djay

Individual: Henry Rivas, a.k.a. DJ Masta Hanksta
Web site: http://www.mastahanksta.com
Profile: Rivas is a Mexican-American DJ and composer who first began experimenting with live music mixing at the age of 13 and was among the youngest DJs to ever start performing professionally. 28 years later, Rivas remains a significant member of the DJ community, with award-winning roles as a producer, writer and performer. His music is distributed digitally under his own independent record label, Hanksta Records©, and he recently released his third album, “The American DJ.”

Application: djay 3 from algoriddim
Application Summary: Created exclusively for the Mac, djay 3 seamlessly integrates with a user’s iTunes library and makes it easy to mix his or her favorite music. djay 3 enables users to perform live, create and record mixes at home, or mix any playlist automatically with seamless, professional transitions. Unprecedented ease-of-use, combined with powerful and innovative features like Drag & Drop mixing, Automatic Tempo & Beat Detection and Multi-Touch Trackpad Scratching, make djay 3 the perfect tool for beginners and seasoned pros alike.

djay 3’s Seamless Mixing Capabilities Expand the Professional’s Toolbox

Several years ago, in a typical search for new programs that could help refine his mixing techniques, he came across the first edition of djay. “It was the only software that worked on [Mac] OS 10, and I had been looking for something new to test for a long time,” he said. “As it was brand new, there were a few limitations, but I could definitely see the potential, and since then, djay has transformed into an amazing tool.”

Rivas did a little research, and once he had learned about the development team at algoriddim, he inquired about performing an official test. “algoriddim is a great company to work with,” Rivas noted. “When I got in touch with them about testing djay, they immediately set me up with what I needed to get a full feel for the program. If I had suggestions for something that could be added, like Baby Scratching, they would already be working on it. They understand what DJs need out of their software.”

Once he had gotten a firm grip on the applications, he began to create videos featuring Masta Hanksta using the program and posted them online for public viewing. “I posted the videos to my YouTube channel, and all of a sudden I got this boost in views. People were really interested in learning about using djay, whether they had ever used music software before or not, and I was more than happy to demonstrate.” Since then, Rivas has released new videos with each edition of the software, instructing viewers on the latest features and how they can improve the mixing experience.

“It’s just such a great tool for a professional,” he said. “It’s easy to move around with. I can go anywhere and have it at the ready. The Automix in particular is a great application, especially in the new djay 3, because it allows me to step away and be a part of the party instead of being stuck behind my setup for the entire night. It transitions so well that I don’t have to worry about being on top of every song. Furthermore, the interface is extremely easy and not the least bit intimidating. And the visual component really adds to the enjoyment of the program, and that’s the key – enjoyment. People who aren’t professionals, who have never even thought about being a “DJ”, can have a great time mixing their own music with this program.”

Rivas specifically recalled a recent wedding where a set was running long. “I was prepared to mix live while guests were enjoying their dinners. There were some snags in the serving process, or something, and my set suddenly expanded from one hour to three. All I needed to do was kick on djay 3’s Automix – it ran the extended set without any problems at all, and best of all, I got to step away and do a little mixing and mingling of my own. I’m definitely looking forward to what the algoriddim team is planning next.”