Aug192010
Twitter DJ Application
Twitter DJ is the latest brainwave from Richie Hawtin, that allows for real time broadcasting of all tracks played during a DJ set. Developed in-house by Bryan McDade at Hawtin’s Minus label, it works as a conduit between Traktor and the online messaging utility Twitter. Minus and Native Instruments worked closely together to optimize the Traktor software for this special use.
The Twitter DJ application utilizes feeds from an updated version of Traktor’s standard broadcasting technology to send 60 second updates during Hawtin’s set of what’s currently playing to a designated Twitter account, allowing anyone following the Twitter group to obtain a unique insight into how a DJ builds the atmosphere and dynamics of a set, track by track, and in real time. The track information is freely accessible from any Twitter configured personal mobile devices (even from the dance floor) and archived online on the Twitter page. This concept is also a significant step towards helping smaller independent record companies and artists to gain further recognition and free promotion when their releases are played as digital files.
However, the real potential comes to light when considering the benefits for performing rights societies: “By providing the necessary information to track what is really being played in clubs, the Twitter DJ application would not only drag the likes of GEMA, PRS and SOCAN kicking and screaming into the 21st century, but make sure the real artists get paid instead of performance payments simply being carved up between the Madonnas and U2s of the world.
The Twitter DJ application can be downloaded from Minus via twitter-dj.com together with the installation guide and instructional video.
Interesting, I wonder if Serato will follow up with a similar app. Not sure it would work with Ableton though, the way tracks are spliced and chopped up you’d possibly be tweeting every minute for the length of your set (2/3 hours maybe).
Comment by Martin Lucas — August 19, 2010 @ 12:26 pm