NietzSKY
Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
NietzSKY
ParticipantIf you are running traktor 2.6, I can tell you I abuse the hell out of iceverb, arctic wind, zzzurp or w/e (makes for a great metallic-electronic sound right at the end of a breakdown, or has an “arctic-lazer beam” sounding effect when set to 100 and is great in soft-bass lacking areas), delay, etc. For some of my transitions, I will use a loop + iceverb + delay to create a chill echo sound to transition into some songs (I love using it right before I play Fedde Le Grand’s Paradise remix). Also, I have been known to be a slicer/beatmash whore at times.
What I suggest doing is repeating 4-8 bars on a track (use a vocal track and a non vocal track) and exploring fx combinations/ play with your dry/wet settings and the fx setting while it is looping. This way, you get a good idea of exactly what the sound is like, whether you should have a dry/wet balance or set it all the way to the right, etc. You can add so much more to a song without cluttering it (like most inexperienced fx whores) when you utilize fx, and it adds a great performance aspect to your set. When I was at Cobalt playing with fx, I looked over to the sound guy and said “I have a bad habit of living on fx, sorry man” and he responded “no man, keep it up, you don’t hear it too often and I’m diggin’ your sound.”
I have a long ways to go before I can even pretend to be an fx master, but I’ve only gotten good feedback from incorporating correctly timed somewhat-atypical fx into my set.
NietzSKY
ParticipantI use the 4trak, which is basically Numark’s non-plastic traktor variant of the ns6. When actually adding a signature or some live-remixing to your sets, it can be great to have a variant of build-up/ bass line tracks set to your c & d channels, then beat-matching/ killing to low-end of your a deck to bring in the sound on the D track. Cue-juggling is also great with another deck; you can let one play out while you are throwing acapella tracks on top, and still easily transition into your next song.
While you may not need/be able to utilize a f1 with serato, I find myself using my f1 on track d, having an assortment of a cappella/drum tracks/bass tracks on deck c, then using decks a/b to mix. Nothing like turning top40 bullshit into electro at the drop of a hat, and adding a live performance aspect unaided by DAWs.
NietzSKY
ParticipantThe SX has me drooling, and I thought I was content with my 4trak/f1s. Damn it’s a beaut…..
Anyways, a (belated) welcome to the forums!
NietzSKY
ParticipantGlad to see all of the feedback. After stopping by various clubs in DC (I won’t mention which clubs because I don’t want to detract from them), I saw things that just completely killed me inside.
1) The club “dj” had 2 laptops; 1 was using itunes dj/playing a pre-made mix (that still had awkward gaps between transitions and didn’t sound as if much effort went into tune selection) and the other was running a video game (he was playing a MMO while djing). The other club had a dj using cjd 1000s, only problem was it was painstakingly obvious when he was switching disks/ he wasn’t moving whatsoever. The result was a stagnant dancefloor where maybe 5 out of 50-70 people were dancing.
2) I’ve seen clubs without djs that just run mixtapesWhile I am fairly new to the “professional” djing scene (still transitioning from house party), it kills me inside to see djs who only engage in the art for a paycheck, and feel no passion towards what they do. In addition to DJing, I have been heavily involved in activist projects in DC and wish to use music as a medium to reach people and abolish intolerance (I dj`d the Love Music Hate Homophobia event at Cobalt last Monday). This event was created to merge two passions,
1) Helping startup DJs who have a passion for the craft to get their name out there/get the crowd-reading experience they need (while in an environment that allows for full creativity), and
2) Throwing a show to help fundraise for The Electric Maid (the venue being primarily a non-profit community center/performance venue) and Love Music Hate Racism/Love Music Hate Homophobia.I look forward to seeing those interested come out on Tuesday, 6:30 pm, to the Electric Maid in Takoma Park (right across from the 7-11 right near the Metro exit). Some things to expect;
1) It is a smaller venue, and unfortunately not a bar. There are legal workarounds where we can host a BYOB or perhaps have free drinks w/ cover, but the venue itself does not have a permit to sell alcohol.
2) There are multiple house PAs, but it is a little lackluster on “club” lighting. I’m still working on getting a portable power supply to start roaming promotion events around DC/universities in the area; once I can get portable juice I plan on helping this venue out hardcore.
3) House retains 50% of the profit from cover. The other 50% will be divided between acts (more will be discussed on Tuesday, I intend to establish a set-in-stone date, discuss promotion/who would be willing to offer up some pro-bono promotion time (not pro-bono if we can get a portable power supply and busk/promote, but don’t expect bukoo bucks), and talk about different styles/ what the lineup should look like (I’m comfortable going on first and running a chill house/step / deep house set, or going on 3rd and running a full on happy-hardcore/hard dance set, would just like to get an idea of what everyone is comfortable with/ where they’d prefer to be on the lineup.)Sorry for another wall of text, we’ll keep in touch =)
NietzSKY
ParticipantUsually I tag my tracks right after purchase, to avoid having a hefty amount of work later on.
NietzSKY
ParticipantNo worries Milos, it’s the thought that counts.
So far I’ve had two inquiries that sounded pretty interested (looking for 1 more act), so if any are interested there is a planning meeting at The Maid on Tuesday around 6:30 (please respond to this post/email if you can before showing up on Tues. If you can’t, it’s no big deal, but I’d like to give the Maid an idea of how many should be expected).
NietzSKY
ParticipantTo clarify, a diversity of electronic style, from something you’d hear at Tomorrowland to something you may jam to at a rave out in the woods. Remixes of top40s are ok (I do enjoy some of Aoki’s remixes, and I’d encourage a few remixes in the set), though I could do without hours straight of billboard charts =).
NietzSKY
Participant^ I will be in Ocean City, MD, from May-Sept, but I definitely plan on coming back to DC at the end of the summer (I live in DC 3 out of 4 seasons every year). I will definitely be around on the forums, and if you are still around then we’ll be able to talk.
I used the term EDM because I am looking for a diversity of styles (though if no gabber djs show up I am definitely not complaining). The theme is primarily to display DJing as an art, rather than just hosting a party and having ambience noise. If you want to play the type of music you are jamming to at home while you’re recording your mixes, instead of Top40 noise, you’re good to go.
December 12, 2012 at 7:46 pm in reply to: pulling my hair out (split cue-external sound card) #33544NietzSKY
ParticipantHaha yeah, I was pretty tired when I wrote this, I meant RCA. I’ve switched up my setup and played at Cobalt in DC, and I just ditched the soundcard and things went much better. One thing I did note, however, is that when I had my crossfader all the way down and the headphone button activated, sound was still coming out of the main speakers (albeit faintly). Also, both tracks were playing out of my phones (had split cue set, perhaps I screwed up on channel setting) instead of just the track I was trying to bring in..
As far as the drivers/controller setup, that was the first thing I did when I first received my 4trak. I think I’m making this much more complicated than it should be.
NietzSKY
ParticipantLooking forward to hearing it Richard, and welcome to the community.
NietzSKY
ParticipantMy DJ software is Traktor because I view myself as an instrumentalist-in-addition-to-crowdpleaser. I feel the variety of different effects chains available is great for giving unexpected-but-smooth transitions into songs that can act as a signature and really bring out the performance aspect of DJing.
December 10, 2012 at 10:26 pm in reply to: How many times should you play certain tunes at a party? #33394NietzSKY
ParticipantWhile I won’t play the same song twice, for certain events (where I use acapella openers) I may mash a little of my first track into the last to create an outro that pays a small bit of homeage to the intro. It’s just something that carried over with me from operatic writing I suppose =P
NietzSKY
ParticipantCongrats man! I swear DJing is like a drug, that first taste of live performance has you hooked for life.
NietzSKY
ParticipantRight now, 90s cartoons (Rocko’s Modern Life, Ren and Stimpy, Johnny Bravo) and Project X whenever I`m feeling burnt-out after practice sessions to remind myself why I need to practice =P
NietzSKY
ParticipantWelcome Julien!
-
AuthorPosts