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esu
Junior Member
N/A
93 posts
Joined: Sep, 2006
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 Posted - 2007/12/02 : 06:47:52
So I'm playing current track, and I bring the next track in, it's too loud, is there a technique for figureing out the right gain level for the next track?
My other question is, how do I use the crossfader? I mean, I know how to use it but...
the preset for it is a "X" therefore when moved to the middle, the sound level is lowered? So that screws everything up doesn't it? Or is that different? When two tracks are playing at the same time when in the middle is the equivelant to the full volume, which I doubt because it doesn't seem that way. Am I only suck with leaveing it in the middle and useing volume control?
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Edited by - esu on 2007/12/02 08:53:26 |
Brian K
Advanced Member
United States
8,663 posts
Joined: Sep, 2001
528 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2007/12/02 : 07:51:37
look at your led volume levels and try to match the tune being mixed in with the tune playing
I usually keep mine around the first sign of red if that makes any sense =P
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__CMC__
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
593 posts
Joined: Aug, 2007
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Posted - 2007/12/02 : 09:11:51
Ideally the levels should not be hitting the red as there will be some clipping!
Depending on the mixer there will be other settings for you crossfader, the mixer i have has 3! I would imagine your does to so play about with them to see which suits your needs the best, 1 is ideal for scratching, 1 is ideal for mixing and for teh life of me i can't work out what the other is for cause i get the same problem as you with the volumes:P
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esu
Junior Member
N/A
93 posts
Joined: Sep, 2006
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Posted - 2007/12/03 : 03:30:40
Haha, that's my problem, I'm on a Stanton SMX-401, so it's stuck on a "X" formation. What I need is one that the volume doesn't go down until it hits the middle and beyond. So I'll probably invest in a Numark DXM-06. I've been trying virtualDJ and it doesn't have presets! But it seems like there are addons, mmm and it screws with the songs kick though. Thanks guys.
vDJ stopped messing with the kick after I closed a memory killing program. Guess can't have much stress on computer when running it. And also figured out how to use add-ons. haha
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Edited by - esu on 2007/12/03 08:23:36 |
Dain-Ja
Advanced Member
Canada
1,983 posts
Joined: Oct, 2004
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Posted - 2007/12/03 : 14:30:08
don't use the crossfader
only noobs and scratch DJs should use the crossfader - 90% of the time it's broken when you play out anyways
up faders give you more control and accuracy, and you can do more tricks mid-cut
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silver
Admin
Japan
12,577 posts
Joined: Feb, 2001
894 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2007/12/04 : 04:42:12
esu: sounds like your mixer is compressing the volume, either you have a cheap mixer or your volume levels have too much gain on it, try reducing the gain, or alternative increasing it to see if that fixes your problem. Also don't rely on the volume level EQ meter, go via your ears, take each channel as high as you can without distortion with two channels open (as this should be your max volume), just watch the tracks as they are all different volume levels.
I use both the X fader and the channel levels when mixing.
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Orbit1
Senior Member
Australia
400 posts
Joined: Jul, 2006
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Posted - 2007/12/04 : 07:32:56
Music doesnt sound good unless the leds blow and the upfaders are worn out.
This creates "analog warmth" which is much needed in todays very digital hardcore tracks.
To achieve this very music warmth, simply leave the mixer in the sun for 3 hours a day for a moth as this will warm up the circuitry. Then start to move the faders as fast and as violently as you can.
If you can feel the friction warming the mixer up, you're nearly there.
Wash, rinse with warm soapy water and repeat daily.
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Future_Shock
Advanced Member
Australia
2,483 posts
Joined: Apr, 2007
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Posted - 2007/12/05 : 11:27:06
hahaahahhahaahahhahaha!
DUDE!
you have NO idea how much that just reminded me of one of my mates hahahaha.
ill tell you about it when im nxt on msn.
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Dain-Ja
Advanced Member
Canada
1,983 posts
Joined: Oct, 2004
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Posted - 2007/12/05 : 16:16:43
quote:
Originally posted by silver:
esu: sounds like your mixer is compressing the volume, either you have a cheap mixer or your volume levels have too much gain on it, try reducing the gain, or alternative increasing it to see if that fixes your problem. Also don't rely on the volume level EQ meter, go via your ears, take each channel as high as you can without distortion with two channels open (as this should be your max volume), just watch the tracks as they are all different volume levels.
I use both the X fader and the channel levels when mixing.
You're wrong, the reason it's not as loud when the xfader is in the middle is because of his xfader curve.
I had a Vestax mixer that was like that (with the xfader in the middle it dropped the volume of both channels a bit). The reason they do that is for noob/wedding DJs that don't EQ anything (it would get quite loud compared to having just one track playing if you're not EQing)
Upfaders for the win, having to rely on a crossfader when you play out just sucks, especially since they all have different curves and never work.
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bulby_g
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
7,205 posts
Joined: Apr, 2004
430 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2007/12/05 : 16:42:17
quote:
Originally posted by Dain-Ja:
quote:
Originally posted by silver:
esu: sounds like your mixer is compressing the volume, either you have a cheap mixer or your volume levels have too much gain on it, try reducing the gain, or alternative increasing it to see if that fixes your problem. Also don't rely on the volume level EQ meter, go via your ears, take each channel as high as you can without distortion with two channels open (as this should be your max volume), just watch the tracks as they are all different volume levels.
I use both the X fader and the channel levels when mixing.
You're wrong, the reason it's not as loud when the xfader is in the middle is because of his xfader curve.
I had a Vestax mixer that was like that (with the xfader in the middle it dropped the volume of both channels a bit). The reason they do that is for noob/wedding DJs that don't EQ anything (it would get quite loud compared to having just one track playing if you're not EQing)
Upfaders for the win, having to rely on a crossfader when you play out just sucks, especially since they all have different curves and never work.
Pfft, mine has a fully adjustable curve and always works just fine 8-). I use the crossfader and the upfaders when I mix.
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Dain-Ja
Advanced Member
Canada
1,983 posts
Joined: Oct, 2004
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Posted - 2007/12/05 : 19:14:36
quote:
Originally posted by bulby_g:
quote:
Originally posted by Dain-Ja:
quote:
Originally posted by silver:
esu: sounds like your mixer is compressing the volume, either you have a cheap mixer or your volume levels have too much gain on it, try reducing the gain, or alternative increasing it to see if that fixes your problem. Also don't rely on the volume level EQ meter, go via your ears, take each channel as high as you can without distortion with two channels open (as this should be your max volume), just watch the tracks as they are all different volume levels.
I use both the X fader and the channel levels when mixing.
You're wrong, the reason it's not as loud when the xfader is in the middle is because of his xfader curve.
I had a Vestax mixer that was like that (with the xfader in the middle it dropped the volume of both channels a bit). The reason they do that is for noob/wedding DJs that don't EQ anything (it would get quite loud compared to having just one track playing if you're not EQing)
Upfaders for the win, having to rely on a crossfader when you play out just sucks, especially since they all have different curves and never work.
Pfft, mine has a fully adjustable curve and always works just fine 8-). I use the crossfader and the upfaders when I mix.
yeah, so does mine
Mine has adjustable cut-in, curve and doesn't have a volume dip in the middle
What's your point? The keyword here is *MINE*.
When you play out it's not *MINE* - half the time I play out the crossfader doesn't work - I used to rely on the crossfader when I started playing out a few years ago but gig after gig of non-functional xfaders has made me an upfader-only user.
If you're just a bedroom DJ do whatever you want but a DJ with regular bookings will eventually run into some problems if he can't mix without it.
The same goes for mixing with and without monitors (often monitors are crap at raves), mixing with skipping decks, etc.
There's so many things to deal with - the ones that mess up their live sets are those that don't have the experience needed to counteract those problems.
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FREE track every Monday: http://www.rushdeliveryrecords.com/?p=229
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Leto
Advanced Member
United States
2,849 posts
Joined: Jun, 2005
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Posted - 2007/12/05 : 19:32:11
^^No matter how good of a DJ you are and how much experience you have, it's still rude to be pretentious.
Bulby has plenty of gigs...so stop being so aloof. Please?
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Dain-Ja
Advanced Member
Canada
1,983 posts
Joined: Oct, 2004
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Posted - 2007/12/05 : 19:42:29
quote:
Originally posted by Leto:
^^No matter how good of a DJ you are and how much experience you have, it's still rude to be pretentious.
Bulby has plenty of gigs...so stop being so aloof. Please?
I'm not being pretentious, I'm backing up my strong position.
I never said I was a better DJ or had more experience.
I've personally played bad sets on skipping decks because I didn't know how to deal with those issues at the time - I always come prepared with headshell weights, extra needles and CDs nowadays. You learn from your mistakes and I'm trying to explain WHY relying on using the crossfader is something that should be avoided.
I'm actually doing it to help prevent difficult situations, not being a pretentious dick. Don't read this in an angry tone.
With that said, you can do whatever you want - there's many top notch headliners I've booked that only used the crossfader (but I know they could mix differently if they had to - that's the important thing here). Seeing as the mixer the original thread creator has is designed with newbie DJs in mind (hence the dip in the curve I explained earlier) he should adapt to it and learn to mix with the up-faders.
At least, that's my opinion, level changes aren't very pleasant for the listener.
Take my advice or leave it but I can assure you that you will eventually run into some difficulties if you aren't versatile in your mixing technique.
I would've said the exact same thing if anybody else had posted that (as you can tell, I didn't hesitate to comment on Silver's post...).
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bulby_g
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
7,205 posts
Joined: Apr, 2004
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Posted - 2007/12/05 : 20:00:05
If someone is not good enough to use the upfaders instead of the crossfader they should seriously ask themselves why they are playing out ;)
Most of the parties round my way all have decent, new, working equipment and fantastic working monitors (including us) so I'm lucky in that respect. Just a few of the dinge clubs I've played have had shit crossfaders, shit or no monitors or just outright shit everything but if you can't adapt to that you can't mix :)
Seriously though, some clubs/promoters/parties need to get it together. If you don't have a good, working rig **** off and come back when you do. Where's the pride man.
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Dain-Ja
Advanced Member
Canada
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Joined: Oct, 2004
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Posted - 2007/12/05 : 20:12:36
quote:
Originally posted by bulby_g:
If someone is not good enough to use the upfaders instead of the crossfader they should seriously ask themselves why they are playing out ;)
Most of the parties round my way all have decent, new, working equipment and fantastic working monitors (including us) so I'm lucky in that respect. Just a few of the dinge clubs I've played have had shit crossfaders, shit or no monitors or just outright shit everything but if you can't adapt to that you can't mix :)
Seriously though, some clubs/promoters/parties need to get it together. If you don't have a good, working rig **** off and come back when you do. Where's the pride man.
Maybe Canada is just full of shitty clubs and shitty gear :P
I can guess why though, most of the raves I play aren't thrown in clubs. The scene here is fairly underground so larger events are thrown in a venue "one time".
That means setting up the day of with rental gear. It's not uncommon for dancing ravers to make the turntables skip (bouncy floors), sometimes rental gear doesn't work, etc.
Most of the better promoters have near-perfect setups but mistakes aren't uncommon.
Your comment makes it sound like you think using the xfader vs the upfaders is a very easy switch to make. I personally found it pretty hard at first.
Cutting requires two hands on upfaders and the timing and all that is thrown off as well.
Often when I play on "shoddy" setups I have to limit the technicality of my mixing a bit because I have less freedom. That sometimes means doing less first break mixing, less cutting, etc.
Anyhow, count yourself lucky you don't have to play on bad setups. Out of the last dozen events I've played I can honestly say only 4 had fully functional mixers, only 3 had good clear monitors, 3 of them had inadequate CD players and 3 had skipping turntables.
:S
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ruroken
Average Member
United States
179 posts
Joined: Nov, 2007
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Posted - 2007/12/05 : 20:13:54
This discussion reminded me of this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KXmfleawFHM
:D
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