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Posted by Haunted on Aug-29-2002 01:24:

fading techniques

was wondering what you guys use as fading techniques
I hear the pro's use volume faders and keep the xfaders in the middle
what do you guys do?

Posted by DJ LIQUID on Aug-29-2002 01:26:

i use both

the crossfader to bring it in...and the volume faders to fade out

if im just cutting fast i just use the crossfader

Posted by mikefasssy on Aug-29-2002 02:49:

yea i switch it up all the time. i even heard of someone using the gains to mix!!!!

Posted by TBA on Aug-29-2002 10:34:

I only use the cross-fader for scratching (not very often). I use volume to fade in the new track and I also sometimes use the gain if a track is significantly louder/softer. I adjust the gain so that when I have the track at the desired volume the volume slider is at 0. Personally I'd lurrrrrve a Rane rotary mixer and get rid of the cross-fader all together.

Posted by Dj Thy on Aug-29-2002 11:00:

Same here, mixing with the line faders, and using the xfader for scratching and fast cutting (hmm, now that I think about it, even then...).

Posted by JohnSmith on Aug-29-2002 15:19:

Well, i'm different from everyone i guess. I use the cross fader exclusively. I leave the volume faders at 100% pretty much the whole time. I just use EQs and gain to get the songs the right volumes, and slide it on over.

Posted by Subsonik on Aug-29-2002 17:31:

quote:
Originally posted by mikefasssy
yea i switch it up all the time. i even heard of someone using the gains to mix!!!!

I mix with the gains...i can better fade with the gains as with the faders

Posted by Arty on Aug-29-2002 17:36:

Using the faders gives you a lot more control, as you can adjust each track individually and keep a good eye on your levels. Xfaders are also smaller, so you can't be as subtle. Most pros don't use the xfader for exactly this reason.

You certainly shouldn't use the gain - that's for adjusting levels so that when the two tracks are on 100% on the faders they're at the same average volume, which is fairly essential.

Posted by fieroavian on Aug-30-2002 08:38:

oh yea that reminds me. john '00' fleming was using the volume faders when i saw him live last sunday, he wasn't using the crossfader at all! i was like, maybe the mixer has a different setup? didn't know that was a better way to mix.

Posted by Dj Thy on Aug-30-2002 09:37:

Just think it of that way

A regular fader on a mixer measures 60 mm (you got 100 mm faders too). This 60 mm is used for the full 0 to 100% volume.

Now a regular crossfader measures 45 mm. Let's assume it has a normal curve and no dip, meaning the volume will be at full in the middle.
So that means that to go from 0 to 100% volume you only have half of 45 mm, that's about 1/3 of the course you have when using the line faders.

You can say, well yeah, but when you use the xfader you only have to move one thing instead of two. Agreed, but keep in mind the increase/decrease volume ratio will always be the same (for example 10% increase of the new channel will always be 10% decrease on the outgoing channel). Sometimes you may want to decide for yourself what ratio you want to use.

If you consider all this, you can say overall the use of the line faders give you more control.

Posted by mixtup on Aug-30-2002 14:33:

shouldn't line faders be left in the middle (i.e as indicated on the mixer) so as not to distort the track?

Posted by b0bb0 on Aug-30-2002 15:00:

I use a combo of all, i slart to slide the cross fader to the middle while adjusting the volume then fade it out with the vol and gains..

Posted by Dj Thy on Aug-30-2002 16:11:

quote:
Originally posted by mixtup
shouldn't line faders be left in the middle (i.e as indicated on the mixer) so as not to distort the track?

Erm... ???
Line faders are the channel faders. They just control how much of the available signal is outputted. You must first adjust the gains so you got an acceptable level, then it doesn't matter where the line faders are. But for dj's it's common to set it that way that you got the "playing level" when the line fader of the corresponding channel is fully open.

Posted by New Wave on Aug-30-2002 20:48:

I use the gain a lot...crossf. i use it to a lot, it's nice when i spin techno.

Posted by mixtup on Aug-31-2002 13:54:

what I meant was shouldn't you try to keep the output lights in the 0 db zone.
I understand that anything in the +3 or +6 zones will result in clipping.
Am I right?

Posted by Dj Thy on Aug-31-2002 19:31:

Well yes and no, depends on the audio signal. You should try to AVERAGE the vumeters around 0dB. It's perfectly safe to have your peaks in the reds. As long as it doesn't stay there.

Posted by hey cheggy on Sep-03-2002 14:36:

It shouldn't clip at +3 to +6. I know my mixer is "supposed" to clip a lot higher than that.

I never use the volume faders, I'm always using the cross fader, but i play a lot of techno as well. I find you can do a hell of a lot more by using the cross fader than the channel fader.

And Thy, what your saying about the 10% doesn't make sense. Moving the cross fader on most curves will only affect the volume of one track, not both. It will increase channel 1 when moving to the centre, but channel 2 will stay at full volume to the centre, and then channel 2 will decrease after the centre point and channel one will stay at full volume. Obviously, each mixer has a different curve, if not adjustable, but i'm not aware of any curves that are actually shaped like a cross

Posted by CrackedLcd on Sep-04-2002 02:29:

When spinnin hip-hop I use the crossfader only...I don't touch the channel faders....I use my gains to match the volumes...but when playin trance I keep the crossfader in the middle and use the channel faders...