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Deadmau5, the electronic track producer, has introduced an innovative touchscreen controller that has been tailor-made for him and the creator explains that he got fed up with the standard gear used in the recording industry which brought inconveniences, so he decided to create a performing system that would be unbeatable in every aspect. He is undergoing this transition, and the creator, whose actual name is Joel Zimmerman, just revealed a tiny section of the complete proprietary set, stating that he was making sure everything was “locked in” even though he had to choose a selection of controls that was “kinda dogshit” initially.
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This shift mentioned above is the final chapter in the Deadmau5 saga which has been running for decades and the electronica live track performer has always been the one to upscale the technology. He did not give up at the boundaries drawn by the machines of the time, he always came up with new ways of doing it. The ones who managed to adjust to the new hardware still had to suffer the same strain as before, which is one of the factors that contribute to the enormous online following of Deadmau5. The new configuration bears the fingerprint of the OSC/Pilot software he has been using for several years today but this time it is made to be more user-friendly and touch screen controlled.
One observer put it best when he said: “I enjoy that you finally caved and moved to CDJs after so many years, figured that shit out quick, basically proving your point that modern DJing is not any fancy, got bored of its limitations and said fuck it, I’ll build an even better system myself. Giga chad move.” The author of this critique is drawing a parallel between an creator who has acquired the skill to seize the tools and then to surpass them through custom engineering.
The moment the custom controller came out, the past comparisons were drawn among the tech-savvy musicians. One more comment identified with it as “Reminds me of Daft Punk and their Lemur JazzMutants,” which is a reference to the famous duo’s reliance on custom-made apps when they were performing live. This want to have high-tech track-instruments in the performer’s toolkit puts Deadmau5 in the same league with a long list of artists who not only play their signature instruments but also regard them as such. On the other hand, one person remarked that the whole project fits into a particular artistic philosophy: “Brian Eno always said he felt more like a systems engineer than a musician. I think there is something spiritually Brian Eno about this.” This comment has already positioned Deadmau5’s upcoming techno inventions as part of his artistic process and not merely a technical hobby.
The mixed reactions of the audience were the result of their surprise and the artists’ playful self-mockery. Each one always has something different to say about the creator: one was, “idk how you are able to do so much stuff.. this is wild, coding your own software for live, the cube, the mau5ville, so many stuff,” and another was, “damn I could never figure out how to map the cues for different songs on the same button and today you pull out this insanely updated version.” The first person probably feels puzzled simply because he can hardly keep track of the many activities going on with the producer who is employing a range of advanced techniques. Another person added humor to the situation by joking, “This gonna be hard after few Coronas,” meaning that the setup’s complexity will require very precise control.
For others, the new thing was merely something of the that brought something even bigger. A person who was a follower of Deadmau5 for a long time said, “I remember seeing a video of the touchscreen during Arguru @ Earls Court 2011. Always changing the game,” indicating that this new controller is simply the most recent version of the long-term technological experiments that started more than a decade ago. The post also sparked optimistic speculation about forthcoming gigs, with one user asking, “Test pilot b2b cirez d again pleaseeee,” expressing the hope that the new equipment might result in the return of a much-loved collaborative nickname.
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Deadmau5 decision to switch to a new performance system is not only the declaration of him as an engineer and programmer but also that he is a musician who simply plays the part of an creator. Moreover, he will not be exclusive by the tools available and this is his unyielding determination to customize every aspect of his craft. This new production is not just a new piece of equipment but an artistic declaration of independence and a continuation of the quest for the impossible in the live electronic track performance. The creator is likely to have increased control and spontaneity during his shows thus keeping the already high expectations of the innovation that will be inspired by his peers and audience throughout his entire career. Bryan Adams was also part of a notable event with the creator.
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