N2IT Announces FinalScratch 1.0 for the BeOS
January 28, 2000Amsterdam-based N2IT announced the release of their disk jockey mixing software, FinalScratch, for March 17, 1999.
FinalScratch is the first computer tool that lets DJs map digital media to spinning vinyl, the DJ's musical instrument. The hardware/software combination gives DJs the ability to use turntables to synchronize and interact with various media types.
FinalScratch will feature back and forth playing with realtime pitch tracking; needle-drop positioning; mixing in of regular analog records with digital media and vice-versa; dual channel support for mixing two mp3's (mpeg-3 sound files) using an external mixer and two turntables, all with a single computer.
FinalScratch includes ScratchAmp, a small palm-sized device that interfaces the turntables, BeOS machine and DJ mixer together, a set of FinalScratch records, the SoundPlay audio and mp3 player, and of course the FinalScratch software. For more information on SoundPlay see: http://www.xs4all.nl/~marcone/soundplay.html. Thanks to the ScratchAmp, FinalScratch integrates nicely in any DJ setup. The ScratchAmp will continue to work, even if the computer is off. Four line-level RIAA outputs makes recording from vinyl very simple, while additional straight-through turntable-level outputs connect directly in to the old phono inputs of the DJ mixers, so that the mixers line-level inputs can still be used for the computer's input.
Although initially targeted for audio uses, FinalScratch can be extended via third-party add-ons to support synchronization of media of virtually any kind. It makes extensive use of the new Media Kit found in the BeOS Release 4.
"Final Scratch has the potential of being a breakthrough product. Remix artists love tactile surfaces like vinyl disks on turntables. Final Scratch lets them get their 'hands on' digital media," said Timothy Self, VP Developer Relations, Be Incorporated. More information on FinalScratch can be found at http://www.n2it.net/products/finalscratch.html.
For information about the BeOS, visit Be's web site at www.be.com. | 
