Deckadance

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Deckadance

Deckadance 1.90.0 running on Windows
Developer(s) Image-Line Software
Initial release October 1, 2007 (2007-10-01)
Stable release 1.93 / July 30, 2011 (2011-07-30)
Development status Active
Operating system Windows & Mac OS X
Available in English
Type DJ console and mixing
License Proprietary
Website deckadance.com

Deckadance (often referred to as DD) is a DJ console and mixing tool developed by Image-Line software.[1][2] Initially released in May 2007,[3] it operates on Windows and Mac OS X, and comes in a House Edition and Club Edition. The latter has support for timecoded vinyl.[4]

Deckadance can be used as a standalone application or as a VST plugin inside VST-supporting software hosts[2] like FL Studio.[5] It can host any VST-compliant effect or software synthesizer,[4] and can be controlled by most Midi controllers.[6]

History

Deckadance was created by Image-Line as a mixing application for DJs.[7] Image-Line worked closely with DJ and programmer Arguru to develop the first version,[3] which was released for Windows in May 2007.[3][7] After Arguru died in a car accident in June 2007, future versions were worked on by the Image-Line developers Arguru had been cooperating with,[3] many of whom are also DJs.[8] Deckadance was made compatible with Mac OS X after the release of version 1.20.0 in January 2008.[3] The most recent release is version 1.9 from May 24, 2011.[7]

Software overview

Version 1.2 on OS X, first for Macs
System requirements

As of version 1.9, the minimum system requirements for Deckadance on a PC are Windows 7, Vista, or XP (SP2). Hardware requirements consist of 512 Mb RAM, 200 Mb free hard drive space, and a DirectSound or ASIO compatible soundcard. Also required is either an Intel Pentium III 1 GHz or AMD Athlon XP 1.4 GHz processor. A Mac requires Mac OS X v10.4 (Universal binary), 512 Mb RAM, 200 Mb free hard drive space, and a sound card with CoreAudio drivers. Processor must be either G4 1.5 GHz or Intel Core Duo family.[9][10]

Versions

Deckadance is available in two different editions. The House Edition can host VST compliant effects and can be controlled via a MIDI controller. The Club Edition contains all of the features of the House Edition, in addition to support for timecoded vinyls.[4][5]

Features

Among Deckadance features are iTunes integration,[11] an audio synchronization engine which can work in tandem with other VST hosts such as Ableton Live, a detachable Song Manager (SM) that can integrate with iTunes, zPlane Elastique technology,[7] a colored waveform with red to distinguish bass, the ability to time-code your own CD (Club Edition), beat detection, a 2-channel mixer with 3-band EQ,[12] and headphone cueing. As of version 1.9 Deckadance has seven internal performance effects, including LP, HP, BP, Notch, Phaser, Echo, and LoFi.[11]

  • User Interface - Deckadance uses a GUI that slightly resembles that of Image-Line's digital audio workstation FL Studio,[13] which consists of one main window that can expand to fill the entire screen. As of 1.3x there are 6 changeable user skins. As of version 1.9, the program no longer covers the start bar and the icons resemble those of Apple's Aqua graphics.
  • VST options - Deckadance is designed to work either as a standalone program or as a VSTi 2.4 plugin inside VST-supporting software hosts.[10] For example, Deckadance can be used as a plugin in digital audio workstations such as FL Studio, Ableton Live, Cakewalk Sonar, and Cubase.[14] Deckadance can host VST-compliant effects or software synthesizers,[4] and the VSTs can be controlled with MIDI files, making Deckadance into an 8 track music sequencer.[15]
  • Samplers - Deckadance has eight integrated sampler banks that can save 1, 2, 4, or 8 beat pattern loops from the decks. The sampling process works in conjunction with a beat detection feature, meaning the samples can be automatically synced to tempo. There is a volume control for sampler slot output, and effects can be layered onto the sample banks.[16] It also allows for the recording and looping of live audio.[11]
  • ReLooper - The ReLooper slices and re-arranges samples in the playback buffer for either Deck A or Deck B, with the looped region defined by beat markers. Master ReLooper effects include a wha-wha filter, panoramic LFO, ring-modulator, and track-coder that combines a vocoder and low-fi distortion effect.[17]

Controllers

Deckadance can be controlled using a mouse, keyboard, CD system, MIDI controller, or in the case of the Club Edition, timecoded vinyl.[8] The program uses a MIDI auto detection system.[11] Deckadance works with vinyl and CDs timecoded with software such as Stanton FinalScratch, Serato Scratch Live, VirtualDJ (CD only), MixVibes, msPinky, PCDJ Reflex and Torq, and Deckadance CD.[4][18] Through an "autolearning system," Image-Line claims the program can use essentially all CD and vinyl controllers on the market.[11] When using vinyl, the program distinguishes between "absolute mode", which allows for needle dropping and jump track position from the vinyl, and "relative mode", which doesn't. Both modes allow for scratching and the manual control of playback speed and direction.[18]

Supported Midi Controllers
Brand Model(s) and first supporting DD version[6]
Allen & Heath Xone:3D (0.99)
American Audio Digital Producer 2/DP2 (1.7), VMS4 (1.8)
Behringer BCD2000 (0.96), BCD3000 (1.13)
DJ-Tech i-Mix / i-Mix Reload (1.3), Kontrol One K1 + M1 (1.5), DJ Mouse (1.5), i-Mix MKII (1.6), 101 Series (1.7), DJ For All (1.7), uSolo FX (1.72), Pocket DJ (1.72), Mix Free
EKS XP-5 (1.30), XP-10 (0.85), Otus (1.40.3)
Hercules Console MK2, MK4, and Steel (1.0), RMX (1.3), Control MP3 and MP3 E2 (1.3)
Kontrol Dj KDJ500 (1.08)
M-Audio X-Session Pro (1.0), Xponent (1.3)
Numark Total Control (1.2), Omni Control (1.6)
Omnitronic MMC-1 (1.31.2)
OpenLabs DBeat
Percussa Audiocubes (1.4)
Reloop Digital Jockey
Stanton SCS-1D (1.3), SCS-3D/DaScratch (1.40.4)
SYNQ PCM-1 (1.3), DMC-1000 (1.71), DMC-2000 (1.9)
Vestax VCI-100 (1.3), VCI-300 (1.5), VCM-100 (1.3), Typhoon (1.8)

Version history

Version Release Notes
1.00.0 5/3/2007 The initial "final release."
1.08.0 5/14/2007 Timecode tracking latency minimized.
1.10.0 5/24/2007 New playlist system and GUI interface, new keyboard shortcuts, Nintendo Wii Remote native controller support. Last version worked on by Arguru.
1.14.0 10/1/2007 Introduction of the House Edition, which doesn't include vinyl tracking system. New "Hitech" skin. Equalization processing to input lines.
1.20.x 1/15/2008 Mac OS X release, new Deckadance LE Edition available to hardware manufacturers. Master level volume to the new minihost, vinyl timcode control of decks inside Live and Live LE.[3]
1.30.0 2/22/2008 Implementation of OpenGL to increase speed and also use around 30% of the CPU (rather than reports of the CPU getting up to 100% on the Mac).[19] Automatic storing of cue points.
1.30.6/7 Added jog control to the EXT CTRL panel for House and LE editions, and improved scratch behavior for the Kontrol Dj KDJ500 controller. Added new skins: Blue, New White, Synq, Vestax and Dj-Tech, and removed the old black, white and vestax skins.[20][21]
1.30.9 9/2008 New render engine, automatic storing of cue points, new Midi function list, support for 14 bit Midi pitch messages, deck load locked features, new loop move feature.
1.31.0 4/9/2008[4] Neon skin added, waveform color support via skin.
1.40.x 12/28/2008[22] New in-built support for midi streaming, new sound engine, new BPM setup panel/beatgrid system.
1.45.0 5/7/2009 Support to load/import iTunes playlists, new OpenGL render engine for Windows, support and BPM reading for ID3V1/2 tags.
1.50.3 5/24/2009 Batch analysis of songs added, new beatgrid move via mouse over waveform.
1.60.x 10/29/2009 New Control CD Creator to create accurate timecode file for CD players, new audio setup panel, iTunes integration panel, support added for Japanese glyphs. 1.60.1 introduced new BPM detector engine, new search function for playlist and iTunes panel, and new playlist archive history. Version 1.60.3 (2/12/2010) consisted of problem fixes.
1.7x.x 7/27/2010[23] Support added for mp3, flac, m4a, wma, wav, aiff, and ogg, multi-language support for help system, Image-Line GrossBeat support.[23] Added tag reading for LFAC, m4a, wma, and ogg, added auto-detection of Midi controllers.
1.80.0 11/21/2010[24] Added SNAP feature to closest beat in waveform, DVS runout/protection and Lead In function, added downbeat and start position keyboard shortcuts.[3] Song manager added.[24]
1.90.0 5/24/2011 New file browser, synchronization settings, and snap and quantize buttons. Song manager fully integrated into Deckadance, with a detachable option. Integration between the song manager and iTunes/iTunes playlists.[7]
2.00 16/4/2013

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Image-Line Deckadance". Music Radar. October 23, 2007. Retrieved 2011-08-15. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Golden, Ean (May 1, 2008). "Review: Image Line DeckaDance 1.2". Electronic Musician. Retrieved 2011-08-15. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "Deckadance Version History". Image-Line. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Deckadance 1.31.3". Tucows. October 14, 2008. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Deckadance Features List". Image-Line. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Midi Control". Image-Line. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 "Deckadance 1.9". Image-Line. May 24, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Overview". Deckadance. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  9. ↑ "Download System Requirements for 1.9". Deckadance. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Deckadance". Image-Line. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 "Features". Deckadance. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  12. ↑ "Deckadance 1.3 - Ready to Rock?". DJ Tech Tools. September 26, 2010. Retrieved 2011-08-15. 
  13. ↑ Simmons, Todd (August 30, 2007). "Deckadance Review: Image-Line's New DJ Mixing Software". Internet DJ. Retrieved 2011-08-15. 
  14. ↑ "Deckadance as VST Plugin". Image-Line. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  15. ↑ "VST Host". Image-Line. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  16. ↑ "Samplers". Image-Line. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  17. ↑ "Looping". Image-Line. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Vinyl Control". Image-Line. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  19. ↑ "Image of Deckadance process in the Activity Monitor running on a MacBook Pro". Image-Line. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  20. ↑ "Deckadance v1.30.7 Release Candidate". Image-Line. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  21. ↑ "Deckadance v1.30.8 Release Candidate". Image-Line. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  22. ↑ "News: Deckadance Version 1.40.3". Image-Line. December 28, 2008. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "News: Deckadance Version 1.7". Image-Line. July 27, 2010. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "News: Deckadance Version 1.8". Image-Line. November 21, 2010. Retrieved 2011-06-30. 

External links

Reviews

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