softcore
Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
softcore
Member“Sounds awful” doesnt clarify things!
All the posts have been focused on timing – mixing two tracks that are out of tune or plain and simply dont “fit” together (stylistically, aesthetically, energretically) will sound awful no matter how perfectly in sync they are.
MemberOriginal hardware modular synthesizers required the fitting of short cables to allow for modulation routing. Therefore upon desigining sounds, the user of the synthesizer had to, in a way, “patch” it by inserting the cables in the desired positions-locations.
The term carried on to this digital day where it literally means “a preset of a synthesizer”. When the “patch” of a VST synthesizer plug in gets “loaded” (usually with a select menu found on the GUI of the synth), all the knobs, buttons, settings and other parameters of the synth are recalled to the positions they were when the patch was saved, therefore the “sound” the user had created can be “recalled”.
So, patches when found on the internet, always relate to specific plug-in instruments or effects – in essense they are “preset sounds” (for synths) or “preset settings” (for effects).
MemberThere is no BEST software – quite as similarly as there is no best screwdriver. They all have their strengths and they all fit to certain workflows and notions of how a music making program should work which may vary from person to person.
That being said, even though Machine CAN be used for production its not a DAW like the rest you mention so you are not really comparing equal stuff.Leave the midi controller out of the equation for starters – download demos of the most commonly used DAWs (Ableton Live, Cubase, FL Studio, Sonar, Samplitude, Logic etc etc) and get prepared for serious studying. After a few months when you will have some basic understanding of whichever DAW you ‘ll have chosen to work with, you ‘ll start realising what exactly you need from a controller (production wise) so you can then searh the market for a product that will suit your needs.
MemberFrom an economic standpoint midi controllers are always cheaper than mixers. From a “what to use” perspective its straight up personal decision. I too feel limited by CDJs because Im fond of my custom software effects and patches which could not be replicated by hardware (unless I had 3 -4000 euros to spend) and even then, still it would be limited to what I can achieve with controllers. But anyone’s mileage may vary.
Again though, speaking in terms of value for money, real mixers cant beat a well-thought out software-midi controller package. By well thought out, I mean that the user, you, has made some study beforehand, has decided which aspects of his software needs to have hands-on control and find the midi-controller that will offer the amount and tactile placement of physical controls (konbs, buttons, faders) on a surface that will suit his needs.
Of course there are mixers out there that cost like 30 euros, but really do you prefer adding a 30euro piece of equipment to your signal path? Remember, however cheap a midi controller may be, it DOES NOT alter your signal path!
π
MemberYou could use one of the afforenmentioned “midi control surface designer programs” (thats what they are really) TouchOSC or Lemur (I personally recommend Lemur) and not only control Traktor effects with it but actually (due to new ways of interacting with midi controls) go far beyond the typical sound they could-would produce.
Imagine X,Y pads, modulating faders-knobs which interact with each other, custom made touchable LFOs and all sorts of wicked stuff.
TO further understand check out Lemur’s user library to see what is currently possible to be created (again this is ONLY a speciment of what its users have created, your imagination is the limit here)
http://liine.net/en/community/user-library/
or these Traktor specific ones
http://liine.net/en/community/user-library/tag/16/
Or (another small example), how about controlling Traktor effects and other parameters by moving your iPad in the air
http://liine.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=2913
π
P.S. edit: NO Im not in any way affiliated with Liine-Lemur lol. I have been using midi controllers since 2003 and when I got Lemur it was the first time I ever felt “free” to realize my dream controller, thats all – and it was the first time I actually felt limited by my own finger-skills and imagination rather than by the surface in front of me! π
MemberCan you also post a screenshot of your main Traktor GUI in an instant where you assume the effect should work?
Memberinsert/send option – if mixing with internal mixer (no aux – return channels set in a physical mixer) make sure that option is set to insert
MemberIs VDJ VST compliant? If so, check out KVR’s plug in database.
Use “filter” and “free” in the fields….
MemberYou could get pretty close to it by using Traktor’s rack effects in the “three in one” (what its called) configuration and set the first effect as delay, second a beamasher – slicer – beatrepeat kinda thing and third as reverb ….
MemberBeing version 1, the only mind-boggling ommision is the capability to manually enter the exact BPM for a track instead of tapping (because, duh, you have figured it out and you want to manually insert it?)
Memberif you can get your hands on a Behringer BCR 2000, i totally recommend it. There simply is not any other midi controller with 32 available physical controls (usually most of them have 8 faders + 8 knobs = 16) per preset at this price around 150 euros). The top row Knobs also feature a 4 bank system per preset rising the total amount of controls to be mapped in 24+(4*8)=56 – and the device is capable of storing 32 presets i.e. 32 configurations of what each knob and each button will send as midi message. So for example you can have the same set of 56 controls duplicated and just change the midi channel and voila, you got double the controls just by pressing the preset buttons.
Also, you might want to expand the available buttons of the launchpad with this litle thingie I’ve made.
P.S. And here’s a small vid with the two in action
[media=youtube]qr7-K8YEGdA[/media]
MemberJust to add to the points posted above….
No matter how much money you can spend, there will ALWAYS be that “item” that you cant afford. So dont let this step in the way….Do what you want-dream, with any means you are able to have.
π
February 18, 2013 at 2:52 pm in reply to: Pre-cue? Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. Need a little help. #36883MemberFor the Saffire, which I already have, I can re-assure you the headphones output is “switchable” to either output 1-2 or 3-4 (via the switch).
BUT it has a very “quiet” headphone output and if used for DJing in a club-noisy environment its best to use the RCA jacks, connect to the mixer already in the club and amplify the out to the headphones according to your needs via the mixer gain. π
February 13, 2013 at 12:47 pm in reply to: What Dj Software are you using and what Laptop spec are you using? #36682Membersoftware:
Ableton Live with selected VST effects/synths and custom rack effects, Bome’s Midi translator Pro – when full deployed, a total of 24 decks-channels (6 audio decks for tracks and loops), 2 synth tracks, an 8-channel custom designed drum sampler (using Live’s sampler) and 8 channels of a VST synth drum machine, ΞΌTonichardware:
HP laptop, i3 CPU, win 7 64 bit, 4GB RAM
Behringer BCR 2000 (acts as the “main mixer”)
Launchpad (triggering tracks and loops – also acts as a step sequencer for the drum sampler via MaxForLive)
iPad2 running Lemur (MOST of the stuff not covered by BCR are midi controlled by this baby)
Korg microKeys – microKontrol (occationally)MemberGot an M-audio oxygen 49 when I first started getting into production some 10 years ago…I thought I would at some time, if I stick to production, move on to something more “professional”…..never did, never had to…..I do miss the “aftertouch” feature though so just be on a look out for that too when you decide. I think with your budget you can get a pretty decent keyboard and not need to ever change it.
-
AuthorPosts