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i need help learning to mix
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freakazoid
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Oct 25, 2004 02:47
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hi there,
i was thinking on trying to get a little feel of what djing is about. i wanted to know if there's a good computer program which simulates what a dj works with? (not music creation, but mixing). something like a mixer and cdj or something 
how would you say i should go at starting to learn this?
  Super-teen extraordinaire Freakazoid! Freakazoid!
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Jeto
Jeto
Started Topics :
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3252
Posted : Oct 25, 2004 04:05
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Native Instruments makes a program called Traktor
get it and enjoy...
It will give you a good idea about Djing
later on you can invest in CDJs or something ...
Good Luck 
https://www.djjeto.com |
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blueOrb
IsraTrance Full Member
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100
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Posted : Oct 25, 2004 05:17
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dude my advice.....chuck all simulator programs like traktor.....even i thought the same and spent a lot of time on traktor (pretty good on traktor now) but i reliased that its better to start out with a pair of basic cd players and mixer if u really wanna get all ur basics right.....
peace
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Older Mixes on
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blueOrb
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Oct 25, 2004 05:19
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freakazoid
IsraTrance Junior Member
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334
Posted : Oct 25, 2004 10:23
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psyk, i don't want to buy hardware stuff till i know i like this kind of stuff and that it's worth my money. then i might buy a mixer. i want this program just so i can understand a bit about the knobs and what generally should be done when mixing.
thanks for the help though, both of you.
Super-teen extraordinaire Freakazoid! Freakazoid!
Runs around in underwear Freakazoid! Freakazoid!
Rescues Washington D.C. Freakazoid! Freakazoid!
Unless something better's on TV Freakazoid! Freakazoid! |
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Trip-
IsraTrance Team
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Posted : Oct 25, 2004 11:22
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freakazoid... i honestly believe that to mix well with passion you need a good mixing deck with 2 nice cd players.
I can only suggest either buy it second hand and then sell it if you really dont' want it, or you can mix with your friend's equipment.
I don't think software can exchange hardware when it comes to mixing - although it's an option too.
Crackling universes dive into their own neverending crackle...
AgalactiA |
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Spindrift
Spindrift
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Posted : Oct 25, 2004 11:59
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I can't think of any advantages with CD players myself.
What i can see with traktor you have the following advantages:
1. Easy and quick access to your tracks.
The most important. Free to choose any track at anytime and easy finding and previewing.
Really helps you find the right tracks fast, leving more time for playing around with the mix.
2. Graphic waveform display.
Ok you get on some CD's nowadays as well. Great for me at least, because i don't like to have to sit and listen to the tracks over and over to learn them. If I have to listen to every track 100 times they don't feel as exciting for me to play really. Maybe it is considered part of what you have to suffer with as a DJ, but I don't want to suffer and play tracks i listened to death to.
After using traktor mixing with CD feels like mixing blindfolded.
3. FX.
Since I use my Pulsar DSP card connected to the laptop I have a wide range of high quality FX at my disposal. Also you can easily bring in loops or samples on top of the mix.
4. Easy mixing.
Ok, we all want to have great skills, and beatmatching used to be of those things you could impress with.
For me it never seemd like a very creative part of DJ'ing though. So if you now can just press a button to have the tracks lined up it not a problem I think, just focus your skills on a more creative part of DJ'ing.
5. Sound quality.
Regular DJ cd players have quite cheap converter technology compared to pro-range sound cards.
Also the all to common story of corrupted and skipping CD's is not a problem anymore.
To say that you NEED to have CD players to mix well and with passion is honestly for me totally incomprehensible. And belive me, it's only a matter of time before software will be more common than hardware for mixing.
Maybe someone of you can explain what the actual advantages is of using CD's, apart from sentimental or emotional issues.
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Trip-
IsraTrance Team
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Posted : Oct 25, 2004 12:55
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well for starters,
most places today where djs play - don't have traktor on a computer. There might be a development to that area and vanish all cdjs away...
Do you really think it will happen? if yes, when?
knowing djing the traditional way - is part of the learning process of how this all works - I think using the software should come after.
Of course if you think that press a button and viola there's a beatmatch is ok, then we disagree here.
beatmatching is one of those fun parts, after which you do many more creative and advanced things.
taste a pizza that was made with a machine, and taste a pizza that was cooked for you by a person. Maybe that's a lame comparison - but I still want those persons to be around and cook.
which pizza do you want to taste first?
Crackling universes dive into their own neverending crackle...
AgalactiA |
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Spindrift
Spindrift
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Posted : Oct 25, 2004 13:23
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Well, a CD is not really an analogue "hand made" thing to start with, so I fail to see the connection.
If you think that the machine does the work if you use traktor I think we have a very different view on what the work of a DJ actually consists of.
The main thing for me with food and DJ'ing is that it's made from good ingredients well combined and cooked. How it is made is not of great importance.
Sure the venues don't have a computer hooked up, and you probably want your own to know that it is configured to work with the controller you are used to and have a harddrive with your music installed asd well.
So there will probably never be laptops for the DJ's set up in the venues.
But I don't see the problem, the laptops is quite protable you know...not much more to carry than a few CD cases.
And you seem to agree that beatmatching is neither creative or advanced. I also don't think it's the fun part of DJ'ing.
I rather focus on the creative and advanced stuff myself, and just press that sync button to line up the tracks.
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Trip-
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
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Posted : Oct 25, 2004 13:58
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having 2 points of view on the subject isn't rare the author should make the choice anyway.
Crackling universes dive into their own neverending crackle...
AgalactiA |
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blueOrb
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
100
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Posted : Oct 25, 2004 15:28
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@spindrift....
i agree u can get some awesome mixes in traktor and yes traktor is more efficient than using players.....iam myself tryin to assemble the perfect portable kit for traktor.....have the faderfox and the x session along with a USB sound card in mind......buying a laptop would take time but i can do without it right now......
but common man a dj shld be able to cope in all situations.....and right now most of the clubs have cd players so one shld know how to mix on players too......knowing how to beat match being the first step.......
peace
New mixes on
http://soundcloud.com/blueorb
Older Mixes on
http://blueorb.podomatic.com/ |
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blueOrb
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Oct 25, 2004 15:43
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Spindrift
Spindrift
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Posted : Oct 25, 2004 16:12
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@Trip-
Sure, everyone to their own.
I'm trying to understand what would be the advantages of CDs compared to traktor, and was fishing for some kind of explanation why you "honestly believe that to mix well with passion you need a good mixing deck with 2 nice cd players".
@psyk
No...due to my experiences I try to stay away from USB. Probably there is ones that work ok nowadays, but I had to many experiences with USB products that don't manage to do what they promise.
I used same solution for 4 yrs myself, a magma PCI-PCMCIA box with a Pulsar card inside.
Little bit expensive solution, but then you have a very nice portable studio as well.
Anyway I would still recommend to try to find something based on firewire or PCMCIA, but it can maybe be difficult in that pricerange.
Maybe one of the combined controllers and USB soundcard would be an idea, like M-audio Ozone. If it can output two separate stereo channels that is, which i don't know if it can.
For me my contoller kb is fine for DJ'ing, although i would prefer to have a dedicated DJ contoller instead of course.
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« .....www.ResonantEarth.com..... »
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freakazoid
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
30
Posts :
334
Posted : Oct 25, 2004 21:02
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thanks for your opinions guys.
i actually want a software for mixing not as an alternative for the hardware, but as a practice till the time when i do buy a mixer or whatever. as such, i believe i should learn to beat match by myself. that is also the reason i was asking for a software which doesn't have many interesting and "better" software mixing appliances. i want something that would give me a taste of what mixing at a party is like.
i'll try the traktor. but i guess what i really need is someone to show me a few things (hint hint  ). till that time comes, i'll try and understand how to use it myself.
thanks again everyone
Super-teen extraordinaire Freakazoid! Freakazoid!
Runs around in underwear Freakazoid! Freakazoid!
Rescues Washington D.C. Freakazoid! Freakazoid!
Unless something better's on TV Freakazoid! Freakazoid! |
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Spindrift
Spindrift
Started Topics :
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Posted : Oct 25, 2004 21:58
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Ok...sorry for getting off topic and going in to defending mode for traktor DJ'ing.
BPM studio should fit your bill. It's pretty much just an emulation of a couple of CDJ's.
As for hint's about DJ'ing in general I would find it hard to give any.
When it comes to beat matching, it's just practice. Listen to the hats is what most ppl do to find the beat.
(``·.¸(``·.¸(``·.¸¸.·`´)¸.·`´)¸.·`´)
« .....www.ResonantEarth.com..... »
(¸.·`´(¸.·`´(¸.·`´``·.¸)``·.¸)``·.¸)
http://www.myspace.com/spindriftsounds
http://www.myspace.com/resonantearth |
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