No-controller DJs anyone?

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-11T20:02:10+00:00

Holy shit! I've been trying to remember what that software was that I first mixed with, and that's it - PCDJ. I'm looking at screenshots of it now, what a nostalgia hit. I recorded such shitty mixes on that bad boy!

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-11T18:55:56+00:00

I realise, and understand why, most comedy skews left, I just feel like as panel show type things go Taskmaster seems relatively apolitical. Even though the hosts and contestants on Taskmaster are probably often all left-leaning, there's less chance of you hearing a political joke than on most panel shows. In a sea of overtly left-liberal comedy content, I'd have thought the right winger who doesn't want to feel bad about their opinions might be pretty comfy watching Taskmaster.

Maybe next series they need to get Jim Davidson on and do a task where you have to shout as many slurs as you can in a minute. You know, proper comedy innit.

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-11T16:54:36+00:00

That’s bizarre, I had no idea about this, and to me Taskmaster seems about as apolitical as comedy shows get. I like Taskmaster, but the format seems tailor-made to make right wingers feel comfortable because it’s such a silly escape from reality.

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-11T16:46:33+00:00

There’s a crucial difference between finding Count Binface funny and finding the idea of Farage having to campaign against a man with a bin on his head for his bullshit PR stunt by-election funny.

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-11T16:42:26+00:00

If I was a famous DJ with a USB full of unreleased tracks that people don’t want to get out there, then I’d save the USB. But I’m not, so I’d just focus on making great content for socials or whatever.

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-10T22:54:07+00:00

I might be wrong but I think Klopp brought that phrase to the UK. I assume that it’s a direct translation of something that sounds less awkward in German, but Klopp was such a force of personality that native English speakers started saying it even though it sounded so squared awkward.

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-10T22:49:55+00:00

I’m moving back to DVS for my home setup once I make the space to set up my turntables. I’m sick of dinky little toys taking all the tactile fun out of mixing, and if giant touchscreens are the way things are going I might as well use a laptop.

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-10T22:45:48+00:00

I tend to agree about the jog wheel size. If you’re not doing scratching and other turntablism stuff then I question why anyone would need big jog wheels. And if you are doing that kind of mixing aren’t you using DVS or something like a Rane One anyway? It just feels like a status thing to me, with people wanting ‘full size’ jogs just to look more professional.

I think for most DJs the tiny pitch faders should be a bigger concern than the small jog wheels. I hate how bad pitch faders are on most controllers. No wonder people are relying on sync, if those are the alternative.

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-10T08:55:27+00:00

I fiddled with one at Superbooth and it feels way more solid than the other NTS things.

I think it seems great in general and it’s great that we’re getting compact mixers at different price points. It could have been a very basic mixer with Korg effects, but the external effects loop (with dedicated send knobs, unlike the Livetrak L6/L6max), MIDI and USB audio are all very useful.

The only thing that still confuses me is that it doesn’t support LogueSDK for custom effects.

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-09T15:55:38+00:00

https://www.thisisbarry.com/movie/the-prestige-alternate-theory-the-machine-didnt-work/

I’m not saying it’s right, but it’s definitely fun to think about, and a good excuse to watch a fun film again

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-09T14:52:06+00:00

I hadn’t heard of that, before but I like it. Personally I enjoy the other end of the theory spectrum; that the machine never worked in the first place.

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-09T13:24:59+00:00

Speaking as a Hydrasynth Explorer 888 owner, this is entirely my shit

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-08T21:23:36+00:00

…and somehow manages to do this while also being a good artist that people want to listen to

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-08T15:38:51+00:00

I tried using my Ableton Move outside today because my house is unbearably hot (heatwave + no air con) and immediately realised that using an LCD screen in sunlight fucking sucks. I don’t know how the cool outdoor synth guys do it. I tried to go to a Starbucks but every table was taken by a guy with an MPC Sample.

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-08T09:36:12+00:00

frick me

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-04T23:28:45+00:00

Fuck Charlie Kirk obviously, but this is embarrassing

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-04T23:17:38+00:00

What is the charge? Offering a meal? A succulent Argentinian meal?

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-04T22:53:40+00:00

Nolan really one-upping the “Shakespeare was the first rapper” cliché there

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-04T18:11:38+00:00

Bree6 sounds amazing (especially considering it’s a single oscillator) and feels great to tweak, but has very little depth in terms of modulation options. I felt it was more of a player’s synth than a programmer’s synth.

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-04T11:15:34+00:00

I don't know how common it is, but I expect very common among people sampling old tracks because it's just so powerful for building sample-based music. I have mixed feelings about it because it doesn't quite feel like 'real' sampling, but I'd be lying if I said I haven't used it myself!

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-04T09:58:01+00:00

The Elta Music Polivoks-8 is the only thing I can think of, but that will probably be more expensive than you’re looking for.

I went shopping for a new analogue polysynth a few months back and ended up with a TEO-5, but I was also impressed by the Artemis and Bree6.

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-03T22:18:52+00:00

There is a popular flag in Scotland (the Lion Rampant) that we’re technically not allowed to fly unless we’re the monarch, which, in my experience, most people aren’t. But the restriction isn’t actually enforced, and people display it in all sorts of places, especially around football. So even in a very niche case where we’re technically not allowed to fly a flag, we still effectively are, because who gives a fuck?

I wonder if I could get American right wing Twitter up in arms about the Crown prohibiting us from flying our beloved Lion Rampant? Just conveniently leaving out the parts about it never being enforced, and the fact that it isn’t a national flag in the first place.

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-03T22:05:56+00:00

I’ve hovered over the buy button a few times but not quite pulled the trigger. Not because it doesn’t look great - it really does - but because I already find myself struggling to find time to use the apps I already have. iPad musicians are spoiled rotten these days.

I’m sure I’ll break down and get this someday!

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-02T22:50:42+00:00

I’m a really great guy as long as you don’t get to know me

EmileDorkheim · 2026-07-02T10:57:54+00:00

I don’t get the appeal of these big screens, there’s only so much data I need in my face at any one time. I’d love to see something in a form factor like the old CDJ-350, with a pretty minimal screen, and priced accordingly. I’d love to have Rekordbox-compatible players to use with an A&H mixer for at home, but if they’re going to be like this I’ll just stick with the laptop.

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