Martin: Magnum 850 Completes Line of Foggers

Martin’s Magnum line of fog effects is now complete with the introduction of the mid-range Magnum 850.

This replacement for Martin’s popular Magnum 800 fogger, upgraded with new electronics and a new design to match the rest of the Magnum family, is Martin’s latest fog solution for small clubs, mobile DJs, bars, bands or any venue where a mid-air projection canopy or atmosphere enhancing effect is needed.

The compact Magnum 850 uses a 750 W heat exchanger together with a high quality piston pump to effortlessly punch out a full 200 m3/min of dense fog. Built rugged yet lightweight and conveniently portable, the Magnum 850 offers substantial cost and maintenance benefits over a long operational life.

The Magnum 850 heats up fast and is continuously operational for a trouble free ‘set it and forget it’ effect with a variety of fluid options available for different applications. The delivery of a continuous and even level of fog and the incorporation of soft-start electronics means that the Magnum 850 operates at a very low noise level. Together with the same machine-saving overheat protection as Martin’s larger machines, the economically-priced Magnum 850 will provide years of maintenance-free operation. Supplied with a hand-held remote control, an optional timer remote is also available.

“This new series of Magnum fog machines has been created with the ambition to capture new technology and solid performance in a new design,” states Martin Smoke Division Product Manager Ulrich Borup Hansen. “To get to this innovative and groundbreaking design we thought outside the black conventional fog machine box. It was important for us to create a fog machine that clearly stands out both design and performance-wise. Furthermore, the extraordinary breadth of the product line allows our customers to choose the exact model to fit their specific need. From the smallest Magnum 650 to the big DMX-controlled Magnum 1800, the Magnums are the natural choice before moving on to our Jem product line.”

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Introducing The Hercules DJ Console Rmx

INTRODUCING THE HERCULES DJ CONSOLE Rmx:The new professional DJing solution designed by the trailblazer in portable digital audio mixing controllers NAMM Show, California, January 17th, 2008 - Hercules, the creator of the first dual mixing deck featuring built-in audio for PC, reveals the Hercules DJ Console Rmx, a digital audio console designed for advanced and professional DJs.

Stellar features include a solid metal casing, broad surface, well-designed, accessible buttons and knobs, precise and comprehensive controls, a built-in audio interface with 4 inputs & 4 outputs and an aggressive price. Get ready to see how the DJ Console Rmx is the most comprehensive digital dual mixing deck in its category!

“The success of our products has helped spread the brand name Hercules throughout the DJing world. We consolidated our experience by consulting with professional DJs and submitting a survey to some 1,300 DJs throughout Europe and US, which enabled us to confirm their needs and expectations” states François Garet, Development Manager of the DJing solutions range for Hercules. “On the basis of these studies and our own expertise in digital audio systems, we designed a next-generation DJ Console: a professional solution offering enhanced performance, comfort, solidity and precision. Hercules is committed to following and supporting DJs as they evolve by offering a digital audio solution worthy of their dedication to music.”
Mobility and stability for production and live performances

The Hercules DJ Console Rmx has been designed to enable mobile DJs as well as club & studio DJs to mix digital music. This “nomadic” device simply connects to the USB port of a PC or Mac® laptop. Broad enough in size to allow DJs to mix with unrivalled ease and precision, it is also compact enough to follow users to any event - its measurements (35 x 25 cm) are equivalent to those of a laptop computer.
For live mixing and seamless integration with the DJ’s professional environment, the DJ Console Rmx features a solid metal casing and non-slip pads guaranteeing perfect stability.
Adding to its stability, the device boasts flawless drivers thanks to the competence of the company’s Canadian R&D division and to the expertise acquired by the team over 20 years of experience in computer-assisted audio processing.
Designed for precise, swift mixing

The Hercules DJ Console RMX offers DJs precision and speed in all their moves, thanks to 2 ultra-precise jog wheels for moving within tracks and for scratching, 12 rotary switches, 46 push-buttons, 6 faders - including pitch faders with a center detent - plus an innovative and convenient general volume fader. The roomy layout of the controls allows DJs to perfect fumble-free mixes. Indeed, the controls are designed for quick and intuitive use; DJs will find their marks quickly, allowing them to focus their full attention and ability to the music and the dance floor.
Built-in audio interface with specialized DJing audio features

As an expert in the design of audio interfaces, Hercules determined that the integration of an audio interface featuring 4 inputs & 4 outputs on the Hercules DJ Console Rmx was both obvious and essential. The interface grants access to unique features such as:
• 4 audio outputs offering:
o Maximum sound over 4 mono ¼ in. jack outputs, outputting +4dBu for PA equipment,
o Audio output levels at -10dBv over 4 RCA outputs, for connecting consumer devices (hi-fi systems, recording devices etc.)
• Simple integration to the DJ’s equipment by means of 2 stereo analog inputs enabling users to mix, via the DJ software, external sources with digital music; the console also features a phono/line-level selector on each input, ideal for connecting turntables, CD or MP3 players and rhythm boxes.
• Microphone (with talk-over feature) and headset (for preview feature) connectors are accessible on the console’s upper face and front face, enabling DJs to use the console with unrivalled ease, whether in a flight case, on a DJ stand or on a tabletop!
Dedicated software for optimum digital DJing control

The Hercules DJ Console Rmx comes with VirtualDJ® 5 DJC Edition, the reference in the DJing world for PC, now also available for Mac. VirtualDJ 5 DJC Edition instantly connects to the console. The software includes features and settings specific to the Hercules DJ Console Rmx, and combines the power of the VirtualDJ mixing engine with the ergonomics of the Hercules DJ Console Rmx.
The Hercules DJ Console Rmx is a MIDI controller and therefore compatible with other MIDI-controlled software applications.
Compatible with standard DJing digital music libraries
The Hercules DJ Console Rmx enables DJs to mix the music files stored on their PC or Mac® in the following formats: MP3, AIFF, WAV, WMA, OGG & CD Audio, as well as the iTunes® library.
The Hercules DJ Console Rmx will be introduced by Hercules at the NAMM Show in Annaheim, California, USA, from January 17-20, 2008 at booth # 6809, in collaboration with Hercules’ North-American distributor. The device will be available from March 2008, at the recommended retail price of $349.90.
It is supplied with a carrying bag ensuring total mobility.

Press Contact Information
Winn Keaten
Marketing Manager
Guillemot Inc.
646-443-8148
wkeaten@guillemot.com

www.hercules.com
About Guillemot Corporation
Guillemot Corporation is a designer and manufacturer of interactive entertainment hardware and accessories for PC and games consoles, and offers a wide and diversified range of products under its Hercules (video, audio and WiFi products) and Thrustmaster brands (accessories for PC and games console). Active in this market since 1984, the Guillemot Corporation Group is currently present in 10 countries, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Italy, and distributes products in over 20 countries worldwide. The Group’s mission is to provide innovative, high-quality products which increase the performance and pleasure experienced by gamers and music lovers alike. Guillemot Corporation is listed on the New Market of the Paris Stock Exchange, code ISIN FR00066722.

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To Serve and Protect…Your Gear

Our gear is the tool that allows us to perform and do what we love, and most of us care for it accordingly. Still, we wonder why it needs to be replaced seemingly every couple of years, even though we think we are being extra careful and cautious. And it only takes once, however, for that mistake to happen-just one hurried load-out that means hundreds of dollars of repair expense.On the Case
The first step to properly protecting your investment, whether it’s a simple piece or the most important aspect of your rig, is to properly guard it from the rigors of the road. Protecting your gear from the road means storing and transporting it in some sort of case or bag. I guarantee you that no professional audio/video company will ever transport their hardware (other than speaker cabinets) without some sort of additional casing. It not only shields the gear from bumps, nicks, and in some cases drops.
There are many casing options available at reasonable prices. Amongst most mobile DJs, the traditional choice has been carpeted cases. Most find that they do less damage to seats in passenger vehicles and that they provide adequate protection. Carpeted cases are also often beneficial to those in colder climates, as the carpet on the exterior of the case can provide some insulation. Years of heavy use, however, will make most carpeted cases look shabby and worn. The carpet will then look like your old letterman jacket with a few years’ accumulation of fuzz.
More recently, the dip in price in flight-style cases (smooth sided, with heavy-duty panels) has made them more attractive financially as well as visibly. These cases have been the standard among touring production companies for decades. Everyone from TV to exhibition companies use this style of case, due their durability, their easy load-ability with forklifts, and also their ability to be tagged for easy identification. Flight cases-unlike carpeted cases-can be painted with stencils to ensure that contents are not lost and can be easily discernable from similar cases.
As I already hinted, one downside of flight-style cases is that they are typically a little more expensive than carpeted cases. Although flight cases will wear and become scuffed, they tend to do so at a less rapid pace then carpet cases deteriorate, meaning the added investment will equal more usable time.
Another style available for consideration is the molded case. These heavy-duty plastic cases tend to come in much smaller sizes than either carpeted of flight style, but the protection offered is still pretty good. Molded cases gained their popularity, ironically, in the airline industry, as they are lighter than flight-style cases, therefore allowing more cases to be loaded. A slight downside of molded cases is their inability to take as much pressure as either flight or carpeted cases. For normal DJ uses, though, they work great for consoles, mixers, and amplifiers.

Bad Weather Warning
An often overlooked factor in protection among mobile entertainers is the effect that weather has on gear. For anything that has any sort of microchip inside (controllers, computers, CD players, some mixers), extreme cold or heat is not advisable. Most other types of gear, including lighting, and PA equipment (amplifiers, speakers, mics, etc.) also have low tolerances to both hot and cold temperatures; not properly storing or transporting your gear in a climate-controlled environment can lead to early failure due to condensation or silicon-melting heat. Almost everywhere in the country has, at certain points in the year, extreme heat or cold that is responsible for gear failure, or at least temporary downtime.
It is advisable to keep your sensitive gear in a climate controlled location that does not reach less than freezing or over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Also important are fans and cooling devices when performing outdoor events in extreme heat (not only for your equipment but also for your most important piece of gear: yourself).

Appearance Ticket
There is nothing worse than having an event at an upscale venue and showing up with shabby equipment. Even with careful care of your gear, wear will become evident after a few years. Options such as patching (for carpeted cabinets) or painting (for textured cabinets) may sustain your equipment for a little while longer. Painting is relatively easy and may be as simple as removing a grille and spraying or touching up scuffed corners. I would recommend covering every internal component, no matter if it is in the spraying area or not, with plastic or newspaper. Paint splatters can be not only annoying but damaging to gear functionality when in an undesired location.
When painting and patching aren’t enough, spray-on bed liner (the kind seen on vehicles) is a valid choice. Cases and speaker cabinets are perfect candidates for this procedure, as it adds about 1/4″ inch of textured protection to the outside of a surface. Besides providing a classy and sparkling finish to your gear, spray-on bed liner doesn’t wear and doesn’t affect sound quality when used on speakers. (See the Mobile Beat Gear Book, issue #111, December 2007, for an article detailing this process.)
And don’t forget the original purpose of spray-on bed liner. For those with trucks or vans, spray-on bed liner wards off dings and scrapes to your box and bed paint from metal corners and sharp edges. If you want any sort of resale value from your heavily used touring vehicle, spray-on bed liner is the way to go.

Something Smells Funny in Here
Years of abuse on the road not only leaves scuffs and scars on equipment, it also may leave an unpleasant odor. Entertainers who use the same rigs in bars that they use for weddings in non-smoking venues may not notice the odor of cigarettes due to familiarity, but non-smoking guests do. Some may even change their perception of your services if they have a close table or if they venture over to request and are offended by the aroma of your equipment (or you!).
One of the most important thins to remember, especially when masking cigarette smoke odor, is not overdoing the masking smell. Too much “pine-tree perfume” could make you and your area of the room smell like a streetwalker. A subtly smelling product not normally used in the entertainment market is Febreeze. It can be applied to almost anything, including cases, curtains, skirts, vehicles, and speaker cabinets. After rentals at frat houses, Febreeze is often the only thing that keeps me from throwing away perfectly good speakers that end up smelling like the inside of a keg.
Cabinets and cases covered in carpet can also develop lint and debris that can be hard to get off without damaging the carpet. For this, I recommend either a heavy duty lint roller or a vacuum cleaner with a hand brush attachment. Doing this every weekend, especially with rental and outdoor gear, greatly enhances the visual appearance of your gear to potential renters or audio-visual clients.

Concluding Arguments
Think about it: Your gear is the second biggest investment that you’ll make as an entertainer. Behind music, nothing is more expensive-and important-than quality equipment. Long-term reliability is something that ultimately cannot be bought, but can only be achieved through taking care of your investments.
Emotional attachment is also a big reason to take care of your equipment. I have pieces of gear that I absolutely love, like my computer rack, which I will do all that I can to make sure it is in top working order. I am sure I could get by without it, but after so many events it’s become like a good luck charm-so why mess with success?
Although some of these tips may seem a bit basic, they are cost and stress-saving and we all need a reminder now and then. Have you gotten a bit lax in your maintenance routine? Following these tips will definitely save you some headaches down the road. And even in the here-and-now, for a long string of back-to-back events you need to be at your best-and that includes your well-groomed equipment.
Jake Feldman is Mobile Beat’s Gearbook Coordinator and Equipment Manager for BC Productions in Des Moines, Iowa.

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The DJ Industry’s Perfect Storm by Michael Edwards

Stormy weather…With the following report, I didn’t set out to write a foreboding “doom & gloom” downer predicting the end of the DJ world as we know it! Instead, I simply hope to increase awareness and start widespread discussion about the impact of the combined circumstances that are currently hitting the DJ industry hard and simultaneously, like so-called “the perfect storm.” These elements are the economy, iPod® technology and the Internet.The Economy: “Let’s just have a small party at home.”
In January 2008, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams reported that “Economic recession may be upon us,” citing factors like rising unemployment, which had recently hit 5%; oil prices that topped $100 a barrel for the first time ever; a weak dollar worldwide; a “down” stock market; and an all-time high number of home mortgage foreclosures creating a ripple effect that saw home prices plunging throughout the real estate market. The overall result was an increasing economic caution across America. The year 2007 saw the loss of 49,000 construction jobs, 31,000 manufacturing jobs and 24,000 retail jobs, according to news report. Holiday hiring last December was termed “anemic.” The general public is not spending like they used to because they’re simply afraid!
To the DJ industry, this means two things: There will be fewer functions planned and less money being spent on those events that are held. If you’re a DJ in the running for any type of gig, anywhere, the competition will be much greater and the DJ price war far more aggressive than ever before. That’s only the first part of the perfect storm…

iPod Technology: “Everyone’s a DJ”
A lot has been written about the impact of the iPod and other MP3 players on the DJ industry. I was one of the majority of DJs who didn’t raise a hand when we were all asked “How many here are worried about being replaced by iPods at weddings” at a Mobile Beat DJ convention in Las Vegas. Very few were worried because we all understand the vital role a pro DJ actually plays in the success of a wedding reception, and that fact has not changed at all. What HAS changed over the last 3 years is the public’s perception of the importance of the DJ’s role.
The average person’s image of a DJ is now much lower thanks to continual damage done by countless amateur DJs now being used at so many functions. Our value to potential clients and the importance of our service, beyond just the music, is also being distorted by infuriating, ill-informed articles on major wedding websites and in magazine articles being written by truly clueless wedding “experts.” Some are actually now recommending iPods as a viable alternative to a DJ at a wedding!!
“What could be easier?” wrote Lori Leibovich, the editor of IndieBride.com, a Web site for brides. “You bring it, you program it, it sounds great. It doesn’t surprise me at all that more people are doing it.” In an internet article entitled “Would You Trust an iPod to DJ Your Wedding,” by Jacqui Cheng, summed up her article like this: “…it seems like the trend of young people (particularly young professionals and techies such as ourselves, who likely already have access to iPods and tons of digital music) using iPods and other self-operated technologies to provide music for the greatest day of your life will only continue to grow. I know that if I were to ever have a wedding, I would definitely opt the money-saving route and throw together my own playlist on an iPod (or better yet, on my laptop and more easily be able to entertain requests) without hesitation.”
Reader comments were posted on the subject and these two stuck out: “Our caterer told us that the iPod as replacement for a DJ is now super-common.” And, “Back in the day, portrait painters were an important field, with lots of work to be had. Now, we have cameras. Manufacturers of buggy whips used to be busy, with so many horses and buggies and all. Now, we have cars. See a pattern?”
Kathleen Murray, senior editor for online wedding publisher TheKnot.com from New York wrote: “Many of our brides and grooms are catching on to this trend. It also gives them the chance to put their own personal spin on it. They can have so much fun putting together the ultimate play list, getting suggestions from friends and family members.”
Do you advertise on TheKnot.com like I do? I wonder what national photographer associations would do if the very magazines they advertised in told brides to stick with disposable cameras to save a buck?
Yet still, the unassuming and innocent-looking iPod is just a small part of the “perfect storm”…

The Internet: “Why don’t you all just post your prices?”
What may be the final component to our “perfect storm” of converging factors for the climate change of the DJ industry is the way most clients now find us, contact us and book us: the Internet. Clients now have millions of DJs to choose from in long scrolling lists that make us all look pretty much the same. In the minds of many clients, a DJ is a DJ. And when incorrectly perceived and lumped together as being basically all the same “product” (just someone standing there pushing the play button on a laptop or iPod) then the cheapest price “must” be my best choice.
We must also “thank” the internet for the ease and availability of illegal music file sharing and downloading. I’ve spent well over $25,000 for my music collection since going full time in 1979. Where becoming a DJ once required a large initial expenditure, it’s now a career choice available “free” to anyone with a $300 iPod and a cheap pair of powered speakers, who’s willing to ignore copyright laws and download an entire collection.
Annoyed clients ask why we don’t have our prices posted on our website…so they can instantly rule out the “overpriced” DJs right away. The days of personal contact and developing a rapport with every potential client are dwindling. If you answer email pricing inquiries that haven’t left you a contact phone number, a location or any details by politely thanking them and suggesting that they call you to discuss their function and their entertainment needs in detail, you may have already learned: That’s not what they want to hear. They often don’t even reply to our response at all; they’ve glanced at our website, they don’t want to talk to us for fear of a “sales pitch,” and they don’t want to learn about our services since “all DJs are alike,”-they just want the price. Makes you wonder: Just what is the price…of progress?

Umbrella?
What can we do to navigate through the torrent of combined elements that make up this “perfect storm” battering the DJ world? Perhaps the economy will improve with a new administration in Washington next year. Maybe enough bad iPod weddings will open the public’s eyes to that ridiculous non-option (like the excellent example now offered on the ADJA website-Dr. Drax: Please send a copy to The Knot to help educate their “experts” before they dispense any more advice). Perhaps, after enough web-based mistaken, impersonal decisions on entertainment, the personal services that quality DJs try to offer clients will be valued once again and make a comeback. And by the way, maybe the soaring price of gasoline will force us to find new modes of transportation? Anyone need a buggy whip?

Michael Edwards is the owner of AllStar Entertainment, a licensed, bonded musical entertainment agency in Andover, MA. Full-time since 1979, Mike is one of 20 AllStar DJs at his agency. A member of the Mobile Beat Advisory Board and the American Disc Jockey Association, Michael’s company was recently voted “Best of Boston” wedding DJs in The Knot Magazine’s “Best of Weddings 2007.” Mike can be contacted at 978-470-4700, BostonsBestDJs@aol.com. Check out the agency at www.getadj.com

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Gear Does Not Equal Game by Mike Ficher

Gear is exciting. Gear is sexy. Gear is cool. Gear is the hot sports car on the road of mobile entertainment. Always the buzz at tradeshows and on chat boards, gear, in the non-contextual words of Gordon Gecko of Wall Street fame, is good.
But, if a mobile entertainer relies solely on gear to impress clients, and thus to make a living, well, the stocks of his or her company will probably not be inclining “upward and to the right.” And, that would not make Gordon a happy investor.The Way You Do the Things You Do
Think about all the entertainment and presentations where gear is a minor or non-existent part of the equation:
Improv players perform and entertain with no props and the art appears quite popular, with almost every major city-and many smaller and mid-sized regions-boasting a professional troupe or two or three.
Mimes use space, movement and the viewer’s imagination to create worlds and convey emotions.
Stand-up comedians rely on their routines, their wit, their observations of current events and human nature and their awareness to entertain.
Dancers engage their practice, their passion and their artistic and athletic skill to entertain friends, audiences and, occasionally, to impress judges.
Public speakers may be armed with PowerPoint slides and laser pointers, but their success will ultimately be judged on their ability to verbally communicate the goals of the presentation.
So what do mobile entertainers really count on to succeed at an event?

Kaleidoscope Eyes
Think about how many times someone said to you after a gig, “That was the coolest sound system ever!” Maybe there were a few, and those were probably the same dudes in high school who leaned over the hood of the exposed engine and muttered, “That is the most rad chrome thing I’ve ever seen!”
Now, think about how many times someone said to you after a gig, “Wow, what a great time!” or “We danced all night” or “That was the best party ever!”
No comparison? Yeah, thought so.
This discussion is by no means intended to belittle the value of gear. Rather, the purpose is to frame a perspective about gear in relation to the goals of the event and an entertainer’s contribution to the success of the gig. Gear is a means to an end, not the end in itself. Gear is the “support staff,” under your direction, that facilitates the achievement of the goals of most events: a memorable, engaging, fulfilling time for all, which meets or exceeds the expectations of the event planner or audience.

Mr. Roboto?
Think about the iPod®. Certainly, it’s a revolutionary unit, one that has fundamentally changed the way consumers and even entertainers play audio, particularly music. Yet, the unit cannot function without a human inputting songs and programming some kind of play list. And, at a party, the mobile DJ makes those decisions.
As a pro DJ, you work hard to be prepared and to be aware of the situation-to be able to “read the crowd.” So, after you’ve successfully played the right song at the right time…do most guests care that it was played on an iPod, CD, MiniDisc, cassette, DAT or LP? No. They care (mostly subconsciously, while they dance the night away) that you hit the mark, and that the sound was clean, clear and at a suitable volume.

What You Need
What should entertainers expect from their equipment? First and foremost, gear should be reliable, attractive, durable and responsive. Do you need the latest and greatest? Not necessarily. The utmost consideration should be reliability measured with excellent quality. Does your system function with plug-and-play capability at each event to support optimal time from arrival and set-up to performance? Can you modify the sound, if necessary, to accommodate specific room acoustics? Will your system fit comfortably in any setting?
A significant number of entertainers in the industry continue to function just fine with CDs and MiniDiscs. Yes, benefits exist for MP3s and computer-based music libraries-efficiency, storage capacity, access-but through experience and organization, most CD-based entertainers can find songs nearly as fast as MP3-based entertainers employing a search function. And, truth be told, mobile audio equipment is still a tad more reliable than a laptop.
Your performance tools, while functional and efficient, should be attractive and pleasing to the audience. Gear should not detract from the presentation of an event. Nor should it be a time hog for an entertainer. Time, as Gordon would concede, is money.
The exposed crates of the days of primarily vinyl certainly did nothing to enhance the appearance of the entertainer. Technology now certainly allows an entertainer to present a more compact, attractive, photo-friendly presence.
Gear should be able to weather the constant challenge of transport. Housing equipment in protective containers will extend its life and support an attractive appearance. Yeah, you might invest a little more time at each event, but the mobile business does not treat kindly sensitive equipment that is unprotected.
Finally, gear should be responsive to the specific needs of the entertainer. If you teach dance, do you need to employ a remote to start selections from the floor? Can you quickly access drops and sound bytes to supplement raffles, giveaways, comic bits and more? Will your system support multiple microphone connections, for karaoke or sound reinforcement, for example? The list of possible applications goes on and on…Fill in your own blank.

It’s Up to You…
If all the areas mentioned here are functioning well, the stage is now set for your talent to shine through, and in turn for the event to be a true sensation.
So, yes, gear is critical, gear is eye candy, gear is sexy. But, gear is only as good as the entertainer pushing the buttons. And, in the long run, an entertainer will certainly be judged on the level of his or her performance and not necessarily on equipment quality. Just ask Gordon.
Mobile DJ, dance instructor, emcee, voice actor, writer, teacher, and improv comedian, Mike Ficher owns and operates Dance Express, based in Bend, Oregon. A three-time presenter and host at Mobile Beat conventions, Mike has been expanding the public’s definition of mobile entertainer since 1986.

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Mixmeister Scratch to Iphone and Itouch

New Software Download Is First Mobile DJ Scratch Tool To Use Touch Screen Interface On iPhone And iPod TouchCumberland, R.I. (MAR. 6, 2008) - MixMeister, the world’s leading developer of software products for the DJ market, announces MixMeister Scratch - the first DJ scratch tool for Apple’s iPod Touch and iPhone.

Unlike ordinary iPod song play back, MixMiester Scratch let’s users perform a scratch anywhere, anytime - even right on top of any song in their iPod Touch or iPhone. MixMeister Scratch is both easy to use and fun for DJs of all levels.

Users can easily choose from a list of included vinyl scratch sounds and start scratching. Users can scratch on top of their favorite tracks by selecting music to play from their iPod or iPhone. Then they can load MixMeister Scratch while the music plays and can scratch on top of the music and adjust volume of the music in real-time using the touch interface.

MixMeister Scratch - the original DJ machine for iPhone and iPod Touch.

MixMeister Scratch will be a free download available in Q2-2008. Additional information is available from http://www.mixmeister.com/scratch/.

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About MixMeister
MixMeister’s award-winning powerful digital media products are used by club DJ’s, mobile DJ’s, aspiring and professional music producers, fitness instructors, dance choreographers, audio production engineers around the world. MixMeister specializes in streamlining burdensome mixing tasks, thus enabling newcomers to create professional-sounding, beat-matched music mixes for the first time.
For more information, visit www.mixmeister.com. Product images are available at http://www.mixmeister.com/media.html.
iPod and iPhone are trademarks of Apple, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

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NUMARK Intros DDS80 DJ System for CD and HD Media

Cumberland, R.I. (MAR. 12, 2008) - Numark, the world’s leading manufacturer
of products for the DJ market, announces the DDS80 - the new rack-mountable standard for DJ performance using digital media. The DDS80 comes with two components that make it perfect for DJing weddings, clubs or other performances using CDs, USB hard drives, iPod, or nearly any digital media via USB.

DDS80 is the complete DJ system for live performance with the industry’s fastest, most intuitive interface. The DDS80 delivers a powerful next-generation DJ system using two rack-mountable components: DDS and the DDS Drive. Unlike previous DJ gear, the DDS80 delivers everything DJs need so they can perform a set while leaving their laptop at home.DDS
Numark’s DDS is a rack-mountable media player created for DJ performance and is ideal for all DJ environments. The DDS was designed using feedback from professional working DJs and includes all of the essentials like pitch-shift, key lock, scratch, loop and lightning-fast track lookup. Advanced views like track profiling give new dynamic and control to hardware performance. Best of all, DDS is built with the same stunning color screen, powerful DJ engine and has the same unique Crate workspace used in Numark’s popular iDJ2 workstation.

Powerful tools such as the Crate and Profile View offer a digital slant on traditional DJ methods. The Crate can be used to prepare and arrange a set in advance, during performance or a mixture of both. The Profile View offers a fast visual cueing aid, much like looking at the grooves on a record, only better.

DDS Drive
The DDS80 also includes Numark’s DDS Drive media rack, which greatly expands media options by using the simplicity of USB. DJs can connect the DDS to the DDS Drive and access the removable and upgradeable 80GB hard drive, or DVD/CD-ROM drive to play all of their audio CDs.

Live performances are enhanced thanks to the ability to work with nearly any kind of media. DDS Drive connects directly to a computer, allowing quick and easy transfer of a music library for optimized performance. For live performances, DJs can leave their computer at home and let the DDS Drive and DDS do all the heavy lifting. With an iPod, thumb drive or any Mac or Windows formatted USB drive, DJs can connect their media to the DDS along with the DDS Drive and all of their music tracks will be available in one convenient place.

The DDS80 is a powerhouse, cutting-edge system that combines the rock-solid DJ performance features of the DDS, with the convenience and speed of a full-featured dedicated media rack.

DDS80 is due at retailers in Q2-2008.

iPod is a trademark of Apple, Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries.
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About Numark Industries
Numark Industries is the global leader of professional DJ and audio equipment, and is recognized for providing progressive breakthrough technology. Since 1971, Numark has designed and delivered innovative products and numerous music industry “firsts.” For more information, visit www.numark.com; images are available at http://www.numark.com/media.

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BPM - Europe’s biggest event dedicated to DJs, producers and performers

BPM - Europe’s biggest event dedicated to DJs, producers and performers

Following the success of the first event in 2007, organisers Marked Events are pleased to announce that BPM will return to Donington Park Exhibition centre over the weekend of Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th October 2008.

The first BPM event attracted 70 exhibiting companies and over 2200 visitors for two days of equipment demonstrations, networking, seminars, workshops, live performances and DJ sets. Visitors and exhibitors alike hailed the event as a resounding success, cementing BPM’s place in the industry calendar.

BPM 2008 promises to be an even bigger and better event, with a larger exhibition area, expanded seminar programme and increased networking opportunities. The organisers have collected feedback from all of last year’s exhibitors and a good sample of visitors and are using the results to ensure that the event matches the needs of all concerned. In particular measures are to be put into place to limit excessive noise levels in the exhibition area, while continuing to provide opportunities for sound systems to be demonstrated and retaining the atmosphere of the event.

Donington Park, one of the UK’s leading motor racing venues, is located at the heart of England, between the cities of Derby, Nottingham and Leicester. BPM is staged in the 4500m/sq purpose-built exhibition centre, which is completely transformed into a DJ and performer’s playground of audio and visual stimulation. Donington Park is easily accessible by road, and as it neighbours East Midlands airport, it is also well connected by air to major cities throughout the UK and Europe.

Note to Editors: Please include the website address www.visitbpm.co.uk with any editorial content relating to the event.

For more information please contact the marketing department at Marked Events Ltd:

Email marketing@markedevents.co.uk
Tel / Fax 0845 652 24 29

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Keynote Speaker For MBChicagoland Announced

Seminars For MBChicagoland 2008

Keynote Presentation by Al Lautenslager - Best Selling Guerilla Marketing Author of Guerilla Marketing in 30 days!

Al Lautenslager, public speaker, author, business owner, marketing consultant and Guerrilla Marketing coach, takes audiences to a whole new level of thinking with his insight on Finding Opportunity, Business Networking and Guerilla Marketing. With more than two decades of business, marketing and development expertise, Al delivers his messages with passion and insight - Market-For-Profits.Com

Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days Al Lautenslager
Guerrilla Marketing In 30 Days encourages busy business professionals to hurdle the excuses of time, money, or motivation, and take dynamic strides toward new client acquisition and increased sales by following a 30-day marketing blueprint.
Al will cover the following topics:
• What to Do If Your Answers To These Questions are “No”:
• Do you have MORE customers than you can handle?
• Can’t decide where to begin marketing?
• Aren’t sure how to put the pieces together or can’t stay motivated and focused?
Al will also discuss what to do if your Advertising Budget is virtually non-existent and how to get massive PR without an agency.

Al Lautenslager, public speaker, author, business owner, marketing consultant and Guerrilla Marketing coach, takes audiences to a whole new level of thinking with his insight on Finding Opportunity, Business Networking and Guerilla Marketing. With more than two decades of business, marketing and development expertise, Al delivers his messages with passion and insight.

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Mobile Beat Conference One - The Wedding Tale

Marcia Shaffer and Frank Whyte: a match made in heaven…and another unique moment in MB show historyIt was an idea prompted by a Virginia DJ who asked us if he and his fiancé could get married during the ‘97 MB Show…. “during” as in “part of”. Sounded interesting, so a liaison was set up to coordinate the event. DJs volunteered to host segments of the event, taking turns at the mic, and would showcase their own personal entertaining techniques. A part time DJ / preacher from Southern California came forward to officiate the event.

January 6, 1997 was the date. As the bridal party assembled at the stage, the bride and groom gazed electrically into each others eyes if they were the only ones in the room, while in fact they were surrounded by 700 fellow DJs. The Reverend Frank christened the gathering and hence, joined them as man and wife.

In an attempt to gain entry into the Guinness World Book of Records, each DJ in attendance lined up to pass the control board and participate in some aspect of the operation, even if for only a second or two. You guessed it, it was an attempt to set the world’s record for the most DJs ever to play for a single event. Guinness wasn’t impressed, and sent a form rejection letter.

As gratitude from Mobile Beat to the key volunteers who made up the core team, the plan was to present a “DJ Dream Team” plaque to each of them, nothing of great value, but a token of our appreciation. An unopened case of 30 “Dream Team” plaques was placed under a table in the corner of the room for the presentation later that night, under the watchful eye of a staff member.

The wedding had concluded, and I headed over to the case to begin giving out the awards. The box had been ripped open and 23 plaques were missing as well as the list of whom they were for!

The rest is fuzzy history. Since they did not have individual names, it was never known how many of the real recipients actually got the award they were supposed to. As the week dragged on, it seemed everyone had a plaque. DJs holding plaques stopped show staff and management to take their picture to make it official. As time has passed, the plaques have shown up on DJ websites all over the world, now personalized! Needless to say, there was never a Dream Team #2, but I bet the first group would have one heck of a reunion!

And Marcia and Frank…did they live happily ever after? We’ll never know.

Mike Buonaccorso, cofounder of Mobile Beat, has been trade show producer since 1996 and continues in that position under BC Productions, Inc. Mike has been in the position of witnessing the growth and maturing of the Conference as well as being there to see some of the great moments in DJ Show history. Watch this spot for Mike’s weekly “Mobile Memoirs”.

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