Senior Editor at RBI/ICIS for chloralkalis and chlorvinyls
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Articles by Chris Barker
AlphaTheta XDJ-AN review: Hate physical controls? You’ll love this!
When you purchase through affiliate links on MusicTech.com, you may contribute to our site through commissions. Learn more Featured Deal Enhance your music with Free Samples from BandLab Sounds View The lowest priced entrypoint to an all-in-one rekordbox rig, but it’s not without compromises When you purchase through affiliate links on MusicTech.com, you may contribute to our site through commissions. Learn more AlphaTheta XDJ-AN.
The CDJ-1500X’s new song request feature is either genius or ragebait
£1,469 / $1,599, alphatheta.com In a market increasingly dominated by all-in-one systems and DJ controllers, the arrival of a brand new standalone CDJ is a surprise. Yet that’s exactly what AlphaTheta has delivered with the CDJ-1500X: a more compact, lower-cost player that borrows heavily from the flagship CDJ-3000X while introducing a few ideas of its own. At first glance, it’s arguably one of AlphaTheta’s best-looking media players to date.
OneOdio Studio Max 2 review: the same ultra-low latency as the big brands without the hefty price
Are these the wireless DJ headphones that actually work for everything? When you purchase through affiliate links on MusicTech.com, you may contribute to our site through commissions. Learn more OneOdio Studio Max 2.
AlphaTheta DJM-V5 review: Are niche setups the future of DJ gear?
Inspired by the Pioneer DJ DJM‑V10, the new AlphaTheta-branded DJM-V5 is a three-channel performance mixer aimed at providing top-notch sound quality with creative mix control. READ MORE: AlphaTheta RMX-Ignite is the effects and sampling box that nobody asked for but everyone will want Rather than simply shrinking the V10, AlphaTheta has built something more focused. The V5 borrows key elements from its bigger sibling while introducing a handful of entirely new ideas.
AlphaTheta RMX-Ignite is the effects and sampling box that nobody asked for but everyone will want
2 hours ago When you purchase through affiliate links on MusicTech.com, you may contribute to our site through commissions. Learn more Fourteen years after the Pioneer DJ RMX-1000 release, DJ tech has evolved. But can the RMX-Ignite prove a standalone effects unit still makes sense today? 2 hours ago When you purchase through affiliate links on MusicTech.com, you may contribute to our site through commissions.
My Audi TT is for sale. Please don’t buy it
My first-gen Audi TT is officially for sale. And has been for the past six months. But please, for the love of God (other deities available), don’t enquire about it any time soon, because it’s not for sale. Confused? Me too. And I’m the seller. Although probably not. Before we go any further, trust me: I’m not one of those idiots dipping their toe in the water to determine how much interest my car would generate should I hypothetically decide to sell it at some juncture.
Thirteen ways Jay Kay gets around in “Seven Days in Sunny June”
If you pretend to know anything about anything, then you’ll know that the lead singer of acid-funk outfit Jamiroquai has a thing for cars. He also has a thing for retro Adidas sportswear from the glorious trefoil era, rather than the ‘modern geometric triangle’ interpretation of the three stripes. And, long before Kanye West chose this as a vocation, Jay Kay wasn’t entirely averse to altercations with the paparazzi.
Is AlphaTheta’s CDJ-3000X really such a big deal for the DJ industry?
The launch of a new CDJ from Pioneer DJ (now AlphaTheta) has always caused a stir in the DJ community. The price tag, the headline features, and, perhaps more importantly, the perceived missing features, will dominate forums and comment sections for months — and we’re already starting to see it happening with AlphaTheta’s latest.
AlphaTheta CDJ-3000X review: Bigger, sharper, smoother, and cloud-ready — but you’ll need very deep pockets
Price: €2,799/£2,399/$2,999 DJ tech doesn’t move at the breakneck pace of synths, plugins, or studio gear. In fact, most advances feel like refinements rather than revolutions. It’s this evolution, rather than revolution, that we are seeing again here in AlphaTheta’s CDJ-3000X. The original CDJ-3000 had the misfortune of arriving in 2020, during a global pandemic that shuttered clubs worldwide.
Is DJ Studio the perfect DAW for DJs?
Lite: £199/$199 or £8/$8 per month, Pro: £499/$499 or £29/$29 per month, dj.studio Recording a DJ mix is often as simple as performing and recording the master output in real-time, all in one take. It’s certainly a strong indicator of your DJing ability — but you’re limited if you want to get ultra-precise with your mix after it’s recorded, or pre-prepare something with voiceover for radio. You have very few streamlined choices. READ MORE: Why are so many producers praising Imaginando BAM?
Drive By: Chris Barker on footballers' cars
Chris Barker has got a problem with Premier League Footballers. More specifically, Chris has a problem with the cars driven by Premier League footballers. At least, once they've got their hands on them. So he's chosen PetrolBlog to write an open letter to the footballers. In short, they need to stop. Here's Chris... Do you know what I said to myself only the other week; it’s been a while since some egit of a footballer made a mess of a car. They’ve finally learnt their lesson it seemed.
Hunting Through the Night
Chris Barker August 27, 2021 Dashing through the sales charts, the Monster Hunter series has shown a large amount of growth in its times since the PlayStation. With the release of Monster Hunter Rise for the Nintendo Switch, the game saw an increase in attention due to its predecessor Monster Hunter World. In keeping with series tradition, the player and up to three friends can strike out and leave their mark on the world as renown Hunters of the village of Kamura.
Portal Hopping Fun
Chris Barker September 3, 2021 Popping in and out of reality has never been more fun as bullets whizz through portals chasing down players on a never-ending battlefield. Splitgate is a love letter to the shooter fans of old who thrived in the era of Halo shooters where zoom insights weren’t always the best. The added twist that comes with this type of gameplay is the ability to create portals at the press of a button in order to teleport around the map.
Pioneer DJ XDJ-XZ Review
Price €2199 / £1899 / $2299 Contact Pioneer DJ Although Pioneer DJ has been innovating and pushing the merits of its rekordbox DJ performance software merits, there’s a vast, hardcore Serato DJ userbase. This all-in-one DJ unit aims to tick many boxes in a single product. Firstly, targeting the smaller install market of bars and small clubs, then the customer who wants a fully featured and full-size DJ rig at home.
ZZ666/ZZ666 aviation photos on JetPhotos
Aircraft Airline Country / Airport Photographer / Group Category Keywords Photo year If you are looking for photos of a specific aircraft type, use this menu. Please note that, due to space constraints, this menu includes only some of the more requested aircraft in our database. If the aircraft you're searching for is not in this list, use the 'Keywords' field further down in the search menus. Some menu selections include a generic aircraft model, as well as more specific variants of that airliner.
Pioneer CDJ-3000 Review
Price £2699 Contact Pioneer When Pioneer DJ launched the original CDJ-1000 it was a huge leap for DJs and helped the company to elbow out Technics from the DJ booth after its Technics brand of CD player failed to hit the mark. Steady updates followed until another huge leap forward came with the CDJ-2000 at the end of 2009. With the a brand new flagship CDJ, are we facing an evolution or a revolution?
Review: Pioneer CDJ-3000
Price £2699 Contact Pioneer When Pioneer DJ launched the original CDJ-1000 it was a huge leap for DJs and helped the company to elbow out Technics from the DJ booth after its Technics brand of CD player failed to hit the mark. Steady updates followed until another huge leap forward came with the CDJ-2000 at the end of 2009. With the a brand new flagship CDJ, are we facing an evolution or a revolution?
CarTunes: a Mixtape by Chris Barker
Far be it for PetrolBlog to compare Chris Barker to a Leyland National (Britain’s best bus), but it’s great to receive two stories from him in quick succession. Here, he lays down his choice of tracks for CarTunes, which includes a pair of Escorts and something racy from Sunderland. Sounds like a seedy novel based in the North East. Without further ado, here’s ace wordsmith and freelancer-available-for-hire Chris Barker with some more CarTunes.
PODCAST: New PVC FM declarations in Europe hit tight global market
LONDON (ICIS)--Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has tightened globally as a result of two new force majeure declarations in Europe, in an already snug situation following worldwide production issues. Senior Editor Manager Bill Bowen and Senior Editor Chris Barker discuss the potential consequences for the market and the outlook for Q4. Content by Chris Barker and Bill Bowen
Pioneer DJ XDJ-RR Review
Price £1,100 Contact Pioneer DJ All-in-one media-player DJ units have been a staple of Pioneer’s offering since the now discontinued XDJ-Aero was released in 2012. The XDJ-RR is the latest entry-level product in the range, offering a compact yet feature-rich DJ solution.
Europe PVC export prices reach highest point in two years, up by 27% since Q2
LONDON (ICIS)--European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) export spot prices have spiked in the third quarter because of tighter global availability, rising to above domestic spot price levels in the second half of August. European PVC export prices are now at their highest level for more than two years. FOB (free on board) export spot prices rose by more than 27% from June to the week beginning 17 August, a far greater increase than the 10% for domestic spot prices during the same time period.
Europe PVC outlook improves on healthier demand as construction recovers
LONDON (ICIS)--European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) demand has risen in the third quarter on the back of a recovery in downstream sectors, including the key construction industry. Contract price discussions are underway for August with initial expectations in line with or higher than the cost increase from feedstocks.
PODCAST: Global PVC demand recovers after slump, outlook remains clouded by coronavirus
LONDON (ICIS)--Global polyvinyl chloride (PVC) demand is on the road to recovery from the coronavirus lockdowns; however the global recession, lower investment and potential localised resurgence of the virus present challenges for the future. Senior editor Chris Barker, senior editor manager Bill Bowen and analyst Rob Searle discuss the outlook for PVC in the second half of 2020. Follow Chris Barker on Twitter
Mike Mago on having a new attitude to studio production
From promotor and label owner to producer and artist, Mike Mago has gone from running Bmkltsch Rcrds to creating club bangers of his own. We peek into his studio to learn about the tools of his trade, hear his advice for producers, and learn about the biggest regret of his career. What are your earliest memories of music and electronic music? My first musical memory is of Broken Wings by Mister Mister.
Sofi Tukker on lockdown hit House Arrest, tech riders and studio staples
Grammy-nominated duo Sofi Tukker have clocked up millions of streams and garnered a global following since their debut EP Soft Animals dropped almost four years ago. After a recent collaboration with Gorgon City that accidentally set the mood during a global pandemic, the pair have been using their new lockdown life to work on new music and build an army of fans via livestreaming, and are now ready to take on the world as soon as they are able.
Pioneer DJM-V10 Mixer Review
Price £2,799 (£2,500) Contact Pioneer Long gone are the days when simply mixing one track into another was considered skilled DJing. Today’s audiences are a little more demanding, and countless companies have had to create innovative new products or alter their existing ones to keep up.
NWE Q2 caustic soda contract price increases on tighter availability
LONDON (ICIS)--European caustic soda contract prices for the second quarter have settled with increases on tighter availability. Northwest Europe prices were assessed at €520-570/dmt FD (free delivered), up €50/dmt on the low end and €55/dmt on the high end. Throughout the region, prices increased in a wide range - between €20-80/dmt - depending on starting point and the different circumstance of buyer and producer. The majority of increases were in the mid-double digits.
INSIGHT: Pandemic hits global chlorine demand, but tightens caustic soda
LONDON (ICIS)--The coronavirus pandemic has had far reaching implications for chloralkali buyers and producers, paradoxically driving down demand for many products even as it causes price increases for others. In the wider chemicals market, the overall impact of the lockdown has been to severely reduce prices and demand, with the global IPEX hitting its lowest level since April 2009 earlier this month.
Joe Ford on finding his sound with Cubase 4 and topping the Beatport charts
Born in Harrogate, a small town in the north of England, Joe Ford’s obsessive approach to music production has resulted in some of the most complex and technically proficient music to hit dance floors in recent times. He has quickly gained a reputation for sound design and original, wide, slick mixdowns. He’s released on some of the most respected labels across d’n’b, neuro and dubstep, supported by artists such as Noisia, Koan Sound and Friction – and he’s just getting started.
PODCAST: The impact of the coronavirus on caustic soda supply and demand in 2020
LONDON (ICIS)--The coronavirus pandemic’s effects could potentially tighten European caustic soda supply and increase downstream demand, although the evidence for both trends is not yet clear. Senior Editor Chris Barker talks about potential scenarios for the market in coming months.
6 ways to get inspired without leaving the house
Create a cover version This is the easiest way to get started on a project and can quickly kick-start your creativity. Try to cover a song outside of your usual comfort zone, or completely change the style of a song you love. Often you’ll find that by starting with a cover, you’ll end up creating original ideas that could end up being your own track.
Kanto TUK Premium Powered Speakers Review
Price £750 Contact Kanto Though Kanto has been going since 2007, this Canadian company is unfamiliar to many in the world of professional audio. However, its high-end TUK multifunctional multimedia speakers, which feature AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeters, might change all that. Based around one active speaker that powers a second passive speaker, there’s a heap of connectivity here.
INSIGHT: PVC tightens globally in key markets as supply shocks squeeze exports
LONDON (ICIS)--Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) spot prices in several key global markets have soared in early 2020, as worldwide supply shocks squeeze export availability. Spot prices for European PVC exports have risen more than 8.5% compared with their lowest point last year, which was in November. Export prices in the US and spot prices in India have also increased sharply. "PVC is very tight in the market...therefore, on a daily basis, prices are going up," one trader in Turkey said.
Coronavirus spreads fear in Europe's chlorvinyls and chloralkalis markets
LONDON (ICIS)--The deadly coronavirus currently ravaging China has already spread fear and disruption throughout Europe's chloralkalis and chlorvinyls markets. Market sources are worried that disruptions to trade and manufacturing could result in a reduction in caustic soda production, and have a knock-on effect for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other products. “Due to the coronavirus, the [caustic soda] market can globally change… as China closes plants,” one trader said.
Step by step bass mixing with Ørjan Nilsen
Ørjan Nilsen has been working on his craft since the late 90s, so it’s no wonder he is regularly found among DJ Mag’s Top 100 listings, amassed millions of Spotify streams and worked with some of the biggest names in trance music. In this walkthrough tutorial, Ørjan shows us how he effectively creates and combines bass tones, using just a couple tracks and some nifty modulation. 1.
Step by step bass production with Ørjan Nilsen
Ørjan Nilsen has been working on his craft since the late 90s, so it’s no wonder he is regularly found among DJ Mag’s Top 100 listings, amassed millions of Spotify streams and worked with some of the biggest names in trance music. In this walkthrough tutorial, Ørjan shows us how he effectively creates and combines bass tones, using just a couple tracks and some nifty modulation. 1.
OUTLOOK '20: Uncertainty dominates European PVC agenda
LONDON (ICIS)--Uncertainty continues to weigh on the European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) outlook for 2020, following a year of lower margins for producers and shaky demand. While the downstream construction market has been relatively stable through 2019, the demand outlook for the coming year is pessimistic and PVC has been squeezed by decreasing prices for feedstock co-products.
Europe caustic soda Q1 price falls 10% as market readjusts
LONDON (ICIS)--Caustic soda contract prices in northwest Europe have fallen for the first quarter as availability remains balanced-to-long and the market continues to readjust following previous increases. - Caustic soda contract prices were assessed at €470-515/dmt (dry metric tonnes) FD (free delivered) NWE (northwest Europe), down €50/dmt on the low end and €65/dmt on the high end.
Producer Third Son talks modular, great claps and how Spotify "saved the music industry"
In what feels like the blink of an eye, Joseph Thomas Price’s Third Son alias has gone from a DJ project based around a university club night, to a successful electronic artist performing live and DJ’ing at some of the best clubs and venues across the world. With music supported by many of the house and techno scene’s biggest players, Third Son has taken his classically trained upbringing and turned it into a passion for all things electronic music production.
Producer Maarten Vorwerk shows you how to make rave stabs
Even if you don’t know Maarten Vorwerk’s name, you’ve almost certainly heard his work. By some accounts, he has been ghost producer to some of the biggest names in dance and pop. Read our full interview here. In this tutorial, Maarten walks us through his process for making classic rave stabs and reveals another trick for adding old-school flavour to your tracks.
Maarten Vorwerk on his Star Wars-themed studio, and his life as a ghost producer
Search for Maarten Vorwerk online and you’ll find hundreds of theories around his ghost-producing prowess – depending on which of these theories you believe, there was probably a time where Maarten’s touch was peppered all over the DJ Top 100 and the pop charts, too.
Martin Badder on breaking through – “even the guys at the top were once trying to make it” - MusicTech
Quickly rising through the ranks of DJ stardom, Martin Badder has fast built a reputation for releasing top quality house music. Catching the attention of huge labels like Defected, Armada, Toolroom, Bunny Tiger and many more along the way, he’s now a regular in the Beatport Top 100 charts. You’ll find his signature style of soulful, deep and groovy house crossing over from the sunshine terrace sets of the White Isle to the late-night sessions in any major nightclub.
Covering Brexit by Chris Barker | Blurb Books UK
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Caustic soda capacity growth makes Spain new battleground in Europe
LONDON (ICIS)--The Spanish caustic soda market has become a market share battleground for European producers as the country's capacity has recovered from its nadir in 2017 and contract prices have plummeted. Ercros' facilities in Vila-seca. Source: Ercros The decline in Spanish caustic soda prices and the overall recovery of the country’s production capability also has significant implications for the now well-supplied European market.
Techno star and Ibiza mainstay Francisco Allendes gives us production tips and a tour of his gear
Chilean DJ and producer Francisco Allendes has been slowly rising through the ranks of the techno scene, releasing on labels such as Desolat, Crosstown Rebels, VIVa Music, Cadenza and many more. He’s been a resident of Ushuaïa since 2010 and a monthly regular at the incredible ANTS party, too – and once we discovered he was not only an incredible musician but a gear freak too, we knew we had to track him down for an interview.
French DJ and producer Rocco Rodamaal explains how he recreated a stone-cold house classic
For those who don’t know you, Rocco, tell us a little about your journey into DJing and making music… I’ve been a DJ for 30 years and a producer for 20 years. I’ve been immersed in music from childhood, thanks to my older brother, who was DJ’ing in the 80s. He allowed me to listen to different kinds of stuff like soul, funk, disco, rock, reggae, hip-hop and other styles of dance music.
Audio Technica ATH-PRO7X Review
Price £175 Contact Audio Technica When reviewing DJ headphones, there are a few immediate considerations; loudness, comfort, durability, and of course, how they sound. Now the order of these scrutinies depends on your particular preference when DJing. Do you take your headphones on and off throughout the gig? Do you need to monitor at high volume? Do you often use a single ear? And so on… But we’ll try to consider all variants in this review. Firstly, the sound is really fantastic.
"The less time I spend in the studio, the better the end result is": producer Roland Tings
Image: Alex Johnstone Roland Tings’ music makes an impression. At least, it did on Norwegian disco supremo Prins Thomas. When the veteran heard Tings’ first EP in 2012, he was compelled to sign the newcomer. Tings’ debut album was released in 2015 on Internasjonal to critical acclaim, and the much-lauded Each Moment A Diamond EP followed in 2017. Now, Roland is back and has a brand new album on the way, titled Salt Water, with single Always Rushing feat. Mild Minds out now.
Europe PVC prices firm slightly against feedstocks as sellers offset caustic drop
LONDON (ICIS)--European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) contract prices for July were settled with decreases in line with or slightly smaller than the cost reduction from feedstocks, as a result of a balanced market between supply and demand, and attempts to offset decreases in caustic soda. Northwest Europe non-discounted pipe grade prices were assessed at €1,198-1,223/tonne FD (free delivered), down €35/tonne on the low end and €37/tonne on the high end.
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