DM2 to MIDI: Audio 'Toy' now a MIDI controller.

July 22, 2003 9:33 AM

PC Audio 'toy' now an inexpensive MIDI controller, thanks to this program. The Mixman DM2 is still a toy, but DM2 to MIDI opens up a world of soft/hardware options for this cheap device. I've tried it with NI's Traktor and Ableton Live, and it works very nicely.
posted by ewwgene (18 comments total)

Cool. :)
posted by Foosnark at 9:35 AM on July 22, 2003

Great links! Thanks, ewwgene!
posted by shoepal at 9:48 AM on July 22, 2003

Is anyone else compeltely baffled by this post?
posted by ascullion at 10:00 AM on July 22, 2003

I am using one of these to control Traktor, and it works great.

Also, the price is right, mine was $40 on ebay. Try finding an Oxygen for that price!
posted by bug138 at 10:03 AM on July 22, 2003

I'm following. Not sure if it's really FPP material. But hey...

I would like to hear some kind of example though. Anyone?
posted by Witty at 10:04 AM on July 22, 2003

YAY! Thank god someone else did it. I bought one for $9 on clearance at Target, and had plans to do this conversion, but, well, I'm a lazy geek. :)
posted by qDot at 10:16 AM on July 22, 2003

Yes, I've been waiting for this to happen for a while. Thanks for the post!
posted by christiaan at 10:24 AM on July 22, 2003

See also: Ms. Pinky.
posted by Pinwheel at 10:35 AM on July 22, 2003

Also great as a 3d animation external contoller (any midi device). handy.
posted by tomplus2 at 11:37 AM on July 22, 2003

Wow. This will go a long way to solving that look on the face of the person who bought me one of those last Christmas only to see it collect dust.
posted by yerfatma at 11:59 AM on July 22, 2003

Witty, it's worthy of FPP to anyone that DJs or produces. and that's a lot more people than you think, apparently...

what i ask is - how's the design of this device? is it solid? will it stand up to drunk and high ass-hats trying to do oldschool scratch tricks? I know a few. and they'd want to see if it could :)

[this is good]

I'm not familiar with Traktor (it sounds like a sequencer?) or any other software mentioned. does this mean it has functionality to change pitch and whatnot to mimick Final Scratch?
posted by shadow45 at 12:51 PM on July 22, 2003

Neat! I've been wondering how long it would be for someone to put something like this together...

Only complaint, though, is there's no Mac version. :(
posted by 40 Watt at 1:23 PM on July 22, 2003

Shadow45:

It's basicly built like a toy. I dont see it standing up to unsobered friends at all. :)

Since Final Scratch now uses Traktor for its software, pitch shifting is all there. Only thing that Traktor has yet to master is a decent scratch algorithm, it sounds too warbly.


Anyways, It's just a toy. It's just simple rubber coated contact switches in an attractive casing - But it's still lightwight and can make an interesting conversation piece at your next gig.
posted by ewwgene at 1:28 PM on July 22, 2003

ascullion, I'm baffled too.

So, I sort of understand the whole keyboard as midi-controller thing. Somehow (magically) a MIDI keyboard can trigger events on other MIDI devices (sequencers, etc).

Is that what's happening here? And, are you actually able to "scratch" from a MIDI source using this, or what?
posted by bshort at 1:32 PM on July 22, 2003

Is that what's happening here?

Yes. It's a very basic (and very cheap) midi controller.

And, are you actually able to "scratch" from a MIDI source using this, or what?

No, scratching is still something you really need a turntable for. Although the Pioneer CDJ 1000s get pretty damn close, albeit by emulating a turntable. It's also about 100x as much as people seem to be paying for this thing.

I used to have a promo video of someone scratching with a CDJ1000, but I can't find it, and the Pioneer Pro DJ site is flash hell.

Ahh, found them, Products -> Digital Vinyl Turntables -> CDJ-1000 -> Media : Intro Trailer Demo
posted by inpHilltr8r at 2:48 PM on July 22, 2003

Having carted two 30+lbs and final scratch and a mixer to a house party at the weekend, only to have all kinds of issues with the setup (bad environment, flaky laptop), the idea of taking a laptop and a lightweight toy controller actually appeals.

I mixed on 1200's for years, but I'm thinking something lighter may be in order whilst my back still works.
posted by Flat Feet Pete at 5:31 PM on July 22, 2003

so final scratch is nice, though? the idea is awesome, but as most things go - implementation of good ideas can often be horrible. i heard they payed hawtin to tote it around for a year+ on a tour, wonder if that was misery or fun

if it's all they say it is, it could get me back into mixing... plus, i'd like to introduce a little breakbeat rhythm to all these south Florida trance freaks. this would make it easier.
posted by shadow45 at 6:52 PM on July 22, 2003

Good GOD! The DM2 site (http://www.my-dm2.com/) is a perfect example of why to not use Flash for a site. Or to at least attempt to make it usable. I had no idea what a DM2 was and after visiting that god awful site, I still have no idea.
posted by HTuttle at 8:25 PM on July 22, 2003