#laptop midi controller

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A TB-303 Clone With A Twist

In any industry (music or otherwise), there is always one thing you can count on.  If you produce something people like than there will always be another company trying to make the same thing at a lower price.  There will always be imitators and emulators out there playing the “get like me” game.  From a business perspective it can be a financial nightmare for the originators who came up with the first product.  While it’s flattering to have any product built off of your original product – it also means that consumers will be driven to it for its lower cost, and they may even be willing to sacrifice quality as a means of getting their hands on the next best thing. This trend is evident if you take a look at the laptop MIDI controllers out there that share the exact same design.  The only thing they don’t share is the build quality that some have over another. [embed width="656"]http://youtu.be/EVZqofaWfiw[/embed] If you’ve wanted to get your hands on a Roland TB-303 but can’t seem to source one at a good price – Superior Sound has created the TT 303 Analog Monophonic Synth that packs almost everything the original Roland has to offer.  From the posted videos, it’s pretty clear that it’s the closest match you’ll find. http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2012/11/28/bass-bot-tt-303-analog-monophonic-synth-tb-303-clone/

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TECH REVIEW: KORG MIRCOKEY

When it comes to cheaper and smaller MIDI controllers, Korg has a strong hold in this market – but let’s not confuse that with having a reputation for quality devices in this field.  When that MIDI controller you’ve set your sights on has a price tag below a hundred dollars, some alarm bells might pop-up in your head where you ask yourself, “Can this possibly be a worthwhile purchase?”  From the manufacturers’ perspective, many units need to be sold at this low price in order to turn a profit, so corners will have to be cut somewhere. The first revisions of the Korg laptop controllers weren’t very spectacular.  People would beat up on them as if it were a MPC, and this would result in less than functional buttons/pads; sometimes they would cease to work altogether.  Since then, Korg has put a little more effort into these products, so that they didn’t become something disposable in the long run.  Their newest run of the MicroKey controllers come much sturdier as well as in a slew of different color configurations.  Their variety easily outmatches what Akai has to offer in the same size and pricing category.  I think I might pick one of these up. http://djmag.com/content/tech-review-korg-mircokey

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Things to consider when buying a new laptop.

Every so often, maybe every five years or so, it comes time to dig through the market for a new laptop.  Why do we need to replace a laptop so often?  Well, the main reason here is that laptops cannot be upgraded or tweaked like their desktop brothers, so instead of being able to replace a graphics card when it goes bad, or adding some ram – you end up replacing the entire deal.  This is trade off you’d expect from being able to carry around a computer in some of the strangest locations; while managing not to break anything.  Since a laptop is still considered a static purchase, there is more to look at before you buy. Believe it or not, but some of the newer models of laptops won’t fare well with older piece of hardware and software, and some DVS programs don’t play nice with newer more advanced laptop displays.  On the flipside, if you can score one with a solid state drive, it will be miles ahead of anything that else that can be ported around.  You still want to make sure that it has enough USB ports, since only 2 is not enough these days – and USB 3 has seen very little being made for it. http://traktortips.com/5-things-to-consider-when-buying-a-new-dj-laptop/

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2013 DJ Expo Exclusive: Numark Mixtrack Edge Walkthrough

If you’ve browsed the store for new laptops, you might have noticed something strange going on with their pricing.  Regular sized laptops come in at a price where the best one can rock you just under a thousand dollars.  A small sized net book that is meant for light tasks may cost no more than half of what that regular sized laptop will – minus the extra performance and size.  Now, when you get into the ultra-books that come in a net-book size, but with full-sized power, the prices rocket skywards.  Expect that same laptop to be selling at almost two thousand dollars for one. What this says to me is that people want small sized gear, but if they want small and well performing gear at the same time, there is a price to be paid.  Personally, I can see where this is all coming from.  To have power at your fingertips that is both mobile and ergonomic is something that only a few of us can really afford.  For a DJ, it speaks volumes when setup time and slim, and items are less bulky.  The new Numark Mixtrack Edge comes in at about an inch thick, making it less bulky than your standard laptop. http://www.djbooth.net/index/dj-equipment/entry/video-2013-dj-expo-exclusive-numark-mixtrack-edge-walkthrough