Upgrade available for Digiscratch User

Registered Digiscratch user will get the Upgrade to the DigiScratch Version 2 for free.

Switching from FS

With the introduction of DigiScratch2 we have a special offer in May for FS users who want to switch to DigiScratch. You keep Your FS hardware (1.x USB) and receive the latest DS2 software with timecode vinyl record and CD for only 199 Euro. That way You can use all of DigiScratch's features (i.e. live loops, sample player, cue points and more) that can be used with Your soundcard (FS 1.x USB). Microphone recording or MIDI I/O require a better soundcard.

>>> order form

mail to:
ALCATECH
Haydnstrasse 22
01309 Dresden.
In exchange you receive the DigiScratch 2 software.
Of course you may also check out the demo version first.

>>> Installation guide

Legal notice: Final Scratch is a trademark of N2IT Holding B.V. Registered in the USA and other countries.

Overview

Just what you’re used to. This statement of course only applies to the often mentioned „vinyl feeling“ adored by pretty much every DJ, since DigiScratch combines in an innovative manner digital technology with a traditional DJ set with turntables and mixer. Using DigiScratch’s software, unique time code vinyl record and audio interface device, you get full DJ control over all audio files on your computer. Matching, scratching, juggling and so on – all in realtime: just what you are used to!

The great advantage is the fact that you can use a song archive of any size with only two vinyl records. And by the increasing number of internet labels more and more songs are published exclusively online. Own productions and spontaneous live recordings of vocals or instruments can be used instantly as well. Besides, you can of course still use your old vinyls in a mixed set.

The software player opens a digital audio file and scans the whole song data. As a result the song overview waveform is displayed in the player window, using spectral colors for basses, mids and treble (see screenshot).

Für eine grössere Darstellung bitte auf das Bild klicken!

Digiscratch Software

The well-engineered DigiScratch software supports all common audio file formats and offers many features. Key correction, cue points, beat-synchronized loop playback and an integrated sample player as well as configurable and zoomable real-time waveform views, real time BPM detection and various recording functions, to mention just some of them.
In the freely editable play lists and song archive manager with fast search function you can assemble virtual record collections of any size. Additional tools such as a CD ripper, MP3 encoder and ID3 tag editor make DigiScratch the perfect DJ software that meets all of your needs.

Features:

  • control mode: vinyl record or CD
  • supported sound file format: MP3, WAV, AIFF, WMA, OGG, CDA, ATX, MCA
  • simultaneous playback of two tracks from the same CD
  • on-board soundcard can be used as an additional channel (i.e. monitor)
  • track selector section on the time code vinyl record (for mouse-free deejaying)
  • different scratch modes (absolute, relative, internal)
  • analyse function
  • waveform display zoomable and partly different colour themes
  • different waveform display modes, including spectral colours
  • different functions such as time markers, cue points, live loops and a lot more
  • sample player with file editor
  • automatic real-time BPM counter
  • monitor function
  • key (pitch) correction
  • freely editable play lists and song archive manager with databank export and printing
  • comfortable track display
  • searching / cover display
  • can be integrated into future versions of BPM Studio
  • optional hardware controller rack units supported: BPM Studio Remote Control Units RCP 1001, RCP 2001A/B
  • MIDI control
  • not bound to certain hardware (can be used with any ASIO soundcard
    or FS 1.x USB or 2.x Firewire)
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capility characteristics

• DigiScratch Modes

Absolute-Mode: all needle moves and its position on the timecode vinyl will be used to control the playback.
Relative-Mode: the position of the needle (needle dropping) is not being considered. Scratching is possible, for instance using custom set cue points.
Internal-Mode: the vinyl will be ignored; pure software playback.

• Calibration Tool

An automatic calibration tool adjusts the software for the hardware used, and thus optimizes the time code detection quality.

• Waveform

Waveform Single-Scan: The waveform of the track is only being scanned with the first title and after that being saved. Through the so called "stripes" the tracks are being loaded faster when needed again.
Spinning: Forward, backward, fast and slowly. It's working completely as you like in real-time and without dropouts.
Track-Seeking: Jump with just one mouse click to any position in the track.

• 2 Displays for the illustration of the waveform

  • The complete track is being displayed in the upper part, a track-section of 11 seconds underneath. Thereby a cursor always indicates the current position of the track.
  • Variable cursor position - move the cursor freely in the display to the left or to the right.
  • track display flashes, when the title ends
  • switchable time display - track length, already played time and remaining time
  • display of the "beats per minute" (bpm)
  • The illustration of the waveform is freely editable, ups, downs and interaction from both or optional also separately. So beats can be easily identified optically on the display.
  • 2 separate playlists for each player
  • monitor function in all playlists and in the data archive
  • fast loading time of the tracks
  • easy and clear data archive with group structure for individual sorting arrangement (compatible with BPM Studio data archive)
  • easy drag and drop from the archive into the playlists or directly in the player
  • support of the ALCATech remote control panels (RCP0 known from BPm studio)
  • AGC (Automatic Gain Control) for an adjustment of the volume in the automode * normalization, thereby all titles of the archive can be provided with a pre-setting of the volume, without the files itself being changed
  • easiest creating, saving and loading of individual playlists
  • history function - all played titles are being collected, similar to a log, and generated in a list
  • list modus - as alternative to the archive modus; here the history is visible and the complete maintenance of all music files can be done by playlists
  • audio formats: MP3 (BBR and VBR), wave, WMA, OGG-vorbis, AAC
  • ID3-Tag edit - for the manual entry of title and album information (ID3-Tag v1 and v2) Software mixer - for the pre-adjustment of player, monitor and AGC
  • recording module - record vinyl-records easily as MP3, record and scratch own voice-samples, record and save your own mix in MP3 and wave
  • internal MP3-encoder (the high-quality original of the Fraunhofer Institute), external MP3-encoder are freely linkable
  • archive search - find fast and easy a title from the archive
  • ripper module - decode your original CD's into the MP3 format
  • burner module - burn your mix or your playlists on CD

• Further Functions

  • AGC: (Auto Gain) When playing back digital audio files there sometimes are big differences in their volume levels. Usually this is due to different CD mastering (preparation before burning) methods or different parameters when digitalizing/encoding the files. The AGC module ensures that your audio files are played back at a smooth volume level.
  • Normalizing: With normalizing, all songs in an archive will be forced to have the same maximum volume. The files will not be modified, it’s all real-time computing.
  • Song History: The order of all titles played will be remembered in a history list. This is particularly useful when you need to provide (in the entertainment branch) such information for legal reasons to music commerce agencies.
  • Audioformate: MP3 (CBR und VBR), Wave, WMA, OGG-vorbis, AAC
  • Software-Mixer: The integrated mixer can be used to control the players, the monitor and the AGC module.
  • ID3-Tag Editor: To create or modify the song and album information (ID3 tags V1 and V2) a convenient editor is implemented.
  • Recording-Module: A very interesting feature of DigiScratch is the ability to digitalize (i.e. save the songs as files on your computer) your records.
  • Internal MP3-Encoder: The recording module would be less useful if you couldn’t encode the recorded audio data into contemporary, small-sized high-quality file formats. That’s why DigiScratch uses the original Fraunhofer MP3 encoding.

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Digiscratch Hardware

The professional hardware option is the DigiScratch Box, a high-end soundcard based on RME’s Hammerfall technology. It has a 24 bit / 96 kHz AD/DA converter, MIDI I/O and volume knobs for mic-in and monitor-out.
The DigiScratch Box is being shipped with a PCI or Cardbus card which supports USB or Firewire with an unmatched performance at a latency as low as 1.5 ms. Phono pre ams, up to 12 configurable playback channels and a disconnect / stand alone mode additionally predestines the Digiscratch Box for home recording.

The second option is a MAYA44 USB soundcard.16 bit / 48 kHz and a latency of 5 ms are a very good choice for semi-professional use.

The DigiScratch software is not limited to be used with a certain hardware and can be used with any multichannel ASIO soundcard or other equipment such as for instance the FS 1.x USB. The ideal solution if you already own such a device.

Option 1 (DigiScratch Box):

  • high-end soundcard based on RME’s Hammerfall technology
  • best performance / low latency (1.5 ms) / Zero CPU by provided PCI (PC) or Cardbus (laptop) card
  • ADC/DAC with 24 bit / 32-96 kHz
  • adjustable XLR / 6.3 mm socket microphone-input
  • RIAA equalized stereo phono inputs, phono pre amp switchable to line
  • for max dynamics the volume levels are adjusted in the hardware
  • adjustable head-phone output
  • 6 hardware outputs, multi client capable,12 configurable playback channels
  • extensive routing possibilities
  • MIDI in/out
  • copious RME Digicheck analysis tool
  • disconnected mode for stand-alone use
  • support for ASIO 2.0,GSIF and MME (Wave)

Option 2 (Maya 44 USB):

  • USB soundcard
  • ADC/DAC with 16 bit / 48 kHz
  • 4 analogue inputs / 4 analogue outputs
  • digital optical S/PDIF output
  • stereo headphones output
  • Support for ASIO 2.0 and WDM

Included in delivery

Version 1

  • DigiScratch Software
  • + DigiScratch Box
  • + PCI/ PCMCIA Card
  • + 3 Timecode-Records
  • + 2 Timecode Cds
  • >>> only 699 Euro

Version 2

  • DigiScratch Software
  • + Maya 44 USB
  • + 3 Timecode-Records
  • + 2 Timecode Cds
  • >>> only 499 Euro

Version 3

  • DigiScratch Software
  • + 3 Timecode-Records
  • + 2 Timecode Cds
  • >>> only 349 Euro

Digiscratch TimeCode Vinyl:

The DigiScratch vinyls contain a reliable multi frequency time code which ensures a perfect tracking of the record’s speed.
The player speed (33 RPM or 45 RPM) can be toggled in the software. Each vinyl’s side plays 12 minutes, the B side has optical time markers (minutes). The record ends with an endless groove for long tracks and mixes. An additional track selector section allows for mouse-free deejaying. Just put the needle there, and move the record with the hand: the cursor in the DigiScratch software will move up or down respectively. When the desired song’s title is marked, lift the needle and drop it at the beginning of the vinyl – the song will be loaded into the player.
The time code vinyl has got a standard weight of 160 grams. It is stable and robust, but can of course also be reordered at low cost.

Finally, the package includes also time code CDs which can be used with Jog Wheel CD players to control the DigiScratch software. Optionally you can also use the BPM Studio Remote Controllers (RCP1001, RCP2001) or any MIDI controller.

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System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

    • Windows 2000 / XP
    • Pentium III / Athlon 1GHZ, 256 MB RAM, 20MB free HDD disk space
    • free USB port for the dongle
    • free PCI slot (PC) or PCMCIA CardBus (laptop) (only version 1)
    • a second free USB port (only version 2)

Recommended System

    • Windows 2000 / XP
    • Pentium III / Athlon 2GHZ, 512 MB RAM, 20MB free HDD disk space
    • free USB port for the dongle
    • free PCI slot (PC) or PCMCIA CardBus (laptop) (only version 1)
    • a second free USB port (only version 2)
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FAQ

Which soundcard is necessary for DigiScratch?

DigiScratch does not need a soundcard since the DigiScratch-Box contains already a multi-channel soundcard, which is sufficient for all demands.


Why do I need special records?

The records manufactured especially for DigiScratch are necessary for mixing the digital audio data. Pitch shifting, cue pointing, spinning forward and backward, also scratching the tracks is possible unrestrictedly. Controlling the digital audio data is executed by the special code of the DigiScratch records. The records can be utilized together with usual vinyl LPs, but they only work together with ALCATECH`s DigiScratch software and DigiScratch-Box.

Can I record my set directly?

BPM Studio includes a Realtime Wave and MP3 recorder and allows a direct recording of the complete set. The integrated record module offers the possibility to write Audio or MP3 CDs.

How about the sound quality?

The sound quality depends on the quality of the original file. We know from experience that 128 kbps (better: 192 kbps) and a MP3 codec of high quality (e. g. the internal Frauenhofer codec of BPM Studio) are sufficient for club demands.

Can DigiScratch also execute automatic BPM adjustment?

No, DigiScratch has been developed for working with digital audio in the same way as with vinyl. For automatic BPM value determination and adjustment ALCATech`s BPM Studio products are the best choice. DigiScratch will be integrated in the „BPM Studio Pro 5“ software. To exhaust the full function range we recommend the use of an external ALCATECH remote control.

What happens when a DigiScratch-Record is being destroyed?

The DigiScratch-Timecode-Record can be destroyed like usual records. But replacements are available at each ALCATECH reseller.

Does the DigiScratch Demo work only with ASIO?

No. DigiScratch needs a soundcard with ASIO drivers. If your soundcard was provided along with an ASIO driver, we highly recommend to use this one. But if your soundcard does not support ASIO, it should at least support the WDM driver model of Windows.

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