TheDopeFiend

8tracks

I am pretty sure I have posted about 8tracks before, but recently they updated their interface a bit and I have had a renewed love for the site. The website’s simple, elegant website allows for users to create, share and listen to mixes compiled of all genres of music. A great way to discover new stuff.

Mixeeba Tracklisting

Mixeeba is a cool little service that’s good for both listeners and publisher of mixtapes. Basically the website will take a tracklist you have copied and pasted, search all of the major online distribution outlets for those tracks and then output a converted tracklist with links to where you can purchase those tracks. This is a great little tool for DJs, music bloggers and music lovers.

Richie Hawtin Using iPad to Perform

A couple months ago with the release of the iPad and several DJ apps I was wondering if any serious DJs would actually be using the iPad to perform. Well, I guess my question has been answered. Here is a video of Richie Hawtin aka Plastikman doing a sound check Movement in Detroit. It’s not clear as to what application he is using, but it certainly makes me curious.

via XLR8R

Fuji Instax 210 Camera

Not sure if I am behind on this one or not, but the Fuji Instax 210 camera looks much better than the Instax Mini that I own. The 210 takes a wider format instant photos and looks more compact than the mini. If you haven’t discovered the fun behind instant photos I suggest you go drop a hundred bucks on this camera available over at Opening Ceremony.

via b!POP

Indie Game: The Movie Teaser

I never knew about indie video game development until a friend of mine (who works developing video games) told me about an amazing game called Braid. I watched him complete the entire game in one sitting one night in Shanghai while having some beers at his house. That was my introduction to indie gaming. Indie Game: The Movie is a documentary being made about the Indie Game culture, the people who make and the people who play the games.

BlinkWork is currently looking for funding to complete the film. If you are interested in helping head over here.

Incase Hardshell Case for Macbook Pro

I recently upgraded to the new MacBook Pro and I am loving it even more than I thought I would. I am sure I am not the only DJ to drop $1,800 on a new laptop and be a little hesitant to take it to my next gig in a dirty, rowdy club full of drunkards. So I am thinking one of the investments I will be quickly be making is the Incase Hardshell Case. The design of the case looks to be very unobtrusive and still providing a lot of protection. They offer several different colors and the price tag is $49.95. A small price to protect such a valuable piece of equipment.

Sobering Stats: Musicians Getting ‘Ripped’ Off?

Here is a pretty well designed info-graphic (from Information Is Beautiful) about the amount of online sales a solo musician must sell in order to make a US monthly minimum wage of $1,160. It’s a bit sobering to see how little they payout is for some of these services we are buying from. I mean, $0.0017 per stream on Spotify?! It almost makes me want to start purchasing directly from the artists themselves instead of iTunes. It also makes you realize that most of the musicians and artists you listen to are probably doing it more for the love of what they do rather than the money.

via: The Strange Attractor

Splitterbot Headphone Sharing Keychain

Here is a dose of tech-nerd-gadgetry for you. The Splitterbot is a little robot keychain that allows you to pop off his head, plug it into your headphone jack and share audio with another listener. Pretty handy and it’s only eight bucks.

via Kineda

Sonorasaurus Rex, Will Anyone Actually Use It?

DJ application Sonorasaurus Rex has been released just in time for the release of the iPad. The interface looks a little basic, but clean and easy to use. The question is will any real DJs actually use these mixing apps with an iPad to perform live shows? I think the relatively inexpensive cost of the device, portability and huge touch screen are welcome advantages over lugging your laptop from club to club and punching in keystrokes on a laptop keyboard. But until these apps have the ability to interface with vinyl I just don’t see anyone using them. Sorato for the iPad?

How do you feel? Would you use an iPad to perform in a club?

Mixr For The iPad

The other day I posted about an iPad application called Midipad that converts your iPad into a midi controller. Well Mixr has announced their iPad app that transforms your iPad into a piece of full-on mixing hardware. I can’t see any serious DJ using this to perform, but I think it could be a fun way to kill some time or maybe a quite solution for an impromptu portable party party. The interface looks well designed, and the library browser looks like a very elegant way of browsing your tracks. Check out their site for a full list of features.

iPad Producers: Midipad

The release of the iPad will certainly change the way we view media, but will it also be a useful tool for creating media? The midipad software for the iPad actually converts the device into a virtual midi controller allowing  you to control music software on your Mac or PC. The coolest part about this software is that is allows you to control your software over a wireless connection. This means it’s possible we may see DJs or producers performing live using iPads, and it would give them the flexiblity of not being tied down by a bunch of wires and cables. Read more over at Create Digital Music.

Issuu Web Publishing

I am a huge fan of magazines. Nothing can replace the smell of fresh ink on the pages of your favorite magazine, but the next best thing would be a super-sleek way of browsing thousands of magazines at the click of a mouse or tap of an iPad. Issuu is a web publishing site that offers a huge selection of all kinds of magazines. If you are a publisher it’s a totally free and very streamlined way of reaching a worldwide audience.

Urbanears Headphones

Sometimes simplicity is the best option. Although I can’t help but think there was some inspiration taken from a certain very popular clothing company that takes a similar approach, I still very much like the minimalistic look of Urbanears headphones. Coming in a wide range of colors these headphones look to be totally non-branded other than the small tag on the side.  With all the options you could easily choose a different set everyday according to your outfit. Now the question (and the most important) is do they sound good? Available for purchase at $60 per pop over at 80s Purple.

Superglued Music & Events Website

There are a lot of music event and concert websites out there. Some hit the mark, and others don’t. Superglued looks like one that has hit the mark. The website has a clean and simple user interface with some really nice integration with Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. The website allows users to browse events, share events and review events they have been to. They have also released a Superglued iPhone app that looks to have a interface and some cool tools.

Hypetape

Hypetape claims to be the lovechild of Muxtape and Hype Machine. While it’s obvious the website is inspired by the overly-simplistic interface of Muxtape, and seems to work much like the original semi-controversal Muxtape, it’s actually more like what Muxtape should have been. You are able to create your own profile, and then search music and create multiple playlists (one big feature the original Muxtape was lacking).  It’s not clear as to where Hypetape gets their music, but apparently it doesn’t actually get any MP3s from Hype Machine. Regardless it’s a neat, simple little website. We’ll see if it last’s without the man shutting it down.