I find this interesting that it seems most on here use the channel faders instead of the crossfaders. I don't really agree that using those will give you more control of the mix versus the crossfader. Maybe it depends on the type of mixer you use, or I guess its *comfortable* for some to do it one way or the other. All you can do is practice doing it one way and perfect it. I use the crossfader and just EQ the track to get the perfect blend, and it sounds great. I think it would be more difficult or not really more difficult, but something else to worry about while mixing that you don't go too high or low using the volume faders, and getting the bad looks from the crowd from program level swings ya know?? Maybe its just me.

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Originally posted by KiNeTiC ENeRgY I don't really agree that using those will give you more control of the mix versus the crossfader.

It does in the way of controlling the volume of each channel. You might be surprised the kinds of effects people pull off and their need of the channel faders to do so. Also, the volume faders provide twice as much physical range as the crossfader (at least on my DJM), which I feel gives me more control over each channel's volume. I'd feel far too confined using the crossfader. I'm not sure if the curve on each channel fader is perfectly linear, but I know for a fact that the curve on the crossfader on my DJM-500 isn't quite up to par.

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Originally posted by KiNeTiC ENeRgY I think it would be [...] something else to worry about while mixing that you don't go too high or low using the volume faders, and getting the bad looks from the crowd from program level swings

Well, if you mix in the correct places (and I use the term "correct" very loosely, as it's purely subjective and varies wildly), then that's usually not a concern. I've always mixed using channel faders, and the only thing I really have to worry about in terms of excessive EQ levels is the bass. So long as the gains are set correctly and the percentages of bass from each channel totals 100%, everything's usually peachy. The mids and high's usually aren't a concern either, because, with good cue points, you can have certain elements in one track come in as elements from the previous track die out. And there's usually about two phrases on average, in my mixes at least, where not too much is going on in either track for a bit of breathing room.

On the other hand, some folks' comfort level with the crossfader will depend greatly upon the mixer they have.

I used to use the x-fader but since trying the channel faders I haven't used the x-fader since.

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Meh

When I mix radio-mainstream club music, I use the crossfader to scratch the intro track in with the volume at 75%, then I raise the the intro track volume to 100% gradually.

When I mix mainstream trance tracks with long mixdowns, I like to use the volume faders. I bring the intro track volume to about 75% until the 7th beat, then pump the volume to 100% right before the next 1st beat of the next set of 8 . My bass EQ is at 0 normally when this is done when I bring it in, then I gradually raise the intro track bass and decrease the outro track bass every 4 beats until I my intro track supercedes my outro track, (sometimes I will also use a little mid EQ and do it the same as I did with the Low-end Bass EQ), then when the break comes, I drop the volume fader on the outra track.

I think some mixers have shitty crossfader curves that have shitty adjustments. I have a Xone 32, And my crossfader curve is cool. ( I do admit that the crossfader curve still drops alot of sound out in the middle, but its not too bad). I do think there is more control over your mix with volumes faders, but it depends on what you want your mix to be. When I scratch my intro track in, I have more control using the crossfader than scratching my track in with the volume fader.

to each his own though....

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sun.com
my xbox is -->MICRSFTSUX (xbconnect.com).....

Yea it must be to each their own...my mixer has Penny and Giles faders and crossfader, so using volume or xfader does the same thing...both are so damn smooth it doesn't matter what I use to mix, I get the same effect.

basically... just match them... and center the fader with the cued track down to 0. than just line the tracks and bring in the next track... if you want it to sound good, wait for the 32 beat sequence to end. than launch the track on cue, and fade in...


if you practice... its not difficult.