(Credit:
BeaterBlade)
I rely on my stand mixer for everything from bread dough to mashed potatoes. My only disappointment with the machine is the fact that it never seems to mix in any batter on the side of the bowl or any flour at the bottom. I know the mixer's designers didn't want to bump the various metal attachments up against the mixing bowl, but I need something that gets a little closer.
The BeaterBlade does just that, as well as handling more delicate tasks like folding whipped egg whites in a batter for a chiffon or souffle.
Rather than the metal attachments that are the norm for stand mixers, the BeaterBlade is plastic and has flexible wings that wipe the side of the bowl and incorporate all ingredients as you mix.
There are BeaterBlades for a long list of stand mixers: because the attachments are made by a company with no affiliation to a particular mixer, BeaterBlades are made for KitchenAid, Cuisinart, Viking, and DeLonghi stand mixers. It's just a matter of visiting the site and picking the right BeaterBlade for your specific mixer. Depending on the particular model, BeaterBlades vary in price between about $25 and $30.
One of the biggest arguments against laptop-based DJ setups is that they just aren't as reliable as a conventional turntable rig. For analog gear, the worst thing you have to worry about is a frayed cable or a warped record--unlike digital DJs who live with a constant fear that a software update may invalidate an audio-card driver or cripple their MIDI controller. The more components in the equation (external storage, USB drivers, software authorization dongles), the more you need a computer science degree just to diagnose the problem.
One way to tackle the reliability is to borrow a page from Apple and make a closed system of software and hardware that is deliberately engineered to work together with a minimum of setup or potential glitches. That's exactly what Vestax has done with its VCI-300 DJ bundle, made in cooperation with the audio software company Serato.
The VCI-300 isn't cheap (around $1,000), but it's not a bad value when you add up the cost of buying a hardware interface, 4-channel audio card, and professional DJ software as separate components. You're still paying a premium for the VCI-300's emphasis on reliability, but it's a small price to pay for some extra peace of mind.
You can read my full review of the Vestax VCI-300 DJ system over on CNET Reviews.
On Sale Now: $849.95 - $899.00
View the latest prices for Vestax VCI-300 digital DJ bundle
The first Numark iDJ wasn't just half-baked, it was downright unusable for DJing. The thing needed two iPods and lacked basic DJ essentials such as pitch control.
By comparison, the Numark iDJ2 is hands-down one of the best digital DJ products we've tested. With its large color screen, responsive jog wheels, balanced XLR outputs, and support for iPod video playback, the iDJ2 performs like a champ and packs in more than just the basics. Like any sub-$1,000 digital deck, the iDJ2 still won't get you much in terms of DJ cred, but it also won't give you the crippling back spasms afflicting your vinyl-wielding peers.
Read more about the Numark iDJ2 in our full review and be sure to check out our Crave photo gallery.
(Credit:
Crave UK)
DJs are a funny bunch, mostly preferring to use clunky old vinyl to work their magic. But technology rarely takes no for an answer and Traktor Scratch is no exception, offering traditional DJs who can't be separated from their Technics decks access to massive digital music libraries.
Put simply, Traktor Scratch is a simplified version of Traktor DJ Studio, which enables you to mix music without any special hardware. What the Scratch system adds is a very high-end sound card that enables multiple audio inputs, via which you can connect either vinyl or CD decks.
What's the point of that, you might ask? Well, you aren't just connecting playback devices to your computer, because Scratch comes with timecoded vinyl and CDs. To find out more, click here.
(Source: Crave UK)
The perfect tool for mixing that Deanna Troi tribute album you've been working on.
(Credit: Jazz Mutant)Before Apple came along and integrated multitouch-screen technology into the iPhone, one of the first companies to weave multitouch into a commercial product was a boutique music controller company named JazzMutant. Their first product, the Lemur, was an extremely niche (and pricey) product that allowed musicians to use the Lemur's suite of touch-screen tools to play and tweak their music. You know its cool if Bjork takes it out on tour.
Dexter, JazzMutant's latest product, promises to bring multitouch technology to a wider audience. Released just a few days ago, Dexter is aimed at recording studio engineers and music remixers looking for a unique, and hopefully more efficient replacement for a mixing board. If the demo video is any indication, at least it bestows onto its user the design appeal of a Star Trek: TNG control panel. Price looks to be around $3,600. Ouch.
I hear Mike Yamamoto has one in his basement.
(Credit: LiveJournal user SCAScot)This contraption looks to me like something that the Beverly Hillbillies would hitch to the back of their car, but trust me, it's way cooler than anything that Jethro Bodine could scheme up. It claims to be the world's fastest margarita mixer. We talk a lot about booze gadgetry here, but this one really takes the (tequila-infused) cake.
(Credit:
LiveJournal user SCAScot)
According to the LiveJournal user who documented it, this contraption made by "Uncle Don" (no, no joke) is made of "a small-block 400, a trailer, assorted parts and the ability to custom fabricate a 6-inch tall replica of a blender blade out of stainless steel." The tasty treats are mixed in a 25-gallon stainless steel tank, and in 10 to 20 seconds, "Dirty Don's Margarita Machine" can turn six bags of ice and 18 bottles of ready-to-drink margarita mix into some yummy frozen drinks.
"Uncle Don," for the record, is now officially invited to CNET's next office happy hour, as long as he brings the Margarita Machine with him.
Sorry, Make types, but there are no instructions for building your own; and sorry, booze snobs, there's no indication as to exactly how much Cuervo and triple sec you'd have to pour into this thing to make margaritas the "real way." It also looks so complicated that you might not want to operate it once you've had one of the drinks it produces. Nevertheless, it's certifiably awesome. Plus, it can probably mix daiquiris and pina coladas, too.
But can it automate the process of putting salt around the rim of your glass?
(Via Boing Boing)
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