Tag Archives: Serato

Serato: 20 years of changing the game

From Auckland, New Zealand:

Lace up your best trainers and crack the champagne – this year we’re celebrating 20 years of Serato and ‘The Power of Music’.

On the eve of the new millennium, two computer science students from New Zealand created Serato, a company that has since revolutionized the global digital DJing scene with a winning combination of out of the box thinking, hard work and an unpretentious attitude.

“Right out of the box Serato was a game-changer. Here’s a company who came out of nowhere with the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket, and all of a sudden they’re the industry standard…they dominated the whole system.” – DJ Z-Trip.

Like anything of significance though – it’s never a single entity that’s responsible for that groundswell. It’s a collective force of talent – innovators, artists and dreamers.

For our 20th, we’re celebrating these individuals and our collective journey with commentary from the likes of Roni Size, DJ Z-Trip, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Rich Medina, Mix Master Mike, DJ Spinna, A-Trak, DJ Jazzy Jay, Kayper, Kenny Dope, DJ Revolution, Grand Wizzard Theodore, Natasha Diggs, DJ Miss Milan, Just Dizle, DJ Shintaro, DJ Stef Nava and many more.

A documentary to sum it up

This three-part documentary chronicles Serato’s extraordinary path from humble beginnings to the international music brand they are today.

Episode one is the inception story: how Serato became the leader in two industries in just six years. You can view this incredible story right now on their YouTube channel.

It’s been an absolute pleasure – here’s to the next 20 years.

Limited Edition Box Set:

It seemed only right to produce both something tangible and digital to celebrate our 20th year. Along with our documentary, we’ll be releasing a limited edition anniversary box set. This will include:

● 2 x 20th Anniversary Serato Control Vinyl, with the iconic NoiseMapTM within each groove.
● A 20th Anniversary photograph book tracing the story of Serato from 1999 to 2019.The box set is available for purchase from the Serato online store and selected retailers worldwide.

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For all press enquiries please contact press@serato.com

Pioneer DJ DDJ-1000SRT: Bring the club to you

DJs can now get a taste of a club setup at home thanks to the all-new Pioneer DJ DDJ-1000SRT.

The hardware is the first to create a professional CDJ-and-mixer workflow with a Serato DJ Pro controller. This means you get CDJ-sized jog wheels, Pioneer DJ’s coveted DJM mixing section and industry-leading software running the show.

The DDJ-1000SRT will be available early August at an MAP of $1,299. Simply plug it into a laptop running Serato DJ Pro to unlock the software – you don’t need a license key or subscription – and use the included Pitch ‘n Time DJ Expansion Pack to enable advanced key-related features. The controller is Serato DVS-ready (Expansion Pack available separately).

Special limited offer: Free Serato DJ Suite

Pioneer and Serato are putting a free Serato DJ Suite voucher worth $299 in the boxes of the first 5,000 DDJ-1000SRT controllers that we ship worldwide. This all-in-one suite includes a Serato DJ Pro license and unlocks all the Serato Expansion Packs, including Serato Play, Serato DVS, Serato Video, Serato Flip, and Serato Pitch ‘n Time DJ.

Developed specifically with Serato users in mind, the four-channel DDJ-1000SRT also adds 16 RGB backlit performance pads for controlling eight Serato DJ Pro modes. Other highlights include ultra-familiar Serato virtual decks with important track information in full-color, via high-definition LCD screens in the center of each jog wheel. Pioneer DJ’s iconic sound-color and Beat FX are also built in to bring the club setup to life.

“It’s the perfect marriage of Pioneer DJ hardware and Serato functionality,” says Nick Maclaren, Chief Strategy Officer at Serato. “The jog wheel display will help DJs spend more time in the mix, while the combination of Serato’s intuitive performance pads with color FX and CDJ looping controls will allow DJs to get even more creative with their sets.”

The DDJ-1000SRT also includes four individual channels, as well as dual mic inputs and USB ports.

“With a medium-sized footprint, the DDJ-1000SRT delivers that versatile mix of portability in a professional-grade controller,” says Maclaren. “Two mic inputs and XLRs make it a great option for events and parties, while dual USB ports allow for seamless changeover and back-to-back mixing,” he adds.

The Pioneer DJ DDJ-1000SRT unlocks Serato DJ Pro and supports DVS.

KEY FEATURES OF THE DDJ-1000SRT

Serato DJ Pro compatibility

Feel at home using Serato DJ Pro with the DDJ-1000SRT. You’ll be able to easily use popular features such as Hot Cues, Beat Jump, and Slicer, bringing more creativity to your performances.The controller comes bundled with a voucher for the Serato Pitch ‘n Time DJ Expansion Pack, enabling you to use Key Shift, Pitch Play, and Key Sync. You can also mix, cut, and scratch while maintaining perfect key and audio quality.

Full-size jog wheels and MAGVEL FADER

Mix and scratch your tracks with freedom. The jog wheels taken from the CDJ-2000NXS2 look and feel familiar, and you can customize the way they react to your touch with Jog Adjust. The MAGVEL FADER is highly durable for more than 10 million movements¹and responds to every precise movement you make, so intricate performances feel effortless.

Portable DJ controller with club-style layout

The DDJ-1000SRT is the ideal piece to take on the road. You’ll feel at home using all its feature controls, which are arranged in the same layout as those on our club-standard NXS2 setup.

Color On Jog Display

Focus on your performance and keep your eyes off your laptop. A full-color, high-definition LCD screen in the center of each jog wheel gives you all the information you need, such as playback time, BPM, and playback position. And the color scheme is the same as Serato DJ Pro’s, creating a more intuitive experience.

Professional FX

Show your flair and spice up your sets with the four popular Sound Color FX from our DJM series mixers. You’ve got 14 Beat FX to get creative with too, and you can instantly reference BPM and the name of the selected FX thanks to the dedicated Beat FX display.

Standalone DJ mixer with multiple inputs and outputs

Switch between DJs seamlessly thanks to the two USB ports for PC/Mac and connect your external equipment to the four inputs. Plug in DJ players and analog turntables, plus two mics. You can also use the DDJ-1000SRT as a standalone DJ mixer without connecting a PC/Mac.

Other features

Multicolored Performance Pads–trigger Hot Cues, Rolls, Slicer, Sampler, and Pitch Play
Key Shift and Key Sync buttons –direct control of Serato Pitch ‘n Time DJ key-related features
Aluminum/acrylic-finished top panel – for a quality look and feel
Serato DVS-ready –requires the Serato DVS Expansion Pack (available separately)

DDJ-1000SRT specifications

Frequency Response		20 Hz to 20 kHz (LINE)
S/N Ratio		112 dB (USB) 96 dB (LINE) 85 dB (PHONO) 80 dB (MIC)
Total Harmonic Distortion		0.002% (USB) 0.005% (LINE)
Input / Output Terminals	Inputs	LINE / PHONO × 2 (RCA) LINE × 2 (RCA) MIC × 2 (XLR & 1/4-inch TRS jack x 1, 1/4-inch TRS jack x 1)
	Outputs	MASTER × 2 (XLR × 1, RCA × 1) BOOTH × 1 (1/4-inch TRS jack) PHONES × 2 (1/4-inch stereo phone jack x 1, 3.5-mm stereo mini jack x 1)
	USB	USB (Type B) × 2
Power Supply		AC adaptor (DC 12V)
Maximum Dimensions (W ｘ D ｘ H)		708.0 × 361.4 × 73.4 mm
Weight		6.0 kg
Accessories		AC adapter Power plug USB cable Quick Start Guide Serato DJ Pro Expansion Pack voucher (Pitch ‘n Time DJ)

System requirements

Compatible OS	Mac	macOS Mojave 10.14 (updated to the latest version） macOS High Sierra 10.13 (updated to the latest version) macOS Sierra 10.12 (updated to the latest version)
	Windows	Windows® 10, 8.1, 7 (the latest service pack)
CPU		Intel® processor Core™ i9, i7, i5, i3 1.07GHz or above
Memory		4GB or more of RAM

Download

Serato DJ Pro 2.2.1

Watch

Pioneer DJ DDJ-1000SRT Unboxing | First look with Serato

Buck Rodgers x Pioneer DJ DDJ-1000SRT

Introducing Serato Studio: Serato’s new beatmaking software.

Serato has launched the first beta version of its new beatmaking software, Serato Studio, which will help more DJs become producers.

The product combines powerful production features with a DJ-style workflow. This includes cue points, mixer channels, FX, time-stretching and key-detection with Pitch ‘n Time, waveform displays, loads of content, and access to your Serato DJ library.

“By building on what DJs already know, we’ve reduced that steep learning curve commonly associated with music production,” says Nick Maclaren, Chief Strategy Officer at Serato. “Which means less time hitting technical roadblocks and more time actually making music.”

Studio caters to more experienced producers with advanced features like automation, stem exporting, and third-party plugin support (VST and Audio Units), with an overall emphasis on intuitive and simple design.

“Over the years we’ve spoken to countless DJs and beginners who want to start making music but either don’t have the time, the hardware, or feel overwhelmed with attempting to learn production software,” says Maclaren.

“As a result we’ve made Studio as intuitive as possible, so you can open it up and start making beats right away,” he adds.

Studio also includes a range of time-saving features including instant key and pitch-shifting, “Play in Key” mode, which allows users to play any instrument in key without knowing any music theory, and a “Make Beats” feature, which creates drum patterns with one click to get you inspired.

“During the testing phase we noticed DJs would try to make a track and spend a lot of their time on less creative aspects, like putting a drum kit together or finding the key of their sample,” says Maclaren. “So we’ve focused on being able to get ideas out fast.”

Studio works with a range of setups, including standalone using just your laptop. As well as a range of supported Serato DJ hardware and MIDI controllers.

“If you already have a DJ controller or mixer that’s supported in Studio, you can use it to make beats without investing in extra equipment,” says Maclaren.

Serato Studio is a subscription-only service, with subscribers receiving ongoing sample content and software updates. Contributors include world-renowned sound designers and artists, including Decap, MSX II Sound Design, Goldbaby, and more.

Serato Studio Public Beta is now open until it reaches member capacity, after which Serato will schedule semi-regular openings to add more members before the official release.

Join the Serato Studio beta and learn more here.

Serato Studio – Key Features:

– DJ Style Library – Access your entire Serato DJ library with crates, cue points, BPM and key information.
– High Quality FX – Tweak your beats using over 30 built-in FX presets that will feel instantly familiar to DJs.
– Works with DJ hardware - Studio works with a range of DJ controllers and mixers, as well as MIDI controllers, or just your laptop.
– Make Beats – Get inspired with over 300 pre-made drum patterns across a range of different genres.
Master Key and BPM – Let the project key automatically update as you start making your beat. Adjust the BPM to extremes with world-class Pitch ‘n Time stretching
– Play in Key – Play any instrument or plugin in key, without knowing music theory.
– Quality Content Built In – Studio comes with a huge amount of built-in drum kits, instruments, audio loops and samples, with frequent content updates for subscribers.
– Simple Sequencer – Get creative with your drum patterns using the simple and easy-to-use 808-style step sequencer
– DJ-style mixing – Mix your sounds using a familiar DJ channel mixing strip, with dedicated gain, EQs, filters and more.
– Serato Colored Waveforms – See your audio and MIDI sequences in Serato’s famous colored waveforms.
About Serato

Serato makes audio software for music lovers worldwide. In 1999 Serato launched with Pitch ‘n Time, still the world’s foremost studio plugin for time-stretching and pitch-shifting technology. On the strength of Pitch ‘n Time, Serato moved into the DJ industry, changing the game with Serato Scratch Live, and later Serato DJ Pro and Serato DJ Lite. Serato recently returned to the diverse world of music production with their high-quality sampling plugin, Serato Sample. Now Serato is combining those two worlds with Serato Studio, intuitive beatmaking software for DJs and producers.

For all press enquiries please contact press@serato.com

Pioneer has designed a new standalone DJ sampler: the DJS-1000

Pioneer has designed a new standalone DJ sampler that enables you to create unique sounds and phrases using an intuitive DJ-friendly interface: the DJS-1000.

Many of today’s professional DJs use electronic instruments and production gear in

live sets to help make their performances creative and unique. With an easy-to-use interface, 16 multicolored step input keys, 16 multicolored Performance Pads, a host of inputs and outputs, plus various other performance features, the DJS-1000 is the ideal musical instrument to take into the booth and propel your sets to the next level.

Add the DJS-1000 to your DJ set-up and you can intuitively create unique sounds and phrases in advance of your set, or on the fly, then sequence and loop them as you wish. Improvise a new groove by syncing and mixing with tracks playing on other equipment such as CDJs using the Beat Sync¹, tempo slider and nudge features. At a glance, the 7-inch full-color touch screen gives you all the information you need to perform, thanks to easily recognizable sequence patterns and instrument icons assigned to the Performance Pads.

Other features installed on the DJS-1000 include Live Sampling, which enables you to easily sample input sounds and immediately use them as independent tracks or as FX to add to your mix.

The DJS-1000 will be available from late October 2017 at an MAP of $1,199.

Watch the introduction video or find out more about the DJS-1000.

KEY FEATURES OF THE DJS-1000

Intuitive user interface

Step sequencer

Easily create a new groove by tapping the 16 large, multicolored step input keys. You can keep an eye on sequence information on each track thanks to the keys’ changing colors.

Multicolored Performance Pads

Use the 16 large rubber pads to trigger the tracks you’ve assigned samples and loops to. Each one is equipped with multicolored illumination and highly accurate velocity detection, so you can increase or decrease volume with the amount of pressure you apply.

Touch strip

By simply touching the strip, you can quickly change the pitch when using the pitch bend feature, or play a drum roll by using the note repeat feature. Customize parameters for even more creative options.

7-inch full-color touch screen

Tap the LCD display to instantly access the screen of your choice:

Home screen: View information on the sample assigned to each track thanks to the instrument icons and colors which are linked to the pads.
Sequence screen: View the sequence pattern currently playing.
Mixer screen: Adjust the volume balance of each track.

Accurate syncing with various external devices and systems

In addition to clock synchronization with MIDI devices, the DJS-1000 includes the Beat Sync function which can synchronize a performance by beat/bar with a track playing on a CDJ-2000NXS2 or XDJ-1000MK2 set-up using PRO DJ LINK. Use the tempo slider and the nudge buttons to quickly adjust tempo and beat position manually, just like you would on a turntable.

Powerful performance features

Live Sampling

Easily sample input sounds and immediately use them as individual tracks. The sampled sounds are automatically synchronized with the current sequence to play in a loop, so they can be dropped straight into a live remix. You can sample any input source, including audio from a turntable, via your mixer.

Add various FX to tracks with ease, changing the tone on the fly. You can apply FX such as echo, reverb and filter to individual tracks, a group of tracks, or all tracks.

Perfect fit in the DJ booth

The DJS-1000 is designed to fit perfectly alongside the CDJ-2000NXS2 and DJM-900NXS2, creating effortless unity in the DJ booth.Other features

Support for USB devices – manage your projects and samples easily
Over 2,500 on-board Loopmasters samples – start performing with the DJS-1000 straight out the box
Support for DJS-TSP Project Creator² – easily create projects and SCENE³ files on a PC/Mac
Support for project files created on the TORAIZ SP-16

*1 Beat Sync works with compatible DJ systems when playing tracks that have been analyzed by rekordbox^TM

*2 To be released on the Pioneer DJ website in mid-October

*3 Information on how the 16 samples are assigned to a track on the DJS-1000

DJS-1000 Specifications

Playable media	USB Storage device（flash memory/HDD, etc.）
Playable file	WAV、 AIFF (16 bit / 24 bit、 44.1 kHz)
USB storage support file systems	FAT、FAT32、HFS+
Input ports	INPUT x 1 (L/MONO and R、 1/4 inch TS jack)
Output ports	OUTPUT1 x 1 (RCA) THRU / OUTPUT2 x 1 (1/4 inch TS jack)、 PHONES x 2 (1/4 inch stereo jack、 3.5 mm stereo mini jack)
Other ports	USB (Type A) x 1 、 USB (Type B) x 1 MIDI IN (5P DIN), MIDI OUT / THRU (5P DIN) LINK x 1 (LAN 100Base-TX)
Power requirements	AC 110-220V (50 Hz/60 Hz)
Electricity consumption	20 W
Max external dimension (W x D x H)	320.0 mm x 421.6 mm x 110.1 mm
Weight	5.4 kg

Playlists. The Demise of DJing?

By Tony Fernandez

Google “playlists” and you’ll likely get the following results: Best 25 Playlist Ideas on Pinterest, Playlists from Spotify, Playlists from Soundcloud, Playlists from Tidal, The Ultimate Wedding playlist… none of which bode too well for the DJ industry, at least as we know it.

And there is no stopping the trend.

In a relatively short span of time, playlists have grown from innocuous lists of songs individuals put together to run, work out, enjoy in the car, etc. to defacto musical blueprints for weddings, parties, and life experiences.

I don’t want to come of like some old geezer that doesn’t embrace technology. I’m a geek with a very well populated hard drive and the skill to know how to use it. So I get that playlists serve a purpose: it’s how most people organize, cultivate and share their music.

But playlists are also dumbing down the most important aspect of DJing — music. And it’s happening on two fronts.

First, given the ubiquity of playlists, regular people (i.e. people with the potential to sign your paycheck) are under the delusion that if they can pick tunes for their life events, why hire you to do it. Of course, as professionals, we know it’s not so easy to string along a set of songs together and whip up a party.

Making a list of songs is easy. Making a list of songs work for a group of people in a harmonious, fluid, timely, and celebratory manner is hard.

Secondly, as the digital age of music has immersed our society in streaming the music we consume, DJs (to me) have lost the drive and desire to explore music and seem to rely on playlists to do their thinking. It’s akin to having a tiger in captivity and a tiger in the wild. If a captive tiger is being fed, that tiger isn’t going to be as sharp as the wild tiger that seeks out and hunts its food.

Don’t get me wrong, we’ve all asked for help with music. There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking advice, assistance, and insight from your peers. It just seems to me that there are far too many DJs taking the easy road and expecting playlists to properly execute a well-played set. I know that playlists are not going away. I’m not daft enough to even suggest DJs shouldn’t use playlists. They are a great resource when used to supplement your arsenal. But come on kids, don’t be lazy, don’t be complacent. Learn your music, learn your craft.

The benefits and rewards you’ll reap will serve you for your entire career.

P.S. I’ve recently discovered something even scarier about playlists. Companies like Spotify will soon be using the playlists being generated and shared by their subscribers to target market to those very same subscribers. But don’t worry about that, Google, Apple, and Skynet have bigger and better plans… J

Based out of Richmond, VA, DJ Tony Fernandez has been a DJ, Remixer, Producer, Musical Soothsayer and Audio Gear Oracle since 1980. Find him on facebook. Email djtonytf@gmail.com

Pioneer upgrades their popular Serato DJ Controller with the new DDJ-SR2

Pioneer has upgraded one of their popular Serato DJ controllers to create the 2-channel DDJ-SR2.

You can use the new dedicated controls to get hands on with the latest features in Serato DJ, including the Pitch ‘n Time DJ Expansion Pack, with Key Shift, Key Sync, and Pitch Play controls. The lightweight and portable DDJ-SR2 is Serato DVS Upgrade Ready (license available separately), making it one of the most compact DVS-ready controllers*¹ that enables perfect harmonic control using Serato DJ.

The DDJ-SR2 inherits design traits and features from our professional DJ gear including multi-coloured Performance Pads that give you instant feedback on pad modes and playing statuses, plus generous space between faders, buttons and knobs for comfortable, intuitive mixing and scratching. Thanks to the high-quality aluminium-finish top panel and jog wheels, the controller is approximately 18 percent lighter than its predecessor, so you can easily take it wherever you go.

To help you get the most out of the controller, the Serato DJ Enabled DDJ-SR2 comes bundled with the Pitch ‘n Time DJ Expansion Pack. Pitch ‘n Time DJ allows you to shift and sync the key of your tracks as well as increase and decrease BPM to extreme tempos while retaining the original key of the music. This means you can maintain perfect key while mixing, cutting and scratching any combination of tracks.

Download the latest version of Serato DJ to use with the DDJ-SR2 from serato.com/dj/downloads.

The DDJ-SR2 will be available from September at an MAP of $699.

*1 Most compact controller the DVS-ready controller market (according to internal investigation as of 1^st September 2017)

Watch the introduction video and find out more about the DDJ-SR2.

KEY FEATURES OF THE DDJ-SR2

1. Dedicated hardware controls for Serato Pitch ‘n Time DJ (license included)

Instantly and intuitively trigger the key-related functions in Serato DJ with dedicated controls for:

Key Shift: Change the key of tracks by semitone without changing the tempo.
Key Sync: Automatically sync the keys of different tracks during mixes.
Key Reset: Instantly reset to the track’s original key after changing keys.

Feature set mirrors professional set-up

Multi-coloured Performance Pads: Use the large, multi-coloured tactile Performance Pads to trigger Hot Cues, Roll and Sampler. Hit the pads and watch their colours change as they indicate the selected pad mode and playing status.
Needle Search Pad: Instantly jump to a specific part of a track with a simple touch of the pad.
Dual Level Meter: See the master out and channel levels at all times.

Easy to use wherever you go

Lightweight and portable: The DDJ-SR2 is approximately 18 per cent lighter than the DDJ-SR.
Mains or USB power: Choose your preferred source.
Flexible connectivity: You can use the DDJ-SR2 to control trims, EQs and channel faders for audio from media players or turntables thanks to dual line and phono inputs. The controller also has a Mic input so you can add audio from an external device. A booth and two master outputs give you the freedom to connect the controller to various kinds of PA equipment.

Other features

Audio mixer feature: When you’re using the DDJ-SR2 to control music stored on your PC/Mac via Serato DJ, you can also use trims, channel faders and EQs to control audio from external equipment such as turntables and media players. Even when the controller isn’t connected to a computer, the trims and channel faders can be used for audio input from external sources.
Professional XLR outputs: A professional XLR master output, a TRS booth output and secondary master output give you the freedom to connect the controller to various kinds of PA equipment with ease.

DDJ-SR2 Specifications

Software		Serato DJ
Frequency Range		20 Hz ～ 20 kHz
S/N Ratio		105 dB (USB)
Sampling rate		44.1 kHz
A/D, D/A converter		24-bit
Total harmonic distortion		0.003 ％ (USB)
Input / Output terminals	Inputs	LINE/PHONO × 2 (RCA x 2) MIC × 1 (1/4 inch TS JACK)
	Outputs	MASTER × 2 (XLR × 1,RCA × 1) BOOTH OUT × 1 (1/4” TRS JACK) PHONES × 2 (FRONT 6.3mm 1/4 inch TRS JACK × 1, 3.5mm 1/8 inch STEREO MINI JACK × 1)
	USB	USB-(TypeB) × 1
Dimensions (W x D x H)		553.0 mm × 334.5 mm × 65.1 mm
Unit weight		3.7 kg

System Requirements

Supported operating systems	Windows	Windows® 10, 8.1, 7 (latest service pack)
	Mac	macOS Sierra 10.12 (latest update) OS X 10.11, 10.10 (latest update)
CPU		Intel® processor Core™ i7 and i5 1.07 GHz or higher
Memory		4 GB or more of RAM

Disclaimer:

* Serato DJ is a registered trademark of Serato Audio Research Ltd.

* Mac and macOS and OS X are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

* Other stated company names, product names, technology names, etc. are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Website: http://www.pioneerdj.com/

Introducing… Serato Sample!!!

New from Serato – Serato Sample – a high-quality production plugin that makes sampling fast, simple and fun. Key features include the ability to quickly find, chop, key-shift and time-stretch samples, all with studio-grade sound using the power of Pitch ‘n Time.

At its core, Serato Sample is a beatmaking tool designed to get your ideas out quick. “During our R&D phase we found a real demand for something that allows producers to find and play around with samples without hassle,” says Nick Maclaren, Head of Strategy at Serato. “The result is a fully-featured tool that produces great sound and offers an intuitive, uninterrupted workflow.”

The plugin has already garnered praise from DJ Dahi, long-time Kendrick Lamar collaborator and Damn producer. This legendary beatmaker likened its ‘find samples’ modes to old-school sampling methods like popping a needle along a record. “We wanted to set producers up for those happy accidents – often the most enjoyable part of making music,” says Maclaren. “There’s a lot of features in Sample that help you discover entirely new parts of a track you may never have found otherwise.

Sample is integrated with Serato’s original production plugin, Pitch ‘n Time. Adding this technology allows producers to manipulate samples freely (like adjusting the BPM from 1, all the way up to 999), without losing audio quality. “Pitch ‘n Time is almost 20 years old and is still the industry standard for pitch-shifting and time-stretching”, says Maclaren. “To have this tech in a $99 plugin is amazing value.”

Serato Sample is now available for download, including a free 30 day trial. Anyone who downloads will gain access to a bank of free Loopmasters sample packs, and in-depth tutorials.

Start a free 30 day trial

Key features of Sample 1.0

Unrivalled time-stretching powered by Pitch ‘n Time

Time-stretch samples to extreme values using the power of Serato Pitch ‘n Time. It’s also easy to sync samples to your project.

Flawless Key Detection and Key Shifting

Find the key and then shift it with the power of Pitch ‘n Time.

Find the best samples

With one click Serato Sample’s algorithm finds 16 of the best samples to work with.

Change samples beyond recognition

You can manipulate each pad individually. Mess around with key, bpm and more with pad parameters.

Keyboard mode

Play one sample across the full piano scale like a synth.

Mono/Poly playback

Trigger your Cue Points with monophonic playback like Serato DJ. Or you can use polyphonic playback to play chords and drum patterns.

Familiar and fast Cue Point workflow

Use Serato DJ’s popular Cue Point workflow to quickly set and trigger pads.

Works in leading music production software

Including Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro and Maschine. Sample will also work in other DAWs that support AU/VST plugins.

Try Sample for free or buy now for $99

About Serato

Serato makes audio software for music lovers worldwide. In 1999 Serato launched with Pitch ‘n Time, still the world’s foremost studio plugin for time-stretching and pitch-shifting technology. On the strength of Pitch ‘n Time, Serato moved into the DJ industry, changing
the game with the release of Serato Scratch Live, and later Serato DJ and Serato DJ Intro.

Now, Serato has returned to the diverse world of production with the release of Serato Sample. A high-quality sampling plugin for producers.

Sample website: serato.com/sample

Free Trial download: serato.com/sample/free-trial

Tutorial Videos: serato.com/sample/tutorials

Sample Support: serato.com/sample/support

Sample Facebook: facebook.com/seratosample

Sample Instagram: instagram.com/seratosample or @seratosample

Serato DJ 1.9.6 is now available to download!

With this release, Serato has focused on feedback from users to deliver one of their best updates yet.

This release includes:
• Significant DVS improvements including the new Anti-Drift option to stabilize BPM, Smart Sync and improvements to needle drop sensitivity.
• Feature improvements including Favorite FX Banks, Chronological Loops, Reordering Loops and Enable/Disable Hot Cues as an option.
• Pitch Play mappings for supported hardware (requires Pitch ‘n Time DJ license).
• Official support for the Reloop RMX-90 DVS 4-channel mixer.
• Significant stability & performance improvements.
• All Serato DJ Suite free trials have been reset, so users can take another two week trial for free.

Nick Maclaren (Head of Strategy at Serato) says:

“After paying close attention to user feedback over weeks of beta testing, we are now thrilled to officially release Serato DJ 1.9.6.

Our goal for version 1.9.6 was to hone in and fine tune features that are really important to our professional DJ customers.

We’ve added Pitch Play mappings to existing supported hardware, Favorite FX Banks, new Looping options, improved the Needle Drop sensitivity, Sticker Lock, and more.

Lastly, we’ve continued to focus on stability improvements with powerful new audio and memory optimizations to make this our most stable release to date.”

With Serato DJ 1.9.6 , they’ve reset all Serato DJ Suite trial activations to date. So if you’ve already taken a two-week trial in the past, you can now try the full Serato DJ Suite again, for FREE.

This is a great time to test out Expansion Packs like Pitch ‘n Time DJ if you haven’t already.

For more information please visit these Serato blog posts below.

DVS Improvements: https://serato.com/latest/blog/20207/update-196-dvs-improvements-and-additions
Pitch Play mappings: https://serato.com/latest/blog/20208/update-196-pitch-play-mappings
Looping & Performance Enhancements: https://serato.com/latest/blog/20211/update-196-looping-and-performance-enhancements

Is Out of Key Mixing All That Bad?

By Brian Buonassissi

Being a keyboardist who took piano lessons as a kid and even dabbled as a semi-professional in a cover band (before my DJ’ing days started), I am well aware of key signatures and the importance of staying in key. If you played any part of a song with clashing keys, it would sound god-awful. Pretty soon, I could play by ear and would easily be able tell if something was in key or not.

Fast forward to the late 90s / early 2000s when mashups were the rage as a DJ (RIP DJ AM, the man who brought this genre to life). Production technology had progressed by that point where anybody could find instrumentals online or make a decent DIY acapella and mashups were popping up everywhere. Unfortunately, most of those making them had no music theory background and they relied on matching tempos and put matching keys on the backburner.

To this day, I am shocked with the amount of out-of-key mashups they are. I am very selective with the ones I use and discount 9 out of every 10. Worse yet, I see live mixing that is done in the same manner. I cringe when I hear it, and though your crowd may not know technically what is happening, trust me when I tell you that they can tell when it’s off.

Eventually, in-key mixing tools came to the market that helped non-trained DJs tremendously. Line up the numbers and you are set. Recently, Serato has integrated the technology into their software. There is really no excuse now NOT to have things properly aligned.

All of that said, I still do believe that there are occasions when “out of key” mixing is OK. It is related to just that – mixing from one song to the other. It actually can help build energy or transition from one feel in your set to another. There are a couple keys to this. You don’t want to stay too long in the mix and never do this with vocals. If you’ve listened to me mix live or heard any of my posted mixes online, you’ll notice I sneak it in there every now and then.

What are your thoughts? Do you believe in mixing in key? Does it matter?

Based out of NYC, DJ Brian B is a successful nationally traveling private event headlining DJ/MC. He runs a multi-city mobile business with offices in Orange County, Calif, Destin, FL and New York City. You can check find him at djbrianbofficial.com or bboyproductions.com

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