The Spank! Records Blog

FBI & In The Mix members discount.

 

 

In times of economic hardship (blah blah blah) there is nothing like a discount. This is because discount are always good. Always. By definition a discount is a desirable thing. Unless you're trying out negative gearing. But who would do that with records!? No-one. That's who.

It is my pleasure then to inform you that you may be eligible for such a discount. If you happen to be a member of either In The Mix or FBI radio the glorious record gods that preside over Spank! Records (I shall call them Mark, Leanne and Chris) have taken favor upon you.

All FBI and ITM members recieve a 10% discount off of all vinyl, headphones, record bags/CD wallets, stylus and other DJ accessories in store or online at Spank! Records.

So please, let us know if you're an member of either of these organizations so we can extend our special prices unto thee.

Thanks,

Matt.

Spank! Records.

New UDG designs in stock now.

 

After abit of a drought before Christmas we're happy to announce that we have the new line of UDG CD Wallets, Vinyl Bags and Laptop bags instock. Featuring sturdier design elements (including hard case for the smaller CD wallets) and new colours (Cherry Camo, not my thing, but it might be yours) and all the reliability of their previous bags, UDG truly create indispensable equipment.

Purchase them instore or online here.

Matt.

Spank! Records.

Akai APC40 on aforementioned horizon.

Keeping with the 'things about Ableton' theme that has been running through these last few posts, another exciting new product on the horizon for 2009 is the Akai APC40.

The first thing you'll notice about this product is the disco floor-show coloured clip launch/session overview pad bank. Mapped out to replicate the Ableton session view, this feature gives you unprecedented control in launching loops, clips, song and scenesin Ableton. These pads have a feedback response with Ableton, so the colours aren't just pretty, they're telling you information about what loop is playing/loaded/muted etc. Having already loosely mapped out my MPD32 in a similar manner, this feature ishighly highly desirable. I've dreamt about building something that does this. Not really (maybe a little really).

Also included are mixer, device control and track control sections. These faders/knobs look like they're the same build type as found in the an MPK or an MPD which simply means they're up there with the best available on a MIDI controller.

More information regarding how you can lay your mits on one of these puppy's closer to the release date.

Thanks,

Matt.

Spank! Records.

Ableton announces Live 8.

While it's not set to drop for a few months, Ableton has decided to leak details about the upcoming Ableton 8 release, just to get your appetite wet for a scheduled second quarter release.

There are countless promotional videos and blurbs available at the Ableton website that will describe the new components in infinitesimal detail and I recommend you shoot over there to check them out, but here's a quick run-down on some of the features you can look forward to:

• Improved warping engine that allows you to render the audio events against the time-line, rather than in previous modes where you had to move to time-line to fit the audio.

• Groove engine that allows you to add variation to the quantization of midi and audio sequences.

• Sound-on-sound looping engine, that can be activated by a pedal accessory (not included) for classic live looping of instruments.

• New effects including overdrive (yay!), vocoder (yay x2!), multiband dynamics, limiter and frequency shifter.

• Tweaked interface, including crossfader in the arrangement view and a revised midi editing functions.

An updated version of Suite will also be released simultaneously, that includes a revised Operator synthesizer, two new percussion samplers for mallet and latin percussion and an updated sound bank.

Mark asked me to mention that if you have no patience (like most of the crew at Spank!) you can still buy Ableton 7 and upgrade to 8 when it arrives (at a discount), or get a free upgrade from 7 Suite to 8 Suite. Details about these promotions can be found at the Ableton site.

Further information will be posted closer to the release date.

Thanks,

Matt.

Spank! Records.

Vestax VCM-600 MIDI mixer controllers in store now.

I feel I should preface this blog by stating that I am experiencing a high level of "gear lust" for the product it is my pleasure to introduce to you this week.

The Vestax VCM-600 is a MIDI controller board for Ableton. Its design and features are analogous to the screen view of Ableton. Mixer, crossfader, EQ, FX, loop, tempo control are all easily accessible from the one surface without the need for intricate 'on the fly' re-mappings and the "getting out of the masking tape" to write down what every fader/knob/etc. has been set too on your existing midi surface. If you've ever tried to mix with Ableton, you'll know it's not the 'potential' of the software that holds you back, rather it is the physicality of being able to control every parameter simultaneously and efficiently. The lay-out of the VCM-600 offers this in a way that I don't feel any other midi controller thus far has been able to capture.

Other Vestax MIDI controllers like the VCI-100 and VCI-300 have demonstrated that vestax know how to make rugged professional gear, with solid component parts, faders and knobs. I'm sure that the VCM-600 is no exception to this high standard. While this VCM is just a midi controller and doesn't include audio I/O similar to say a KORG Zero 8, this feature can be a blessing as much as it is a curse, especially if you're already running an Audio 8 for Traktor. This flexibility normally results in allowing you to make the complexity of your set-up variable depending on the type of performance you're using the controller for.

You can purchase this product in store or online here.

Thanks,
Matt
Spank! Records.

Spank & Modular Present Recession w/ Amazing Suprise Guests.

...Back from holidays and we are still in the pits of this economic piss take, so to take the strain off the Aussie dollar being so absolutely worthless we're continuing Recession into 2009. This Thursday January 15, Spank Records return to host the night with internationals Phantom Slasher doing the lop-sided headphone bop beside the Spank DJs and a couple of extra friends. It's the usual rub, FREE entry, cheap drinks and packed purse of tops tunes.

Doors open at 9pm, get in early or risk not getting in at all.

 

 

 

 

RSVP: shop@spankrecords.com.au for guaranteed entry.

 

See you on the dancing floor.

 

CARLY

Sale! Sale! Sale! (...............Sale!)

You guessed it, Spank! Records sale!

20% of all vinyl* (*caveat, we have a small selection of fresh fresh records that are at regular price).

We also have a range of discounts on our hardware products. 

Of particular note are:

Ecler Mixers:

NUO 2.0 Was $795 Now $599   

NUO 3.0 Was $995 Now $795

NUO 4.0 Was $1195 Now $995

Online here.

AKAI

MPD24 Was $399 Now $329

MPD32 Was $699 Now $549

Online here.

APPLE

Logic Studio Was $629 Now $579

Online here.

Plenty more discounts to be found online or instore.

Thanks,

Matt.

Spank! Records.