The amount of bang you get for your buck is crazy high. If you do have a track you'd like to use, I recommend recording the one phrase or section and then importing that, which is most likely the only way you'll get it on the machine at all.Ī future version of this machine that ran MP3 would be perfect, as even at extremely high bitrates, the files would be nice and small. So forget about importing full-length tracks, they're just too big. The device uses WAV files, and WAV files only. Which brings me to one of the problems with the dm2: memory. The only limitation is your computer's RAM. When you get bored with the canned music, you can upload your own tracks or recordings. It's just so easy to use that you can easily sit there for hours and hours and hours¿ And while the sound might lack the presence of vinyl, the audio quality is solid. Hell, the dm2 is a tremendous time-suck in general. This feature alone will provide hours and hours of fun. The stick gives you a lot of freedom, so you can wreck the hell out of your sounds. The best is a fuzz avec delay that actually sounds really nice. The buttons select the effect and the stick tweaks it. Most of the fun takes place with the three effect buttons and control stick. With the software, you can even export them and burn them onto a disc. On the upper right corner are stop, play, and record buttons. These macros sound really good, and you can work on top of them, but it's not nearly as fun as making your own tracks, as much as you can be said to be making "your own" tracks with a sampler. Each has a preset combination of samples. These buttons work in conjunction with the cross fader and let you break beats and samples.įor you lazy people, there are four macros on the bottom left of the device. These buttons, labeled "A" and "B," push the level of the matching pad to 100%. As you push it toward one pad, the signal from the other pad is attenuated. For example, at the halfway mark, signals are balanced. Below that is the all-important cross fader, which adjusts the output level of each control pad. This button, which is really too large to be called a "button," shuts off the playing samples and lets through a sample manually held down.Ĭlick image to enlarge. (These belts can be set to play a variety of scratches, but the most fun is scratching the selected sample because it gives you the most freedom.) Between the pads is a large solo button. On either side is a round pad with eight sample buttons and a rubber scratch belt around the edge. So how do you mix? The unit is laid out like a rudimentary CD mixer. The software works extremely well: I didn't get so much as a stutter with all 16 going, even after loading on some effects.
After you get a beat or sample going, you can then add as many additional samples as you like. A file selection is actually a collection of 16 matching samples, all ready to mix ¿ no beat matching to worry about. The first step is pulling a record from your crate, which, in this case, means selecting a file. You have your pick of Trance, Hip-Hop, Techno, Drum and Bass, and a miscellaneous category. (My favorite on the disc is Coldcut.) They are sorted in genres, and even if you're against categorization, it makes things nice and simple. While I don't recognize every artist, MIXMAN licensed tracks from some pretty big artists. All told, there are 30 tracks, each with loads of samples.
DM2 MIXMAN SOFTWARE INSTALL PDF
The bundle includes one disc, which contains a PDF manual, the MIXMAN software, and a whole mess of music. The device communicates through your USB port, and it really is plug-and-play.īack to the software for a moment. The installation is a snap thanks to very intuitive software and a friendly menu system. Firstly, it weighs nothing, not that it should, considering that it's really only a plastic case with a few very basic electronic connections. Setting up the dm2 is certainly nothing like setting up a DJ coffin. And while the dm2 obviously has limitations that would prevent its use as a professional, or even semi-professional, device (not that that's the aim of the company), the thing is incredibly entertaining.
DM2 MIXMAN SOFTWARE INSTALL PC
But if you've got a PC and a hint of musical sensibility (not to mention an extra $100.00), then you'll be able to pretend you're DJ Shadow all night long thanks to MIXMAN's new dm2 digital music mixer. And for the dilettante, a pair of 1200s and a special edition Vestax is too big an investment. Unfortunately, not everyone has the time or equipment (or belly-fire) to become one.