I’ve launched a vinyl cutting service, specialising in cutting one off records known as dubplates or lathe cuts. Full info and prices  on the website trackstowax.co.uk

Pure Phase Dubstep Mix for 8755 by Pure Phase

Download the mix from Soundcloud or if you use mixcloud
http://www.mixcloud.com/8755/pure-phase-dubstep-mix/

Track List

Mau’lin – Deeper than the sun – Ho Tep
Pure Phase – The Silent (Om Unit Remix) – 8755
Tayo and Acid rockers ft Pupajim – Vampayaa (Starkey Remix) – Rub-A-Dub
RSD – Kingfisher – Earwax
Pure Phase – Elevator Dub – Full Melt
Phaeleh ft I-mitri- Perilous – Afterglo
Stereotyp – Regiment
Machine code -Duberlin
Pure Phase – The Silent – Luthor Remix 8755
Pure Phase – Turf – Dirty Circuit
Om unit – Searching – stretched
Emalkay – Powertool – Dub Police
The Heavy – How you like me now? (Joker Remix) – Ninja Tune
Luthor – Peachy – 8755
Phaeleh – Cold In You- Afterglo
The Bug – Catch a fire – Ninja Tune

In January 2012 I will be a launching a record label called 8755 in collaboration with the Biscuit Tin Sound System. The label will release music on super limited edition lathe cut vinyl and digital download. So far on the release schedule for the first few months, we have tracks by James Kelly and Pure Phase along with tracks and remix’s by Envelope, Luthor, Mau’lin, Om Unit and Si Tew…A sneak preview of some test cuts from the studio..

I use DJ equipment to create and perform original electronic music and I have been working on an approach to performance where I cut my music to vinyl and use three turntables to remix stems. I have also been experimenting with three deck mixing/scratching as part of Pure Phase, where two DJ’s perform together at the same time. I am looking to create a modular DJ mixer that has a range of analogue filters allowing me to sculpt the sound during performance.

I have been using a Korg Zero 4 DJ mixer as my main DJ mixer for the last couple of years. It has come in really handy for midi control and use with Ableton Live and Traktor Scratch Pro, but as the main mixer on a big sound system, it doesn’t quite live up to the task. I am one of the DJ’s for the Biscuit Tin Sound System (UK) and have tested out my modular system at a few gigs over the summer.

The mixer performed well at gigs so far and I’m still at an experimental stage with it, seeing what works best. In some ways, there are too many filters, so it’s knowing what to use when and knowing how hard you can push things. If you want to boost particular frequencies, it’s better to boost on the sound system itself rather than the DJ mixer, so the filters are best used for cutting frequencies during a mix. The isolators and hi/low pass filters work really well for this and there is an added layer of control compared to a normal DJ mixer. Its not as straight forward as having an all in one mixer though, with the more equipment you put in the chain, the more there is that could go wrong and plugging in or re-patching in a dark club is a nightmare! Despite this, I think working in a modular way will give me more flexibility as I can change my set up for different styles of music.

I’m using Vermona and Stanton filters as preamps for the turntables and for high/low pass filtering. The signal then goes into two Vestax DCR 1200 isolators, which is then fed into a Rane MP 2016 mixer with Rane XP 2016 EQ and cross-fader unit. I’m also experimenting with a Vestax DCR 1200 Pro (4 band isolator) on the effects loop.

The Vermona Action Filter sounds much better than the Stanton filter, despite the Stanton filter being also made by Vermona. But there are some other nice looking filters such as the Allen&Heath VF1 that I’d like to try out too.

The Vestax Isolators are great fun for mixing, but there are much higher quality products out there. I tried out a Bozak ISO-X during the summer, which sounded really nice, but it also has a nice £600 price tag! Worth it if you can afford it..

The Rane MP 2016 sounds good but I’d like to compare it to a few more rotary mixers. I would prefer to have the effects post cross-fader and have at least two effects loops for delays and reverb.

I’m keen to build my own DJ mixer and filters, which is going to be a project for the next few years at least. There is a great project called Bozure that is developing DIY kits.

I played on the new Bozak range during the summer, which are hand built units with incredible build quality and attention to detail.

The mixer and Isolator sounded great and has two effects loops, but the cost for the full set up is £3,400 and I’d want to add a passive crossfader to it. If I had that money going spare, I’d rather buy a studio mixing desk, a Neumann TLM 103 and a few bits of outboard studio equipment!

Fresh from hosting the Abashanti-I, Channel One and Iration Steppas Soundclash, The Biscuit Tin Sound System return to The Music Cafe, Leicester for their monthly night.

Pure Phase will be firing up the lathe to cut some new dubplates for the gig.

I will be performing tracks from my forthcoming album Transformation of the Mind with Ola Szmidt at Sonic Asylum, I will also be playing a Pure Phase dubplate set at the end of the night.

Transformation of the Mind (Album) by minimaljames

Friday 2nd September
8pm-late
@ The Edge, Cheapside, Birmingham
£3 Entry

A few months ago, I bought a vinyl lathe so that I can cut my own one off records, known as lathe cuts or dubplates. The grooves are cut in realtime by the diamond stylus shown in the picture above. I’ve spent the last few months making test cuts with my own music and have played the records out at a few gigs. I’m really pleased with the sound I’m getting so far and have lots of plans for cutting records for use in performance and limited edition runs of my own music.

I’m working on a new dance film with Director and Choreographer Angharad Harrop. We filmed on a beach in North Wales and I’m composing the sound track.

See my previous work with Angharad Cynefin

David Rodigan
It was my fourth year at Sonar and I’ve never seen a crowd in the Redbull tent go so crazy for a DJ.

Rodigan playing his original King Tubby Dubplate.

Rodigan Dropping Shy FX – Raver (Breakage Remix)

Bob Marley sing along in the Redbull Tent.

You can hear Rodigan’s full set on Red Bull Radio

ESKMO

Aphex Twin

Chris Cunningham

I’m supporting Pleq in Leicester on Friday, along with the vocal talents of Ola Szmidt, Sally Hossack and Mellow Baku.