Heroic?

I came home yesterday and my wife tells me how she, and our 18 month son, Brandon, went to Best Buy earlier in the day, and right when they got there, Brandon saw the DJ Hero display and beelined straight for it. Stopping short of running into the display, arms bent 90 degrees, hands balled up into fists, he proceeded to bounce to the beat. She said that while they were shopping around the store, at any given moment, Brandon would break, full speed to the DJ Hero and get up on the turntable controller. That's my boy!! It isn't his first time around a turntable. When dad is practicing at home, Brandon is quick to get up on the decks (having me pick him up), so he can explore the platters, cross faders, buttons, knobs, or any switch his little hands can reach. The force is strong in this one.

So when I got a call from DJ CONCISE, inviting me over to see the new pad, explore some music, and check out his newly acquired DJ Hero, I was all about it. I mean if the Prime Minister of Cool,(Brandon), was so heavily drawn, I had to check it out. He also told me that Analog and A1 was going to be there, so I jumped at the opportunity to hang out with my friends, and get some input of the game from DJ's with different styles.

As soon as I got there, Analog was at the controller, A1 was on his laptop, Concise was on his laptop, and Concise's brother was on the computer in the other room upping his music files. But the first thing I noticed was the sound coming from the 5 speakers connected to the 52" tv mounted on the wall. On a 1200, Analog is a master chef. Cutting, scratching, juggling, these are all things that come second nature to him. So seeing him playing the game, and playing it well, was no surprise at all. Concise, a well seasoned dj, who's style of dj'ing is completely different than Analog's got on the controller next. As he was playing he went over the basics with me about what certain things on the screen mean in terms of game play. After he finished a set, I got up on the controller, and for the first try, I must say...I SUCKED!!! As each song in the set went by, familiarity to the controller started to set in, and less and less mistakes were being made. What's this I'm starting to feel...is that my good ol' buddy FUN????

My main objective was to see how handling a real turntable and mixer was translated in the game. Here's what I found out. At the level I was playing at, MEDIUM, it doesn't. If anyone thinks that they can take the skills that they've acquired from this game, and apply them to two turntables and a mixer, they're going to be very disappointed. When I asked Analog and A1 how they felt about the translation, Analog said "The buttons on the platter, that doesn't matter to me." The way that the cross fader interacts with the actual scratch, non existent. A1 said, "If this game is any indication of my dj skills, I shouldn't be dj'ing"(probably because the game isn't advanced enough to understand A1's flares). The part that makes full sense though is the cross fader going full left of full right. For anyone to try to compare it to "real dj'ing"(whatever your definition of that is), is absurd until you get into the upper levels of the game. The makers of this game had to find ways to incorporate a game format into a turntable/mixer controller.

According to Concise, only when you get to the higher levels such as HARD and EXPERT, you see more of a correlation of directional scratching and patterns. There is more doubling up, and the pace moves much faster, so the HAND/EYE, or should I say EAR/EYE coordination is more apparent and "realistic". And even then, it's limited at best. But here lies the problem, where is the creative freedom? The true nature of a DJ is to be able to tweak, filter, scratch, and manipulate in order to express his own creativity. With DJ Hero, we must follow the patterns given. If there were a FREEPLAY mode where it would actually express what you were doing, I think we'd have a different beast on our hands.

Analog, the technician, put it best by saying "It's a game", and with that I agree 100%. Once I stopped comparing it with the true technical ability and freedom one needs to rock sets like these, as a game, DJ Hero is a success. HIGHLY ENTERTAINING, FUN, ADDICTIVE even. Conscise told me "I'm addicted to this game. I'm losing sleep because of it." And I can see why. The Mashups in it are well worked.(And believe me, this is NOT Concise's preferred genre) The skills taken to put the music alone together from a DJ standpoint is phenomenal. You can definitely hear the signature sounds of Z-Trip, Shadow, and Jazzy Jeff to name a few. At one point, A1 found a site where Z-Trip was selling the records of the songs for the game. For anyone out there that is dreaming to be THE DJ, this game is for you. Complete with big clubs and large crowds.

I will admit that even before playing it, I was judgemental of it, but after playing it, I will not turn down the opportunity to play again! I suggest you do the same and check it out for yourself. Concise's address is hAHHAAHA jk!

Final thoughts:

"Moral: we can kill it on real time dj'ing, but we still suck at DJ Hero. But it's still fun. hahaha"-Concise

My Take: Fun Fun game. It will definitely be a great party game. And if you want to be comptetive in that arena, it will behoove you to have it. If you don't have turntables and a mixer at home, this is a great substitute for fulfilling that inner dj that yearns to be heard. Who knows what kind of ideas or energies it will spark?

On a personal note....I'll get it for Brandon if he wants it, but I won't buy it for myself. If I have time to play, I have time to practice, and I'd rather get on my tables every time.

After messing around with DJ Hero (review to come shortly) I had to reconnect to some turntablism that truly moved me. 4 time DMC CHAMPIONS C2C always inspires me.

C2C was born in 1998 from the meeting of 4 french Dj’s : Greem, Atom, Pfel and 20Syl. Member of an emerging movement called “scratch music” (or turntablism), this crew keeps working on finding original sounds and knows how to benefit from its technical control to put forward some musical quality which makes its identity. Each member uses his turntable as an instrument, recreating in turn drums or bass guitars, scratching a riff of guitar or shearing the brass… to lead to a general harmony such as bands made up of instruments known as “traditional”. C2C has obtained in September 2006 its fourth DMC team world champion title in a row. With their previous victory in 2003 ,2004 and 2005 they achieve a historical quadruple and break Dj Craze’s records, the only Dj that has made it 3 times in a row until today… This crown is in fact the result of a keen upstream work : while taking part regularly in competitions, they make progress and make a clean sweep of the best ranks as they also won ITF 2005 team world Champion title and Hip Hop World Challenge title. Pfel, the last Dj getting in the crew, round off this prize list by his collection of trophies won in solo competitions (DMC, ITF). This rise leads them in parallel to perform all around the world with Q-Bert, A-Track, Dj Kentaro, The Scratch Perverts or DJ Vadim. Exploiting at the very maximum human as well as material possibilities (mixers effects, feedback, larsens…), the show presented on tour is out of breath for the listener. The denseness of sequences is cut by technical parts meant to underline individual performances. Routines give way to live compositions mixing turntables of one, machines of another finish brilliantly with the 6 minutes sets having made them champions of the world four times in a row! On the creation side, the quartet excels too and particularly in realizing pieces intended for producing. Thanks to their various experiences and after a long soundgrubbing work, they launch out a whole series of breakbeats entitled “Flyin’ Saucer” (3 volumes to date) including several own innovations. A recent proof of their qualities in this field : 20Syl and Greem, respectively Mc and Dj of the band called Hocus Pocus, invited the two others C2C Djs to take part in its new album “73 Touches” (On And On records). This collaboration has just led on a track completely played with turntables. They’re now working on their first album which will lead them to a further step in their artform.

Find more videos like this on video.filestube.com.

LIVE RE-MIXING 101

Urb Magazine presents Keys N Krates' new live mix, entitled Live Re-Mixing 101, that is slated for release on November 15, 2009. Live Re-Mixing 101 is a live recording showcasing the rising outfit's party rockin' performances including their signature deconstructed compositions of:Mos Def's Miss Fat Booty, Tribe Called Quest favorites, The Fugee's, Fu-Gee-La, Talib's Get By, Dr. Dre's, Next Episode, Simian Mobile Disco's We Are Your Friends and more. Live Re-Mixing 101 will be available for digital download the morning of November 15 at http://www.urb.com with physical releases available at select retailers nationwide. Keys N Krates will be touring throughout the U.S. to promote Live Re-Mixing 101 beginning November 15, 2009. Legs of their tour include Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Austin and New York City.

Through first hand experience, Keys N Krates is a superpower that commands closed eyed headnods, overhead hand bouncing to the beat, and all around aural captivity through their musical abilities. If you ever have a chance to catch these guys live, DO IT. No bullshit.

Besides putting on a great show, the members of the group, Adam Tune(drums), JR-Flo(turntables), and Matisse(keys) (just went in alphabetical order...no favorites here) are Grade A people! No egos here, just music lovers sharing an aweinspring experience.

Seriously if you don't yet know, get in the know now!!! Find out more at http://www.keysnkrates.com/

Miles for your Earhole

They say that the Miles Davis Tribute Jazz Headphones are designed and precision tuned with Miles and the unique acoustic tones of jazz in mind. Also, with the sonic accuracy of Tributes, you’ll discover all of your favorite music, even beyond jazz, all over again. You’ll hear details in the music you’ve never heard before. New Monster technologies in headphone design make it possible.

Like a limited pressing, Miles Davis Tribute Headphones will not be available to everyone. Each box is numbered, and packaged in a special case reminiscent of Miles trumpet case Tributes is the best in-ear headphones for jazz available, and a rare keepsake celebrating Miles’s career and the music that has meant so much to us all.

If anyone out there has a Monster connect, as an audiophile, I'd love to review this product personally. But at 499.95, I guess we'll have to take their word for it.

Wonder-Full

Out of the hundreds of thousands of things to do in Los Angeles, there are only a handful of things that are MUST GO, and this is definitely one of them.

Wonder-Full is an annual event dedicated to the great Stevie Wonder. Featuring New York natives DJ Spinna and Bobbito, two of the world's most respected DJ/Taste makers, spinning all Stevie exclusives, covers, samples & remixes.

KeiStar Productions has successfully produced this event since 1999 starting in its hometown of New York City. From then on KeiStar Productions has traveled nationally and internationally with WONDER-Full™ to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, London, Japan, and Amsterdam.

Also featuring DJ Rashida, one of LA's most talented mixers.Making its fourth trip to LA , Wonder-Full has united Angelenos and travelers alike, lending to one of the most energetic events this city has ever experienced. Attendees ranged from Prince to Jude Law, along with LA's top taste makers and music fans, for a crowd of 1,300 smiling faces.

POWERED BY:FOOTLONG_DEVELOPMENT*KEISTAR PRODUCTIONS*FROLAB*HOT AIR*FUSICOLOGY*WAX POETICS*GIANT STEP*VANGUARD*
for more email: info@footlongdevelopment.com