Click the image below to find the brand new Matthew Dear track “Don’t Go This Way” that Ghostly International is releasing as an exclusive Internet-only download.

And to find out about Dear’s production methods, read his Remix interviews:

Matthew Dear on recording Asa Breed, August 2007

Matthew Dear, December 2003 Remix

You know, music changes, but soul is eternal.

Software-based DJing continues to explode in popularity, and many exhibitors at the 2008 NAMM Show eargerly flaunted their latest controllers aimed at digital DJs. Here’s a look at the heaviest hits for DJs at this year’s show, to wrap up our online NAMM coverage.

Stanton SC System

Representing a natural evolution from its Final Scratch, the Stanton SC System comprises the SCS.1m Mixer and SCS.1d Deck hardware controllers ($TBA). Doing away with the glitchy timecode that can act wonky at slow speeds, the SCS.1d‘s new error-free, high-resolution tracking system measures more than 1,000 counts per rotation with a laser, so the real vinyl surface never wears out. Its 10-inch motorized platter is the same as on Stanton‘s T.120 and STR8-150 turntables, with 0.2-second start and stop speeds. The SCS.1d‘s 100 mm pitch slider is also motorized, and when switching between virtual decks, it snaps to its new position. Four rotary encoders have “scribble strips” for feedback, 360-degree LED strips and six banks for a total of 24 assignments. The four-pad trigger section below the platter offers more creative possibilities, and settings for the entire deck can be saved to patches and switched at any time, making it more like several turntables in one.

The SCS.1m Mixer offers a traditional 4-channel DJ mixer layout for use with tracks streamed from the computer or tracks from the auxiliary audio input. With TRS balanced main outputs, RCA booth outputs and 1/4-inch headphone output, the SCS.1m is a FireWire interface, a DJ mixer and a software controller all in one. The channel strips (with EQ knobs), four volume sliders, crossfader, jog wheel, and four LED-ring rotary encoders all control your software of choice. Compatible apps include NI Traktor Studio, MixVibes, Ableton Live and Image Line Deck-a-dance, with more on the way.

Vestax VCI-300

This tabletop DJ controller looks much like the VCI-100 of last year, however, the VCI-300 has the added distinction of being integrated especially for the new Serato Itch software, which is supposed to be publicly demonstrated for the first time in March. ‘Itch figures to be a scaled-down version of Scratch, with many of the essential features left intact. The following screenshot of Itch may actually change by the time the program is released.

Denon DN-HS5500

This one’s an interesting concept, as it is two audio players in one deck. The DN-HS5500 ($999) has two separate audio outputs and can control two song with the full range of available controls coming from either external USB drives or iPods and optional internal hard drive or an internal CD player. It also acts as a MIDI controller for software and can also control two separate songs when being used in MIDI mode. It’s rotating platter packs full turntable torque, as well as Brake, Dump and Reverse platter effects. Not stopping there, the unit contains five DSP effects: flanger, filter, echo, Tail Echo and Echo Loop.

Numark NS7

Numark’s gargantuan NS7 was not yet working at NAMM–only displayed behind a plexi-glass case. It is also being made especially for Serato Itch integration; it will come with Itch bundled, but it also has many assignable MIDI controller and can be used with other MIDI software. It has two high-torque motorized 7-inch platter with real vinyl interfaces and a mixer all in one unit. The USB 2.0 interface moves MIDI info as well as 24-bit audio, and the audio connections include balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA.

Ideal for the person just getting started in digital DJing, the updated Hercules DJ Console RMX comprises an audio and MIDI interface in one and comes with VirtualDJ 5 DJC Edition software for PC or Mac.

M-Audio Torq

NAMM’s new DJ gear revolved mostly around hardware, but M-Audio also introduced Torq 1.5, a strong update packed with new features. Check out this list:

Improved Tempo/Pitch Alteration

•Tempo Anchors allow marking tracks with varying tempos–Torq‘s effects and samples follow the tempo changes in the song

•Tempo Master assigns a playing track to serve as the master tempo source for all tempo-related functions

Advanced MIDI Control

•Transmit/receive MIDI beat clock for synchronization with other hardware/software and easy switching between DJs

•MIDI soft takeover prevents parameter jumps when using external controllers

New User Interface Features

•Hide Mixer option conserves screen space

•Preview songs in headphones before loading to deck

•New database categories for bit rate, file type, year and label

•Select multiple files to add to playlists

•Musical Style Preferences improve results when analyzing tracks

•Drag and drop songs into decks while in browser max view

•Warning message if loading a new song onto a Deck that is playing

•Warning message when attempting to exit Torq

•Global Tempo metronome can be monitored in headphones

•Auto Gain feature matches the gain levels between decks

Enhanced Effects Processing

•Internal effects can be grouped into effects chains

•VST effect tempo synchronizes with tempo of playing deck

•Effects can be used in a post-fader configuration

Rock-Solid Integration with Traditional DJ Hardware

•Skip Protection keeps the music playing even if the Control Vinyl or CD skips

•True Key Lock keeps the pitch constant when adjusting external turntable speed

New Looping Functionality

•Loop Points can be set after a section plays

•New QuickLoop option for CDJ-style loop division

•Quantize function for start/stop accuracy

Allen & Heath Xone:42

While Allen & Heath’ Xone:3D mixer pioneered the realm of DJ mixers controlling software, its new Xone:42 loses the MIDI control but keeps a USB audio interface. It also showcases the acclaimed Xone-series VCF filter, which can be applied independently to any of he Xone:42’s four channgels.

For more from NAMM not seen on Remix’s TalkBox blog, including a videos and podcasts, check out the combined Remix, Mix and Electronic Musician NAMM portal site.

Every year, the NAMM Show is like a case of good news/bad news. The good is that there is always a butt load of new stuff to discover for making and performing music. And the bad news is that the show is so big, it’s all we can do to see everything there in the time allowed, without getting much opportunity to play with the goods. However, such is our duty, and without complaining, we scoured the Anaheim convention center Jan. 17-20 to track down the most promising gear for electronic and hip-hop producers, musicians and DJs. We already reported on the Urban music-focused products, and a special DJ-gear report will follow this week. So without much more ado, here’s a list of the overall Remix show hits.

Access Virus TI Snow

Legendary Virus TI power is now available in a small tabletop box with a stylish wooden front panel as the Virus TI Snow ($1,350). The Snow works with all TI-series patches and has a 50-note synth engine with four multitimbral parts, multiple oscillator models, a Moog cascade filter emulation and a deep effects section. While the front panel offers full programming capabilities, you can also edit and store sounds using the included Virus Control plug-in for VST/AU/RTAS hosts that, among other things, offers an intensely cool Easy Edit mode that adaptively assigns multiple parameters to the three Value knobs for quickly making sweeping changes with a single knob. With analog stereo inputs and outputs, MIDI I/O and USB, the Snow has Access Total Integration that can route sounds from a DAW to the Snow‘s filters and envelopes and back.

Novation Nocturn

To accompany the new Automap Universal 2.0 software at the NAMM Show, Novation announced the Automap-capable Nocturn ($199), the smallest device to support Automap. It sports a pro-grade 45 mm crossfader, eight rear-illuminated buttons and eight rotary encoders, each with bright 11-LED rings. There is also one of Novation‘s awesome Speed Dials, which can take control of anything your mouse pointer rests over, from DAW controls to other apps and OS controls. As you switch from DAW to plug-in and back, Automap automatically reassigns Nocturn‘s controls to the currently active program. Users can make their own MIDI Maps just as easily and then find them using Automap 2.0‘s browsing. Maps can be traded and shared, and Novation will undoubtedly have a growing downloadable collection. A side-mounted USB socket helps the Nocturn sit directly in front of your laptop‘s keyboard without a cable jutting out of the back.

Eurphonix MC Control and MC Mix

Using its EuCon control protocol with eight times the resolution and 250 times the speed of MIDI signals (using Ethernet), Euphonix has brought the power of its high-end large-format consoles to its Artist Series of incredibly thin and portable controllers. The MC Control ($1,999) and MC Mix ($1,399) create a modular editing/mixing system capable of controlling any software–DAW or otherwise. The MC Control offers a unique customizable touch-screen interface with 12 assignable soft keys that can send keystrokes–and customizable macro commands–to the foreground application, auto-switching between banks of assignments as you move from program to program. Four touch-sensitive motorized 100 mm faders can control any number of tracks, and eight touch-sensitive, push-button rotary encoders offer even deeper control. The MC Mix loses the touch screen and Transport section in lieu of a set of eight faders, as well as eight rotary encoders. Both devices are compatible with EuCon, HUI and Mackie Control protocols and can be chained for as many as 36 total faders (four MC Mix units and one MC Control). The included Studio Monitor Express matrix system controls your system‘s monitoring connections from the control surface, and there is full control integration for Apogee Ensemble, Symphony and Duet interfaces, as well as native Apple Logic Pro support. The MC units can control multiple applications and multiple workstations via Ethernet, a first for a small-format device. Like a full-size pro console in a tiny box, the MC Control and MC Mix can help you produce with speed and precision.

MOTU Digital Performer 6

This $795 DAW focuses on user-requested features. In addition to a full interface redesign, subtle but powerful improvements to DP6 include resizable tracks in the Tracklist, new “floating” Inspector palettes, window tabs and more. The powerful new Comp Track feature is similar to Logic‘s Quick-Swipe comping, and the new ProVerb convolution reverb is drastically more CPU-efficient and includes a cool Dynamic Mix feature that ducks the wet signal as the input level increases for a wetter mix without losing clarity. The new MasterWorks Leveler contains four LA-2A models (two classic, two modern) for smoothing out tracks beautifully. XML file import/export tightens up integration between DP6 and Final Cut Pro, making it easy to see changes to a new video edit from inside your DP6 session. DP6 also shows massive performance gains when using virtual instruments. Audio Units plug-in support has been expanded, now offering 100-percent sample-accurate timing, sidechaining and ramp-based automation. RTAS plug-in support, native AIFF and WAV file compatibility, support for interleaved audio files (stereo and surround), enhanced plug-in management and Direct-to-CD burning all demonstrate MOTU‘s commitment to its users.

Roland Fantom-G6

Composers looking for a single unit for writing, recording and performing can look to the quickly evolving keyboard workstations. To stay on top of the game, Roland updated its flagship line of Fantom workstations with the 61-key Fantom-G6 ($2,899). Featuring a brand new audio processor, the G6 doubles the available wave-ROM space of previous versions and expands the color LCD screen to a luxurious 8.5-inch widescreen. ARX card slots for two of Roland‘s unique SuperNatural behavior-modeling emulator expansion boards come packed with sounds. A revamped effects engine offers as many as 22 multi-effect routings per multitimbral patch group, plus global reverbs, choruses and mastering effects. Roland‘s new Power Sequencer is capable of 128 tracks (24 audio tracks) inside a fully integrated environment with mouse support. Assignable performance controls include eight sliders, four knobs and 10 buttons, and the performance-enhancing arpeggiator, D-Beam and Dynamic Pad section with 16 Velocity-sensitive drum pads afford you extended interaction with your sounds. The new line of Fantoms is also available in 73-key G7 ($3,349) and 88-key G8 ($3,999) versions.