Krafty Kuts’ DJ-friendly sampler app

Krafty Kuts’ DJ-friendly sampler app

26 January, 2010 | 7.28AM

• Written by: Christen Reutens
• Filed under: Videos: iphone, krafty kuts, technology

There are a few DJ related apps floating about Apple’s iPhone app store, but most of them are gimmicks, unsuitable for professional DJ use.

British breakbeat pioneer Krafty Kuts however, has joined the app rush with a DJ-friendly offering that DJs of all genres will find useful. As this promo video shows, it’s an MPC-styled sampler app, that allows DJs to drop audio samples over the top of their DJ sets with the tap of a finger. How dope.

As Krafty Kuts told Beatportal, the ‘Against The Grain DJ Tools’ app came about because of a lack of suitable apps for the DJ booth.

“We had seen a number of great music based apps which were fun to play with for a few minutes whilst at home or travelling, but none that I would consider using in a club environment,” said Krafty, aka Martin Reeves.

“So creating a sampler style app for DJs of any genre, which could be used professionally, was a very exciting concept. We also really liked the idea of DJs not having to be face down in a laptop when dropping samples over their mix. 

“The iPhone is such a discrete device, it’s perfect. And of course a sampler or a laptop will cost you hundreds, yet this app is available for less than the price of a beer.”

The £2.99 app comes pre-loaded with hip hop-styled samples and classic rave noises that can be dropped over a set, like during a breakdown or a drop.

“We created a number of rises, whoosh noises and classic sirens in the studio along with some really useful MC shout outs like ‘make some noise in here!’, and they really do work,” said Reeves.

And surprisingly, there is zero delay when dropping a sample off the iPhone. “There is zero latency which is very impressive,” said Krafty. “It was something the programmers worked hard on to achieve, and the result is something like mixing - it’s down to the DJ to be sharp and on beat.”

To prove that his app really can be used during a DJ set, Krafty road-tested it directly off his own iPhone during a recent DJ set at Australia’s Summerfieldayze festival. “I’ve been using it in most of my sets recently too,” he said.

With a 2.0 update planned for later this year, which will include more samples, a favourites folder, and a load facility allowing DJs to directly upload their own samples, it’s an app well worth checking out.

• (2) Comments
• (4751) Views
• Check out Krafty Kuts on Beatport