Rare & Sought after track from INI’s Rob O, produced & featuring Pete Rock (Prod & Recorded during his Soul Survivor era) 45 jacket and label artwork designed by Joseph Buckingham (De La Soul, Staple, etc).

Its been 2 decades since INI debuted under the guidance of producer Pete Rock. During the mid to late 90’s INI member Rob O and several other Mount Vernon, NY affiliates recorded a string of PR produced tracks that were released in various incarnations (including many promo only, white label & bootleg 12”s) until the early 2000’s when underground hip hop vinyl sales were starting todecline. Today, with the resurgence of vinyl and it’s high demand, Redefinition Records and ST. Nick Ent. have collaborated to reissue for the first time officially Rob O’s “So many Rappers” (produced & recorded during PR’s Soul Survivor era), and Meccalicious’ Meccalicious (recorded during the Center of Attention era). Both Rob O and Meccalicious would gain a lifelong fanbase from their performances on wax. If you’re fan a of Pete Rock and the whole MT. Vernon movement, these 2 selections are essential. Previous versions of these recordings have been long out of print and sought after, so whether you’re a long time fan or if this is your first time hearing these gems, this 45 is a must have. Release date 2/12/2016.

Tracklisting:
A. So Many Rappers (Rob O & Pete Rock, Produced by Pete Rock)
B. Meccalicious (Meccalicious & Pete Red, Produced by Pete Rock)

Rob-O – So Many Rappers ft. Pete Rock (Prod. By Pete Rock)

Meccalicious (Mekolicious) feat. Pete Rock & Pete Red

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Redefinition Records – Website | Facebook | Twitter

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ARTICLE: Fat Beats Records
EDITOR: La Mont Reed
IMAGE: Rob O & Pete Rock

Back in 2014, Panasonic reanimated the not-dead-just-sleeping Technics brand with the launch of two high end audio ranges. We got a brief ears-on in the listening room and liked what we heard. Very much. But there was something missing. For many party animals of a certain age, the good times were fueled by discs spun on the DJ weapons of choice – a pair of Technics SL-1200 decks. The brand confirmed plans to appease vinyl lovers at IFA Convention 2015 by introducing a new direct drive motor assembly for an upcoming turntable. Now, the picture is complete with a CES reveal of the brand new Grand Class SL-1200G.

In fact, Technics is planning to release two Grand Class turntables. One special limited edition model to mark the brand’s 50th anniversary (SL-1200GAE) and a non-limited standard version (SL-1200G). Both are very much influenced by the original models.

Panasonic’s engineers have developed a new coreless direct drive motor that works with microprocessor-controlled rotary positioning sensors to eliminate cogging (tiny vibrations from the motor and rotational speed fluctuations). The motor supports turntable speeds of 33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm and drives a three-layered cast brass and aluminum platter with rear damping.

The turntable’s cabinet is also multi-layered, which includes a 10 mm-thick aluminum top panel, for a combination of high rigidity and premium finish. The SL-1200G makes use of aluminum for the tonearm, while the anniversary edition is treated to magnesium alloy, both of which have been engineered to increase the dampening effect.

Only 1,200 units of the anniversary edition turntable will be manufactured, and will be released in the (northern) summer. The non-limited SL-1200 will follow later in the year. There’s no word on pricing as yet.

Source: Technics

Technics SL-1200GAE Limited Edition & Technics SL-1200G CES

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ARTICLE: Gizmag.com
EDITOR: La Mont Reed
IMAGE: Technics SL-1200

SubPac M2 brings the bass to your body

Los Angeles-based StudioFeed first came to our attention in 2013 when it launched a crowdfunding campaign aimed at putting some low end rumble in your seat. The Kickstarter campaign was successful and the SubPac tactile bass technology has since been further developed, and also pushed beyond the immersive music and gaming experience. It’s been integrated into Peugeot’s Fractal concept car, for example. It’s also added a more engaging, physical dimension to a VR-enhanced premiere of the movie Jurassic World, and allowed deaf and hard of hearing festival goers in Brazil to feel the music at this year’s Rock in Rio. Now the company is aiming to put some bottom end on your back with the upcoming SubPac M2 wearable sound system.

The 17 x 12 x 1.5 in (43 x 30 x 4 cm), 4.8 lb (2.2 kg) M2 is worn like a backpack, with adjustable shoulder straps at the front that bring the SubPac bass thumper up close to the body at the rear. The company says that its brand new SubPac transducers have been optimized for greater accuracy and energy efficiency, delivering powerful and immersive low end thunder through the unit’s vibrotactile membranes while remaining quiet to those nearby. The materials have also been treated with nano silver to keep bacteria and odor in check during active use.

The M2 is reported to work straight out of the box, and doesn’t need users to buy any altered or format-specific source audio files or tweak code on their computer. Bass intensity can be set using a slim cabled control box, though the system’s frequency response of 5 Hz – 130 kHz means that it doesn’t just growl at the low end.

The control box is also used to feed in sounds from a source player or smart device via a 3.5 mm stereo input jack, but the system includes a Bluetooth 4.0 receiver for wireless streaming, too. A 10.8 V/2,300 mAh Li-ion battery pack offers up to 6 hours of continuous music, gaming, home theater or virtual reality immersion per charge.

The SubPac M2 is currently up for pre-order, priced at US$379 (rising to $399 when the “earlybird” period ends). Shipping is expected to start in December. Gizmag is expecting to take the M2 for a test drive in the near future, where we’ll hopefully find it delivers a more satisfying punch than the Woojer wearable woofer we reviewed last year. In the meantime, check out the video below for an introduction to the system.

Product page: SubPac M2

SubPac M2 – “Feeling is Believing”

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ARTICLE: Gizmag.com
EDITOR: La Mont Reed
IMAGE: SubPac M2

All of the singles issued from one of the most legendary debut albums in music history, “Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde”, are presented here as a deluxe 45 box set.
Bizarre Ride II The Singles Collection contains the singles issued from Bizarre Ride in full color jackets. Each of the seven singles included in the set are in a different colored vinyl pressing.

Originally released in November 1992, Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde emerged at a time when gangsta rap dominated what people were hearing, seeing and buying, especially on the West Coast. The Pharcyde’s refreshing sound – lively, humorous and inventive lyrics over lush, jazzy productions –changed hip hop’s trajectory and influenced a generation of artists. “Bizarre Ride” helped establish a new alternative scene on the West Coast, paving the way for artists such as Hieroglyphics, The Coup, Jurassic 5 and many more.
Over the years, Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde’s status has grown to that of a five-star classic, beloved by critics and fans alike. Pitchfork named the release one of their “Top 100 Favorite Records of the 90s” and even The Source, who gave the release a mere 3 1⁄2 mics in their initial review, included the record on their listing of 100 Best Rap Albums.

Tracklist:
1A. Ya Mama (Single Version)
1B. Ya Mama (Acapella)
2A. Ya Mama (J-Swift Remix)
2B. Ya Mama (J-Swift Instrumental Remix)
3A. Soul Flower (Remix) (Single Version)
3B. Soul Flower (Remix) (Acapella)
4A. Passin’ Me By (Single Version)
4B. Passin’ Me By (Acapella)
5A. Passin’ Me By (Fly As Pie Mix)
5B. Passin’ Me By (Fly As Pie Instrumental) 6A. Otha Fish (Single Version)
6B. Otha Fish (Acapella)
7A. 4 Better Or 4 Worse (Single Version) 7B. 4 Better Or 4 Worse (Acapella)

Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde – The Singles Collection Music Box

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ARTICLE: KAY-DEE
EDITOR: La Mont Reed
IMAGE: Bizarre Ride II

Amanda Ghassaei has developed a technique for converting digital audio files of virtually any format into 3D-printed records that can be played on any ordinary turntable.

Digital Audio Files Converted into 3D-Printable Records

Like many music lovers today, I have a huge digital library and even though I’ve now converted much of my vinyl collection to MP3, I still return to my racks often. I’ve not really considered the possibility of converting my MP3/OGG/FLAC files into 12-inch records … until now. While exploring the limits of today’s 3D-printing technology, digital music tinkerer Amanda Ghassaei has come up with a technique for converting digital audio files of virtually any format into 3D-printed, 33.3 RPM records that can be played on any ordinary turntable.

When playing a gorgeous slab of black vinyl, a stylus moves along a groove cut into the surface of the record spinning at a constant speed (33.3 RPM for albums and 45 RPM for singles). As the stylus hits tiny bumps along the groove, it vibrates to produce an audio signal. This is amplified and routed through speakers to get you up and dancing. The 3D-printed disc behaves in a similar fashion.

To convert the digital audio files into records, 3D modeling files were produced using a custom algorithm authored in an open-source programming environment called Processing. Conversion calculations were performed on raw audio data to generate the 3D groove patterns on the disc, and this information was saved as an STL file and sent to the 3D printer.

The final discs were printed using an Objet Connex500 UV-cured resin printer to an X/Y resolution of 600 dpi (and 16 microns on the Z axis), which is a good deal more accurate than desktop extrusion printers like the Replicator or the Cubify, but nowhere near the microgroove resolution of modern records.

As you can hear in the following test of a 3D-printed recording of New Order’s Blue Monday, the end result is not exactly an audiophile’s dream. The files are sampled at just 11 kHz and have a 5-6 bit resolution (CD quality is 44.1 kHz/16-bit) so the output quality is quite low, but still recognizable.

3D Printed Records

Ghassaei has detailed the process on her Instructables page, which includes links to download the files needed to experiment with your own digital files (assuming you have access to a high-resolution 3D printer). Each of the test prints featured is roughly a minute long, although the system is said to have the potential to produce about six minutes of audio per disc.

For the moment, the quality of the end product isn’t really tempting me to seek out the nearest high-res 3D printer but as resolutions improve, there’s a good chance that my ancient turntable could find itself treated to the odd slice of digital gold.

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ARTICLE: Gizmag.com
EDITOR: Mike-Lee
IMAGE: 3D-printed records

What’s Pioneer Up To?

Despite many digital music tools being available these days, there are a good many DJs who would rather break out a pair of old school turntables than use systems like the XDJ-AERO or DDJ-SX. To help satisfy the desire for a gorgeous slab of 12-inch black vinyl, Pioneer has today announced the DJ quality PLX-1000 direct drive analog turntable.

Though it’s brand new, the PLX-1000 offers a familiar control layout, so there should be no learning curve for veteran platter spinners and scratchers. The two-speed deck with illuminated speed guide has a stop/start to the left, a tempo slider and fixed lighted buttons to the right for pitch control, with a reset button instantly returning the aluminum turntable to its fixed rotation speed.

It has a high torque Quartz lock serve type direct drive system for stable rotation and optimum control, which is reported capable of reaching album playback speed in 0.3 seconds or less and boasts a starting torque of 4.5 kg.cm (13.9 oz.in).

An S-shaped tone arm offers variable stylus pressure and has been treated to rubber insulation to minimize howling during playback. The weighty zinc die-cast chassis to the top and 8 mm (0.3 in) thick resin at the bottom (which has been further reinforced with a 9 mm thick vibration-damping material) are said to help ensure stability and prevent vibration. The rear of the unit sports AC power connection and low impedance, gold-plated RCA output jacks.

The PLX-1000 will be available for a suggested retail price of US$849 each. Naturally, you’ll need to sit a quality mixer in the middle of your twin decks and Pioneer is (perhaps unsurprisingly) recommending its DJM series.

You can see Pioneer’s new baby in the promo video below.

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ARTICLE: Gizmag.com
EDITOR: Mike-Lee
IMAGE: Pioneer PLX-1000

The good folks at Mass Appeal caught up with Damu in Brooklyn, NY at the Fat Beats Studios in late 2013 to talk about drums and shoot this great interview. Those familiar with our “Rhythm Roulette” series are in for a treat and those new to this grab a seat, strap in, and take notes. We kick off 2014 with a special installment with DC’s own Damu The Fudgemunk. Repping his Redefinition Records, Damu stops by Fat Beats and hits up their drumkit to school us on his history and process when it comes to putting together beats and searching for “drum breaks.”

Starting off with some quick anecdotes about his early days in the game linking up with the DITC crew, getting schooled on drum breaks – from the very rare to the frequently used – and record stores buying him pizza and soda because he’d be copping records all day. A true beatsmith he even talks about the need to use original drum breaks from records rather than sampling from existing mixes “even if it takes 30 years.” To close the episode, Damu hits the drumkit and replicates a few well to lesser known soul and hip hop drum breaks. Check out the episode above and be sure to head over to Damu’s BandCamp to get your hands on “Spare Overtime – Reinspired” offered both digitally and on 12″ Vinyl with a Bonus 45.

Damu The Fudgemunk “Rhythm Roulette” Bonus Episode ~ Official Video

Repping his Redefinition Records, Damu stops by Fat Beats and hits up their drumkit to school us on his history and process when it comes to putting together beats and searching for “drum breaks.”

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ARTICLE: Redefinition
EDITOR: Mike-Lee
IMAGE: Mass Appeal