These days technology plays a big part in the production and progression of music. Don’t believe me? There’s a new web series out now that will help explain and entertain. It’s called The Playlist and it comes from the minds of G4′s Attack of the Show host Kevin Pereira and Musical Playtime segment producer Yaniv Fituci. The web show serves as a platform to educate fans of music across all genres about the fusion of technology, music, and pop culture as well as an interactive competition that will pit renowned musicians against each other to claim victory inside the “Audio Octagon.”

Episode 1, directed by Nick Tabri, is out today and it is comprised of five videos. Video DJ and turntablist Mike Relm (perhaps best known for his “Old Spice Remix” clip) explores the history of video mixing and tells how the art of VJing has become a worldwide phenomenon today. The other videos introduce the first two teams who will enter the Audio Octagon, namely video mixers Eclectic Method and Screenwerks. In addition to getting to know the players, you will also be acquainted with their DJ equipment that includes Pioneer’s DVJ-1000 and DJM-800 and Novation’s Dicer. And then there are the rules.  Field correspondent Kathryn Lyn explains that each team is given a playlist of 15 unique samples ranging from viral hits to video game sequences and over the course of three rounds a winner will be crowned based on the most creative use of the audio-visual clips. Viewers can voice their opinions and vote for the victor over Twitter. The battle between Eclectic Method and Screenwerks is coming soon.

With The Playlist, Pereira and Fituci intend to spark interest and discussion around the way modern technology is shaping the evolution of music and the pop culture scene. Over the course of several episodes sponsored by Pioneer DJ, The Playlist will cover a wide spectrum of musically-inclined technology like controllerism, chiptune, percussion, and MIDI. Sure, it’s cool to say you’ve seen the latest and greatest viral hits the Internet so generously offers; but wouldn’t it be even better to be informed about the people and technology that drive them?

Enter The Playlist. (Facebook / Twitter / YouTube)

Watch DJ Greyboy’s french bulldog scratch a record with spot on precision, accuracy, and timing.  The mutt’s even got his own title–DJ MAMA.

Gregory Kaufman, a student at Kansas City Art Institute, imagined and implemented ”DJ touch screen interface and gesture interaction concepts” for his senior degree project.  Though it’s not quite as visually stunning as the rear projection setup we spied earlier this week, it does bring a new kind of functionality to the up-and-coming DJ multitouch game–the ability to replicate a standard DJ turntable-mixer setup using a touch-based interface.  Check out the video embedded above to hear all about from Kaufman and see a demonstration of the concept tech.

[Via Behance; Engadget]

Check out this crazy amazing homemade DJ setup called Token Concept.  Sure it uses rear projection video on glass for the cool visual effect, but the multitouch implementation is far out.  Into the future.  It’s running off a Traktor Pro controller called Emulator.

[Via Engadget]

Mixr will be one of the first professional DJ applications for the iPad.  The iPad’s large multitouch 9-inch screen will be able to accomodate two fully featured turntables with options for “cross-fading, equalizing, cue, drag & drop tracks, and full effects such as delays and auto filter.”  You can create your own libraries, digital DJ crates, and even record your own mixes using tracks from your iTunes music library.  As fun and exciting this all sounds, there’s an overarching theme here to be considered: apps like Mixr are just the beginning for the iPad.  Thanks to the large screen and intuitive touch controls, the App Store will start to flood with brand new apps made specifically to take advantage of the tablet’s features, inside and out.  If you thought the App Store launch on the iPhone was buzz-worthy, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

[Via Mixr; Gizmodo]

Holographic Drumkit and Turntables test.  Featuring Will Clark (drums), JFB (turntables), Beardyman (the heads).

From the guys who brought you this head-spinning insanity.

[Via MAKE; Gizmodo]

From the Black Eyed Peas to Lady Gaga to Kings of Leon, 2009 proved to be a big year for music.  DJ Earworm is back with what he does best–mashing together the top 25 Billboard hits of the past year.  Watch “The United State of Pop 2009 (Blame It On the Pop)” above and download it for free here.  Oh, and look after the break for the full listing of songs used in it.  It’s been one wild year for music, indeed!

[Via EW-MusicMix]

(Click here for more…)

Three-time world DMC champion DJ Rafik can tear it up on Trakor’s Scratch Pro with the Traktor Kontrol X1 and Maschine hardware controllers.  Native Instruments has the X1 for sale at $229.  If you like what you see here, look after the break for two additional videos with DJ Rafik.  He’s got some slick moves in his arsenal.

[Via Engadget]

(Click here for more…)

Touchtable, designed by Thomas Mascall.

This concept portable media player prominently features a controller wheel that works just like a turnable.  ”It’s even sensitive to touch and pressure and when you use it in combo with the surrounding function buttons, it facilitates absolute user control over a track, through precise position, timing and pitch manipulation.”  Not only can you manipulate your favorite songs on the go but you can also attach it to your computer as a MIDI device and create tracks of your own.  Oh, to live in a “concept” world.

[Via Engadget; Yanko Design]

Amidio has created the “world’s first” true DJ software for the iPhone and iPod touch with Touch DJ.  This app allows you to use your own MP3 or M4A files to create your own DJ mixes; this includes the ability to scratch and loop as well as manipulate positioning, equalization, effects, and pitch.  Very neat stuff.  Touch DJ is available in the App Store right now for $19.99.  Peek after the break for a demonstration.

[Via Engadget]

(Click here for more…)

DJ Jazzy Jeff + The Roots = pure awesomeness.

Last week DJ Jazzy Jeff sat in with house band The Roots for an episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  He was there to scratch out with the band and promote the release of DJ Hero.  This clip is a ‘best of’ that shows off Jazzy Jeff’s best material throughout the night; it also features a segment where Fallon and guests Ian Somerhalder (Lost‘s Boone) and Rosie O’Donnell give DJ Hero a try.

Also, look after the break for two IGN behind-the-scenes making-of DJ Hero videos.

(Click here for more…)

As seen on MTV2/Sucker Free’s “Wild Tour Story” Segment, even when you touring with Kanye things don’t always go according to plan.

[Via KanyeBlog; MCM vimeo page]

Pioneer ups the ante with the new CDJ-2000 CDJ system.  It features a “WQVGA 6.1-inch full-color 480 x 234 LCD panel,” among other great new additions.  According to Pioneer, the CDJ-2000 will be available in November for a pricey but deserved $2,150.  Check after the break for an official tour of the product.

[Via Gizmodo; Engadget]

(Click here for more…)

By Neurosonics Audiomedical Laboratory.  Click here for additional credits and information.

Kingdom of the unreal but also a higher state of being, ultimately free of the limitations of the material world through the agency of science, technology, and imagination.

[Via KanyeBlog; Chris Cairns vimeo]