Ableton, Serato offer "The Bridge" Live/Scratch hybrid
updated 07:25 pm EDT, Wed September 22, 2010
New add-on "remixes" DJ, music tools
Ableton, a German company best known for its Ableton Live music-creation software, and New Zealand-based Serato, makers of Scratch Live, have collaborated on a hybrid product, for DJs and producers alike, called "The Bridge."
The software, which is free to registered users, requires Ableton Live or Suite 8.2 (or higher) and Serato Scratch Live 2.1.1, along with Rane Serato Scratch Live hardware. The company mentions on its web page that a version for Serato's ITCH hardware will be released sometime in 2011.
The Bridge allows users to record Serato DJ performances as Ableton Live Sets for later enhancement or editing using Ableton's library of sounds and effects, timing adjustments and other production tools. The Serato Scratch Live software can now load an existing Ableton Live Set as a "deck" and use a turntable or CDJ to control the transport, including pitching, nudging and looping in live performance.
The software incorporates Beatgrid to ensure that the Ableton Live Set matches the timing of the live set, and the "Ableton View" in Scratch Live lets users launch clips and scenes, control devices or instruments and mix in various ways during the performance.
Ableton has put up a series of videos for interested users demonstrating the software from both the DJ perspective as well as the musician perspective.
