Author: Dan White DJ TechTools
We love small-run DJ tools made by independent companies. Today we’re featuring Timetosser, an in-development audio resequencer that every DJ and live producer can get excited about. It’s a small box, about the size of an audio card, that allows magnificent in-tempo rearrangement of the playing audio. Best of all, it does it without a computer – so any setup works well with it.
How Does The Timetosser Work?
The Timetosser unit is a pure FX unit that you can send or passthrough audio to. It has two pairs of RCA ports (for in/out) as well as a USB port (to use as a controller or audio interface) and a 1/8″ sync input for MIDI and analog gear tempo syncing.
Instead of more simple effects where you adjust the amount/depth, the Timetosser is designed to be played. The video below does a pretty good job of showing off the different functions – but here’s the basic workflow:
- connect an audio source as input
- push the tap tempo button in time with the beat to sync the effect (or use the 1/8″ input if possible)
- choose an audio clip length (yellow buttons, 1/4, 1/8, 1/6; double tap for triplet modes)
- use the top row of buttons to retrigger audio that’s already played
- press the first button in the top row to resume the playing audio
Essentially, the top row of buttons holds the most recent audio in a buffer at all times, allowing a DJ to quickly jump back in time.
The unit also has reverse and mute modes for more utility – demoed in the video below as well. Mute can be ‘gated’ using the top row of pads.
Tech Specs
Here’s the current specs from the official Alter Audio website:
- Dimensions: 200 x 120 x 22 mm
- Weight: 242 grams
- Body: Brushed aluminium hardtop casing
- Controls: 16x full colour LED backlit key switches, 60 FPS smooth animation feedback
- CPU: 180 MHz 32-bit ARM micro controller – for real-time audio analysis and smooth visual feedback
- Digital audio: Up to 24-bit / 192 KHz; Low noise, high quality codec
- USB port: For use as controller and audio interface
- Dual purpose sync input: Tempo sync to MIDI and analog gear
When Is It Out?
Right now the Timetosser is still “in development” – but they have taken their prototype units on tour, showing them to artists, and even presenting them to attendees at ADE last month. Based on posts on their Facebook page, it looks like Timetosser will be going to a crowdfunding platform soon to attempt to raise money for larger production runs. They also indicated in mid-September that the official launch wouldn’t likely be until 2018.
Have ideas about what you’d like to see Timetosser do? Speak up in the comments, we’re certain the development team will be watching.