Final Scratch is a DJ tool created by the Dutch company N2IT with input from Richie Hawtin (aka Plastikman) and John Acquaviva that allows manipulation and playback of digital audio sources using traditional vinyl and turntables. It seeks to cross the divide between the versatility of digital audio and the tactile control of vinyl turntablism. Final Scratch uses special vinyl records pressed with a digital timecode, which are then played on normal turntables. The timecode signal is interpreted by a computer, connected to the turntables through an interface called the ScratchAmp. The signal represents where the stylus is on the record, in which direction it is traveling, and at what speed. This information is interpreted by the computer and used to play back a digital audio file which has been 'mapped' to the turntable. In practical terms, this means that any audio file can be manipulated as though it was pressed on vinyl. Features Final Scratch offers the ability to play audio tracks unavailable on vinyl e.g. pre-arranged loops, unreleased music or rare tracks. Furthermore, it allows the use of CD deck features (software permitting) such as keylock, pitch shift, looping, instant cue locating and visual indicators of audio features such as loud or quiet parts, and the ability to prevent needle skips on the vinyl being reflected in the playback of the audio track being played/controlled (software permitting). However, it comes at the expense of reliability; depending on the hardware/software configuration used, vinyl emulation systems may use more system resources than some laptops or PCs offer, making them unsuitable for this use. History The original Final Scratch concept and prototypes were developed by the Dutch company N2IT V.O.F, by Mark-Jan Bastian, with help from Tim Hemel and Bill Squire. It has passed through multiple stages of development. These stages are marked by involvement with different companies, hardware configurations, software developers, licensees and licensors, and operating systems. Pre-release Final Scratch was originally developed for BeOS. Versions 1.0-1.5 All versions of Final Scratch 1 use the same Scratchamp, a USB and RCA device in a round aluminium shell. The technical specifications of this device have been closely guarded by Stanton as an anti-piracy measure, though some users, unsatisfied with the latency and instability of the system, have alleged the use of faulty Philips sound chips which had already been withdrawn from the market. However, the same chipset was being used in