Library of Congress Launches New Music Production Program: Citizen DJ

America’s Library of Congress is turning 220 years old this year and they need a DJ for their birthday party, are you in?

The Library of Congress has recently launched a beta version of their all-new music production application, Citizen DJ. The open-sourced, web-based app lets users dive deep into the library’s expansive collection of historical audio. Songs, samples, speeches, theatrical performances, historical audio recordings, and ambient soundscapes round out the applications vast selection of sounds now available to users.

Citizen DJ came to life after the library’s Innovator in Residence Brain Foo teamed up with LC Labs and came up with an idea to harness the seemingly infinite collection of audio contained within the library. This new platform strives to inspire, educate, and entertain music fans around the Globe. Foo reveals that all of the audio content contained within the application is free to use. Thus, Citizen DJ allows seasoned producers and curious audiophiles alike to create works all their own. All without any concern to copyright infringement, or licensing woes.

“My goal is to develop a simple way to discover and use public domain audio and video material for music-making so that generations of artists and producers can use it to maximize their creativity, invent new sounds, and connect listeners to materials, cultures and sonic history that might otherwise go unremembered. That’s what Citizen DJ is all about.”

– Brian Foo of Citizen DJ

Citizen DJ has just created a league of its own. The application sources recorded sounds from audio files ranging from 100 years ago to the present and every era in between. The beta for Citizen DJ launched on April 24, however, the full version of the application should be ready in-full by mid-summer.

While the program might currently be focused on hip-hop, there is no doubt that the same concept of sample culture applies to the dance music community as well. Sampling has been used across the wide range of genres under the electronic umbrella from house to electro swing. We’re eager to see what new music is produced with these samples in the future!

Foo is eager to optimize the experience for users around the world and needs your feedback before the beta trials close on May 15. Users can submit their feedback on the Citizen DJ Website . Follow the onscreen instructions, and you should be up and running, making beats in about 15 minutes.

Watch the Citizen DJ Premiere & Virtual Master Class video on YouTube:

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