softcore

tip#2:

-Send (return) channels provide an easy way to set up your effects for DJing purposes. For example, you can create 4 return channels and on each one of them insert an effect like reverb or delay. Then you can switch on-off the effects for each of your decks by turning the send knob of that channel from 0 to full.

-Effects that work well on return channels are those which are commonly heard simultaneously with the “dry” (un-affected) signal – reverbs or delays. You wouldnt use a filter however on a return channel – that would go as an insert in your desired channels because when filtering you dont want any “dry” signal (un-affected) pass through.

– following the above advise, make sure that the effects inserted in return channels do not let any “dry” signal pass through, if they have a “dry-wet” knob turn it all the way to “wet”. The dry signal is audible from the “source” channel so you do not need any “dry” signal passing through the send channel.

– the “post-pre” setting found in expanded view of the Live’s mixer sets the way the signal is routed to the sends (and then back). “post” means post fader – if the source track’s fader is 0 no signal is going to the send (even if your “send” knob is all the way up). “pre” means pre-fader – 100% of the source track’s signal is sent to the return channel even if its fader is all the way down – in this setting the signal going to the return channel can only be controlled by the “send” knob.
Pre and post, to be more accurate, defines if the signal is split before or after the channel fader to go to the “send” knob and from there to the “return” channel.

NADAL, I sincerely hope you won’t misunderstand me but anyways here’s my tip: if you want to be succesful in this DJing-producing thing you MUST grow some thick skin. If you feel dissapointed by just posting a mix and getting zero feedback then let me tell you about the endless nights I’ve spent contemplating why my latest “banging” tune didnt get any feedback – how my latest “brilliant” mix never got noticed and how my “genius” work around controllers and software, even though original will never get credited because my name is not Richie Hawtin. Get used to it! I sincerely do not mean this in a bad way – I really mean, get used to it or you wont last long.

Sincerely, I do not mean to belitle you – Im simpyl warning you about the cruelness of the potential audience!

Set any digital gain stage to 0 – that includes Traktor’s Master out. Leave traktor’s limiter on if you want but definitely switch auto-gain off. Now whatever you plug into, you SHOULD have decent loudness – if not, check to see if there is some sort of volume lowered in your system settings (audio output settings).

dj bcool, post: 30053, member: 2569 wrote: audacity works on mac too. So you are trying to say audacity is much simpler than daw softs?

In a way yes but what Im really saying is: if you are just trying to do this ONE, small edit and not generally get into the world of remixing-production then installing and learning how to use a DAW is, I think, too much of a hassle. If however your question is only a step, a start, and you are looking to be more involved in this stuff then yea, you need a DAW.
If that’s the case, it has been often said that noone can actually argue about the “best” DAW. Reaper, Ableton Live, Cubase, FL Studio, Logic, Sonar – they are all equally capable and the difference lies in the workflow and “mindset” of each program. Only the person who has the “vision” can really decide what the tools to realize this “vision” will be! 😉

My strictly personal opinion: Logic for Macs, Sonar for PCs – I repeat this is a personal selection not an “end all, be all” best software suggestion.

You could use Audacity and its built-in EQing I guess. Im not very familiar with Macs so you might wanna wait for a guy using Macs for a better suggestion.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/

Reaper is also fine but it’s a DAW so it would require a bit of learning!

Im using Soundcloud for individual tracks – Mixcloud for mixes! Lots of people use Soundcloud for mixes but I dont think it’s practical. They eat up too much of your upload quota.

Experience IS a factor, as in almost anything in life.

BUT, that being said, dont let age distract you! Having a 10 year experience can happen between 15-25 or between 25-35 – its still 10 years of experience! 😉 I hope you get my point! The thing is, not that many people stick to music after their youth regardless what you may think. Growing up exposes some harsh truth on us and most of the people who are in it for the wrong reason, quit! 😉

Lastly, do not let those younger than you intimidate you – a person younger than you by ten years, has 10 less in life experiences which all add up to qualities needed for a DJ like: reading a crowd, having heard lots of music, knowing how to make public relations.

Think of it this way, a younger person than you may have a headstart in DJing experience if he started practising younger than you, but no matter what you will always be more experienced in life than a younger person! This may seem irrelevan to DJing but its not!

Now on to giving specific examples to boost your confidence, I started producing music older than you, and DJing even later, but that hasnt stoped me for pursuing the dream and actually being really close to it! 😉

Truth is I have never thought of being DJ friendly when making a track….I just make sure the build up and the introduction of new elements (or subtraction of the existing) always happen at “musically” sensible values – in other words, usually a tune will be building up by blocks of 8 or 16 bars – also, usually dance tracks have already “exposed” their main “idea, their main beat-loop by the end of the 32nd bar – on 33 the track has usually all the percussive elements introduced in the beat….
Id say just go with multiples of 16 or 32 when wanting to introduce a drop, a change in your tune and whatnot….other than that, you are the artist, you are free to do what you want. After all, with digital DJing and the capability of today’s software, any tune is DJfriendly! 😉