basically, how to mix with a computer ?

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-- basically, how to mix with a computer ?

Posted by noikeee on Dec-31-2002 00:42:

basically, how to mix with a computer ?

pretty dumb question you pro dj's may think.. but as a begginer I'm having some serious problems with this.

first of all, what's a program that can effectively beatmatch automatically? Atomix is a bit too basic, i just don't like it.. I use Traktor but in many tracks it just fucks up the transitions.. the tracks keep going out of syncronization..

second, is it possible to mix smooth without having to install a second sound card to have a separate channel for headphones?

third, a bit more technical aspect, what can be done to avoid the "clash" between hi-hats and general treble sounds ? I try going on the EQ, compensating treble in both channels, but or I don't do this properly or a different technique needs to be used. Some tunes seem have to fucked up hi-hat patterns that sound bad in transitions, for an example Exposure - Magic Impuls.

I just want my mp3 mixes to sound smooth.. what I haven't been able to do so far

please help

Posted by Tony Morello on Dec-31-2002 01:22:

practice
you're not going to become a dj instantly
even with auto beatmatching (which you should just ignore cause most of the time it's off anyway)

and you might want to check this thread
that's what it's there for
http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...?threadid=82271

Posted by benfica88 on Dec-31-2002 02:03:

Re: basically, how to mix with a computer ?

Posted by VaNFeCto on Dec-31-2002 02:09:

Re: basically, how to mix with a computer ?

Posted by dvd on Jan-01-2003 02:59:

hehe i'm gonna use traktor, hopefully it works well. so i'm moving from real tables to computer =p =(

Posted by TempesTrip on Jan-01-2003 09:47:

use pcdj its the only software to use when using dj software. for starters the sound engine in that program is incredible. better then winamps and anything else i've heard so far out of any product. and the features it includes will take a bit of time to learn and get used to but as with anything its not an overnight success. if chose to use it and need help with it lemme know i'll be more then willing to help

Posted by spike_boy69 on Jan-01-2003 16:47:

quote:
Originally posted by TempesTrip
use pcdj its the only software to use when using dj software. for starters the sound engine in that program is incredible. better then winamps and anything else i've heard so far out of any product. and the features it includes will take a bit of time to learn and get used to but as with anything its not an overnight success. if chose to use it and need help with it lemme know i'll be more then willing to help

ok i HAD that.
First - of it doesnt have any from of EQ so thats really not helpful.
Second - some mp3 files wouldnt play for as long as they lasted on that, eg. they stoped after 5 mins.
Third - Setting the Cue's took AGES because i had to go through them bit by bit on the Cue editor ( i bet there was another way tho )

Posted by tecman on Jan-01-2003 19:41:

So far I've tried AtomixMP3 and Traktor, at first I was all for AMP3, now I'm all for Traktor. Try both and decide for yourself.

Posted by djlemeir on Jan-01-2003 19:51:

I've been using traktor for about 6 months now and i think im a TA (traktor-adddict)lol ahahha, its all about knowing your music and not taking too much advantage of the beat sync, once u match the beats, dont put it on autobeatmatch, that sucks.
i just bought a 2nd sound card like last week and it was pretty helpful, bt wtvr u do dont go for traktor 2

Posted by TempesTrip on Jan-01-2003 20:54:

quote:
Originally posted by spike_boy69
ok i HAD that.
First - of it doesnt have any from of EQ so thats really not helpful.
Second - some mp3 files wouldnt play for as long as they lasted on that, eg. they stoped after 5 mins.
Third - Setting the Cue's took AGES because i had to go through them bit by bit on the Cue editor ( i bet there was another way tho )

I'm not sure what version you tried, but earlier versions were very picky with certain mp3 files if they had some errors in the encoding. Also if you had a craked version it would fuxor the sound out to no end and behave wildly.
Yea there is no eq, but i don't really see why anyone wouldn't just spend 50-100 bucks even on a no name 2 chanel mixer with mids his and lows. PCDJ FX is supposed to be released shortly and will supposedly solve this problem. Don't quote me on that u know how these programs are and last minute something may be taken out.

As for setting hte cues it takes no more then a couple of seconds. Using the cue editor(!) thats madness yea it would take ages to do it that way. The cue editor is just for finer cueing after you set the intial cue point. A Much faster way to set a the cue point is to start playing the song when u hear or if you can predict when the first beat will occur just hit the pause button right b4 it. then use the seek forward and backwards buttons to get it right b4 the beat occurs. then hit the cue button. NOW you can go into the cue editor to fine tune where the placement is. Much faster this way give it a try,

Posted by futurevision on Jan-02-2003 09:42:

try VTT (virtual turntables) it rocks!

no audio beatmatch or any fancy stuff

just use your ears, thats the best way to learn
if you do want to learn without real hardware

Posted by TempesTrip on Jan-02-2003 10:14:

I was pro vtt for a long ass time, even after pcdj came out. i refused to switch over to pcdj because of the simplicity of vtt and how much easier the transition would be from that to turntables. but there came a point where jeff disappeared and support was no longer given. updates stopped and the program just died too bad it was a great program and had much potential. It just didn't keep up with the times. Now iwth newer os's and even newer sound cards the program has so many incompatibilities you'll have a hard time running it with no problems.

Posted by Flotser on Jan-02-2003 15:50:

quote:
Originally posted by djlemeir
bt wtvr u do dont go for traktor 2

i realy know nothing about mixing.....but i just downloaded tracktor 2...
whats so bad about it?

Posted by noikeee on Jan-02-2003 21:27:

well thanx for all replies guys.. but in fact that didn't help me much

what i'm after is a program that can calculate the BPM's and beatmatch well. traktor is a bitch doing this, atomix is ok, i remember having pc dj but it wouldn't calculate the BPM's, there was some awful method for that: had to press space everytime there was a beat or something like that.

i'm not willing really to learn how to mix, or, I would but there's no cash for tables or another soundcard. let the computer do the dirty work

about the third question, is the EQ the only way to avoid that or there's some other trick ?

Posted by whitesmoke on Jan-03-2003 07:07:

you want to just mess around and do live mixes or are you planning on making a set to record. if you want to make a set but not play live you can use something like acid pro 4.0. you can beatmap the tracks (gets there bpm to 0.001) and then make all the tracks the same bpm followed up by plying around with eqs and volume levels. you can make a damn good sounding (perfect beat wise anyways) mix within a couple hours. this is what i started doing after i got sick of atomix and traktor but before i got my equipt.

Posted by MERiDiAN5i2 on Jan-03-2003 18:48:

if you dont want to learn how to mix, atomixmp3 is about the best your going to get.

It's not very basic - it's got a bunch of features, as many i'd expect to find on hardware minus a few minor things.

were you using the current version? 2.1 is current, and it blows away all previous versions.

atomixmp3 will allow you to use a 3D card like an sb live! and use the extra output (rear channels) for the monitor/headphone... or a second soundboard.

maybe you would be better off with a layout program like mixmeister or acid. just guessing here, but the programs your trying are meant for live mixing and not disc layout or things like that.

Posted by noikeee on Jan-03-2003 21:45:

quote:
Originally posted by whitesmoke
you want to just mess around and do live mixes or are you planning on making a set to record. if you want to make a set but not play live you can use something like acid pro 4.0. you can beatmap the tracks (gets there bpm to 0.001) and then make all the tracks the same bpm followed up by plying around with eqs and volume levels. you can make a damn good sounding (perfect beat wise anyways) mix within a couple hours. this is what i started doing after i got sick of atomix and traktor but before i got my equipt.

thanx, I'm gonna get that program and try it

Posted by DJ Chrono on Jan-03-2003 23:54:

I just figured out how to use my M-Audio delta 44 with Atomix, so I set it up where I can cue the next track up with headphones. Its really good this way, and the autobeatmatch seems pretty accurate.

I also set up quick keyboard shortcuts for EQs.. including kill switches which are usefull.

Its not as good as mixing on turntables with a mixer, but it can produce some amazing mixes!

Posted by gOOD-tRiP on Jan-18-2003 07:15:

mixmeister pro works for this newbie here

Posted by shao on Jan-18-2003 19:29:

hmm... what i do... is use a combination of soundforge, calculator, and notepad. Many of you would probably consider this 'fake' mixing, but hey... it sounds good While adjusting EQ's with soundforge is quite tedious (i.e., when you want to do a gradual decline of your lows) you can do it. If you are at all interested in this method, pm me, because it's got a rather long explanation.

Posted by Arsalan on Jan-18-2003 21:29:

i still think pcdj and a mixer will help you a lot in the long run.

Posted by Tsunami One on Jan-20-2003 05:15:

traktor. get it and use it.

Posted by Audio Beverage on Jan-20-2003 05:38:

Re: basically, how to mix with a computer ?

quote:
Originally posted by PaRaNoIk0
pretty dumb question you pro dj's may think.. but as a begginer I'm having some serious problems with this.

first of all, what's a program that can effectively beatmatch automatically? Atomix is a bit too basic, i just don't like it.. I use Traktor but in many tracks it just fucks up the transitions.. the tracks keep going out of syncronization..

First of all, mixing software wont "automatically beatmatch" two seperate tracks for you. All they do is do a rough calculation of the BPM of a track and then dipsplay it. Its up to you to then alter the tempo of the track you want to throw in.
Another thing is, even though track 1 may read 138.5 bpm, and track 2 138.5bpm, that wont guarantee you that the two tracks have been beat matched "perfectly"

Usually theres a bit of inconsistency, and in a 32beats-64beats transition, your always going to have to alter the tempo of a track yourself on fly.

basically, it all comes down to practise and a good ear.

quote:

second, is it possible to mix smooth without having to install a second sound card to have a separate channel for headphones?

By smooth i pressume you mean by not bringing track 2 into your mix right when tracks 1 is building up. You will always need headphones for beatmathing, and for setting up your cue points. So youll need another soundcard.(some cheap ass shit will do just fine)

quote:

third, a bit more technical aspect, what can be done to avoid the "clash" between hi-hats and general treble sounds ? I try going on the EQ, compensating treble in both channels, but or I don't do this properly or a different technique needs to be used. Some tunes seem have to fucked up hi-hat patterns that sound bad in transitions, for an example Exposure - Magic Impuls.

I think this may be a phrasing issue. You should go look up "phraing" in the forums. It would take too long to explain.

Anyway, if your after good software, try what i use: MixVibesPro

www.mixvibes.com

Posted by amdmaxx on Jan-21-2003 00:19:

pcdj. bpmstudio and traktor 2..
check out www.futureproducers.com forums..