Rane SL 1 for Scratch Live

Rane SL 1 for Scratch Live

The Rane SL 1 coupled with Serato Scratch Live is the ultimate 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 computer's 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.

The SL 1 is only sold as part of a complete package, including a pair of control vinyl records, a pair of control CDs, software and cables.

Scratch Live 1.9 Screen Shot (Download from scratchlive.net)

Scratch Live supports all these file formats: Fixed and Variable Bit Rate MP3, AIFF, AAC, WAV, OGG Vorbis, CD Audio and direct from the mixer. Record from your Mic and immediately scratch as if it was on vinyl. Record direct from vinyl or CD and save as 16-bit 44.1 kHz stereo file.

Easily import your playlists and iTunes library. You can drag from Explorer (Windows) or the Finder (Mac) into the Scratch Live library. The crate and subcrate system helps organize your library and sets. Hot-swap external drives with fast automatic library merging and retention of crates. Browse your music collection by album, artist, BPM, or genre, with optional album art display. Intuitive search function can be applied to any field to find things quickly. Edit ID3 tags with full Unicode support.

Preprocessing of MP3 files is not required except to detect corrupt files or use the auto-BPM and auto-gain functions. Auto-BPM detects tempo information for tracks without it, saving it with each file. A tap tempo button allows you to enter your own. Auto-gain lets you set a target gain on any or all songs in your library. You can also manually adjust individual gain, remembered in each song file.

The Virtual Deck shows everything about the speed and position of a track. As the vinyl rotates, so does the line on the label. The circular progress bar around the edge is a visual representation of the position within the song. The time and remaining time are displayed in minutes and seconds. The turntable speed as a percentage of pitch shift is on the left, and the pitched BPM is on the right.

Different operating modes can be assigned to each Virtual Deck:
Absolute Mode — exact reproduction of record movement, needle drop through tracks – just like normal vinyl. The beginning of the track is mapped to the start of the record.
Relative Mode — skip-free scratching, jump to cue points, and pitch bend buttons combined with turntable control. This mode observes the relative forward and backward movement of the record, but does not regard the position within the record.
Internal Mode — mix with just your laptop using features modeled on DJ CD players. Rewind, Bend down, Play / pause reverse, Play / pause forward, Bend up, Fast forward.
Auto mode — play a sequence of tracks automatically.

With Key Lock on, the key or pitch of the song stays locked at what it would be if the track was playing at normal speed, regardless of the platter speed of the turntable or CD player. Key Lock has scratch detection, so it automatically turns off when scratching for a natural scratching sound.

Variable zoom waveforms centered around current position display horizontally or vertically. Waveforms are colored by frequency so you can distinguish instruments visually. Full track overview lets you quickly find where the beat drops, find breakdowns and choruses, and jump to any part of the song. The tempo display assists with rapid tempo matching of tracks. When the two tracks are matched to the same tempo, the peaks will line up. Beat display emphasizes the transients in tracks -- these are matched up when the two tracks are beat matched. Visual markers can be set for up to 5 cue points per song and triggered from the keyboard. Save up to 9 loops per track -- these loops are saved in the file, and will be present when you reload. Censor expletives on the fly with an instant quick-reverse and catch-up with no loss of timing or pitch.

MIDI control can interface USB controllers with Scratch Live. DJ controller support will vary. Check the release notes in the Downloads section at scratchlive.net for supported controllers.

Built-in help and tips in multiple languages are accessible anytime. There is even a low power warning when running off a laptop battery.

Computer Requirements

The minimum operating system requirements for Serato Scratch Live are:
Mac

* 1 GHz G4
* 1 GB RAM
* 1024 x 768 minimum screen resolution
* OSX 10.3.9 or higher
* Intel Macs require Scratch Live version 1.5 or higher

Windows

* Pentium 4 / 1.5 GHz (Intel processor)
* 1 GB RAM
* 1024 x 768 minimum screen resolution
* Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or higher
* Windows Vista requires Versions 1.7.2 or higher
* Windows Vista 64-bit requires Versions 1.8.2 or higher
Windows 7 requires Versions 1.8.2 or higher
* Note that we recommend Windows XP over Vista or 7 for performance reasons. By using XP, you can have a lower latency (for a better vinyl feel) and better performance in general. We also recommend Windows 7 over Vista.

Please note: this is the minimum requirement to run Scratch Live. We recommend you use a higher spec computer, and particularly if you have a large library or use optional plugins, you will benefit from having more RAM.

The Rane SL 1 is only sold as part of a complete package. The display box includes:

* SL 1 hardware interface
* USB cable
* 4 stereo RCA cables
* printed color manual
* keyboard shortcut page
* 2 vinyl records
* 2 control CDs
* Scratch Live software install disc

The SL 1 easily connects with either your turntables, CD players or MIDI controllers.

Control Vinyl Spares

black recordContinuous control signal on vinyl allows smooth accurate scratching. Scratch Live has the lowest latency vinyl emulation system on the market. It has advanced vinyl groove and stylus modeling algorithm for a sound indistinguishable from the real thing.

Innovative positioning system allows fast and accurate needle dropping. The record has thin marks every minute, and a thicker mark every 5 minutes (played at 33 RPM). These marks assist you when using needle dropping to move through the track.

The Vinyl Scroll track allows you use your turntable or CD to scroll through your crate and pick the next song without touching your laptop.

Side A: 10 minutes plus Vinyl Scroll track. Side B: 15 minutes.

Control CD Download

Control CDTwo 15-minute control CDs are included with the SL 1. 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.

The Scratch Live Control Tone, the audio pressed on Scratch Live Control Vinyl and the Control CDs, is copyright 2004-2008 Serato Audio Research. The Control CD download is licensed for personal use only. The creation of personal backups of the Control CD is allowed, however duplicating Control CDs for commercial benefit is strictly prohibited. For avoidance of doubt the duplication or creation of Control Vinyl for any use is strictly prohibited. Please respect our copyright. ©2004-2008 Serato Audio Research.

New Video-SL 1.2 and Scratch Live 2.0

Serato Video-SL is a software plug-in for Scratch Live which adds the ability to playback and mix video files. Manage a variety of video clips from within the Scratch Live library and load them onto a virtual deck for control with either vinyl or CD.

The controls allow you to mix clips with a variety of transitions, as well as apply exciting effects to each video clip. The mixed output can be sent to your computer's secondary display for connection to external monitors or projectors.

MIDI control enables you to use 3rd party controllers with Video-SL, highly recommended with an SL 1.

In the box, available from your Rane dealer:

* Installer CD with bonus music videos and loops
* Quick Start Guide
* Manual
* TTM 57SL Mixer Overlays
* Stickers

The Video-SL package includes stickers and video samples not included with the download version.

SL 1 Specifications
Parameter Specification
USB Power 300mA, 5.0 Volts
Optional External Power Pack 300mA, 9.0 Volts
CODEC 16-bit / 44.1 kHz sample rate
Line Output: Unbalanced RCA
…...THD+N -88 dB (1 kHz, 0 dBu, 20 kHz BW)
…...Maximum Output +5 dBu, +3 dBV
…...Dynamic Range 94 dB A-weighted
Input to Thru Unbalanced RCA
…...Gain Unity
…...Maximum Input / Output 2 Vrms
…...Dynamic Range 110 dB A-weighted
Phono Input Unbalanced RCA
……Maximum Input 35 mVrms
Line Input Unbalanced RCA
……Maximum Input 2 Vrms
Mic Input to ADC Unbalanced ¼" Tip-Sleeve
……Maximum / Minimum Gain 49 dB / 9 dB
……Maximum Input 150 mVrms
Mic Thru Unbalanced ¼" Tip-Sleeve
……Gain +6 dB
……Maximum Output 300 mVrms
……Noise 3.5 uVrms A-weighted
SL 1 Unit: Size 7.25" x 5" x 1.75" (18.4 x 12.7 x 4.5 cm)
Shipping: Size 14" x 14" x 4" (36 x 36 x 10 cm)
……Weight 5 pounds (2 kg)