scratch

DJ delight

Ots CD Scratch 1200 is a fun and easy-to-use program that lets users play CDs in a virtual turntable environment. It's not as complex as some of the DJ software that we've seen, which may be a drawback for more advanced users, but this program is a great choice for those just getting started with turntable-style DJing.

The program's interface isn't the most intuitive we've ever seen, but it gets points for being fun. The design seeks to replicate the appearance of a real DJ deck, with two turntables and various cables and buttons. We … Read more

You can take notes on this mouse pad

Here at Crave, we love things that serve more than one purpose. From a laptop case that doubles as a notebook stand to a mouse that's also a wireless presenter, we just go gaga over little stuff like that. Which is why the Quirky Scratch-n-Scroll caught our eye.

On the surface it looks like just another plastic mouse pad. But write on the surface with a stylus or even your fingertips and you'll be able to scribble quick notes to yourself.

It works by using little black magnetized particles under the surface that adhere to the transparent top … Read more

No-frills image retouching

Retouch Pilot is a no-frills image editing program that lets users to remove scratches, blemishes, and other imperfections from their images. Although this program should meet the needs of the casual user, more advanced users will definitely want something more powerful.

The program's interface is basic but intuitive, with most of its important functions organized in a tool palette along the side. The way the program uses available workspace is not always optimal, especially when working with vertical images, but this is not a major drawback. Upon opening the program, users can access a series of short tutorials that … Read more

Top tech for real DJ heroes

With the upcoming release of the video game DJ Hero set to retread the path of the Guitar Hero phenomenon, you can bet on seeing a surge in amateur DJing. But unlike guitars, most people are pretty clueless when it comes to DJ tools. Strings, frets, and whammy bars are one thing, but crossfaders, EQ kills, and cue points are a different beast.

Local music stores have been doing a brisk business selling electric guitars and drum sets to ambitious Guitar Hero and Rock Band prodigies, but the game-to-reality upgrade path for DJ Hero isn't as cut and dry. … Read more

The 404 365: Where Andrew WK gives us bloody noses

Artist and newly crowned TV show host ANDREW WK joins The 404 today in what might be the crowning moment of our careers. We run the gamut in our extra-long show--we chat about his music career, an upcoming album, his new show "Destroy Build Destroy," and Jeff and I actually reveal our two chance encounters with the man. IT'S TIME TO PARTY!

After pimping out his appearance on the show for the past two weeks, we're very, very excited to welcome Andrew WK to our humble studio. Unsurprisingly, Andrew's super posi vibe gels well with the group and we get right into the interview, beginning with a story about how Andrew got into the piano as a kid and how it shaped his music today.

If you haven't had a chance to see Andrew play live, do yourself a favor and check it out with The 404's highest recommendation for a guaranteed good time. Also be sure to listen for a very special clip from Andrew's newest sold-out record, "DAMN! The Mixtape Vol. 1", currently only available for download on iTunes or Amazon. We also pick Andrew's brain for his opinions on the current state of music, including the overuse of auto-tune and his newfound appreciation for Dave Matthews Band.

After the break, we launch right into a conversation about Andrew's newest endeavor, a brand new show debuting on the Cartoon Network this Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT called "Destroy Build Destroy." The premise is simple: two teams of teenagers (with plenty of guidance and safety measures) compete to destroy a large structure, build the remnants up into something else. The winner of the competition gets to obliterate the loser's! You had us at "destroy," Andrew, the premise sounds like a mix between Double Dare and Battle Bots.

AWK's all over the place! In addition to Santos Party House, his successful bar in downtown Manhattan, Andrew also talks about his next solo album entitled "55 Cadillac" that's a pretty wide departure from his normal rock and roll. Listen to a few clips on his MySpace, give him a call, and let him know how much you love it!

Click on the slideshow above for candid shots from our interview with Andrew WK, courtesy of Sara the Woah-mantern, and a big thanks goes out to Anna David for introducing us to AWK! Wait, is it time to party yet? Yeah, it's time...LET'S GET A PARTY STARTED!

EPISODE 365 Download today's podcast Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Battle of the Video Game DJ Rigs: Introducing Numark's Scratch Deck

If plastic guitars were 2007 and drums 2008, then the 2009 plastic-peripheral throwdown of choice is definitely the turntable. Whereas Activision showed off their goods in a Twitter leak a few weeks ago, Genius Products waited to spill the reveal of their Numark-designed rig, the Scratch Deck, until the days before E3. It's the centerpiece peripheral for the upcoming Scratch: The Ultimate DJ. First impressions suggest it's more compact than Activision's plasti-turntable, while also bearing greater similarities to the old Konami Beatmania controller.

The Scratch Deck has a spinning, "touch-sensitive" turntable, as well as a … Read more

New material may soon make cars scratch-free

Scientists at the University of Southern Mississippi developed a polyurethane coating that heals its own scratches when exposed to sunlight. This breakthrough uses chitosan, a substance found in the shells of crabs and shrimp, to make scratches in polymer coating disappear.

"When a scratch damages the chemical structure, the chitosan responds to ultraviolet light by forming chemical chains that begin bonding with other materials in the substance, eventually smoothing the scratch. The process can take less than an hour," according to an article in Yahoo! Tech News.

The self-healing material can be used in the coatings that protect … Read more

Make your own beats

iDrum lets you choose from several preset beats or you can make your own using an intuitive interface. While you could dive right in and make your own, it's very useful to play a preset beat and watch how drum sounds show up in the unique interface. Beats are broken down into measures and you can zoom in to insert sounds at your chosen intervals. You can then create several measures and use the touch screen to copy and move them around to your specs. You also have the ability to adjust the volume using sliders for each sound. … Read more

WiiWare and Virtual Console releases for this week

This week brings us more puzzle action for WiiWare, hockey minigames, and the Sega Master version of a classic Genesis title. WiiWare Bruiser and Scratch (Steel Penny Games, Inc., 1,000 Wii points): Help Bruiser and Scratch get out of a lost world by solving 48 puzzles in six areas. Meet up with friends and foes in this mind-bending adventure. Hockey Allstar Shootout (Big Blue Bubble Inc., 500 Wii points): It's the season for hockey so why not celebrate the coolest sport around? Participate in up to three challenges, all with varying difficulty. Virtual Console Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (… Read more