EJ Midi Turntable
The EJ Midi Turntable is an optical turntable system developed by EJ Enterprises and invented by MIT alumni Justin Kent.
The EJ Midi Turntable converts an existing turntable into an instrument that transmits continuous MIDI signals to a computer, synthesizer, drum machine, or sampler. The EJ MIDI Turntable patent describes the system as a "Phonograph turntable with MIDI output." When used with a laptop, the MIDI turntable communicates with EJ Enterprises' flagship software ScratchTV. ScratchTV is a sampling program (Mac OS X or Windows Compatible) in which video files or audio files are loaded into the system. QuickTime supported media files for ScratchTV include .mov, .avi, .mp3, .aiff, .wav, and qtvr. The stylus/needle is replaced by an optical sensor that reads MIDI messages off of the EJ vinyl. The current version of ScratchTV allows the user to map the midi signals and record them into sequencers like Cubase, ProTools or Reason. ScratchTV can also output MIDI sequences to professional lighting systems and laser equipment. These messages are then transmitted to either ScratchTV or a traditional synth/drum machine that can read MIDI signals. Record and mapping of MIDI can be used for live performance or for later post-editing. ScratchTV and the EJ MIDI Turntable are MIDI controllable devices that are backwards compatible with 80's technology like Moogs, the Fairlight CMI or the TR-909 drum machine. These video and audio files can then be performed live by looping or beat juggling or used in the studio for production of video, film, or soundtracks. The EJ MIDI Turntable allows DJ'S to mix video the way traditional DJs mix vinyl. The system also allows DJs or EJs (Experience Jockeys) to scratch and needle drop their video (or audio) content.
The EJ MIDI Turntable system has been used by VJ's, DJ'S, composers, and performers from around the world including Justin Kent, The Blue Man Group's video for Terminator 3, Nico Demonte (also a co-founder of EJ Enterprises), Coldcut, Funky Junction, Tributary, EJ Nate (Programmer), Emergency Broadcast Network, Faust & Shortee, Honeygun Labs, and Toshi Hoo.
The New version of ScratchTV is Universal Binary - Intel-Mac ready and works on the Intel® Core™ Duo processors. Recent collaborations include The Video Baby Grand Piano integrating Gulf War I videos with the EJ MIDI Turntable and ScratchTV by Emergency Broadcast Network founders Gardner Post and Greg Deocampo.