Archive for September 20th, 2008

Stanton DaScratch SCS.3D DJ Pad Is All Touch Sensitive, Combines Mixer and Turntable In One Device [DJ Equipment]

Stanton’s new DaScratch USB-MIDI Tool is unique because it relies completely on touch technology to mix and manipulate music. With the possibility for 5 touch sensitive sliders, 19 touch sensitive buttons, and one giant, touch friendly rotary control (read: the big record-like circle in the middle), it appears you can run the show with little more than a laptop and one (maybe two) of these.

DaScratch not only uses the USB port for MIDI control, but also for power via USB bus. It’s meant to scratch and scrub like most real and cd-based turntables, plus it has the capability cue, loop and adjust pitch on samples. Its roughly 8″ by 5″ by 1.5″ in size and weighs under 3 pounds and is available for $300. To get a better idea of how this thing works, be sure to check out the video. [Stanton]

Stanton Introduces DaScratch® Controller

New DaScratch a.k.a. SCS.3d features advanced touch-sensitive control for digital DJs

HOLLYWOOD, FL September 19, 2008 Stanton DJ, an industry leader in the design and manufacture of professional audio products for DJs, introduces the DaScratch, the company’s newest addition to the SC System controller line. DaScratch is a USB-MIDI controller that combines fast response, easy customization, and a compact form factor to create an ideal instrument for any digital DJ looking for total control over their software. Small and portable, DaScratch makes a space-friendly addition to any existing DJ gear set-up or can stand on its own as a complete controller solution.

DaScratch marks the introduction of Stanton’s StanTouch® technology, which allows DJs to use traditional performance motions and gestures on a touch-pad style surface. “With SCS.3d, we stepped back from the playing field and created something unique using emerging touch technology,” states Jim Mazur, Stanton’s Director of Product Development. “DJs are constantly looking for new ways to interact with their music. By studying their actions and creating a control surface analogy, we are able to bring some fresh ideas to fruition without being held back by traditional ways of interfacing with equipment.”

The StanTouch® interface is highly responsive to popular functions such as scratching, scrubbing, and navigating through digital audio files. In addition, tactile buttons, triggers, and virtual faders are able to control samples, pitch, effects, cue and loop points, and other mappable functions. Multiple finger touches can also prompt quick kills on EQ’s or transform effects on volume.

Another notable feature of the SCS.3d is the implementation of DaRouter® software. DaRouter allows customized support and control over most DJ, DAW, and audio applications. DaRouter also enables DaScratch to provide two-way user feedback by illuminating LEDs to indicate the status of buttons, triggers, virtual faders, and transport controls. A preset library is also available on the Stanton website that supports popular applications such as Traktor™, Traktor Scratch™, Ableton Live™, and Serato Scratch Live™. A complete list of supported current applications is available at www.StantonDJ.com.

According to Timothy Dorwart, CEO of the Stanton Group, “DaScratch reflects our commitment to deliver products based on technology, innovation and differentiation. The flexibility and affordability of DaScratch will attract new users to digital DJing while at the same time providing professional DJ’s with a useful tool to augment their current rigs.”

For simple connectivity into any set-up or environment, DaScratch features USB connection, allowing easy plug and play connection to your software. The unit is class compliant with Windows XP, Vista and Mac OSX to ensure that drivers are never needed, and is bus powered by design to ensure that no external power or batteries need to be used.

Additionally, the DaScratch employs the Magnect® connection system, allowing multiple SCS.3d units to securely snap together magnetically, creating a larger control surface with increased performance options. MSRP: $299

Technical Details:
5 Touch sensitive sliders (3 switchable via presets)
1 Touch sensitive continuous rotary control (switchable via preset)
4 Backlit (red, blue) buttons
10 Back lit (red, blue, purple) touch sensitive buttons
9 Backlit touch sensitive buttons (switchable via preset)
USB 1.1 and 2.0 class compliant MIDI controller
USB bus-powered*
System Requirements:
Mac: Power PC G5 or multicore Intel® processor Mac OSX (v10.4 or later)
Windows: PC running Windows XP or Vista
Dimensions (H x W x D): 8.52 in x 4.72 in x 1.38 in 216.5 mm x 120 mm x 35.25 mm
Shipping Weight: 2.64 lbs (1.2 Kg)
*USB hub / port must meet USB power specification
Package includes: DaScratch® Unit, USB cable, and Quickstart guide


QOTD: Do You Still Play the Wii? [Question Of The Day]

In just a few weeks, we can almost guarantee that the wires will be filled with one story again: Wii shortages. It should come as no surprise—Nintendo has redistributed hardware/games like Wii Fit to Europe and elsewhere to avoid the weak dollar. And at the same time, the Wii is still the most sought-after console today.

Yet, in my 3 months since moving, I’ve unpacked every part of my home theater system except for the Wii. And I can’t say I miss it. So to those of you with Wiis in the audience, I want to know…

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you’re viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.


Filed under: Robots

The Rovio — one of WowWee’s finest if we should say so ourselves — is finally ready to roam around domiciles and keep baddies at bay. First announced (and spotted) at CES 2008, this long-awaited robotic sentry is up for pre-order right now, and it comes packing a 640 x 480 webcam to stream back live video in MPEG4 format. Furthermore, it can snap stills, head out on a customized patrol route and avoid obstacles with its infrared sensor. Get ready — this sheriff’s rolling into your town next Friday for $299.95.

[Via Random-Good-Stuff, thanks Juergen]

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Via [Engadget]

Averatec’s 10.2-inch netbook just wants to be your Buddy

Filed under: Laptops

We knew it was coming, and now Averatec’s officially unveiled the Buddy, another 10.2-inch, Atom N270-based netbook. It’s not straying far from that template laid down by the Eee 1000 and Wind, but the more recent photos we’ve dug up seem to show that it’s not a straight up Wind rebadge as previously implied — which could be a good or bad thing, depending on Averatec’s attention to detail and / or OEM partner. The laptop manages 1GB of RAM, a 160GB HDD, Windows XP Home and WiFi for a reasonable $450, and should be hitting retail shelves and online stores soon.

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T-Mobile Android Event Liveblog on Tuesday: Whatcha Wanna See? [Android Liveblog]

We’ve got a little more than 72 hours before the first Android phone makes its official world debut, where we’ll be bringing it to you live at the usual spot, live.gizmodo.com. We’ll be getting there early, so come by to keep us company while we wait in line with a bunch of old, balding dudes until the event officially starts at 10:30AM Eastern. We put the question to you before the Let’s Rock event, but we’ll do it here too: What do you want to see from us at the event? Besides waffles, we’ll have plenty of those.


Packard Bell’s iPower GX laptop for hardcore gamerz. Sniff.

Filed under: Laptops

Following in the vaunted footsteps of Packard Bell’s ugly-ass iPower X2.0 desktop, PB has swiped Gateway’s well-received, if already-gaudy P-7811 FX gaming laptop and turned it into pure gamer stereotype: the iPower GX. As far as oppressed people groups go, “hardcore gamers” have had some of the worst aesthetics known to man foisted upon them, and this is no exception. We don’t know how they can keep on keeping on — we would’ve given up and bought a MacBook to play WoW years ago. Lucky for us, Acer-owned Packard Bell is still Europe-only for the time being, so maybe everything’s going to be okay.

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Build a Cannon for Talk Like a Pirate Day [Pirates]

Arrgh, maties! You be in need of a cannon to belay your foes? The sea dogs over at Instructables have a set of instructions to arm your jollyboat. But worry not, there be fair waters ah—

*struck down by ninja Mark*

[instructables via MAKE]


How Android Will Help Google Profile You [Humor]

The first Android phone is dropping next week, and the people who pick it up will be toting around mobile Google software in their pocket wherever they go. They’ll be using mobile Google apps, probably in concert with using Gmail, Gcal and Google Maps on their normal computer. We know that Google is tossing out all user data after 9 months, but you’ve got to wonder what kind of a picture Google is getting of its heavy users like that when it’s only getting info from how its apps are used. After the jump, an imagined day in the life of a Google user, as recorded and perceived by the Googleplex itself.

07:36:04: Application — Gmail
User reads 1 new emails
Keywords: dinner, match.com, reply, date

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male/Female

07:43:38: Application — Search
Search Term: italian restaurant upper east side manhattan
Search Term: italian restaurant upper east side manhattan cheap
Search Term: creampies

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker

08:31:17: Application — Gmail
User sends 1 new email
Keywords: dinner, meet, Ford Fiesta

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker, Low Income

08:40:03: Application — Search
Search Term: vern troyer sex tape

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker, Low Income, Midget Fetishist

11:01:12: Application — Google Reader
Feed read: Gizmodo
Feed read: Kotaku
Feed read: Cute Overload
Feed read: Gothamist
Feed read: Gizmodo
Feed read: Kottke
Feed read: Boing Boing
Feed read: Fleshbot

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker, Low Income, Midget Fetishist, Cubicle Dweller

12:14:30: Application — Google Maps Mobile
Search Term: SuperCuts
Near: Current Location

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker, Low Income, Midget Fetishist, Cubicle Dweller, Cheapskate

12:59:08: Application — Mobile Search
Search Term: slimming pants

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker, Low Income, Midget Fetishist, Cubicle Dweller, Cheapskate, Insecure

13:01:56: Application — Google Maps Mobile
Search Term: H&M
Near: Current Location

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker, Low Income, Midget Fetishist, Cubicle Dweller, Cheapskate, Insecure, Trendy

13:42:12: Application — Google Maps Mobile
Search Term: Florist
Near: Current Location

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker, Low Income, Midget Fetishist, Cubicle Dweller, Cheapskate, Insecure, Trendy, Unimaginative

14:19:31: Application — Search
Search Term: dating tips
Search Term: first dates
Search Term: halitosis cure
Search Term: bang bus

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker, Low Income, Midget Fetishist, Cubicle Dweller, Cheapskate, Insecure, Trendy, Unimaginative, Virgin

14:55:00: Application — GCal
Reminder: Sales Meeting in Five Minutes Sent via: Text

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker, Low Income, Midget Fetishist, Cubicle Dweller, Cheapskate, Insecure, Trendy, Unimaginative, Virgin, Boring Job Holder

17:13:49: Application — Google Reader
Feed read: Gizmodo
Feed read: Fleshbot

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker, Low Income, Midget Fetishist, Cubicle Dweller, Cheapskate, Insecure, Trendy, Unimaginative, Virgin, Boring Job Holder, Porn Addict

18:51:10: Application — Google Maps Mobile
Start Location: Current Location
End Location: Olive Garden

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker, Low Income, Midget Fetishist, Cubicle Dweller, Cheapskate, Insecure, Trendy, Unimaginative, Virgin, Boring Job Holder, Porn Addict, Fat, Not Italian

19:15:03: Application — Mobile Gmail
User sends 1 new email
Keywords: date, forgot, still here

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker, Low Income, Midget Fetishist, Cubicle Dweller, Cheapskate, Insecure, Trendy, Unimaginative, Virgin, Boring Job Holder, Porn Addict, Fat, Not Italian, Pathetic

19:20:41: Application — Mobile Gmail
User reads 0 new emails

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker, Low Income, Midget Fetishist, Cubicle Dweller, Cheapskate, Insecure, Trendy, Unimaginative, Virgin, Porn Addict, Fat, Not Italian, So Pathetic

19:26:11: Application — Mobile Gmail
User reads 0 new emails

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker, Low Income, Midget Fetishist, Cubicle Dweller, Cheapskate, Insecure, Trendy, Unimaginative, Virgin, Porn Addict, Fat, Not Italian, So Pathetic, Desperate

19:31:55: Application — Mobile Gmail
User reads 0 new emails

Current Demographic Profile: Single Male New Yorker, Low Income, Midget Fetishist, Cubicle Dweller, Cheapskate, Insecure, Trendy, Unimaginative, Virgin, Porn Addict, Fat, Not Italian, So Pathetic, So Desperate

19:40:21: Application — Google Maps Mobile
Search Term: Strip Club
Near: Current Location

Current Demographic Profile: Benny Goldman


Build Your Own Linksys WRT54GL Wi-Fi Monster Truck [DIY]

If you love R/C toys, this Wi-Fi router monster truck is definitely a project worth tackling. In a nutshell, a guy named Jonathan Bennet managed to rig a very hackable Linksys WRT54GL router to a $5 R/C monster truck so that it could be driven via the internet from up to 500 meters (1640 feet) away. Although not designed to be a how-to guide, there is more than enough information on the project page for someone with some knowledge to put one together at home. [JB Projects via Boing Boing Gadgets]


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