Turntable Surgeon Alpha FAQ

Is the final version going to be/look/etc just like this?
    There are many changes taking place, and features being developed that aren't showing up at all yet. These alpha versions are created to get feedback and get noticed; it is far from finished.

Do I have to have a turntable?
    No! The point of this software is to appeal to both DJ's and sound designers. The tool system allows for creating scratches without ever touching a real turntable. Though the only current real-time recording uses time-coded vinyl, this will be expanded to include midi interfaces in future versions. It will be configurable, such as choosing note-on and note-off messages to control crossfader motion.

Why is [insert feature here] different than in Scratcher? 
    Scratcher used a system of breakpoints for all editing. While that system worked well for drawing, it did not lend itself to real-time recording and truly "smooth" data. The entire data system has been redone for far more flexibility than breakpoints would allow. Currently there is no "breakpoint editor" mode in Turntable Surgeon, but that will change in future versions. The line tool can be used for the time being. 
    Other missing features, such as midi support, will come back in future versions.

What vinyl can I use with this for live recording? Will any record work?
    You have to use time-coded vinyl. There are many types out such as Ms. Pinky, MixVibes, Torq, and Scratch Live. It should be possible to support them all, but currently only Ms. Pinky has been tested to work. Please report success or failure in using other types. When switching to a new company's vinyl, it is important to run “Fix Vinyl Speed.”

What is “Fix Vinyl Speed”?
    To accommodate different time-coded vinyls, some setup has to be done. The button “Fix Vinyl Speed” tells the program that whatever speed the record is moving corresponds to 33 1/3 RPM. To use it, just make sure your turntable is playing a time-coded vinyl at normal speed and click “Fix Vinyl Speed.” It takes a few seconds to register.

Is there a metronome or anything so I can hear where the beat is?
    The next build should have a basic metronome. After a couple more builds loading of drum loops will also be supported.

I'm using the editing tools and my changes aren't staying. What gives?
    Some tools, such as Time Warp, do not save changes until the “keep” button has been clicked. Make sure to click “keep” before changing tools. This will be made more intuitive in the future.

Can you make an editing tool that lets me [insert request here]?
    The tool system is still being expanded. There are several tools planned for curve editing using splines and vector math, in addition to "stranger" functionality. Because I am already busy with those, I am currently not taking requests on new tools.

I found a bug! Can you kill it?
    Right now I have a very large list of known bugs that I am tackling. If you come across something that is very specific and not obvious during light use, such as "every 35th file I save ends up blank," please e-mail me the actions that lead to it. Please do the same for *any* bug that causes Turntable Surgeon to quit without warning. So far I have not had a single true "crash" of Turntable Surgeon on my system.