this month’s Ableton User Group Budapest will happen Saturday (May 22.)
the workshop is free as always but you have to register
cos the places are limited
I will make a presentation about live remixing and multitrack DJing
and I will demonstrate the mighty Vestax VMC-600
which is the best Ableton controller for DJing ATM
wanna know why? see ya at the workshop ;)

no secret that my heart beats faster when a Vestax DJ unit is around
my very first DJ mixer was a Vestax unit long long long time ago
and even if I’m not a Vestax user at the moment our love is neverending

so to check out the Vestax booth was a must for me
I saw the new PMC-05ProIV (the red baby above)
which is the latest version of the legendary skratch mixer
powered up with USB and MIDI

and I saw the enw entry level DJ MIDI controller, the Typhoon (bellow)
it’s an all-in-one thing: built in audio interface + bundled Traktor LE
works on PC and Mac too
perfect entry level solution

the biggest surprise for me was the VMC-600BLK
the original model is one of my fave controllers
but this new black version is even sexier
all I can say is: TOTALLY WANT
I can’t fnd a better picture of it now, but as soon as I do, will post it up

Vestax VCM-600 is one of the best DJ controllers ATM
I dream about this baby every night
especially these days, cos of my AKAI nightmare
now djtechtools.com has a great review
after you’ve watched the video go and read the whole thing

so you are a Vestax VCI-300 owner and you want effects?
well the wait is over
we mentioned the VFX-1 earlier
now you can read a detailed review at Skratchworx

Spin by Vestax is the controller for the Mac only DJ software, djay
it has a built in soundcard and also works as a regular MIDI controller
it is an Apple Store exclusive from today
the price is more than fair, 250 USD only

[via Skratchworx]

The Vestax TR-1 is a collaboration of Vestax and DJ Hiroshi Watanabe, one of the pioneers who established laptop based DJing in Japan. This radical MIDI controller has been designed from a professional’s point of view, making it compact and extremely useful when you’re in the mix. The TR-1 comes with a bundled Tractor LE.

Serato Itch has a lot going for it but everyone always mentions the same thing. “man, I wish it had some effects ”. Well your wishes look like they may be coming true very soon. There is leaked information floating around the web that exposes what appears to be a Vestax FX controller designed for Itch.

Ean Golden @ djtechtools.com has many many infos about this new baby, make sure to go and read his post .

The Vestax VCM-600 DJ MIDI controller has joined the list of hardware controllers offering instant mapping for Ableton Live. The VCM-600 provides 160 controls including dedicated EQ and filter sections, clip launch capabilities, transport controls, sends/returns and more, all illuminated by sleek, dual-side LED lighting. The controller, already being used by the likes of Carl Cox, Kevin Saunderson and Paul van Dyk, is club-ready and puts the power of Live at your fingertips like never before.

… and not like any other controllers, the VMC-600 has EQ knobs for each channel!! I’m in love and and my feelings are deep :D

This terrific video is about a hacked hardware crossfader, created by John Beez, that slides up and down on rails. As he says: – This is the first public view of the Fretless Fader system I designed for use with the Controller One (posted February 22, 2009). With this you can cut and change notes through 2 octaves without taking your hands away from the vinyl and fader. -
Bonus points for the added oldschool talkbox ;)