This afternoon my new hercules dj console came. I decided to set everything up and installed the latest firmware + drivers. I then booted up traktor...
I delved into my folder of melodic and progressive trance and loaded up the tracks into the decks. The problem is i am just NOT getting the grasp of mixing and maintaining the rythmn. I am struggling even todo good fades in real-time.
This is soul destroying because i've been playing piano for over 15 year's now and have been producing for about 6/7 years.
It's ironic because i dont even want todo this DJ night, but it's a favour for a friend (if anything). The club i am playing in has played some of my remixes and productions and i think some people are actually intrested in having me dj for them.
I dont want to look like a complete idiot and not be able to mix anything. I also want to be able to take at least some requests and now come with a fully automated mix.
The problem is, i am a composer at heart, i don't even handle the final arrangement of my tracks or precussion, but work as part of a great trio, where i compose the melodys and program the synth patches and my other two friends handle the arrangement, mixdown & mastering.
I've tried virtual DJ but the same goes here, the problem is getting everything to lineup and cue right. I am seriously considering putting togther the mix in my sequencer then playing it out live and 'emulating' actual dj'ng. While this is a lie to the public, it's the only thing i can do at this stage and still have some confidence in music.
Any advice is good advice and even just the bare basic's would be useful.
i am feeling down at the minute and just can't get to grip's with this whole concept.
Hopefully someone can help!
DJ'ng nightmare! advice required
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Roland Babbage Roland Babbage https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=51895
- KVRist
- 118 posts since 17 Dec, 2004
Hi, I don't know how to DJ but I would say this: it's not a skill that you can learn overnight, no matter how many ignoramuses deride DJ-ing. So perhaps you need to politely turn down your friend. To learn in such a short time, you're going to need hands-on one-to-one tuition from an expert, and even then it's not a cert.
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- KVRer
- 15 posts since 28 Mar, 2005
Any particular part of the process that's confusing you m?
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 132 posts since 6 Feb, 2004
Got a load of questions.
How to use the crossfader correctly for example, cueing tracks, etc. The only thing i am not confused with is using the effects
Maybe you could give me a quick tutorial purusha? thanks in advance!
How to use the crossfader correctly for example, cueing tracks, etc. The only thing i am not confused with is using the effects
Maybe you could give me a quick tutorial purusha? thanks in advance!
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- KVRist
- 242 posts since 11 Jul, 2004 from Melbourne, Australia
maybe you should check out ableton live.
can simplify the whole beatmatching thing a great deal without too much work.
can simplify the whole beatmatching thing a great deal without too much work.
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- KVRer
- 15 posts since 28 Mar, 2005
I use hardware - CD decks and vinyl, but I guess the concept will be similar.
Sorry if some of this sounds basic, but here's my technique:
If it's CD, find the first kick drum on the incoming track. Set the cue point on that.
Trigger that against the already playing track. You need to adjust the tempo on the incoming track to roughly the same as the previous track. That might take a bit of practise.
When you're roughly in sync, start the second track and push / pull the track position via jog wheel 'til you get a kick match. If the tempo begins to drift, adjust the tempo and push / pull again.
Eventually you'll hopefully get a pretty good beat match.
Then when you're ready to mix (near the end of the outgoing track), trigger the new track to begin at the start of a phrase on the old track. Push / pull the new track 'til you're back on synchronised with the kicks.
Start to cross-fade to the new track, but as you're doing it - start to take out the kick drum of the original track with EQ. Continue to cross-fade 'til you're on the new track.
Those are the basics I use most of the time and there are plenty of tricks and various alternatives to this sequence.
Sorry if some of this sounds basic, but here's my technique:
If it's CD, find the first kick drum on the incoming track. Set the cue point on that.
Trigger that against the already playing track. You need to adjust the tempo on the incoming track to roughly the same as the previous track. That might take a bit of practise.
When you're roughly in sync, start the second track and push / pull the track position via jog wheel 'til you get a kick match. If the tempo begins to drift, adjust the tempo and push / pull again.
Eventually you'll hopefully get a pretty good beat match.
Then when you're ready to mix (near the end of the outgoing track), trigger the new track to begin at the start of a phrase on the old track. Push / pull the new track 'til you're back on synchronised with the kicks.
Start to cross-fade to the new track, but as you're doing it - start to take out the kick drum of the original track with EQ. Continue to cross-fade 'til you're on the new track.
Those are the basics I use most of the time and there are plenty of tricks and various alternatives to this sequence.
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- KVRist
- 441 posts since 8 Aug, 2003 from Bris, Aus
http://www.recess.co.uk/
IMO one of the better DJ resources as far as teaching yourself goes. While it's mostly focussed on vinyl and CD djing, it'll be applicable to what you're doing. purusha's got the whole thing in a nutshell, too.
You could also see if any of your local record shops do a "how to DJ" course, there's a bunch where I live that have their flyers pinned up everywhere. They might not do computers but once again it'll be fairly similar to what you're doing.
btw, it'll take some practice ...
alternatively: get Live 5, it's pretty good for effortless DJing
IMO one of the better DJ resources as far as teaching yourself goes. While it's mostly focussed on vinyl and CD djing, it'll be applicable to what you're doing. purusha's got the whole thing in a nutshell, too.
You could also see if any of your local record shops do a "how to DJ" course, there's a bunch where I live that have their flyers pinned up everywhere. They might not do computers but once again it'll be fairly similar to what you're doing.
btw, it'll take some practice ...
alternatively: get Live 5, it's pretty good for effortless DJing
-Veg
(:
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