matters
This is a huge leap in what can be achieved with iOS apps. The most exciting prospect is that of eventually being able to ditch the laptop completely and turn up to gigs with just an iPad, plugging it directly into the fully equipped DJ booth and getting going.
Of course the above is a deliberately vague video, and so full details of this development are not yet available, but it’s worth noting that this video is labelled “DJ PLAYER 2012 autumn – part 1″…there’s more to follow!
The second video
Now go to:
5 iOS DJ App Updates You May Have Missed
Review: ION iDJ2Go USB Controller For iOS
Review: Beatsurfing Midi Controller Builder For iPad
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Tags: DJ Player, ios, Midi controller, timecode
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Hey, that’s great for people who don’t want to use laptops. It’s not for me, but I think it’s a good stepping stone for people who want to try out computer DJing. I don’t think this is anyone’s ideal configuration, but it certainly allows that streamlined approach, two turntables to be hooked up to the iPad… any word on the Microphone yet? Ideally, this configuration would be able to handle at least a couple of usb controller interfaces in addition to the turntables. Please-oh-please make these manufacturers stop thinking that some “one right way” to do things is best and give us the flexibility we want, not the features you tell us we get.
[ link ]Hi Forced Hand, I don’t think this development is enforcing a ‘one right way’ viewpoint at all. It is however providing DJ Player owners another way of using the app – I’m looking forward to scratching my iPad tracks in conjunction with the other functionality available in the app (such as 8 cues/loops, multi-fx and so on).
The development team behind the DJ Player app are long time DJs and develop products which frequently break new ground. For example, Stereomusik Systems (the parent company of iMect) produced the first iOS splitter cable as well as other unique items over the years, well ahead of adoption by larger companies.
With regards to multiple USB Midi controllers plugging into a single DJ app we will have to wait and see…just remember, this is update video #1
[ link ]Hi DJ Forced Hand, I think this opens up the possibility of DVS to those who don’t own a laptop (like me!). For some years now I’ve watched friends and DJs play out with DVS and for an old-skool vinyl DJ it’s a familiar route into digital DJing.
In order to handle multiple USB you’d need some sort of iOS USB hub (like the iConnectMIDI or similar)…not sure you’d then be able to use the turntables though as that signal might not be Midi (I could be wrong though).
If that’s video #1, I wonder what else is in store? Fingers crossed for your request Forced Hand!
[ link ]That box on the video is a phono-line converter, because the sound card had no phono input. Then it’s connected to a USB sound card, which is connected to the iPad. So it exactly works like a DVS.
[ link ]I feel that DVS for the IPad is actually a step backwards. If we are trying to move towards more compact and lighter weight products with all the features why not just wait till multi channel sound for the iOS comes out and let the developers bust their hump towards making the perfect four deck program with the addition of a midi controller. That to me is the future not taking adding an iPad or a computer to a older medium. Just my two cents. I think the concept is interesting but again we keep look towards the past for the future. Personally I would love VDJ, Serato, Mixvibes, or Mixxx on an iPad with a quality controller with decent jogs and knobs that was about the size of the iPad.
[ link ]I think it’s more a case of integrating the iPad as a music library/visual feedback device (plus a limited Midi controller) with the pro-quality knobs, faders and spinning things that are already present in any pro DJ booth.
[ link ]DJ Hombre is correct. there are some controls that work best in the physical realm, and some that work best on the touch-screen. Most of you are familiar with the dj player FX screen, which is sooooo nice, in a way that physical controls couldn’t replicate.
[ link ]But take something like input faders, where you might want to move them both together very quickly, that’s an instance where you might want physical controls.
I think, when paired with an app like this, that the nearly forgotten scs3 controllers would truly come to life and claim their rightful place as the best controllers ever designed, because the mode switching could give you all the control you need, and keep everything compact. (I’m guessing that the high-res center strip on the scs3d would lay down some heavy scratch action, also)
Who knows, but it’s fun to spectaculate, huh…
Interesting, no doubt about. On the other side I agree to JonnyFlash, not sure, this is the right direction.
Maybe the DJ Player App should support some basics first, the iPad is agreat device, X-Y FX works perfect on this … Don’t get me wrong: I love my iPad, the iPad could be a great device for Digital DJ, I use DJ Player and Cross DJ, I miss the combination of both: Having both decks on the screen together with the cue buttons (like CrossDJ) or for harmonic mixing: Need comment tags and key sorting options in the track list (like DJ Player) … and of course the still missing keylock feature (in CrossDJ).
In summary I still prefer a laptop using Traktor or VDJ with a controller – using the iPad as an controller for an laptop makes much more sense for me, at least until the DJ apps are more professional.
[ link ]This looks great. I use traktor with controllers when djing out and playing house, techno etc. this would be great for hip hop sets as Prefer to play them on vinyl. Would mean I could have two separate set ups
[ link ]Video #2 has just arrived…this time bringing CDJ integration with CDJ-900, 850 and 2000.
First DVS & vinyl, now CDJ and Midi…are Stereomusik Systems working their way through DJ hardware?
Will DJ Forced Hand’s request regarding controller integration maybe coming in the third video?
[ link ]This article and thread are becoming bigger than simply DVS on the iPad! An interesting question was asked on video #2;
Q: Can you map other midi controllers?
A: Wait for the third video
We all know how many midi controllers are available, so perhaps this will be the first time everyone’s control is catered for with an iOS DJ app. Whether it’s a traditional turntable (using DVS), a CDJ with MIDI (or even with sinewave cd?) and potentially other midi controllers too.
[ link ]FYI: The small box next to the Turntable is an Applied Research and Technology phono preamp. Specifically the ART DJPRE II. Because iPad or the interface does not integrate an RIAA preamp they had to use an external one, as far as I think.
It is very cool to see this kind of appplication for iPad, specially because they give a twist to what we commonly know about DVS and stuff.
[ link ]Good spot, Irwin!
[ link ]All is great!
My question is, how to connect 2 turntables, i mean i wanna use my ipad like i use serato or traktor and my 2technics turntables
Is there a chance?
[ link ]