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Traktor 3 vs Ableton Live + Serato Scratch Live (pg. 2)
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| keithos27 |
| quote: | Originally posted by tvmann
Traktor saves the beat grid info (which is almost always essentially just a single very accurate BPM measurement that you get when you make & adjust the beat grid) in a database called the "collection". Also it will save any cue markers and comments, genre, etc info in the collection. So you only need to set that stuff up once per track and you're done. You can edit the info later at any time.
Optionally Traktor will save this information in the MP3 file (in file header areas) which are compatible with other programs, however this information is usually ignored by them. You must set certain options in Traktor to make sure the beat grid etc info is written to the MP3 files. It is an option (or command) related to or called "write file tags" or similar, depends on the specific Traktor version you have, check your manual.
I always make sure my MP3s contain the beat grid info, in case I want to rebuild my system later maybe on another computer using just the MP3 files. Good idea to back up your MP3 files regularly. The collection database however will reliably hold the beatgrid info for long periods of time so there's no great rush for you to write new MP3 files.
BTW if you use WAV files they can't hold beat grid info so for that format the beat grid etc is only kept in the collection files. That makes WAV files more risky as you will lose their beat grids (which can take a few minutes per track to set up) if the collection files are somehow lost or destroyed. |
great info, thank you! i use an apple time capsule so EVERYTHING file-wise is backed up automatically...
that being said, i'm trying to think "down the road" what's the best option... writting to the mp3 file itself definitely makes the beatgrid information portable, however i'm then dealing with other file-type limitations (i.e. wav... also what about itunes plus files? can they be saved to the file?).
can i do both... write to the file and to the "collection"? if i ever format, etc don't i just have to back-up my "collection" and move that to the new machine? or can that not be done? |
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| tvmann |
| quote: | Originally posted by keithos27
can i do both... write to the file and to the "collection"? if i ever format, etc don't i just have to back-up my "collection" and move that to the new machine? or can that not be done? |
Info gets written to the collection automatically always and that's where the beat grid info is read from in normal Traktor operation, although the music data comes from the MP3. In my older version of Traktor that I mostly use (probably same with latest versions), you need to explicitly "write Mp3 tags" to update the mp3 files. Tags in the MP3s is mostly a backup and safety feature. You need to explicity read the info from the MP3 files to the collection at a later date if you want to over-ride what's in the collection (can be done on any tracks selected).
For backup or moving to a new 'puter - yes - normally you can backup the collection files and use those. However if you have tags (grids etc) in the MP3s they are a safety thing in case something gets messed up with that procedure.
BTW Traktor keeps several generations (10?) of backups of the collection files (they're not that big) so you can use those if the latest collection gets corrupted or you accidentally mess it up bad by accidentally deleting a bunch of tracks from the collection. Once I did that, was set up at a party and saw that almost all my tracks were gone (it was either my mistake or a computer glitch), took half an hour to figure out how to recover with a backup collection.
Don't know about the iTunes stuff but lots of info on official NI Traktor forums, and a related thread here today. |
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| djcami |
i'll just ask my question in here since theres a traktor thread already.
i've been using serato with a friend for a bout half a year now and i'm probably going to buy traktor 3 so i have something for myself. I'm just curious because with traktor 3, they don't give you control cds or vinyl right? (like they do with traktor scratch, $300-400 more) so i'm wondering if you can still use cdjs and an external mixer like you can with serato with traktor 3.
thanks for the help |
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| Ryan0751 |
If you want timecode control, you MUST have Traktor Scratch installed on your machine. You also MUST use either the Audio 8 soundcard (the unit included with the full Traktor Scratch package) OR a Traktor Scratch certified mixer (Korg Zero 4/8, Ecler EVO5, Mackie D.2/D.4 are the only ones right now). If you have a certified mixer, you can purchase Traktor Scratch without the Audio 8 for $339 (USD).
If you choose to upgrade your Traktor Scratch to Traktor Studio, you will be able to use timecode control in Traktor Studio along with all of the other features... but once again, Traktor Scratch MUST be installed and activated on the same machine.
| quote: | Originally posted by djcami
i'll just ask my question in here since theres a traktor thread already.
i've been using serato with a friend for a bout half a year now and i'm probably going to buy traktor 3 so i have something for myself. I'm just curious because with traktor 3, they don't give you control cds or vinyl right? (like they do with traktor scratch, $300-400 more) so i'm wondering if you can still use cdjs and an external mixer like you can with serato with traktor 3.
thanks for the help |
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| djcami |
| quote: |
If you choose to upgrade your Traktor Scratch to Traktor Studio, you will be able to use timecode control in Traktor Studio along with all of the other features... but once again, Traktor Scratch MUST be installed and activated on the same machine. |
thanks for the help, so basically if i just get traktor 3, then i have to control the mixer and all the things like pitch, cue points and all that through the computer?
that kinda sucks, guess thats why you pay so much less |
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| Ryan0751 |
You could use a MIDI controller.
Traktor can still output to an external mixer as well. Basically with Traktor Scratch you are paying a premium for the timecode control, as well as the Audio 8 interface.
| quote: | Originally posted by djcami
thanks for the help, so basically if i just get traktor 3, then i have to control the mixer and all the things like pitch, cue points and all that through the computer?
that kinda sucks, guess thats why you pay so much less |
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| djcami |
| quote: | Originally posted by Ryan0751
You could use a MIDI controller.
Traktor can still output to an external mixer as well. Basically with Traktor Scratch you are paying a premium for the timecode control, as well as the Audio 8 interface. |
ah ok. so i have 200s and a xone32, if i get traktor, then basically i won't really be using my 200s then right? would i need any extra cables or a sound card to set up my mixer to traktor? |
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| keithos27 |
| yeah just set your audio preferences to external and you can use your external mixer with traktor... you don't have to use the internal mixer to EQ, for example... |
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| keithos27 |
you'll need an audio interface (i.e. external soundcard with multiple inputs/outputs) if you want the ability to cue tracks in your headphones.
i have the audio 8 dj and love it but am considering now going the xone 4d route... |
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| djcami |
| quote: | Originally posted by keithos27
you'll need an audio interface (i.e. external soundcard with multiple inputs/outputs) if you want the ability to cue tracks in your headphones.
i have the audio 8 dj and love it but am considering now going the xone 4d route... |
oh dam, so even if i control traktor through my external mixer, i woulnd't be able to just plug in my headphones to my mixer to cue? even just for that i'd need a soundcard?
thanks for all the help by the way |
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| Ryan0751 |
Yes. You need a soundcard that can output at least 2 stereo channels.
Sounds like since you already have decks and a mixer you probably want a DVS. |
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| djcami |
| quote: | Originally posted by Ryan0751
Yes. You need a soundcard that can output at least 2 stereo channels.
Sounds like since you already have decks and a mixer you probably want a DVS. |
ok great thanks, and sorry for my noobness, but what whats DVS? :p |
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