Arming Up

Posted on February 13, 2010 by Chris
Akai MPD18 Pad Controller

Akai MPD18 Pad Controller

Last week DJ A.D.D. was kind enough to let me borrow his Akai MPD18 for an extended trial as he has recently gotten a much snazzier model. For my purposes though, the MPD18 fits in perfect with my DJ rig. It integrates into Virtual DJ and is great for initiating sampler/sound clips. As a bonus I can also use it to drive VST instruments (or virtual instruments). Even better, I managed to get a MIDI to USB cable. This lets me hook up my old Boss DR202 and also trigger MIDI effect in VirtualDJ. All in all, I have more buttons than I should ever need and a quickly growing DJ rig. I ran through a practice mix session and while there is going to be some additional learning time needed, I was able to integrate all of the equipment into my mixing style with ease. I spent a good deal of time working up a new MIDI map. I also finally mapped in a crossfader EQ mixer setup that will work nicely when mixing track to track. Again, I tried it out for the first time last night and the test run went excellent. You should hear some of these new tricks by this week’s Pirate Radio (still on for 2/16/10).

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Snow Blind

Posted on February 11, 2010 by Chris

I launched a new page navigation application on df.com today that will make it easier to jump ahead or go back in time from the main “News & Updates” page that you’re seeing right now. If you scroll down to the bottom you’ll see it. I think this will help you move around a bit easier and that’s always nice. It’s also on the archived pages (including the “digitalflood Pirate Radio” show pages). Again, this should make moving around quickly on the site easier to do.

We got a lot of snow here in Orange County, NY (as has most of the Northeast) over the last 24 hours. About 12″ plus. The snow started around 9 pm yesterday and just stopped around 9 pm today. That’s 24 hours of snow. I’m far from buried in though. I managed to shovel myself out. My landlord gave me a hand with his plow equipped pick up truck (which save me tons of time).

I haven’t even had a chance to think about next week’s digitalflood Pirate Radio (that would be “Volume 6 Episode 6″ for those of you who like numbers). I can tell you it will be out on 2/16/10 though actual recording still has to happen. I may be able to get MC Mary to do the next episode (Volume 6 Episode 7) as she’s stopping by next week.

Other than that all is well at the Pirate Radio if not a bit quite. I am right now in conversation about a pretty cool project that if it pans out I’ll let you know about. I’m looking to do a remix album and we’ll see where that goes.

Finally, DJ A.D.D. has been kind enough to loan me an Akai controller pad, which I have yet to hook up. When I do (most likely this weekend) I’m hoping to see if I can use it trigger samples and queue points in Virtual DJ. If not it may be time to learn Traktor (I’ve been holding out). We’ll see how that goes.

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DF Pirate Radio – “2 am Underground”

Posted on February 9, 2010 by Chris
Title: Vol. 6 Episode 5 (Click link to play) Rel: 2/9/10
Description: “2 am Underground” – There is a certain something to being in a dance club at 2 am in the morning. The best music plays. The craziest times happen. And there’s just some extra “stupid” in there air that makes it all that and a bag chips. This episode is dedicated to that moment and that feeling, which DJ digitalflood manages to somehow bottle, encode into an mp3, and upload to df.com for your listening pleasure. The result is pure underground dance club bliss. Total run time is just over an hour. The mix is laden with hip hop, trance, industrial, dance pop, and some surprises as wekk. All in DJ digitalflood’s pure “Cut Like Crack” mixing style. So turn down the lights. Break out some bubbly. Put on “Get Out” on HDNET with the sound down. Turn up your speakers and prepare to make your neighbors call into the police a noise violation complaint. It simply doesn’t get much better than this.
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Me Verses I

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Chris

You may have noticed that “digitalflood Pirate Radio Volume 6 Episode 5″ isn’t out yet. That’s because this week has been the absolute week from Hell at work. I’ve come home every night completely tired and there is no way I was digging into mixing it. So, I’m taking this week off. I’ll be back next week with this episode and from there get things back on track, but for this week– yeah I need some quite time to relax. I’m sure you understand. The next episode will be out on 2/9/10.

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Pirate Radio? Oh yeah, we do that!

Posted on February 2, 2010 by Chris
The Cyclades Mill in Greece

Oh look... it's the Cyclades Mill in Greece, which I'm sure will come in handy to know about. Or not.

The biggest question on your mind has to be “When is digitalflood Pirate Radio Volume 6 Episode 5 going to be out?” I know it is. And even if it isn’t– I’m in denial and ergo it is. So there. The answer is probably tomorrow night. The live session is all recorded. It’s just got to be put through post-production and I have to be honest with you– there isn’t much needed. I’m either getting better at live mixing or getting less daring about doing stupid things while mixing. Maybe a bit of both. Either way, this one came together pretty fast. Without giving away too much about the show I’m pretty sure you’ll dig it (or at least 99% of you will… which is close enough for me).

Other than that I’ve just been so plain busy at work (a.k.a. my real job) there really hasn’t been much else going on. So it’s not that df.com isn’t happening– it’s just happening slower because I have some other pending priorities, which are as follows:

  1. Being able to pay bills.
  2. Being able to afford food.
  3. Being able to pay rent.
  4. Being able to not die because the aforementioned needs are being met.

Fortunately I have been able to sneak family time in there so the wife and kids aren’t being neglected. No offense, but if it comes down to posting a blog or spending time with my daughters and wife– well the post isn’t happening. I’m sure you understand and I sure as Hell hope instead of checking out df.com you’d rather spend time with your family… or not… *ahem*… awkward!

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