ACP-100
SOME SIMILAR PROJECTS
In the meantime, I found some products or projects that come quite close to the functionality of what I want to do. Technics SL-DZ1200
Those are:
Pioneer CDJ-1000 MK II
Denon DN-S3500
The first "scratch-cd-players" that do not only have a small, still-standing platter where you can perform
some random scratch-moves, but a steadily rotating disc, that can be manipulated. They read audio and MP3-CDs
and entirely cover the functionality of my ACP.
I got my hands on two of those a week ago, and they really work fine.
A big advantage is, that these are real standalone-application with physical parallel execution because
they are built module orientated and don't use a single processor for all the operations like a pc.
Unfortunatley you have to get rid of over 2000€ to own a pair of those and so, they opt out for me.
The Technics also uses a laser-optical sensor to detect platter-movement. Details about Denon and Pioneer
are not available to me right now, but I guess they use the same method, because it is the most state-of-the-art,
touchless motion detection I could imagine. The Technics also is the only player with a fullsize 12 inch plate.
You might have a look at the Technics block diagramm here.
Mind the AN6680 and AN6675 in there!
terminatorX
a linux based software implementation written by Alexander König that allows to play audiosamples at a
variable speeds. The pitch can be read from the mouse via DGA access. There are many more features and effects
and you might feel free to try it. Maybe it is what you've been searching for. Browse link-section for hyperlink.
To be honest, this software is 95% what I want to implement.
Unfortunatley, terminatorX was not intended for standalone-operation, and therefore some points of my
approach can not be realised with it at this time, for example:
Standalone-mode, you still need a keyboard or mouse to run the programm.
Auto-load, by inserting a disc, track selection and play-mode should start immediatley.
Display, big and basic displays are needed to take the system in a club.
Native Instruments - Final Scratch
Alcatech - DigiScratch
Rane - Scratch live
Cycling 74 - Ms Pinky
These four systems all use a real vinyl-record that has some timecode-information on it instead of music.
A computer is catching the turntables output signal and computes the data bulk out of it.
Some of them use special hardware to capture the signal. Ms Pinky is also able to perform realtime video
effects controlled by platter speed. A similar, but open source version can be obtained for the PureData
programming environment, which is a derivate of Max/MSP that Ms Pinky is based upon.
Unfortunately, those systems are not really designed for club-use, although some famous artists already use them
(more a promotionally issue). You still have to select songs by mouse and you have to deal with unstable
laptop system, mostly running under windoze (except Final Scratch and Ms Pinky).
In addition, you also have to bother with platter-wear and skating, which are very important reasons, why
vinyl is basically not the best for dj use.
It is just common and was the only possibility up to now.
