There's still something to be said for the aesthetic and tactile experience of backspinning, scratching, nudging, and otherwise freaking a twelve-inch dish. And so, as expensive a habitAs it may be, DJs continue to amass way just for the opportunity to get their cuts on. That may change as American DJ unveils its powerful Pro-Scratch1, a slot loading CD deck thatActually allows the user to simulate scratching with a digital effects wheel. The wheel also offers real-time control over echo, skid, fade, coast, pan, and trans effects. The Pro-Scratch1 features other state-of-the-art niceties as well: reverse play (so you can hear all those evil backmastered messages), seamless looping, an inboard sampler, a pitch bender (for helping get your beats back in step), and, as with previous decks, user-specified "flash start" points that allow you to bounce instantly from one cue point to another at the touch of a button without interrupting the flow of your mix. The same buffer that powers the flash points also eliminates skipping by always storing the next ten seconds of your disc to memory in case your setup gets bumped by a clumsy patron. Though theyre better known for their stage lighting than their music gear, American DJ has quietly and quickly built up a name for itself buy turning out powerful, DJ-minded CD players and have put the pressure on the reigning champs to follow suit or fall behind.
Sam Cannon, Transworld Stance Magazine, February 2001 issue
