All you need to know about melodic turntablism.


Since its humble beginnings in the late 1970s, Turntablism has evolved into a deep art form, coinciding with the progression of technology and the tools with which to practice it. The turntable continues to prove itself as a versatile and flexible instrument in the hands of a skilled and imaginative user, and naturally, DJ techniques have advanced to a very high level today.

Origin & Evolution

As any sound can be used for scratching, over the years DJs have experimented by using samples of musical instruments found on records, in pursuit of creating live performances with a characteristic similar to that of other live musicians. Additionally, DJs have manipulated sounds and constant tones found on records a step further by making use of the pitch ranges on a turntable.

But as performances and compositions reach complex levels of technicality, speed, and efficiency, this is often to the detriment of musicality and musical cohesion. Several attempts have been made over the years to offer solutions for DJs to perform in a more musician-like way:

Despite these previous explorations, more widely accessible and intuitive solutions were desired.

From then to now
RP-8000 MK2: Hybrid Turntable Instrument

The RP-8000 MK2 is the most advanced turntable ever made, representing the perfect balance of a first-class professional DJ turntable and an innovative musical instrument with MIDI features for controlling software.

Thanks to the unique Platter Play mode, the pads can be used to control the platter's rotation speed to create melodies and authentic musical performances. It was developed in close cooperation with renowned international turntable artists.

Platter Play Education

Part 1: What is Platter Play
Reloop artist DJ Angelo shows you what Platter Play is and how you can exclusively use this feature with the new Reloop DJ setup RP-8000 MK2 turntable and ELITE Mixer. Furthermore, he explains the difference compared to other musical DJ techniques like Tone Play and Pitch Play by performing three individual routines.

Part 2: Basic Music Theory
In this video Reloop artist DJ Angelo explains basic music theory and how to implement the notes and scales into the Platter Play feature of the Reloop RP-8000 MK2. The RP-8000 MK2 turntable offers the ability to perform using up to 22 different scales. If you want to see the full list of scales, please check out here.

Part 3: Platter Play Mode Functions
In this video the Reloop artist DJ Angelo explains how to enter the new RP-8000 MK2's Platter Play Mode Function. Furthermore, Angelo shows how to use the Platter Play function and why the Serato control tone is very suitable for creating a Platter Play in the chromatic scale.

Part 4: How to create a Platter Play performance
In this video, the Reloop artist DJ Angelo explains how to create a Platter Play on the example of his "Music Please-Dirt of your shoulder Routine". Furthermore, Angelo shows how to facilitate the Platter Play, by using a different scale.

Part 5: Changing the root note
In this video the Reloop artist DJ Angelo explains how to change the root note of your RP-8000 MK2, with our latest firmware update. Furthermore Angelo explains what has changed, compared to the last firmware and how to take advantage of the ability to change the root note.

Part 6: How to create a custom scale?
In this video Reloop artist DJ Angelo explains how you can create your own Platter Play custom scales on the RP-8000 MK2. Furthermore he performs his „All of the lights Platter Play Routine“ by using custom scales and free artist soundpack.

Part 7: Advanced Custom Modes
In this video Reloop artist DJ Angelo explains how to further customize the RP-8000 MK2 custom mode functions to suit your personal performance style. Furthermore Angelo also gives you some quick tipps, that you might not be aware of.

Technical Concept

Platter Play is a term which refers to performing musically by controlling the turntable platter speed via the performance pads. It allows you to use turntables much more like an instrument in the hands of a musician. So the traditional turntable which has historically been used to play and mix music, can now be used to create music like any other musical instrument.

The RP-8000 MK2 offers a whole new world of creative possibilities by combining traditional DJing with musical live composition in a more expressive and intuitive way than ever before.

Platter Play Mode
Through Platter Play, you are now able to play complete melodies in a wide variety of 22 scales, 34 keys over multiple octaves. Any sound that can be played back on a turntable, can now be manipulated to the highest degree ever possible on a turntable. To learn more about Platter Play, click here.

Select Note Range
Turning the encoder allows you to cycle through the octaves in your selected scale, and the corresponding keys within that particular octave.

Pitch Bend
Once in Platter Play mode, the function of the 33/45 RPM buttons change and no longer serve as RPM buttons. Instead it is now possible to temporarily shift the tone of the sample playing on the RP-8000 MK2 by pressing the respective Pitch Bend buttons just like with a modulation wheel on a keyboard.

Custom Scales
In addition to the 22 scales available on the RP-8000 MK2, it is also possible to create up to 10 different custom scales comprising completely of notes of your choice. To create a custom scale, select one of the custom scales by cycling through the scale selection.

External Midi Devices
It is also possible to control Platter Play by connecting an external device like a MIDI keyboard to the RP-8000 MK2. Simply plug the USB device to the TT Link port (USB A type) on the rear of the unit. The MIDI commands of the keyboard will now be routed to the RP-8000 MK2. Depending on the deck assignment of each RP-8000 MK2, specific MIDI channels are required to be sent from the external device.

“G-Funk“ Platter Play Routine by DJ Dens

Reloop artist DJ Dens performs his “G-Funk Routine“ on the new Reloop RP-8000 MK2 turntables and the ELITE mixer. Using a sine tone and the custom Platter Play scales, Dens recreates the melodies of “The Notorious B.I.G. - Big Poppa“ and “Dr Dre & Snoop Doggy Dogg – Nuthin’ But A G-Thang“.

 

recommended products

Here at Reloop, we are concerned about Melodic Turntablism by developing state of the art technology and offering the ELITE Series specifically made for turntablists and club DJs:

RP-8000 MK2

ELITE

Mixtour Beatpad 2
Upper-torque direct drive turntable instrument 2 Channel DVS Performance Mixer for Serato
Designed for Serato DJ Pro 16 large, velocity sensitive RGB Performance Pads
Platter play mode 3x mini Innofader Pro (latest generation)
Extra large performance pads 2 high-contrast OLED Displays
Rigid chassis construction DUAL 10 In/Out USB 2.0 Audio Interface
€659,99 €1.374,99
Learn more Learn more

Take a look




  • Reloop RP-8000 MK2 - Upper Torque Hybrid Turntable Instrument (Introduction)

  • Reloop ELITE - High performance DVS mixer for Serato (Introduction)

  • RP-8000 MK2 Platter Play Education - Did You Know? (Playlist)

  • Reloop RP-8000 MK2 & ELITE feat. DJ Brace (Performance)

  • Reloop RP-8000 MK2 & ELITE feat. DJ Angelo (Performance)

  • Reloop RP-8000 MK2 & ELITE feat. DJ JFB (Performance)

  • Reloop RP-8000 MK2 “G-Funk“ Platter Play Routine by DJ Dens (Performance)

  • RP-8000 MK2 & ELITE feat. DJ Flip (Performance)

  • ELITE Series: Behind the decks with DJ Angelo, DJ Brace, Chris Karns, JFB, DJ Flip, Fong Fong

  • RP-8000 MK2 & ELITE feat. The Fresh Crew (Performance)

  • RP-8000 MK2 & ELITE feat. Chris Karns (Performance)

  • RP-8000 MK2 Promotion & Showcase by DJ Sojo

  • ELITE Promotion & Showcase by DJ Sojo

  • Reloop Elite - Serato Scratch Bank support // Demo by DJ Angelo

  • Reloop RP-8000 MK2 & ELITE feat. DJ Robert Smith (Performance)

Reloop Platter Play Sound Packs

Reloop Platter Play Soundpack Vol. 1 by Dens

Complementary to the 'Reloop Platter Play Education Series', you can now download artist sound packs for the RP-8000 MK2 for free.

These sound packs consist of a variety of 1-minute-long instruments and synth sounds to play instantly with the Platter Play feature. For more information about 'Platter Play' and how to use the sounds, please check the links to our Youtube tutorials.

Vol.1 of our 'Reloop Platter Play Sound Packs' was compiled by our artist DJ Dens (Germany), who also was involved in the development of the RP-8000 MK2.

“I love the Platter Play feature and tried to create sounds, which can be used for various songs to play along and create new melodies.“

Download

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