Traktor Pro 2 Autogain

That is the auto gain. Autogain does not mean that every track db is the same on your screen. It means that Traktor adjust the volume (the dB) of each track, so that they are all at the same level.

For instance the first track you play traktor sets the gain at – 0.5 If the second track is louder then the first track Trakor sets the gain on that track at let’s say -1.0 so it’s matches the volume of the first track. So the reason the gain settings seems random is because lots of different tracks have lots of different volumes.

If you want your mix too be not too loud, the best thing too do is to turn down the main volume. So your recording is not too loud. From there on you can turn up the volume of the complete mix. You can do this in audacity or with MP3 gain programs. But I think you can learn all those things in the upcoming mixtape pro formula course. Best thing to do is to not record too loud. because once it is distorted it is nearly impossible to fix.

I also would encourage you to learn to manually set the gain of each track. You don’t have to learn it right away. But I think it is good to have that skill. It is not really hard to learn but it let’s you listen closely to your music. And if you one day play on set up without Traktor ( CDJ’s maybe ) you know what to do.

“So technically if i have autogain on in prefs, once ive loaded a song, the 2nd, 3rd tracks etc should all be matched “volume-wise” yes? I shouldnt have to touch the individual track gains on the S2?”

(Sorry I don’t know how to use a quote 😀 )

That’s right. But I find Traktor autogain highly unreliable, for the very same reasons you mentioned. So that is why I set the gains myself. But I started DJ ing with vinyl. So I am kinda used to it. I really think the best method is to use a combination of your ears and the vu meters, which your S2 has.

Personally, I don’t do autogain. I stem from the stone age where, if you were lucky, you’d have volume meters per channel and gain knobs. More often than not it was just channel faders and your ears (which are worth peanuts when it comes to volume levels).

Once gain knobs and meters became commonplace, I got into the habit of setting gain for EVERY track I load. It never seemed worthwile to unlearn that skill to go autogain. Especially if you use various equipment and play out on house systems at venues where you can’t use your laptop for instance (like CDJ-environments). In my mobile setup I will use iPhone from time to time (I don’t have an internet connection active on my DJ laptop and will use the download from iTunes on my iPhone if there is something I feel I must use that instant) and even occasionally some old-fashioned vinyl and/or CDs.

All of those don’t work with autogain. This way I never get caught off-guard.

Personal taste, I am sure, but I’ll do it myself.

Greetinx,

Chuck