Music Industry and ISPs start to agree action on illegal File Sharers

This week the UK’s Intellectual Property minister David Lammy was reported to have stated that the government will not force internet service providers to pursue file sharers.

There had been mounting speculation about government legislation on the issue as the music industry steps up its fight against the pirates.

But Mr Lammy said legislation would be too complex.

“We can’t have a system where we’re talking about arresting teenagers in their bedrooms,” he told The Times newspaper.

Talk of the government forcing internet service providers to evict file-sharers from their networks grew last year as the British Phonographic Industry adopted a tougher stance.

The BPI, which represents the UK music industry, favours a “three strikes” policy, where file-sharers offenders are initially sent warning letters. Persistent offenders could be thrown off the network.
However, further afield the music industry’s move to ban from the internet alleged copyright infringers is still moving ahead. As Irish internet service provider has agreed to a so-called “three-strikes” policy to discontinue service for repeat copyright offenders.

The move by Eircom Group, the largest telecom in Ireland, comes a month after American record labels announced they would work with U.S-based internet service providers to adopt the same program, a plan called “graduated response.” In June last year, the French cabinet approved legislation mandating a similar program where third-time offenders lose service for at least a year, a plan of which Italy is also considering.

None of the major ISPs in the United States, however, has signed on yet. Verizon has been reported that it would not participate under the Recording Industry Association of America’s proposal. And Greg Sandoval at CNET, citing unnamed sources, has reported that Comcast and AT&T were close to signing up to the RIAA’s plans.

In the United States alone, the RIAA has sued more than 30,000 individuals on allegations of copyright infringement for sharing music on peer-to-peer networks such as Limewire and Kazaa. Most of the cases have settled out of court for a few thousand dollars.

The RIAA, now pushing the American ISPs for the three-strikes rule, says it is discontinuing the 5-year-old litigation campaign. It is still pursuing cases that have already been filed. However, in five years, only one case has gone to trial, which resulted in a mistrial.

Shure X2U XLR-to-USB Signal Adapter

Coming Spring 2009

Shure X2U XLR-to-USB Signal Adapter lets you use your most trusted microphones for all your digital recordings

Any Mic. Any Time. Anywhere.
Slim, portable and simple to connect, the X2u adapter makes it easy to record whenever you want, anywhere you take your computer –from the home studio, to the garage, to the road.

Product Overview
Use your favorite microphones to digitally record wherever and whenever your computer takes you with the new X2u XLR-to-USB Signal Adapter. Perfect for multi-track recording, the X2u features built-in headphone monitoring with zero latency, and easy controls to balance microphone and playback audio -just plug and play for better-than-CD quality sound.
Features

Connect

• Plug and Play USB Connectivity allows the convenience of digital recording
  anywhere your computer can go (compatible with Windows Vista, XP, 2000, and Mac OS X 10.1 or later)
• Provides +48V Phantom power for use with condenser microphones
• Includes Padded, zippered pouch and USB cable (3m / 9.8ft)

Record

• Monitor Mix Control for blending microphone and playback audio
• 1/8″ Headphone Jack with volume control for monitoring
• Integrated pre-amp with Microphone Gain Control allows control of input signal strength

Playback

• Zero Latency Monitoring for real-time playback and multi-tracking without disorientation
• 16-bit, up to 48 KHz sample rate for better-than-CD audio quality

Specifications

• Frequency Response: 20 to 20,000 Hz +/- 1 dB

Power Requirements

• USB-powered, 500 mA, maximum

Digital Noise Floor (20 Hz to 20 kHz, A-weighted)

• Minimum MIC GAIN setting: ?81 dB FS
• Maximum MIC GAIN setting: ?78 dB FS

Sampling Rate up to 48 kHz

Bit Depth: 16 bit

Peak Signal Indicator (Tri-color)

• OFF: ?30 dB FS
• Green: ?30 to ?12 dB FS
• Yellow: ?12 to 0 dB FS
• Red: >0 (digital converter clipped)

Adjustable Gain Range

• 40 dB

Headphone Output

• 3.5 mm (1/8 inch)

System Requirements

• USB 1.1 or 2.0, powered

RAM

• 64MB RAM (minimum)

Operating System

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Japanese/English Edition

• Microsoft Windows XP Home/Professional Japanese/English Edition (service pack 1.0 or later, or use the USB audio driver update from Microsoft)

• Microsoft Windows Vista™ Business Japanese/English Edition

• Apple Computer Mac OS X 10.0 or later English Edition

• Apple Computer Mac OS X 10.1 or later Japanese Edition (For Mac OS X 10.0 Japanese Edition, plug and play does not work appropriately)

Tascam Portable Digital Recorder – DR-07

TASCAM’s DR-07 brings portable digital recording to an even smaller, more affordable package. A pair of highly-sensitive built in mics captures a wide stereo image, recording in either MP3 or 16/24-bit WAV format. The DR-07 is powered by AA batteries and it transfers files to a computer using a high-speed USB 2.0 connection. The versatile recorder even includes a windscreen, tripod stand mount and 2GB SD card to start recording right away.

Musicians will appreciate the playback functions of the DR-07, including the ability to loop MP3s and slow them down without changing the pitch. External microphones and sources can be recorded through the mic/line input, and the recorder offers analog limiting, low cut and auto gain setting for great-sounding audio. But for great-sounding recordings, the compact DR-07 is all you need.

Specifications

* Portable Digital Recorder
* Built-in Stereo Electret Condenser Microphone
* Records to SD or SD-HC Card Media
* 1GB SD Card Included
* USB 2.0 Jack for Transferring Files
* 3.5mm Stereo Mic Input
* 3.5mm Stereo Line Input and Output
* Switchable Low Cut Filter, Analog Limiter and Auto Gain Setting on Input
* Writes WAV files at 44.1 or 48kHz, 16 or 24-bit
* MP3 File Recording from 32kbps to 320 kbps
* Variable-Speed Audition Function Slows Down Music Without Changing the Pitch
* Powered by Two AA Batteries (included) or Optional PS-P520 Power Adapter
* Dimensions: 2.2″ W x 5.3″ H x 1.1″ H
* Weight: 4.4 oz (with batteries)
* Current Retail Price approximately £180

No time left to get your tax return in!

Don’t forget that if you have not submitted your tax return for 2007-2008, you can only do this online by 31st January 2009, which is also when the payment needs to be made.

More details here: HMRC website

Now 1 re-released on CD

Now 1 was originally released way back in December 1983 and showcased the biggest hits in the charts at that time from artists such as Duran Duran, Culture Club and Rod Stewart.  The reason for this special collectors edition re-release is quite simple, the Now Series is celebrating it’s 25th birthday.

The original Now….series was always described as a “who’s who” of the chart at that time.  Now in it’s 72nd installment the Now…series is still one of the most popular compilations of all time.

The new CD features the orginal sleeve as well as a few extra tracks and can be bought for around £10-£12 in various outlets!

Reflex suffers from Leap Year bug

Users who continued to use Reflex in the hope that development would be re-instated were shocked to hear last week a continuous tone emitting from within Reflex.  It appears that the once-saviour of the PCDJ product line suffers from a Leap Year bug which only came to light on the 11th Jan.

PCDJ were not alerted to this issue by the current Reflex development team therefore the news could not be passed around the licence-holders.  It was only when users complained en-masse was the issue looked into.

Ironically, despite the fact that users are told to keep their machines off the internet to keep their laptops and desktops free of nasty malware, the very latest version of Reflex requires an installation of IE7 for activation purposes despite cries from the userbase that the Softwrap activation system should be replaced as soon as possible.

For more information please visit the following link.

http://message.pcdj.com/showthread.php?t=15531

Shownight breaks attendance record!

Following on from my post this morning whilst eating breakfast, I would like to announce that even though official figures are not yet available, the attendance figures for last nights new logo and website launch have clearly surpassed any attendance at previous Shownights.  The SEDA committee would like to thank everyone who helped make the night what it was, as well as the members, guests and everyone else who turned up to help us celebrate our re-launch.

Pictures from last night are now available here.  And the video is below!

Remember, if you would to help and contribute to the SEDA website, no matter how little or small we want to hear from you.  Please send an e-mail with your idea to website@seda-online.com and we will get back to you.  If you don’t want to contribute, that’s fine, you can still register here for FREE and leave comments on some of the articles we publish.

Good morning from The Village!

Well it’s the morning after the night before and I’m sat here enjoying my Brekkie in The Village. I really hope you all like the new logo as well as the new site. If you have any ideas for it please get in touch!

Right, back to my sausages.

Now looky what we have here!

As news filters in from Namm about all the lovely DJ Porn on show it would be far to easy to look and stare at all the fantastic products available on “physical” display, but what about those products that aren’t – maybe drawings for example.  How about this one?That’s right…and look…it says MIDI on it down there to the right of the crossfader.  Oh and look…an LCD display…oh and…oh oh oh!  I can’t help myself!

This my friends is Denon’s brand new, 4 channel MIDI Matrix Mixer.  No idea on pricing or availability, just stare at it and marvel.   Oh, and if the picture above is not big enough for you, try the link below.

Click Me

Denon DN-S3700 – bye bye CDJ’s!!!

Denon are using Namm 2009 as a launch site for two new products, the second of which we have details of below.

It’s the very latest tabletop CD deck from those guys at Denon.  Building on the success of the vastly popular DN-S1200, this brand new player offers all the benefits of it’s younger brother as well as a MASSIVE 9″ direct drive spinning platter.  Other features include MIDI, USB input, single-CD Deck, and loads, loads more!  Have a closer look at the pic below…

So what exactly is it capable of?  Here’s a very brief list of it’s features…

• Single slot-loading CD deck
• 9″ high-torque direct drive “vinyl feel” platter
• USB external device support supporting MP3/WAV formats, Upto 50,000 tracks per device.
• Built in ASIO audio interface
• MIDI Interface for use with supporting PC/MAC Software
• 3 “hot starts” that double-up as auto loops
• High quality DSP effects – Flanger, Filter (low-mid-high), Echo together with Dry/Wet mix control
• Platter effects – Brake, Dump and Reverse
• 100mm pitch/tempo slider

On the face of it, there’s nothing truly innovative and new about this brilliant machine, but without a doubt, it’s tip top DJ Porn and surely will become one of the most wanted pieces of DJ Equipment this year.

Hopefully, we can get Gary to bring one to our March shownight!

In the meantime, have a read of the official press release from Denon.

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