New to DJing or production? Need help or advice? Post here

ianuss

Eddie Ere wrote: »

My Xponent is just after being shipped. Cheers for all the help. Will be getting the monitors when I save a few more cents.

Awesome. Enjoy!

Zascar

I think you click the Quantize button to solve that Rizla. Don't have traktor on this pc to text but its one of the buttons up there

electrogrimey

Rizzla King wrote: »

Hi guys, just a question.....

Got upgraded to Traktor Pro there, I'm not the best at setting loops.

Is there anyway to set the looping like it is in Traktor LE? Like when you set a cue it always sticks to the bars?

Have an Omni Control and its basically just a loop in loop out thing so I'd have to be bang on right with the cues.

At the top in the centre there's a little box called 'snap', just beside quantize, check that box and it should fix your problems!

Rizzla King

Nice one guys, was wreckin me head!:mad:

ED E

That reminds me, I need to map snap on/off. Its really handy at times, but when the vocal is out of sync with the beat its a pain.

Zascar

Oh yeah cheers Frankie. Quantize is the one that lets you jump around between parts of the track or cues while remaining in sync.

Riza keep the manual hands for things like this, just do a CRTL+F and search for the word you want: http://thedtowncrew.com/l0ckd0wn/Files/Traktor_Pro_Manual_English.pdf

Rizzla King

Nice one

Zascar

Lads actually one thing that really bugs me with Traktor pro, is the inability to sort tunes by date. Sometimes I just want to see the last few tracks I downloaded - you could do this in Virtual DJ easily. Anyone know if its possible to do in Traktor Pro?

I was thinking of some form of program that could write the "Created Date" into the notes or something...

electrogrimey

Zascar wrote: »

Lads actually one thing that really bugs me with Traktor pro, is the inability to sort tunes by date. Sometimes I just want to see the last few tracks I downloaded - you could do this in Virtual DJ easily. Anyone know if its possible to do in Traktor Pro?

I was thinking of some form of program that could write the "Created Date" into the notes or something...

Yep, you can do it easy. First off, sort your iTunes by last imported, then start Traktor, and go to the 'music' folder under the iTunes tab, and it'll always be the same as how your iTunes is sorted. The 'library' folder is always by artist I think, but not the music folder.

Zascar

Cheers. Ok that sounds great, if you use iTunes. I'm an iTunes retard. Obviously I don't really know how to use it properly but I find that it works grand if all you have are cd's and albums - but it's a pain in the ass for managing dj style music - lots of random tunes. Although, I am willing to give it a shot and learn to use it properly, so where do I start?

Another annoying factor is that I have all my music and manage it etc on my desktop cd - but when I'm playing out I have to transfer it all onto my macbook.

electrogrimey

Zascar wrote: »

Cheers. Ok that sounds great, if you use iTunes. I'm an iTunes retard. Obviously I don't really know how to use it properly but I find that it works grand if all you have are cd's and albums - but it's a pain in the ass for managing dj style music - lots of random tunes. Although, I am willing to give it a shot and learn to use it properly, so where do I start?

Another annoying factor is that I have all my music and manage it etc on my desktop cd - but when I'm playing out I have to transfer it all onto my macbook.

Ah, was expecting you to use iTunes. I'd say it's worth the time to switch over, I love it, and Traktor would be impossible for me without it. You can make playlists in iTunes (which is much quicker than in Traktor) and transfer them straight into the crates.

If you open up iTunes it should give you the option to search your computer for music, let it do that, and it should get all the music you have. The only problem with this is that all those tracks are going to have been imported the same time, so you'll only be able to start sorting by date with the next track you import.

I'd say it's worth the time transferring over to iTunes and sorting it properly, should work better with Traktor then whatever you're using now.

flyswatter

Just a question.

I'm thinking of starting DJing and will most likely be going down the digital route.

I have a Dell laptop and an external hard drive.

I use an M-Audio Fast Track Ultra as my soundcard and it has plenty of outputs.

I have a Native Instruments Maschine and I've heard this can be used as a hardware controller with Traktor. It comes loaded with a template for Traktor Pro.

I just have to get a copy of Traktor Pro now. Is there anything else I need or is this suitable for digital DJing?

ED E

A decent set of cans:)

Also, I'd avoid external HDDs. They're very vulnerable to any kind of knocks or vibrations. Internal 500GBs are cheap enough nowadays and fitting them is childsplay.

The Native Instruments Maschine is good, but its more of a sample pad than a DJ controller.



Difference in layout is quite apparent. Could be done, but it would be awkward. The Maschine is geared towards DAWs like Ableton rather than likes or traktor.

flyswatter

Thanks Lethal Bullet.

I reckon I've a good set of headphones.

Don't plan on getting a controller like the one you posted, I think the Maschine will be grand for what I want to do even if it's not primarily a DJ controller.

I have a 500gb drive in my laptop but don't want to fill it up with music, I see your point about the extra internal drive though.

Are 320kbps mp3s sufficient for DJing or is it ok to use less?

Zascar

Too much music = worse DJ. Quality over quantity.

Yes 320 will be fine generally. Stay away from the lower bitrates. I'm pretty sure the playing a 128 will result in a massive heart attak.

ED E

flyswatter wrote: »

Are 320kbps mp3s sufficient for DJing or is it ok to use less?

That debate is never ending. Some people say only FLACs, others have no issues with 128 MP3s.

IMO, it depends where you're playing. If you're pumping out top 40 stuff in your local mainstream venue, then 99% wont notice the difference, especially in places like the one nearest me where the sound system is in the red for 3/4 of the night. If you plan on doing a specific night/genre, then there will be people who actually have musical taste, and will care if the quality is shoite. Just my 2 cents anyways.

electrogrimey

flyswatter wrote: »

I have a Native Instruments Maschine

Where do you live, and at what times is your house empty?

Rizzla King

Hi again guys, sorry to be asking a load of questions but just one thing thats wrecking me head...

Looking to set up a live stream show thing, have a webcam that came with an external mic(which is pure cack).

Any ideas how I use the internal sound or whatever? Have a desktop not a laptop now with an omni control with a built in soundcard...

Sorry again!

ED E

If you run your master out into an RCA and stick that in the line in on the PC, then select that as streaming source rather than your USB Webcam mic, it should do it.

Suppose it depends on what you're streaming with.

robbie b

hi i recently started djing parties like 21st but id really like to be a wedding dj, iv observed a few wedding dj's over the last couple of weeks and i was wondring if there is any dj's reading this could they help me. i was wondering if someone could send me a playlist of what songs they play in there set from start to finish

ThirdMan

I'm basically looking for tips on how to effectively use the EQ when mixing two tracks together.

Hi's and mid's aren't so much of a problem (although any advice is welcome). I'm more so struggling with the bass. I'm not too keen on cutting the bass on one track while I drop in the other. I much prefer smooth mixes, but I'm having trouble with the, ehh, smoothness.

Thanks.

ED E

OT But the spanish know how to party. Their "top 40" DJs arent really that top 40 so to speak and are willing to play slightly less well known stuff. Major lazor ft Axel F, gotta love it. We be suyperstylin.

So pissed I missed angello though, and ingrosso was on ast week and axwell two before that. That said, there are far too many lads in spain

electrogrimey

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

OT But the spanish know how to party. Their "top 40" DJs arent really that top 40 so to speak and are willing to play slightly less well known stuff. Major lazor ft Axel F, gotta love it. We be suyperstylin.

So pissed I missed angello though, and ingrosso was on ast week and axwell two before that. That said, there are far too many lads in spain

Definitely OT mate, try the random thread

electrogrimey

ThirdMan wrote: »

I'm basically looking for tips on how to effectively use the EQ when mixing two tracks together.

Hi's and mid's aren't so much of a problem (although any advice is welcome). I'm more so struggling with the bass. I'm not too keen on cutting the bass on one track while I drop in the other. I much prefer smooth mixes, but I'm having trouble with the, ehh, smoothness.

Thanks.

It depends on the track really. Do a bit of research into harmonic mixing. Try and get tracks whose keys compliment eachother, that way, even if both basses are playing full whack it'll still sound ok.

A simple thing to do is cut the bass on the track you're bringing in, bring up the upfader 70% ish, then start bringing in the bass on it, and take the bass on the playing track down a bit, keep bringing up the fader, and slowly bringing one bass up and the other down.

ThirdMan

electrogrimey wrote: »

It depends on the track really. Do a bit of research into harmonic mixing. Try and get tracks whose keys compliment eachother, that way, even if both basses are playing full whack it'll still sound ok.

A simple thing to do is cut the bass on the track you're bringing in, bring up the upfader 70% ish, then start bringing in the bass on it, and take the bass on the playing track down a bit, keep bringing up the fader, and slowly bringing one bass up and the other down.

Great advice man, cheers.

steloide

Hi everyone, I have made a few tunes at home from my laptop and would like to get some feed back from people that are NOT friends and family. Also if there is anyone that can direct me or has a contact that can direct me. There is a remix of Little Dragons, My Steps. Check them out c what u think all feed back is wecome.

Thanks for your time!!



http://soundcloud.com/stefan-carroll



http://www.youtube.com/user/stefancarroll

ianuss

ThirdMan wrote: »

I'm basically looking for tips on how to effectively use the EQ when mixing two tracks together.

Hi's and mid's aren't so much of a problem (although any advice is welcome). I'm more so struggling with the bass. I'm not too keen on cutting the bass on one track while I drop in the other. I much prefer smooth mixes, but I'm having trouble with the, ehh, smoothness.

Thanks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk0WXzo-xbc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEEe_xxmKBg

steloide

Hi, I'v had that problem for years, I thougt it was my choice of tunes then i thought it was my mixer then i thought it was me so got into making my own tunes and i opened up a bigger can of worms. I use traktor pro (it gives time for effects and for this problem) and when i'm mixing i turn down my bass a little each time with the other completely down and when there is a break down i bring in the other bass its never 100%but when it is its sick. I'v played my mixes for alot of people they dont seem to notice when i do. Maby thats the problem??????

hans aus dtschl

Most people don't seem to notice that I'm awful at mixing, so I think once you're mixing and it doesn't sound TERRIBLE people will mostly focus on the tracks...
For what it's worth, maybe people not noticing what you're doing when you're mixing is a good thing?

Eddie Ere

As I stated earlier in this thread I'm looking or a set of speakers, and after much research I'm delberating splashing the cash:

http://cgi.ebay.ie/KRK-Rokit-RP5-G2-Active-Studio-Monitor-Pair-NEW-/280540990572?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Consumer_Professional_RL&hash=item41518bcc6c#ht_2515wt_911

Worth it? What do you guys reckon?

Also quite a stupid question but could I plug these directly into my laptops headphone socket for "regular" listening?