RANE SERATO SCRATCH LIVE

Scratch LIVE is the ultimate software and hardware 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 Mac or Windows computer's CD or 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. You'll never have to cut a dubplate again!

Scratch LIVE includes hardware interface, USB cable, RCA cables, printed manual, two vinyl records, two CDs, and software install disc.

• Scratch LIVE supports all these file formats: Fixed and Variable Bit Rate MP3, AIFF, WAV, OGG Vorbis, CD Audio and direct from the mic input.
• Easily import your playlists and iTunes library.
• Import files easily by dragging from Explorer (Windows) or the Finder (Mac) into the Scratch LIVE library.
• You can play and scratch tracks direct from CD and CD-ROM.
• Includes extensive keyboard shortcuts for fast access to key functions.
• Built-in help and tips in multiple languages are accessible anytime.
• It even gives you a low power warning when running off a laptop battery.
• No preprocessing of MP3 files is required except to use the auto-BPM and auto-gain functions.
• For tracks with no BPM information, a tap tempo button is displayed for entering your own.
• Scratch LIVE includes hardware interface, USB cable, 4 stereo RCA cables, printed manual, keyboard shortcut page, two vinyl records, two CDs, and software install disc in a display box.

QUESTION	ANSWER
When will Scratch LIVE be available?	DJDeals.com Inc. Has it NOW!
Will you offer a discount for Final Scratch users who make the switch?	There are no plans at this time to offer such a discount. The quality of Rane and Serato products speaks for itself and we do not feel it necessary to aggressively go after FS customers.
Are beta test or review units available?	Beta test units have all been shipped out, so we won't have units for people to test or review until the April production release.
Who do I contact for customer service and technical support?	Although Scratch Live was conceived and designed by Serato, it is being sold, serviced and supported by Rane - so call us first before placing an expensive call to New Zealand! You'll undoubtedly find both Rane and Serato people on the user forum once it's launched in May, so your questions will be answered in a timely manner by the appropriate person.
Have all the hardware and software features listed in the data sheet been implemented already or is it still a work in progress?	Yes, all features listed in the data sheet are implemented and being tested throughout the beta phase.
What's included when I buy Scratch Live?	Two vinyl control records, two control CDs, the software CD, a printed manual, four RCA cables, a USB cable and of course the USB interface to connect your turntables/CD player to your computer.
If the vinyl is only 15 minutes long, how can I play a song that's longer than 15 minutes?	Don't worry, the software is smart enough to know that when the vinyl runs out at 15 minutes and the song you're playing is 17+ minutes long, the software automatically goes into Internal mode and the song continues seamlessly without the DJ even needing to think about what the vinyl is doing.
How is Rane Corporation involved?	Scratch LIVE is licensed exclusively to Rane Corporation. We have taken Serato's hardware design and tweaked it to our own famously high standards. Rane manufactures and distributes Scratch LIVE, and supports the hardware.
So what does Serato do?	Serato Audio Research owns the technology. They will support and maintain the software, and will be responsible for releasing new versions of the software, firmware and drivers, which Rane will distribute.
How much is it going to cost?	Scratch LIVE has a list price of US$725. Street price is typically less and will be comparable to competitors' pricing.
Does Scratch Live support WMA files?	No, there are no plans to support WMA files at this time.
What audio formats does Scratch Live support?	Fixed and variable bit rate MP3s, AIFF, WAV and direct from CD.
I thought the vinyl was only 10 minutes long. Now the datasheet says it's 15 minutes. What gives?	The vinyl features two different sides: Side A offers 10 minutes of control plus a "song selector" area. Side B offers a full 15 minutes of control.
Does Scratch LIVE support AAC files?	No. Although, we're talking with apple about this possibility in the future.
Can I use the cd player features such as sampling, hot starts, echo effects etc?	No, any effects on the control signal will affect how the software responds.
What is the expected lifetime of the control records/CD's?	Like any other vinyl record, the life expectancy depends on the amount of care used in the handling and the amount use. The CD's life expectancy also greatly depends on the amount of care used in the handling to avoid possible scratching(literally)and breakage.
What are the operating system requirements?	Mac: G4-500 / OSX 10.2.8 or higher PC: P3-700 / WINDOWS XP The following are NOT supported: Linux, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows 98
Rane - you guys make hardware right? What do you know about supporting software?	Truth be known: Rane has been selling software-controlled audio products since 1987. Having 17+ years of developing and supporting software products, it's safe to say we have it handled. Serato has been selling both Mac and Windows products for about five years and developing them for longer. We both understand how operating systems and drivers evolve over time, and are committed to offering the most current, widely-compatible products possible.
Will Scratch Live run on Mac OS 10.3.2 (Panther)?	Scratch LIVE is fully compatible with the latest release of Mac OS X, version 10.3.2 (Panther). The software is also compatible with version 10.2.8 (Jaguar), however it is always recommended to stay up to date with the latest version of the operating system. As new versions of Mac OS X are released, we will rapidly confirm compatibility and release a free update if necessary.
Is a demo version of the Scratch LIVE software available?	No. The software and hardware must be used together.
Does Scratch LIVE support Master Tempo, Main Tempo, Key Lock and other schemes found in some turntables and CD players that lock the pitch but alter the tempo?	No. It is not possible to support this from external devices (turntables/CD players). These schemes alter the audio stream by time stretching (or adding to) the data/audio, this makes it impossible to correctly decipher the proper needle/laser location. It's analogous to trying to read a book after someone has added random, unreadable pages throughout. We cannot support schemes that alter, filter, compress or limit the control signal. But we can support this feature in a future version of the software.
Why does Scratch LIVE use USB 1.1 instead of USB 2.0 or FireWire (IEEE-1394)?	Simply put, we don't need the extra bandwidth that USB 2.0 or FireWire provide. USB 1.1 handles the required number of audio channels, is fully compatible with any computer having USB 2.0 ports, and is less expensive to implement than FireWire.
Will my Final Scratch records work with Scratch LIVE?	No, the two products use fundamentally different control schemes and are not compatible with each other.
What is latency, and how much is there with Scratch Live?	Latency is the amount of time it takes between scratching the vinyl control LP/CD and hearing the audio effect. Ideally, latency should be as low as possible. Scratch Live's overall latency can be as low as 7 milliseconds (for MAC) and 8 milliseconds (for PC), provided your computer is fast enough to cope with the increased load on the processor. Settings within Scratch Live allow you to increase the latency to accommodate slower computers. This latency is the same for all supported file types (e.g., mp3, wav, & aiff).
Can I use CD turntables?	Absolutely! The inputs on the Scratch LIVE interface can be set to phono or line-level within the software. The CDs needed for control are included; no extra equipment is required.