DJs Threads

Went to a store and was told about the Numark Mixtrack Pro, so maybe I'll go for that.
Just some nOObish questions.

What's the difference between a 2 channel and 4 channel?

Oh yes what exactly is the timecode? I've seen people been able to control the set with Pioneer turntables just by plugging in they soundcard to the turntable and nothing else extra. Is this the use of timecode? What kind of soundcard do I need? I currently have a Maya44 USB, is this sufficient?
 
tsume said:
Went to a store and was told about the Numark Mixtrack Pro, so maybe I'll go for that.
Just some nOObish questions.

What's the difference between a 2 channel and 4 channel?
Click to expand...
Hardware mixer - One got 2 channels for incoming signals and the other have 4. :)
You either can use 2 channels for the software or all 4,or use 2 for the virtualdj and the other 2 for external sources like cd players in case your software crash.
Software - Using the MC3000 as an example - It's a 2 channel controller BUT you can play with 4 DECKS in the software by flipping through the decks using the same 2 channels.
Channel is Deck A/C and channel 2 is Deck B/D.For most people 4 channels is a waste,unless you want to use it for backup.

tsume said:
Oh yes what exactly is the timecode? I've seen people been able to control the set with Pioneer turntables just by plugging in they soundcard to the turntable and nothing else extra. Is this the use of timecode? What kind of soundcard do I need? I currently have a Maya44 USB, is this sufficient?
Click to expand...
With time code you control the software with cd's or vinyls which contain the tone signal.However,timecode has limited use.When using timecode on cd you can't use your cdjs built-in effects,auto beat loop and master tempo.You'll have to use these in the software.VDJ's timecode is free on the website if you use cd players.If you use turntables you need to buy the time code vinyls.With timecode you can't control video,well you actually can but you need an expensive midi mixer to move the crossfader.

Maya44 is perfect.It was so popular that they brought it back after it was discontinued.If you have cd players and mixer all you need is the laptop.Since you are looking into budget friendly options,rather go for the mixtrack pro.

edit:nice thread by the way
 
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tsume said:
Went to a store and was told about the Numark Mixtrack Pro, so maybe I'll go for that.
Just some nOObish questions.

What's the difference between a 2 channel and 4 channel?

Oh yes what exactly is the timecode? I've seen people been able to control the set with Pioneer turntables just by plugging in they soundcard to the turntable and nothing else extra. Is this the use of timecode? What kind of soundcard do I need? I currently have a Maya44 USB, is this sufficient?
Click to expand...

Well its simple really; with a 2 channel mixer you'll have 2 inputs (2 cd player/turntables/laptop audio) or in the case of the Numark, 2 outputs; this means you'll need a separate to plug into.
With 4 channel, same as above, except its 4.

Timecode is an audio code stored on vinyl or cd that gets interpreted by the software. For interest sake, it is tone, generally 1200Hz with addititional timestamps. The speed of the media (cd/vinyl), relates to the frequency i.e at 1000Hz, the pitch will be lower. The timestamps indicate whether the media is moving forward or backward. This is my interpretation/over simplification and is not admissible in court.

The maya interface will be perfect (i think); I've had success just running a phono signal from turntables into my laptop. In theory it should'nt work, as the signal is required to be line level. I have'nt even used the software phono pre-amp. It may be an anomaly.
Anyway, what you'll need is a copy of http://www.mixxx.org
Its a free dj software, which timecode capable (only serato at this stage)
A copy of timecode, downloadable from serato scratchlive site (last I checked), which you'll burn to cd. Or a serato scratchlive vinyl.
Plug the cd/record players into your interface and you should have a diy Digital vinyl system.
Thats the theory of course.

It will be cheaper to with the Numark though, unless you have access cd/record players.

Cheers
 
Biggie said:
Hardware mixer - One got 2 channels for incoming signals and the other have 4. :)
You either can use 2 channels for the software or all 4,or use 2 for the virtualdj and the other 2 for external sources like cd players in case your software crash.
Software - Using the MC3000 as an example - It's a 2 channel controller BUT you can play with 4 DECKS in the software by flipping through the decks using the same 2 channels.
Channel is Deck A/C and channel 2 is Deck B/D.For most people 4 channels is a waste,unless you want to use it for backup.


With time code you control the software with cd's or vinyls which contain the tone signal.However,timecode has limited use.When using timecode on cd you can't use your cdjs built-in effects,auto beat loop and master tempo.You'll have to use these in the software.VDJ's timecode is free on the website if you use cd players.If you use turntables you need to buy the time code vinyls.With timecode you can't control video,well you actually can but you need an expensive midi mixer to move the crossfader.

Maya44 is perfect.It was so popular that they brought it back after it was discontinued.If you have cd players and mixer all you need is the laptop.Since you are looking into budget friendly options,rather go for the mixtrack pro.

edit:nice thread by the way
Click to expand...

You beat me to it.
 
i wish i could get timecodes working with the mc6000 :(
 
Hey man, I reckon it would take some hacking to get it to do timecode. The mc-6000 does'nt produce its own sounds. Its integration with virtual dj is quite good i've heard. So you're stuck with midi for now.
Cheers
 
Where do most of you guys get your music from? I'm talking about house, electro etc.
If you go to a CD store your most likely to get a compilation of songs and more even the songs may mixed by some other DJ, which we don't want :p

More so, how do you guys keep up with the latest music? By this I mean how do stay ahead of the curve in music trends? Do you listen to radio constantly, billboard charts?
 
If anyone here likes deep squelchy psytrance (140bpm) please take a listen to my latest set:

http://soundcloud.com/cam-psy/psy-cam-2012-jan211

@Tsume: None of the stuff i like can be found in music shops, I do most of my downloading via peer to peer, if i like what i hear and i want to use it in a set I will go and buy a high quality version of it on Beatport. I tend to sift through loads of crap before i find a winner tune, if i had to buy all that music i'd be bankrupt. But at least i support the artist with the tunes I really like.
 
Was bored this afternoon, instead of doing work I did this.
http://soundcloud.com/alphawolftsume/session

Still need a lot of work/practice. When I realised how many eff ups I made I decided to stop. If you wondering what I mixed with:
maudio1.l.jpg
 
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I just got a projector, so using VDJ I can play and mix videos like I see late at night on Channel O. Unfortunately I don't have that many quality music videos. Is there any effect which I can get which will keep them screen busy like some acidy/rave stuff while I just play normal mp3s?

Oh yeah, does any have the Pioneer 2000 skin for a 1280x768 screen? I have the skin but the one I have is to large for my screen.
 
How many DJs are active on this forum? This thread seems to have started and died. Are there other DJ forums in ZA?
 
For those using software, which do you prefer?
The Traktor interface just seems to get more complicated with each release, so I ended up using Virtual DJ and each release is way better than the last.

I just got Serato Intro and I like the fact it's main focus is to make it easier to use the controller. Maybe it's just my version but I couldn't find out how to preview a track and I think if you try let the software synchronize songs for you it always seemed to choose the wrong bar in the song to synch with.

I'll try the new Tracktor sometime this week, I've got the LE version, last time I tried it was with the scratch pro.
 
When just fooling around entertaining myself I use Virtual DJ - don't think I'd use it live if and when I go live. Have been trying to get into Traktor, with a Behringer controller, works well - better than Virtual DJ. Tried to bridge Traktor into Ableton with software - Jack v1.9.7 (don't have money for Rane) and then do stuff at the same time with a novation launchpad and a apc40, that's my ultimate dream - and some other toys - a kp3 and kaossilator maybe. It's more than a 1 man job all this.
 
tsume said:
For those using software, which do you prefer?
Click to expand...

Producing: Ableton Live/Cubase
Dj'ing: Ableton Live

:D

I like Traktor but setting up my Xone 4D is extremely time consuming because you have to map each midi controll through the midi properties and end up just downloading a template anyways. Ableton's Midi learn is the bomb, just click learn, turn or press whatever you want assigned and presto. Not too mention you can adjust maximum and minimum values on each controll.
 
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