What
is Final Scratch?
Final Scratch is
one of those equipment that makes you wonder if someone (Stanton in
this case) thinks it's April Fools day and time for some jokes...
Final Scratch as it appears in not a joke, in fact it's a device that
might revolutionize the dj and turntablist scene.
How it work in
simple terms?
Final Scratch is
an add-on device which will cost only around $500 and will give the
opportunity to scratch any digital file (mp3, wav etc.) by using your
very own turntables and mixer! The setup is very easy! It basically
bridges your turntables and mixer with your pc (via USB). You will
only need a decent soundcard on your pc cause all the work is done
internally in Final Scratch. Full manipulation of your digital files
is promised and because you are using your very own analogue
turntables & mixer you will still get the vinyl's analogue touch
& feel. Pitch shifting, scratching, needle droppin'... you name
it it can be done.
The Final Scratch
or FS10K PC package will be officially on Stanton dealers by April
2002. The MAC version will follow soon. The FS10K package will
include the "Scratch Amp" device which will bridge your
turntables & mixer with your PC, 2 specially coded vinyl records
which look just like any other record, all required cables (USB, RCA
etc.) and Final Scratch software.
Final Scratch by
Stanton is a truly revolutionary gadget. It's actually more than a
gadget... and if the production versions do what they claims it will,
then the possibilities for all djs and turntablists of course will be
endless... just the a 2" thought makes you dizzy of what can be
achieved with a machine as this.
And the
benefits of this gadget?
Well how can you
count and present them all... Apart for the obvious one of not
carrying a pile of records around you will be able to record anything
you want on your PC and then scratch it! and all this in a matter of
seconds... you are new to the turntablism for example and don't have
a copy of "Toasted Marshmellow Breaks"? That's ok, you find
a friend who does, record it, mp3-it and that'it! Now you have a
copy, plus you are better off, cause you can cut & paste the bits
you like...even better delete what you don't like and replace it
anywhere you want from you "other" favorite vinyls!!
Ok...the above might be kinda illegal but hey...you can always make a
copy of your vinyls in mp3 and preserve the original to show to your
grandsons after 40 years.
Have your really
famous "Ahhhhh" scratching sound skratched a million times
and at the end will still sound as new... cause now it will be
digital! Some might say that analogue will still be analogue etc.
etc. I promise that you want fins a more pro-vinyl person like me,
but when it comes to a device like Final Scratch I am really excited
to see it in action.
So now what?
Final Scratch is
now on sale in the US and the first comments we got form users is
that unfortunately... it's still a gadget. The problems are two: the
timecoded vinyl records wear out way too easy and the response time
isn't that great, while sometimes it get confusing due to the delay
in the response.
Editor
Note:
Since this review
has been written I am told the Final Scratch has been perfected and
is a great new tool for DJs that want to carry less and play more. Stanton
has recently released a cd adapter for the Final Scratch System.
More information on that can be found here. Final
Scratch Cd Adaptor Kit
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