Rane - Serato Scratch LIVE

( M-Audio )

Price per Unit (piece): $850.00 (including GST)

General Description

Scratch LIVE is the ultimate software and hardware solution for bridging the analog world of vinyl and the digital world of computer audio files. Using regular turntables or CD players, you can scratch and mix files from your Mac or Windows computer's CD or hard drive, add in a live mic input for scratching, and even bypass to standard vinyl if you wish. Scratch LIVE is the complete digital solution for the vinyl junkie -- take your entire collection wherever you go and leave your precious vinyl at home!

The SL 1 interface connects one or two standard vinyl or CD turntables to your computer. This extremely rugged, portable, high quality, bus-powered USB interface features two switchable phono or line inputs, a microphone input, two line outputs, and pass thru outputs for the phono/line and mic.

The included 12" vinyl records each have a Serato exclusive and unique control signal which allows Scratch LIVE to track the motion of the record, simulating the same movement with digital audio. Due to Serato's proprietary control scheme, the result is a feel and sound indistinguishable from playing vinyl. As a producer and DJ, the track you finished today can be played on a real turntable tonight. You'll never have to cut a dubplate again!

Scratch LIVE supports all these file formats: Fixed and Variable Bit Rate MP3, AIFF, WAV, OGG Vorbis, CD Audio and direct from the mic input.
Easily import your playlists and iTunes library.
Import files easily by dragging from Explorer (Windows) or the Finder (Mac) into the Scratch LIVE library.
You can play and scratch tracks direct from CD and CD-ROM.
Includes extensive keyboard shortcuts for fast access to key functions.
Built-in help and tips in multiple languages are accessible anytime.
It even gives you a low power warning when running off a laptop battery.
No preprocessing of MP3 files is required except to use the auto-BPM and auto-gain functions.
For tracks with no BPM information, a tap tempo button is displayed for entering your own.
Scratch LIVE includes hardware interface, USB cable, 4 stereo RCA cables, printed manual, keyboard shortcut page, two vinyl records, two CDs, and software install disc in a display box.

System Requirements

The minimum operating system requirements are either a 800 MHz Mac G4 with OSX 10.3, or a 1 GHz PC running Windows XP with Service Pack 2, either with 512M of ram or more. Intel Macs must use Scratch LIVE version 1.5 or higher, downloadable from the Scratch LIVE forum.

The downloadable 1.7.2 version of Scratch LIVE includes support for the Microsoft Vista operating system. Note that we recommend Windows XP over Vista, most notably for performance reasons. You will be able to run XP at a lower USB buffer setting, meaning lower latency and better performance using XP than is achievable with Vista.

Scratch LIVE is licensed exclusively to Rane. For product information or tech support please contact scratchlive@rane.com.

Screen shot - Click for larger JPG image.

Scratch LIVE easily connects with either your turntables or CD players.

New Vinyl

Black vinyl comes with Scratch LIVE, but we all know vinyl wears out with use. US customers can purchase new second edition vinyl from your dealer, or at the Rane Online Store. People in other countries should contact their distributor.

Control CD Download

US customers can purchase a pair of new control CDs from your dealer, or at the Rane Online Store. People in other countries should ask their distributor.
You can burn your own control CD if you have a burner and the right software after downloading the big control file (132MB). Scratchlivecontrol.zip requires an unzip utility to open, and includes two files. Scratchlivecontrol.wav is a stereo 44.1 file that you can drop into any burner application -- however, the track select portion at the end of the audio file reqires a special start time on a second track to function correctly. If you have Sony CD Architect, you can load the scratchlivecontrol.cdp file and it will incorporate the correct second track timing. When using any other application, do not adjust the levels, make sure no auto-levelling is turned on, don't downsample or try another format, or the control signal won't function.