Gogogo

How do you beat mix using Traktor? I know how to mix records on decks but
I'm finding the tempo stuff in Traktor confusing. I normally mix techno -
any tips or advice would be much appreciated.

Does Traktor learn the BPM constantly and only when the record is playing?
What do the large up and down arrows do in the pitch control? How does sync
work?

Also, how do you record in Traktor? i.e. to MP3 to listen to later.

TIA

Mo Saycool

"Gogogo" <go@go.com> wrote in message
news:A1Pxb.1195$PR.8283@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net...
> How do you beat mix using Traktor? I know how to mix records on decks but
> I'm finding the tempo stuff in Traktor confusing. I normally mix techno -
> any tips or advice would be much appreciated.

Not sure what version you're using. I use Traktor DJ Studio 2.1.1. Controls
might be different on the basic models, but principles should be the same.

How do you beat mix? I create a beat grid on each track first. You can mix
without, and just let Traktor sense the beats, but it's much more stable if
you do and you'll have more time to work the effects / loops.

Basically, you find the first kick beat (this obviously might be some way
into the track if it has an instrumental start), and click the padlock sign
next to the cue start window. Make sure you have the beat lock button (two
arrows and a line, just underneath the padlock) down, or you won't get right
on the beat. Then right-click on the cue start window to the left of the
padlock and change the cue marker to a beat marker. Then scroll through the
song adjusting the BPM until the beat marks are as close to the kick drum
beats as you can get them. You can adjust the recorded BPM by right clicking
on the word 'tempo' just above the BPM indicator and selecting 'edit BPM'.
Note: the beat grid is no good if the tempo of the song varies significantly
(e.g. the breakdown in the middle of Lil' Louis French Kiss)- if you have
tracks like that, just let Traktor find the beat.

> Does Traktor learn the BPM constantly and only when the record is playing?

Traktor does try to guess the BPM and is generally pretty good at it (some
of my tracks get 80% accuracy without setting a beat grid), but try with a
beat grid and I assure you you'll notice a big difference.

You can save the beat grid, marker and BPM information by unloading the
track from the deck and right-clicking it in the browser and writing the
data to the ID3 tag. Well worth doing this if you mark a load of tracks in a
session, as you'll lose all your work if it crashes before you save.

> What do the large up and down arrows do in the pitch control? How does
sync
> work?

Once you have a beat grid marked on a couple of tracks, set one running in
one deck and then load the other into deck 2. Hit the sync button on deck 2
and you'll see the BPM adjusts to match the track in deck 1. Then I line up
track 2 with the beat marker and use the Cue-Play button to drop the track
in. If you land it slightly out out, hit the sync button to line it up
again. You can then use the up and down arrows to make small adjustments
(like turning the spindle or brushing the platter on your technics 1200s) as
the tracks play.

> Also, how do you record in Traktor? i.e. to MP3 to listen to later.

To record your mix as you do it, just hit the 'record' button in the
automate section before you start. When you're done, you can save the mix
file or write a wav file of the entire mix using the two buttons in the top
of the automate section. NB. You need to have the application window
un-maximised to see the save / write dialog boxes appear on the screen after
you hit the buttons - bit of a bug there.

Note that the mix file only saves the movements you make with faders,
effects etc. and can only be replayed by someone else with Traktor, if they
have the identical mp3 files you used on their hard drive. You need to write
to wav to be able to burn to CD.

Have fun.

Gogogo

"Mo Saycool" <steveATdarcyryanDOTfreeserveDOTcoDOTuk> wrote in message
news:3fc87288$0$9395$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com...
<snip!>

Thanks for the excellent advice.

Do you have any recommendations for a dual output (that's what I need isn't
it?) sound card?

.... or is there any other solution you can suggest that will allow me cue
with headphones?

Dale Walker

On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 21:39:41 -0000, "Gogogo" <go@go.com> wrote:

>"Mo Saycool" <steveATdarcyryanDOTfreeserveDOTcoDOTuk> wrote in message
>news:3fc87288$0$9395$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com...
><snip!>
>
>Thanks for the excellent advice.
>
>Do you have any recommendations for a dual output (that's what I need isn't
>it?) sound card?

Most Surround Sound cards can be used for dual output. Just configure
the rear speakers for the headphones.


-------------------------------------------------------------
Dale Walker: dale@sorted.org
London Techno Events: london@sorted.org, london.sorted.org
Saiko: saiko@sorted.org, saiko.sorted.org

Gogogo

"Dale Walker" <dale@sorted.org> wrote in message
news:io3lsv0l3fhdnv4qlkoa1diih9phkfdqrm@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 21:39:41 -0000, "Gogogo" <go@go.com> wrote:
>
> >"Mo Saycool" <steveATdarcyryanDOTfreeserveDOTcoDOTuk> wrote in message
> >news:3fc87288$0$9395$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com...
> ><snip!>
> >
> >Thanks for the excellent advice.
> >
> >Do you have any recommendations for a dual output (that's what I need
isn't
> >it?) sound card?
>
> Most Surround Sound cards can be used for dual output. Just configure
> the rear speakers for the headphones.

Do you get as good quality sound out the rear speakers?

Gogogo

"Dale Walker" <dale@sorted.org> wrote in message
news:io3lsv0l3fhdnv4qlkoa1diih9phkfdqrm@4ax.com...
>
> Most Surround Sound cards can be used for dual output. Just configure
> the rear speakers for the headphones.

If I bought another cheap sound card, would that work if I plug them both
in?

Mindbomb

In message <kHwyb.2821$Hy3.2224@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net>, Gogogo
<go@go.com> writes
>"Dale Walker" <dale@sorted.org> wrote in message
>news:io3lsv0l3fhdnv4qlkoa1diih9phkfdqrm@4ax.com.. .
>>
>> Most Surround Sound cards can be used for dual output. Just configure
>> the rear speakers for the headphones.
>
>If I bought another cheap sound card, would that work if I plug them both
>in?

In theory - yes. Some cards are incompatible though as they use the same
IRQ's and can't be changed - I don't think that should be an issue with
most modernish cards.

--
AnotherMindbomb

Mo Saycool

"Gogogo" <go@go.com> wrote in message
news:xstyb.2496$PR.20179@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net...
> "Mo Saycool" <steveATdarcyryanDOTfreeserveDOTcoDOTuk> wrote in message
> news:3fc87288$0$9395$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com...
> <snip!>
>
> Thanks for the excellent advice.

You're welcome.

> Do you have any recommendations for a dual output (that's what I need
isn't
> it?) sound card?

I bought the Gigaport AG bundle off the Native Instruments web site. Does me
OK. I run the card out through my analogue mixer.

> ... or is there any other solution you can suggest that will allow me cue
> with headphones?

If you use the Giagport with a mixer like I do, I've found you can set up
the card to send the cue into the left ear and the program into the right
(or vice versa). That way you can mix entirely in the headphones if you like
(which enables me to mix with my 20-month-old son asleep next door).

Shoryuken

NO

unlike other dj'ing programs, traktor uses *only one* sound card, so, if you
want 2 stereo outputs, you need a sound card with several outputs.
I use a Sound Blaster 5.1 (SB live) and it works ok. As Dale said, you can
configure front and rear channels as 2 different outputs. Sound quality is
ok (rear sounds ok too).

But let me tell you something about Sound Blaster Live. It does not have
ASIO drivers written by Creative, so, if you want to use it for music
production (Cubase or Fruitty loops) you'll have to download the
"alternative" KX drivers. These are ASIO drivers for sound blaster live
written by a guy in the internet, but they are not certified by Creative.
Anyway, I use this Sound Blaster live with KX ASIO drivers and it works
perfectly with traktor, cubase and everything.




"Gogogo" <go@go.com> escribió en el mensaje
news:kHwyb.2821$Hy3.2224@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net...
> "Dale Walker" <dale@sorted.org> wrote in message
> news:io3lsv0l3fhdnv4qlkoa1diih9phkfdqrm@4ax.com...
> >
> > Most Surround Sound cards can be used for dual output. Just configure
> > the rear speakers for the headphones.
>
> If I bought another cheap sound card, would that work if I plug them both
> in?
>
>


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