contributed by:
Andre Cato
Manufacturer:
Stanton
Final Scratch 2 – Last night a Final Scrached my life…. By Andre Cato
With the popularity of DJing growing day by day, DJ technologies are quickly following suit, with manufacturers creating more ingenious tools on which to entertain or present your music. In just the last 5 years we have seen amazing advancements in CD technology and DJ software technology, all making it easier to collect and play back music to your audience.
Stanton’s Final Scratch 2 (FS2) is one such product that I am now convinced I would like to see as standard in clubs and bars around Australia. Why? Versatility. First born in 1999, Stanton’s Final Scratch is a combination of hardware and software that enables DJs to play music stored on a laptop. Your music on computer is controlled via the normal and familiar DJ controls (turntables or CD decks).
Why would I want to do this?We are living in a world of change. Either you move with it or get left behind. Its that simple. Final Scratch, as I have learnt over the past 3 months gives you features I have always dreamed of as an entertainer. As I have been playing music for well over a decade, my CD and vinyl collection is vast and very disorganised.
After only a very short time with FS2, I discovered that I could search and find tracks in your collection based on Title, Artist, Date released or any other information you key in about your track. This means you can always find tracks and have them cue’d up to play within seconds if the urge manifests. Now, three month on and still using FS2 for all my residency gigs, I am carrying to work the equivalent of 25 cases of records… all in my laptop bag.
FS2 is capable of sending and receiving high quality digital audio signals (24bit/96kHz) meaning that your tracks will sound richer and louder than when you perform on standard records. These files are stored on a hard drive, not on a deteriorating vinyl disc that will one day scratch or loose quality. DJ Paul Van Dyk has recorded many albums and tracks with a very high sample rate, so when performing his tracks on FS2 has blown away audiences with the clarity and quality of sound.
How does it all work and plug in?Ok, so as mentioned above, FS2 uses a combination of hardware and software to create the magic. The main piece of hardware is the Scratch Amp. The Scratch amp is the unit that all of your DJ gear will connect to. This includes your mixer, 2 inputs for your CD players or Turntables and of course your computer (via firewire lead). On the Scratch Amp you will find volume controls for the 2 inputs as well as a separate mic input. It is a very simple and easy to set-up and prepare to perform with this Scratch Amp Hardware.
How do I control my music on my computer?Native Instruments is one of the worlds largest audio software companies, creating such titles as Guitar Rig, Kontact and Battery. Traktor is the name of NI’s DJ software and together with Stanton have created a hybrid software/hardware solution for the modern day DJ.
When you have FS2 all plugged in, the time coded records or CDs supplied in the box should be placed onto the two decks you want to control on screen. After a short calibration, your software and hardware will talk to each other via the Scratch Amp. This means as you move your hand forwards and backwards on the record, so too will the track on your laptop screen move forwards and backwards.
So… Does it really work?Hell yes. If you had asked me 2 years ago what I thought of Final Scratch, my answer would have been completely different as my computer was not fast enough to be deemed reliable for such as task nor had the original Final Scratch hardware been professional enough to ensure it would get you through a set seamlessly. FS2 is a different beast altogether. I am amazed at how responsive the new FS2 is and I can not imagine DJing without it anymore. Never do I ‘Not have that track’ or can’t play something as it is too dark to find!
At $1349 RRP, it is cheaper than buying decks, but will set you up for gigs in clubs for the rest of your life! Expect to pay about $1100 currently for FS2 in Australia.
