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Wonder Rhythm BreakStix: Sample And Loops For Live And Studio DJ Performance In A Pocket-Sized Package
June 25, 2009
Wonder Rhythm Breakstix
The most popular and conventional means of distributing sample and loop collections come in the form of digital downloads
and optical discs such as CDs and DVDs. In light of recent times, however, some people tend to dislike the time that huge sample libraries take to download. As there are occasions that an internet connection might fail, downloads sometimes fail too. These things take into fact that immediacy of use is certainly not a feature of a download. CDs and DVDs on the other hand offer that immediacy; however, they can be considerably bulky and, depending on your optical drive, can be slow to copy/install to your DAW (I rarely see a sample pack under 1 GB). CDs also tend to be sloppier than vinyl when it comes to live DJ performances. Wonder Rhythm BreakStix eliminates the clutter CD/DVD packs have and drive away the fears of a failed download as well as provide a pocket-sized performance tool.
Wonder Rhythm's goals are the elimination of CDs, provision of fresh new music through next generation's technology, and the exposure of authors and artists to a nontraditional format hence the birth of BreakStix, USB keys containing sample and loop libraries. As just stated, you will not expect any CDs or digital downloads from these guys. All of their merchandise, either sample packs or albums of the artists they endorse, come in little USB keys that are shaped like vinyl discs. The vinyl disc impressions give reference to BreakStix series' Serato-ready capabilities as you can use these USB keys for live performance if you are a Serato user.
The speed at which you can access information via a USB key plugged in a USB 2.0 or 3.0 port offers a lot of advantages over CDs. No longer do you have to consider read time or high latency by optical discs as a direct connection via USB offers instant access to data. At the present time, BreakStix come in three volumes: Volume 1 is a break beat and scratch sample and loop collection, Volume 2 features break beats from live drummers, and Volume 3 is a collection of scales played on various instruments. All three BreakStix volumes gives scratchers both rhythmic and melodic options for performance. If you want to make your own pack for scratching, Wonder Rhythm also offers the Blank USB Vinyl Album for your live performance needs. You can now just sample your precious vinyl collection then store it in a blank "vinyl" for use in your performances as well as save your vinyl collection from wear and tear.
You can order all the BreakStix volumes via Wonder Rhythm's web site. At prices ranging from $15.99 to $16.99, this is an affordable option that not only saves you from the problems of CDs and digital downloads, but frees you as well from the trouble and risk of bringing and breaking racks of precious vinyl discs to your performances (that is if you're into digital DJ equipment).
- Gear Wire
Discography
When I Was A B-Boy (mixtape)
Got Tapes? Vol. 1 (mixtape)
Good Luck Beats Vol.1 (production)
Good Luck Beats Vol.2 (production)
Good Luck Beats Vol.3 (production)
Open Your Eye
(production)
Clemits
(production)
Triangle Collective
(production)
The Kool Aid Album
(production)
Son of Arcane
(production)
Paragraphics Music
(production)
and many more
Photos
Bio
In the sea of talented turntablists and deejays, S.T.A.T.I.K. never takes the bait. His devotion to turntablism is as deep as Hip Hop Culture.
From his younger days surrounded by Southern California’s flourishing hip hop scene, to the world-famous annual South by Southwest Conference and Festival, S.T.A.T.I.K. goes above and beyond the call of duty than your average, typical deejay.
Approaching his first set of turntables at age 12, S.T.A.T.I.K. joined his first turntable crew – SwingSet -shortly after moving to the outskirts of the Bay Area. In 1994, S.T.A.T.I.K. initiated the first-ever DJ battle on his high school’s campus. He played host on his own radio show for San Joaquin Delta College’s student-ran station and continuously increased in turntablism skill, as well as, Hip Hop knowledge. KRS-One, Quincy Jones, and Lao Tzu are just a few enigmatic individuals S.T.A.T.I.K. is inspired by, but mainly, it’s “life experiences.”
Club gigs and house parties are great fun when you’re just starting out, but as S.T.A.T.I.K. matured, so did his creative needs. He has elevated to more cultural and educational endeavors and was solicited by the United Way of Central Texas in 2008 to present Black History through Hip Hop Culture at an annual event. Austin Community College, Huston-Tillotson and St. Edwards Universities regularly request S.T.A.T.I.K. to perform for campus events. In addition to volunteering his time for live performances, he conducted a workshop on the history and importance of the deejay for The Cipher: Austin’s Hip Hop Project, a non-profit organization empowering at-risk young adults.
As resident DJ for Zell Miller’s unique Hip Hop Theater Explosion, he performs a segment – Man vs. Machine – which pits S.T.A.T.I.K. with his turntables against a beatboxer with his microphone. It’s a sell-out show that runs for 3 nights in a row or more about every 3 months.
S.T.A.T.I.K. currently spins with local bands and hip hop crews; MSG Crew, representing Middleton, Texas, calls upon S.T.A.T.I.K. for all their live shows and Blacklisted Individuals of Austin have snagged him for a winter tour this year.
His latest venture is his newly formed record label, Wonder Rhythm. He is hoping the company helps rid the world of compact discs by offering Breakstix – a custom-made USB flash drive. You can hear a sampling of what S.T.A.T.I.K. can throw down on his daily live streaming program through ustream.tv [http://www.ustream.tv/channel/breakstix].
S.T.A.T.I.K. has thrown many shows, spun for many artists, and has been featured on many albums; name-dropping isn’t really his thing, so a link to a collection of flyers he has been able to keep over the years will be available soon.
While the common deejay skims the surface of this dynamic art form, S.T.A.T.I.K. upholds standards for each and every performance with integrity and professionalism. He does not own any vinyl of today’s ‘Top 40’ hits and has mastered his style on classic Technic turntables and a Rane mixer. S.T.A.T.I.K.’s undeniable talent will keep the waves of Hip Hop Culture rolling free and fierce.
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