scratch monkey demonstration

The Scratch Monkey is the name of a custom built piece of software. It combines turntablism and vocalism in one single performance technique. As far as I know, it is entirely unique. The story begins a couple of years ago: I was looking for a more versatile alternative to Stanton's Final Scratch and found Ms Pinky's Interdimensional Wrecked System, the software allows users to control digital music files (like FS), but also includes effects plug-ins and some nifty and unusual features, plus it comes with very sexy neon-pink vinyl. Ms Pinky's software was built using Max/MSP and therefore its elements can be taken apart and adapted or remoulded... (here comes the next crucial development ) ...my good friend and long standing audio accomplice Max Crackery one night had the fantastic idea to use Ms Pinky's vinyl tracking technology to modulate the pitch of a live audio input using some clever granulation trickery and he called this inspired invention the Scratch Monkey. After lots of practice, some software refining, a bit of EQ tweaking, the addition of a compressor, a noise gate, a MIDI foot peddle, a headset microphone and a hand made felt badger, the whole thing is sounding and feeling pretty good. The next stage is of course getting on stage.

Prior to me putting this explanation up here, a number of people have made rather uncomplimentary remarks on this video. I am hoping that they have simply misunderstood what they are seeing and that, had I included these words from the start, they would have been suitably impressed . . . or maybe it is just a bit laughable?!

www.myspace.com/djsfromouterspace

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• hiphop
• DJ
• scratch
• MC
• rapping
• rap
• turntablism
• max
• MSP

[ruralist]

Thanks for some good comments to you recent peeps. Midinerd has basically got the idea, to think of it more as pitch-shifting. The control signal from the movement of the vinyl is used to speed up or slow down my voice, whether it's moved forwards or backwards the effect on my voice is basically the same. I would try to speak my syllables backwards to get a back-scratch effect. Eastwood1 is also correct, I have pretty much abandoned the project, best wishes for continuing the work my friend!

[exaltron]

Dang, this place is lousy with haters. This guy is a DJ demoing a brilliant piece of technology, not a performer, so why hold him up to that standard? I'm sure if I go check out all the haters' profiles, they will have all kinds of innovative and creative stuff up there to back up their negative comments, right?

[ruralist]

Actually I consider myself to be a performer of the highest caliber!! But thank you for your comment, I appreciate it x

[eastwood1]

if anyone wants to test my voice scratching software email me for a beta version. Please be aware that i have emailed dj Fractal Brocholli and he has abandoned this project. all MaxMSP programmers should continue where he left off!

[eastwood1]

As soon as the first word enters the microphone, that word is on the record (digitally) and ready to be manipulated by hand. The Mic recording continues regardless of the record movement. Now if the record is going forward at regular speed the playback point will never reach the recording point. However speeding up the record by hand will quickly move the playback point beyond the present and into the future (voice has not been recorded yet). so it is impossible to scratch a live sound source

[midinerd]

self-loathing dj's: if your technical understanding of this tool doesn't exceed your ego then bacdafukup and don't comment.

[midinerd]

Word, I would've felt the same way - that you cannot proceed ahead of time that hasn't been recorded yet. I think this is something specific about the way scratching a human voice sounds, though. it's pitch-shifting and not wavetable scanning.

[midinerd]

he isn't actually scratching a track, but it is modulating the input live. I agree though, it's hard to tell with a voice.

[midinerd]

A tool fan really shouldn't be thinking about math or technology right now.

[midinerd]

Keep up the limp-wristed vernacular flatulence!

[midinerd]

yeah dude... they would probably rather assume it isn't as cool as it really is. Your friend had a great idea, totally fooled me! And yes, I believe that you guys really did build the package.

excellent job scratching by the way! pretty seamless with the software

[unoweirdstuff]

HAHA, thts jokes .. good piece of software. u should remove this, ppl will steal the idea ..