Scratch Theory LLC

2012 Executive Summary

2012-01-04T17:44:00.001-08:00

Scratch Theory is a software plug-in for digital audio applications that allows users to play MIDI notes using a digital DJ interface, transforming scratching into traditional western music. This revolutionary approach to DJ software allows the translation of music expression between the turntables and traditional instruments- including piano, strings, woodwinds and brass, as well as percussion- through classic western music notation. What would Mozart sound like if he were a DJ? Scratch Theory may provide the answer…

2012 Outlook

Scratch Theory LLC is registered in Arizona and managed by Sparkysoft LLC, also of Arizona. Our start-up is seeking to compile our executive team consisting of:

- Software developers familiar with Max/MSP and interactive environments
- Research & Development mentors and partners
- Proposal writers familiar with SBIR and Education Application (EA) solicitations addressing the challenges of advancing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in music technology
- Accounting specialists able to produce 6-month budgets of up to $150,000.00 that include salary, daily expenses, and materials for a team of up to five (5) people.
- Specialists in the Small Business Capital Investment Tax Incentive Program or Income Tax Credit Provision
- Angel Investors with a passion for digital audio technology

Digital Audio Start-Up Seeks Student Development Team

2011-06-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

My name is Christopher Gallego. I am an Arizona State University student entrepreneur. My company is developing a digital audio software program using Max4Live and Max/MSP. I was the recipient of a pave grant two years ago and now my company is looking to expand our development team. We're looking to build a team of experienced ASU students to further the development of our prototype.

We're looking for students who are passionate about digital audio. We want to create the DJ software of the future: a program that transcribes and translates scratching into traditional western music notation. While our current prototype is based off the ms.pinky digital time-code vinyl and Max patch, potential developers would be asked to explore creating a Max4Live instrument plug-in for Ableton Live based off of the Serato Scratch Live time-coded vinyl patched in via The Bridge.

In exchange for their time and work in developing our prototype, potential team members who are interested in joining us can expect our company to seek additional funding through the numerous ASU grant competitions, including pave, the Innovation Challenge, and the EDSON competition. Should our team show exponential development results towards a viable product, our company is prepared to solicit a SBIR grant that will fund a Phase I, 6-month R&D period of up to $150,000 and Phase II commercialization process of up to $900,000.

Scratch Theory LLC is also looking for mentors. We are an interdisciplinary-minded company and have already garnered support from faculty in the School of Theater and FIlm, School of Music, and School of Law.

Interested candidates can send their resumes to admin@scratchtheory.com

Thank you.

Vote for us to win $25,000!

2011-06-02T12:21:00.001-07:00

ASU Entrepreneurship Video Interview

2011-05-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

What is Entrepreneurship at ASU? from Entrepreneurship at ASU on Vimeo.

Innovation Advancement Clinic Accepts Sparkysoft for 2011 Spring Legal Clinic

2011-01-21T00:28:00.000-08:00

The IAP in the offices at Skysong in Scottsdale, Arizona have once again accepted us to work with their student teams. This semester we will be focusing on drafting licensing agreements to use existing notation systems in out program. Previous benefits from the IAP include business and market analysis, contracts, LLC operating agreements, and IP assignments.

Scratchcon2012?

2011-01-18T00:41:00.000-08:00

Over a decade ago, Scratchcon2000 was a landmark event in the history of turntablist culture. Undoubtedly, simple fans like me witnessed the innovators of the time all converge upon the Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco. Inside the auditorium, we saw presentations and performances; outside I witnessed interviews and reactions. It was a day that influenced me forever.

Inspired by reminiscing after watching "Wave Twisters," the animated film and soundtrack produced by DJ Q-Bert, I've decided to begin preparing a proposal for Scratchcon2012. Scrathcon2012 will be an international turntablist conference and music festival with both presentations and performances celebrating turntablism with electronic performances by DJs and musicians.

I've been in Arizona for 6 years now, and coming from both a strong hip-hop and night club background, I feel that the potential for success with this idea could be huge with the right partnerships and strategy.

What I'd like to see is a weekend-long event, where one or two main days are dedicated to workshops and presentations during the day, followed by celebrations and performances at night.

Now surely this isn't a new idea- it's practically just holding a Winter Music Conference (WMC)-type event in the desert.

I think the most crucial, and therefore most difficult task is coordinating with the promoters and clubs.

Just as in Miami, I'm sure Old Town has its politics to be had.

Nevertheless, Sparkysoft will begin drafting our proposal for Scratchcon2012 in order to submit it in time for the EDSON grants awarded later this spring.

What have we done so far?

2011-01-16T03:50:00.000-08:00

December 2009: Awarded $5,000 from the performing arts venture experience (p.a.v.e.) initiative through the Arizona State University Herberger Institute of Art and Design's School of Theater and Film; additional $2,000 from ASU Skysong's Entrepreneur Advantage Program (E.A.P.) grant program.

January 2010: Skysong's Innovation Advancement Legal Clinic drafts LLC Operating Agreement, Non-Disclosure Agreements for consultants, and Independent Contractor Agreements for developers, as well as assigns the Intellctual Property (I.P.) to the LLC.

August 2010: Innovation Advancement Clinic team gathers real-number data on sales in the audio retail sales and manufacturing of the United States via NAMM figures across the entire category spectrum, focusing on both DJ gear and printed music sales over 2007-2009, as well as other categories such as plug-ins and other third-party programs with plug-in capability. Department of Education (DOE) funding recommended; Scratch Theory awarded second year p.a.v.e. funding.

November 2010: Small Business Initiative Research (SBIR) Phase I workshop completed and certified.

January 2011: DOE releases SBIR Fast-Track solicitations requiring both Phase I (R&D) and Phase II (commercialization) simultaneously; $1.05 million maximum award. Preparing proposal for 2012 solicitation.

So...what exactly is Scratch Theory?

2011-01-16T03:00:00.000-08:00

Scratch Theory is the DJ software of the future: a transcription and translation program that converts DJ scratching into traditional western music. Recently, I've decided to take a music education approach to our commercialization plan: our goal is to increase music literacy among DJs. Through a proposed community partnership with Scottsdale Community College's music department adjunct instructor Rob Wegner, our company would implement a new and innovative approach to scratch music education taught in SCC's disc jockey classes. But before I get in to exactly what this entails, let me give you some background history about myself.

I started DJing when I was 12. I came from the Rock Steady Crew school of turntablism. I started spinning for b-boy (breakdance) events. Crews like the Invisibl Skratch Piklz, X-Men (aka the X-ecutioners), Beat Junkies, and Bullet Proof Scratch Hamsters dominated the scene. The ideological thrust motivating this cultural wave was this: we, as turntablists, viewed the turntables as our musical instruments, and scratching was our form of musical expression.

It's a radical idea if you think about it- we're turning a device that was built to playback recorded sound into a device used to manipulate sound itself in a musical notion. But the critics were, and still are, opposed to this stance. Music is an ancient, almost sacred, institution, and those who have chosen it as their professions were trained in a strict fashion. Thus, some classically trained musicians scoff and turn their noses at the idea of some new instrument encroaching upon their sacred beliefs of what music is.

The burden of proof, then, is laid upon the turntablists: although we believe the turntable is a musical instrument, and we as turntablists are musicians, how can we prove it to those who doubt us? This is the question I wrestled with, until, in the summer of 2000, two events that occurred simultaneously (but separately) influenced and inspired me to create the foundation of what would become known today as Scratch Theory.

The first of these events was the Concerto for Turntable performed by DJ Radar featuring the turntable as the centerpiece of a symphony performance. The innovation here was Radar's adaptation of western music notation to represent his scratching. The other event was Scratchcon2000, the first large-scale international DJ conference where the ideas and concepts behind turntablism were presented and talked about amongst the leading DJs in a live forum-setting. Another form of notation was put forth here: Turntablist Transcription Methodology (or TTM for short) used a simple graphical representation of the back and forth movements of the record to represent visually different scratch movements.

As I sat and watched the TTM presentation, I realized that the answer to the turntablist debate could only be found one way: we would need to use the same definitions and terms classically trained musicians used to define what music is.

I can't spill too many beans without giving away the bean burrito, but here is where I believe our innovation comes from: suffusing both Radar's use of western music notation with TTM's implied physics and math. What results is a new, more advanced use of western music notation to represent scratching- the proof turntablism is, by definition, music.

Scratch Theory is, therefore, the turntablist's triumphant defeat, once and for all, to all arguments opposing the turntable as a musical instrument. We've still got a lot of development to push through before our prototype is ready, but I assure you this: the technology works, and our logic is sound.

Welcome to my new blog!

2011-01-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to become a well-rounded and complete business owner, I've taken the leap into the world of blogs. At times strange, but undoubtedly indispensable, blogs provide a low-cost (and even profit-producing) way for businesses and people to communicate with their fans, followers, and customers. I appreciate the way blogging empowers those who may not have the means to speak up with a new voice; I'm also frustrated with the inability of some people to think critically about what other write in their blog posts, especially when it comes to matters of politics. Nevertheless, the internet is definitely the final frontier of human interaction and possibility, and while I lean progressively left in my political views, as an entrepreneur and business owner I definitely have to, and truly do, embrace the spirit of enterprise. Therefore, my goal with this blog is to provide my company, Scratch Theory LLC, and outlet for discussions about our vision, goals, and strategies as a software start-up, not to rave and rant about issues in politics, although I'm not completely leaving that out of the realm of possibilities. I'm definitely looking forward to this process and want to thank anyone who reads this for expressing interest in what we're doing, regardless of your opinions.