FIRST EVER Digital Vinyl Simulator - Stanton FinalScratch For Linux Review/History

I take a deep dive into the first Digital Vinyl Simulator to hit the market - which ran on linux (and BeOS!) - compare it to later solutions from Serato and Traktor, and explain how timecode works.
Stanton Final Scratch was released in 2002 and was developed for Stanton by N2IT members Mark-Jan Bastian, Bill Squire and Tim Hemel. The DJ market was never the same again.
What's more it initially ran exclusively on linux, making it pretty unique in the history of DJ hardware and software.
Retro Rocket video : • Building a RIDICULOUSL...
Special thanks to :
* Mark-Jan Bastian, for designing this product and being extremely forthcoming with information
* John Beez, for helping me track down FS 1.1 - / johnbeeztheone
* Everyone on Instagram who helped me track down FS1.5
* Mark Settle from Worxlab for the Skratchworx screenshots - worxlab.com/

[@draggonhedd]

You're a DJ? Cool! This system looks so clean and easy to use. Modern software could really take a huge hint. Would be really cool to build a deck and mixer roadcase with built in PC, keyswitches on either side, and monitor in the lid with this software. Oh man so neat. Would be cool for gigs, since you say its good enough that you would use it.

[@nethoncho]

Long live BeOS

[@ptonpc]

I used to support it back in the day. Ahh good times.

[@nethoncho]

@@ptonpc Same

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

smells like the late 90s.

[@hanro50]

It does live on in the form of Harmony OS

[@therealchayd]

I got one of these when they first came out (still got in my box-o-bits), all my DJ mates were like "That'll never catch on...", at the same time lugging all their hefty record boxes into the club, while I just had a lappy, scratch amp and the TC discs, was a pain to set up at the beginning of the night , but did save future back problems :) Thanks for filling in the history, bloody fascinating stuff! Also mad turntablism skills!! Damn!!

[@burnt_666]

wow amazing video. there's an incredible amount to appreciate here but i love that you DIYed a solution for the traktor authorization.

[@JockMurphy]

Thank you so much for this! This was an amazing dive into a world I knew almost nothing about, but as an engineer it was really interesting (especially the dive into the hardware)

[@tsaience1]

Welll done! What a great and well made video! This deserves views in the millions for how you cover the history, hardware, and software. Not to mention scratching/juggling skills are on point. You operate on another level. 👏

[@hanro50]

Knowing the Linux kernel. If they merged the drivers for these into the kernel. There is a 99% chance they still work in modern releases. As for the kernel. I was actually aware low latency and RT kernels existed, but I wasn't aware the history went that far back

[@microcolonel]

Wonder if they actually followed the GPL or just violated it... If they followed it surely the source for those kernel modules should be sitting somewhere.

[@JGT999]

As an aspiring DJ is really interesting to se the history of most DJ tools and see how far we’ve come, thanks a lot for this amazing video, also love the Vestax one really interesting and informative.

[@JGT999]

I don’t know if this would be a interesting topic for a future video, but would it be posible to upgrade something in the hardware of the RANE SL1 to use it in modern software other than “Scratch Live” I don’t know if internally they are completely different from the other SL series but I think it’s has a programable rom so I think there could be a possibility to change something to upgraded it. I think a lot of people would benefit from something like that. Appreciated and keep up the amazing work.

[@joetheman74]

This was some interesting stuff I had no idea existed. Linux playing a vital role in Digital DJ history. Excellent little mini tech documentary you did here. And it was fun to listen to your DJ stylings while learning about all this. Sounded really good. Thanks for posting this.

[@littlefela6889]

This is absolutely amazing. This is such crucial software for such a huge movement that has no known history on

[@BrentScudder]

AWESOME video! Great history lesson and thanks for the great explanation of how timecode works!

[@andreasgaschka]

This is a great documentation, very well put together. And man, you have a crazy arsenal of skills: Clean turntablism and advanced hacking. Hat's off!

[@mattrockwell6214]

Fantastic as always mate!

[@CJScratch]

great video bro ... i started in 98 so all my experience was on vinyl... i purchased traktor scratch 1.5 as my first introduction into DVS.. It was crazy being able to download all my music into my laptop for gigs. I used 1.5 for a few years but i used to have the dreaded system crash often during my sets ..... shortly after i switched over to serato Scratch live ... it is amazing how this idea of DVS has changed the whole landscape of djing ...

[@zloboslav_]

This was immensely entertaining and interesting! I never knew about this!

[@UDIHQ]

Thank You for gifting us this history lesson. That was nice

[@SiHargreaves]

Nice one mate, great vid all round

[@nickloss2377]

brilliant. nicely done. great research...thanks for the vid!

[@imperia777]

Exceptional documentary that much more people have to see.

[@mrlithium69]

i had no idea you were into DJ stuff let alone esoteric rare tech. you're cooler than i thought. instant like

[@mrlithium69]

omg and you developed your own serial bypass in a debugger? F me, m8 you're a legend

[@NielsNijhof]

Hahahaha awesome video man, but the doom joke got me LOL 😊. Love the crossover between my 2 biggest loves (old) hardware and music. You got yourself an new sub 🫡

[@richardbaker974]

What a great video, thanks.

[@Sir_Uncle_Ned]

It is amazing what you can do when you build the OS from the ground up for the express purpose of minimising latency. Even back in 2002 laptops had a lot of power compared to most microcontrollers both at the time and even today, so they could chew through an obscene amount of data in no time flat (Which, as it turns out, is 18 ms). You don't see this kind of extreme optimisation anymore now that everyone has at least two CPU cores at 2 billion cycles per second each

[@hanro50]

The Linux kernel team still ships low latency and RT variants of the Linux kernel to this day.

[@ronnybkk1]

I brought the first FS in Bangkok a few days after its release in the US. I used it a couple of times in the clubs I was playing at but the time it was taking to set it up + the sound issues I was sometimes getting on my P600 laptop led me to keep it in its box for 17 years...that is until I opened my own bar with a TT setup and not enough space for CDJs. So I pulled the old ScratchAmp, installed Debian on a Netbook with a neat piece of DVS software called Xwax that natively supports the ScratchAmp and now, when I'm not on the decks, all my guest DJs who want to play "digital" use that system and love it. Very basic but intuitive, responsive, super stable and the DACs sound really good.

[@CommunitySkratch]

Good times ! I still remember the first time feeing FS , the run in grooves deteriorating was one big set back

[@TheRasteri]

I hear that, I've already cueburned my new-old-stock FS records...

[@JohnSmith-iu8cj]

What was the result of the deterioration? A lack of sync? Then that was the reason my unit stopped working correctly 😂

[@xplax24]

ooh finally someone explaining how dvs timecodes work thanks!

[@Kunigun]

Fantastic 😍

[@wincentywilk7511]

21:10 Nice key.

[@BigLRestInPeace]

Cool video!

[@Sv5YpWTwd9otTA4So83f]

Nice. This is essentially the same version of Debian I installed on a 486 via floppy disks way back then.

[@escay]

Thank you for this recap ❤ I started with the Finalscratch 1.1 full package after following the development of the N2IT prototype and saving up money. I still have the original package. My first unit broke down, audio card assignment failed for the second Philips chip. Got a new one which still works. Skipped the Stanton hardware version and went for the Native Instruments Audio 8 in 2008. Which is no longer supported, but still works fine on Windows 11 in 2024, 16 years old audio card. Running latest Traktor Pro 3. Unluckily Native Instruments no longer puts a lot of love in either the soundcard or the Traktor software.

[@djdoripan]

I Just order a piece of final scratch 1.1 but not idea how to run it nowasday...can u help me? Im tryring to run by Linux cd but it freezing @ "Setting Box UP".

[@escay]

@@djdoripan You probably need very old hardware. Latest chips are not supported. See also the video.

[@djdoripan]

following it my friend! i guess that intel 64bits plataform dont let us run it. @@escay

[@djdoripan]

i got an old pc days ago and tried to boot with linux cd but it frezzing into msg: "Setting Up Block Devices" . do u know about it?

[@FatboyBass]

Great video. I wish Linux still had native quality dj apps for modern controllers. ./serato would be nice

[@lauriran]

MIXXX

[@djquartz306]

This was my first ever DVS system back in 2003. I still have FS 1 & 2 kits.

[@swgtsander]

I also still got 2 FS records... they can still be used for other DVS software in 2023 and up

[@colinofay7237]

Awesome I had no idea this existed

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

Serato is the current day standard time code vinyl emulation.

[@AndrewTSq]

BeOS!!! I loved BeOS :D I was running that on my P100 if I remember correctly , so many cool features that I have not seen after that. Like something simple as downloading a file saved meta of where the file was downloaded from etc. Was very easy to develop software for it also.

[@shroomologist]

Interesting stuff, I resisted DVS for the many years since it's inception so I'm not familiar with the early incarnations of it at all but quite honestly what has been achieved there was very impressive for it's time. Probably not as impressive as the selection of tunes visible in the background while you're beat juggling though.

[@regend762]

My SL1 is still going strong and I gig with it. Now I am super curious about using FS 1.0 because it runs on Linux.

[@mindphaserxy]

Bad Boy Bill...DMC champion... Man I miss the 1990s

[@JP-tf4tb]

This kind of very niche topic is the reason i supose i'm a suscriber. Would be nice if you could make a similar video on soudtrackers, ASIO drivers, or anything like this FS video. Would be awesome seeing FS working on BeOS. Thank you, I even could view some scratching videos. Apologize my english. 🥰🥰

[@TheRasteri]

Thanks! yeah I'm hoping to do some more audio videos soon.

[@ArtPayne]

Weird thing is I JUST looked at my old Final Scratch amp (in the box) about 2 days ago. I was so scared when I played out with Final Scratch on my old little Macbook back in the day- I still carried MULTIPLE crates of real vinyl just in case. I remember NOT wanting to spend close to $500 for Serato and the SL1 but eventually bought it and NEVER looked back. Although I am not a scratch DJ or turntabilist - I still use Serato DVS today - One Technics 1200 and my Numark Scratch Mixer, Akai AMX or old Rane 57 today = It is still better than and more fun than many controllers (also have the Roland DJ 202 - oh and the FIRST Serato controller - Vestax VCI 300 )

[@jasonlandry7178]

Please do a review of Mixxx it also works on Linux but modern.

[@TheRasteri]

Yeah I've used Mixx quite a lot (and messed with its codebase). There are lots of mixx reviews already though, I'm not sure I could really add anything new.

[@kbhasi]

(7:32) If I recall correctly, that was a weird quirk of XFree86 and/or early versions of Xorg. That was likely the result of displaying whatever was left in video RAM. (10:03) Debian 2.2… Coincidentally, I had messed with that same Debian release on an industrial SBC a few months ago, but couldn't get it online as its Ethernet port was broken and I didn't have the time to repair it at the time.

[@swgtsander]

Thanks for this very interesting video! I saw that clip a couple of years ago from Carl Cox trying this out on a huge Linux laptop, but I never seen clear screenshots from this software ever before. Super interesting! What I really don't understand - even being both a software dev and a dj for over 25 years - what audio drivers did they use for Linux back then to get such a low latency to be able to scratch, like you did on 8:35??? Computers back then usually had a single-core cpu at around 800-1000 Mhz and 128-256MB RAM, or less. And laptops probably even less. Not even nowadays I get sound to run as properly as I want on Linux. It is still catastrophic to set up (at least on Ubuntu and Debian, which I use). I use Windows for djing and scratching/beatjuggling with Phase DJ, DJM-S11, Vestax PDX 3000 and Virtual DJ and sometimes Serato (which I hate, Serato is the worst DJ software ever). EDIT: sorry, I should have watched the video until the end before asking XD - but still, I don't understand, how this is running on 2001 linux and what audio driver is used.

[@edingacic546]

Great job m8 u did a nice video. I have FS2 and will set it up soon. Was surprised that NI again killed most of the devices by not making new drivers. History repeating ;) Do you think FS2 is closer to Rane?

[@SumUnicus]

I wanted to hear how the timecode vinyl soundslike :O

[@user-np6vy5sj3x]

@TheRasteri Awesome video. Thank you for uploading. So, what would be the equivalent of a moden version? In an ocean of modern software I see a lot of names popping up but they don't use turntables anymore as it's all integrated. Which brand/ model exists today where timecoded vinyl can be played along actual vinyl records through a mixer and laptop that is not discontinued and receives support? Many thanks 😊

[@TheRasteri]

I think the only one on the market currently is the reloop flux, but you can get a used Denon DS1 on eBay

[@user-np6vy5sj3x]

Thank you 😊

[@Paraboxify]

Does FS Linux install itself the same way Wubi did for Ubuntu? Neat to see something like that pop up again, kind of sad such projects are discontinued

[@TheRasteri]

yeah seems very similar in concept to Wubi , except the installation is done from boot instead of through Windows, and grub is installed instead of using the Windows bootloader. The root fs is an image file on the Windows partition.

[@Kaleb-Mayhew]

I'd love to see you control Doom with a dj setup.

[@scupakus]

Dope. Try of you can use it with mixxx on modern pcs. I was able to ryb it on old tablet with 2gb of ram so i guess its possible even on older desktop.

[@TheRasteri]

Linux kernel still has drivers for it so it'll work with mixxx for sure :)

[@jeffreylangan344]

I purhased Final Scratch on ebay a few years ago for less than $15 shipped. Everything was still sealed, but missing the timecodes. I could not get it to boot up even though I tried to load it on startup with the disk in the drive. Any suggestions on getting this thing to work? I just want to try out a piece of DVS history.

[@TheRasteri]

It took me a long time to build a computer that would run FS - had to try a lot of different motherboards/graphics cards/RAM configs/versions of windows. This video originally had a section discussing that but I cut it as it was too long already :) My advice might be to find a Sony VAIO laptop from around 2001, I think they were the "recommended" computer for using FS

[@Moonrakerd]

still looking for software and serial for 1.1 or 1.5, i have the scratch amp and timecode, in fact I have probably most dvs systems in my weird collecton, fs1 fs2 traktor 4,6, sl1, akai amx, djm850 and mixvibes to be properly weird :D

[@javierlleotomas3322]

I have the sound card since the times of the times, but I lost the software, do you know where I can get the iso? I'm interested in bringing it back to life

[@963design8]

Help! I got this classic scratch amp and the timecodes but I got tired of searching across the internet some backup for this software, linux or windows (scratch amp drivers + fs traktor 1.5) I just to had the CD but I losted it, I wish so hard to be able to use it again!

[@lutello3012]

I wanted to listen the timecode, cause I'm weird like that.

[@JohnSmith-iu8cj]

I have always used 1.5 under windows and was always unhappy with inaccurate sync. Looking forward to try 1.0 😂

[@JohnSmith-iu8cj]

I had an annoying audio hum on the audio out, was that common? It was a high frequency noise

[@RetroComputingwithMike]

I didn't understand why you needed to start with Windows? Will you be at MCH2022? 🙂

[@TheRasteri]

The Linux rootfs is stored on a FAT32 partition - also all your mp3s are stored on FAT32. I guess this is to make moving mp3s around easier. I can't make MCH, I'm at a wedding :(

[@RetroComputingwithMike]

@@TheRasteri interesting design, but I guess that was easier than including a filemanager in the linux environment 🙂 It's a shame about MCH, hope to meet you some other time then 🙂

[@djriskykut]

I just found my ver1 hardware is it possible to use it still?

[@David_Phantom]

Did you say "sort of like a Windows emulator" on purpose when talking about wine? If so, lovely subtle joke!

[@fffUUUUUU]

What's the joke?

[@David_Phantom]

@@fffUUUUUU Wine is a recursive acronym and stands for "Wine Is Not an Emulator"

[@TheRasteri]

never miss an opportunity to annoy pedants, I always say ;)

[@djquartz306]

The 1.1 speed issue was patched in an update. It was brutal.

[@DJHK007]

Wassup Bro? Can you upload the FS 1.5 Software please? i lost my install CD

[@Xeraser2]

Waiting for the followup...

[@kevlow5567]

Where can i get the FS 1.5 for windows?

[@corentindavid6522]

Hello, i hope someone can help me here… I recently bought the whole package of Stanton Final Scratch but I can’t install the software on my laptop… I tried on my MacBook Pro and on my laptop with windows but it doesn’t work when I put the CD in… If I understand well, I need to install Linux and an older version of windows to run the software ? Thank you very much for your help

[@sandwich2473]

Yeaaaaahhh postage from US to UK is an absolute nightmare just now for no reason It's astronomical

[@Moonrakerd]

btw I have a sealed 1.5 update :) just not sure if it has a license inside as need to record a video of unboxing and Im too lazy

[@djdoripan]

U found?

[@ptonpc]

I had no idea this thing existed.

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

it's no big deal.

[@GilesAWalker]

@@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777 enough of a big deal for you to make 4 comments.

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

@@GilesAWalker it's my right to comment - it's your right to sit there and count words. Your logic is flawed in the end - it's not a big deal. It was replaced by a superior product called Serato - but we use Vinyl as much as we can.

[@GilesAWalker]

@@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777 You sound very angry about this product, i hope you can some day find solace. Peace be with you, my brother.

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

@@GilesAWalker it's a piece of garbage.. no emotions attached 'brother' .

[@dereckwatson2667]

dmp - ebox 3350 compact pc is the drivers windows 98

[@roberte2945]

What is this channel and when the hell did I subscribe to it

[@steeldj69]

The Whirlwind Replicator have Zero Latency. Built in 1993/94 by Andre Rickli from Biel/ Bienne Switzerland.

[@TheRasteri]

if you know where I can borrow one I'd love to make a video about it :)

[@steeldj69]

@@TheRasteri Hi, I will ask André if he is interested. But the Whirlwind Replicator you will only find it in his Studio. The Idea of the Whirlwind Replicator he had already in 1985, but there was no Computer to do that Idea. Finally the Atari Falcon came out and he realised his Dream in only six months.

[@TheRasteri]

@@steeldj69 I might be willing to travel to see it...

[@ianjukseyjukes4358]

but can it run Crysis -- Sorry man,, - Good video,,

[@DanGamsby]

But I DID click on the video to watch you scratch!

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

yeah we were some of the early test guys in London Ontario. (home base of Aquaviva) - it never quite worked properly ever especially when you needed to use it.. like a Gig. Not a fan.

[@GilesAWalker]

ngl i sorta did mostly click on this video to see you scratch...

[@cosmefulanito5933]

Repeat after me: GNU/Linux or GNU with Linux. "Linux" is just a kernel. Not an operating system.

[@hanro50]

You cannot have an OS without the kernel. You can have a Linux OS without GNU...I am using one such an OS to tell you this right now actually. It is called Android.

[@cosmefulanito5933]

@@hanro50 Yes. But Android is not GNU/Linux GNU is replaced with other things. You can not have a OS with only a kernel. You are talking a different thing. Linux it's just a Kernel.

[@hanro50]

@@cosmefulanito5933 My other argument is that if we list gnu. We should also list other core components of a set Linux distribution. Thus I suppose we should instead call it SystemD/pipewire/gnu/kde/python/C/bash/Linux

[@cosmefulanito5933]

@@hanro50 You can not have a functional OS with Linux and KDE, or Linux and Python, or Linux and C, etc. You have a complete OS with Linux and GNU. You do not call OSX a "XNU distribution". The same way, you do not call Ubuntu a "Linux distribution". XNU and Linux are just kernels, like many others. Not complete OS.

[@Its303AcidBass]

I went from final scratch to torq and then to traktor.