Serato Scratch Live

Introduction :
After having used FinalScratch from Stanton (on MAC) since its availability (September 2002), I have bought "SERATO Scratch Live" (http://www.rane.com/scratch.html). Hereafter is an overview of this marvelous toy for DJ'.

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Goal :
-Avoid moving with you tons of vinyl's. A notebook computer will be the best computer to be able to mix everywhere all around the world.
-Being able to mix his own creation, or own new remix version of music hits.
-Mix his own audio CD collection not available on vinyl.
-Emulate a vinyl disc for nostalgic DJ'.
Principle :
-2 turntables (Vinyl or CD): turntable A (left), turntable B (right)
-2 encoded vinyl discs (or CD) (one for each turntable).
-a small black box sporting 6 RCA jacks ports for connecting 2 turntables as input, a mixer as output and a USB port to communicate with the computer (2 audio output for the signal coming from both turntables, and 2 other audio output for signal coming from the software).
-Software for PC (Windows XP) or MAC (Mac OS X) and MP3, AIFF or WAV files.
-A computer (minimal configuration: Mac G4 OSX 10.2.8, or PC P3-700 Windows XP, with for both 128MB of RAM)

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The kit includes: 2 encoded vinyl and CD discs, the software on a CD (for Windows XP and Mac OSX), the connection box, 4 stereo RCA cables, a USB cable, and a user manual (in English). The packaging is well done and designed, but there is a small device missing, a small 9V external power supply. It is requested by many users, and is required on Mac. Indeed if the power available from the USB port is not sufficient, the software will not be able to detect the connection box. And due to variation between electrical tension values from one country to another, such an external 9V PSU was not included by default, and should be bought as an option (for few euros).
Hereafter is the FinalScratch box on the left, and the SERATO Scratch Live one on the right:

One can buy the SERATO system for 700 euros; it might seem a bit expensive, but when compared to scratch-enable CD player (11.000 euros), it is quite a cheap deal... however it will require 2 vinyl turntables; even though one can use 2 CD players, it is not the main purpose of this system.
Once unpacked, the different devices are plugged following the schema above. Then, you will have to install the software (regularly updated), reboot your computer and launch the application.
When using the application for the first time, you will need to calibrate each turntable. If your are modifying your devices, such as changing diamond cells, it will be required to perform a new calibration procedure. To do so, you only need to play the SERATO vinyl's on the turntable, while setting up precisely, thanks to 2 buttons, all parameters in order to visualize 2 circle as rounded as possible. Those parameters allow you to install all type of diamond cells. Top playing quality will be then possible from both turntables when the calibration procedure will be completed.

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An options allows you to set the buffer size (USB buffer). the lower will be the size, the lower will be the latency (minimum 7ms), but the higher will be the CPU usage. The advantage of such setting is to allow you to get good quality results/audio rendering from a low-end computer configuration.

Now, you simply need to install your music collection. Such as iTunes, it is possible to create your own playlists (named "crates" in SERATO application), containing audio files. An option allows SERATO application to access directly iTunes libraries. A search function gives you quick access to your collection as in iTunes.
Then afterwards, using the SERATO application is very easy.
A vertical bar allows you to navigate through your playlists thanks to the mouse. You simply have to drag the audio file and drop it to a turntable, the track is then loaded and ready to be played. There are keyboard shortcuts, so far NOT customizable, but avoiding the use of a mouse.
For example:
    [UP] / [DOWN] to browse playlists
    [TAB] then [LEFT] / [RIGHT] to navigate
    [CONTROL + LEFT] to load the selected track on the left turntable. (also SHIFT + LEFT)
    [CONTROL + RIGHT] to load the selected track on the right turntable. (Also SHIFT + RIGHT)
    ...
For additional info, you can download the user manual here: http://www.rane.com/pdf/sslman.pdf
In summary, everything is done to forget the computer-based system, and to concentrate on music.

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Each SERATO vinyl has a 10 and 15 minutes side (LP and SP side). One can move the diamond cell on those vinyls as if it was a normal/standard vinyl.
This application has 3 playing modes:
-Absolute : The software is taking into account rotation direction and speed, as well as the diamond cell position on the vinyl. There is no risk of stop/pause when the track is longer than the 10 or 15 minutes found on SERATO vinyl, the application is automatically shifting to the internal mode.
-Relative : The software is only considering rotation direction and speed. It starts playing from the last stop, a bit like the pause function on a CD player. This is a quite handy option for scratchers, indeed even if the diamond cell is not stable, or is jumping on the vinyl, there will be no perceptible effect/sound. An option allows you to launch a track from its beginning when it is loaded, whatever is the diamond cell position on the disc. As for the Absolute mode, the software will shift automatically to the Internal mode after reaching the end of the playable 10 or 15 minutes of the vinyl (depending on the side). When shifting from Absolute or Relative mode to Internal mode, the rotation speed will be determined by the last parameters found during transition.
-Internal : One can play simply by clicking on a button or following a mode shift. The speed in Internal mode can be adjusted from -8% (LP) to +8% (SP).
For those wishing to work preferentially with a LP or a SP rotating disc, the disc rotation speed reference can be defined in SERATO, and independently for each turntable.
It is also possible to place stickers on each track in order to quickly locate a sample.
There is also a microphone input which allows you to record in "live" conditions immediately available to be loaded on one of the turntable; perfect for Hip-Hop "live" sessions.
When you stop the turntable, or perform a spin-back, or act on the vinyl to create a low rotation speed, the software reacts exactly as expected with a normal vinyl, something different than with Final Scratch which usually is generating some unwanted sounds. With SERATO Live Scratch, no detectable effect, no sounds, nothing... you just forget that you are using a digital system.
I do not want to throw stones at FinalScratch which was developed in 1998 on BeOS, for computers available at that time... In addition, it was the first device allowing you to manipulate digital audio tracks as if it was on vinyl discs.
I have been using FinalScratch for now 2 years, but I have to say that SERATO is a powerful system that I will keep for quite some times (as my G4 466MHz upgraded to 1GHz thanks to GigaDesign to prepare mixes, or remixes on OS9).
An interesting function, the loop. To create one, simply select the "loop" option, rhythmic option, then your sample will be played in a loop until the end of the disc. you will have to prepare them all in advance because it is not possible to create them at-once on real-time.
Hereafter are the RAM and CPU usage for different configuration:
-PowerBook G4 1.25Ghz, 80GB HD, 512MB RAM:
    Maxi 80% CPU usage (varying between 60 and 80%)
    130MB RAM allocated (depending on the size of the loaded MP3 file)
-PowerMAC G4 dual 1.25Ghz, 80GB HD, 1.5GB RAM:
    Maxi 65% CPU usage [for both] (varying between 50 and 65%)
    130MB RAM allocated (depending on the size of the loaded MP3 file)
-PowerMAC G4 1Ghz, 120GB HD, 1.5GB RAM:
    Maxi 80% CPU usage (varying between 60 and 80%)
    130MB RAM allocated (depending on the size of the loaded MP3 file)
-PC Compaq Celeron 733Mhz, 11GB HD, 384MB RAM:
    Maxi 98% CPU usage (varying between 70 and 100% some times)
    130MB RAM allocated (depending on the size of the loaded MP3 file)
    (quite old PC notebook, but SERATO LiveScratch is working fine on it)
Conclusion:
Possibilities are huge with SERATO Scratch Live (SSL). Probably forgotten most of them, some functions were not even mentioned, but I think that it fits perfectly with all the possible wishes that a DJ could have, for any type of music or live session (mix radio, hip-hop, etc.). One can buy replacing vinyl for reasonable price : around 15 euros. With now the possibilities to buy legal audio files online, and Maxi CD, I am now a fan of digital media :D
The box is not currently recognized as a sound card for acquisition, and so it is not possible to record through this system which is shame.
There are now numerous systems based on the same/similar concept, such as: Mixvibes DVS, VirtualDJ TC and so on. But I personally prefer SERATO Scratch Live because it is running on Mac as for FinalScratch, whereas all other solutions are running only on PC...
Being a beta tester for SERATO system, I an positively surprised by their Pro approach for both software and hardware. They are easily reachable, listening to your remarks, trying to implement your request quickly.
Links:
official site= http://www.rane.com/scratch.html
non-official site (but maybe the best)= http://www.seratoscratchlive.com
French forum for "vinyl interface" similar to SSL= http://www.interfacevinyl.com
Video of SERATO Scratch Live in action:
[56K] http://www.rane.com/SeratoScratchLive_Low.mov
[ADSL] http://www.rane.com/SeratoScratchLive_High.mov
For FinalScratch:
http://www.finalscratch.com/fs4/start.asp
Thanks to Fab for photos, and to Doiseau for his comments and his help to get quickly a SERATO Scratch Live system.
STRyk (September 2004).

[Translated by Eric, with Erwann's comments]