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Hey guys, I'm a noob dj in need of some assistance.
I just bought a Vestax Typhoon and have a few questions:
1) The Typhoon comes with Traktor LE but I want to upgrade to a better software though i don't know which one is best to suit it. I hear Traktor Pro 2 or Traktor Pro 2 Scratch. Any suggestions?
2) What is "mapping"?
3) What's a .tsi file?
Thank You sooo much :)
Go read a little. I swear, everyone just wants answers these days. Google is your friend, at least put in a little effort. Go introduce yourself, or something - plan to stay a while, this isn't Yahoo! Answers for DJing (you go to serato.com for that). That said, welcome and enjoy your stay, after you go say hello to everyone, I'll help you out, but please, just put some effort into learning yourself.
what my friend means to say is its been a rough day, there have been like 3 of these posts in the last 3 days and the search function on the forum is your friend.
:)
theres a lot of traktor pro 2 stuff going on today, so things are hectic.
He doesn't know what any of that means Anthony. But I'll say it for him, you're too nice.
What hardware do you currently have? What hardware do you want to buy? We will get to mapping and tsi files a bit later.Quote:
Originally Posted by efung28
There, I also corrected that for you, you're not a DJ just cause you went and bought a piece of gear, sorry. I know someone else reading this in the future was thinking it, I only said it.Quote:
Originally Posted by efung28
My friend, I actually know how to DJ even before i bought the gear. I just don't know what mapping and all that stuff is. I HAVE been looking it up on google but the only things that pop up are links showing HOW to map or upload .tsi files and not what they are. I appreciate your help thoughQuote:
Originally Posted by itajeN
mapping is what tells traktor what pressing a certain button or turning a certain knob should do in the program.
tsi files are settings files for traktor which contain mappings, layouts and other preference information.
if you have the typhoon, the spin .tsi that oldfashoned made (on this forum no less) will work fantastically. if the typhoon came with LE and is traktor ready it should work right outta the box
if not google Oldfashioneds Vestax Spin TSI. should hit you with the thread.
hope that helps
Thanks guys i appreciate the help :D
I've read that Traktor LE is pretty limited and is unable to record, which is what's most important to me so I'm most likely going to change to a better Traktor program. Any recommendations?
If you're going to get a better Traktor program then pick up Traktor Pro 2, or a used version of Traktor Pro.
If you're only going to want to use two decks and won't need a ton of effects then the Duo suites could do well for you as well.
tpro2 just dropped. pick that up, its like 140 for an upgrade from LE. you could also run the audio from traktor LE to a DAW like Ableton, Audacity, Logic, Reason, even garageband and record that way.....
Thanks a lot for your help guys !
If you're likely to want to use CD decks or turntables as part of your setup you'll need Traktor Scratch Pro (either 1 or 2) or Duo. Otherwise it's Traktor Pro (1 or 2), but then you can only use a controller.
Up to you really ...
Ummm... Traktor Pro 2 ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by efung28
Don't even do a search, just click the back button and look through any of the threads on the first page of general discussion...
You may notice that Traktor Pro 2 was released today :rolleyes:
Also, FAQs :eek:
:)
and this ^^ but cause you got the typhoon spin thingy i presumed you were sticking with that as your controllerQuote:
Originally Posted by Sherlock Ohms
traktor pro 2
Seems to me, our noob friend is trying to better his gear and therefore trying to up their game. As a recent tech convert I can respect that (provided that they know how to actually DJ, beat match, and read crowds rather than using this as a shortcut to previously being what I refer to as, "an iPod push play monkey").
When it comes to software, there are only 2 clear choices that you should debate about getting: Serato Scratch Live and Traktor Scratch Pro 2. Each have their Pros and Cons.
What is best for your DJ setup? Nobody can tell you that. I've always said that every DJ's setup is like your own underwear: It's yours. It's personal. You don't loan it out to others. What you do in it is your own business. Some like theirs to be funkier than others. Some prefer something cleaner, newer, and fresh. Most of all, it must be the right fit for you or else you will end up being very uncomfortable. :D
Correct me if I am wrong, but I assume since you have possibly familiarized yourself with Traktor that you want to continue using Traktor. I also assume that you want to expand what you are capable of doing overall and recording may be just one of the internal features you want to make use of. If all of the above is true, I suggest Traktor Scratch Pro 2. Making this leap from LE may seem to be overkill at the moment. However, TSP2 will allow you to record and to add/subtract options - like a sampler, multiple effects, multiple decks, adding other MIDI controls, allowing multiple ways to reprogram/re-purpose controls, using CD or vinyl control, allowing you to make true use of the tutorials here on DJTT, etc. - to your setup. More options + more functions (whether you make use of them or not) = more complete flexibility when it comes to expressing yourself musically.
If I am wrong in assuming the above, consider Serato Scratch Live. It's just as powerful and stable as TSP2. However, it currently does not have the same caliber of ever-expanding usage for MIDI controls that Traktor does. Yes, Serato supports MIDI, and MIDI controllers can be programmed for certain functions, but Serato is not as specifically programmable and re-programmable as TSP2. If you are like me who is someone who loves to get under the hood and start hacking and tweaking every detail of your system to your liking, Serato is not for you. The true obvious advantages Serato has over TSP2 is it links easier to Ableton Live using The Bridge and VJs can mix video without a secondary video program if you get the video plug-in. Plus,
The rest of the feature differences and similarities between SSL and TSP2 are highly debatable and often are. (Example: SSL can rearrange the user interface multiple ways that TSP does not. Serato has effects, but there are not as many as what TSP2 has. Both now have a sampler built in. Which is better? The list goes on and on.)
As far as adding or subtracting hardware to your setup? This is never as clear of a choice as the software involved. I suggest doing a bit more research. Listen in on a few forums. Get reviews. Grab a copy of the Traktor Bible. Read about each item and decide how it fits into your "underwear", if it fits at all.
If you need any more clarity to anything I said, just ask. Welcome to the forum. Say hello to everybody and play nice with others. We'll play nice with you.
Appreciate the advice B-Naut
I admit I'm not very experienced, I've just done a few house parties with my friend's Hercules RMX with Virtual DJ but I have some experience with things you mentioned like reading crowds.
I favor Traktor more but because I have a controller and not multiple CD Decks, I don't think the Traktor Scratch Pro would be a good pick for me, though I could be mistaken.
I'm looking to try the new Traktor Pro 2 and it will most likely overwhelm me but I'm willing to learn the hard way. Would I have to get new maps and .tsi files to convert the Pro 2 to my controller?
And thanks for welcoming me to the DJ Tech family :)
if you wanna be overwhelmed, ditch the typhoon pick up a launchpad or APC 40 and play with ableton live.
Ive had live since the summer and still have ZERO clue what im doing in that program :P being overwhelmed is fun!
Every DJ had to start somewhere. Every DJ has their own story of how they started out. Personally, I'm bout as old school as it gets. I started out rocking house parties with a pair of mismatched yard sale turntables with a half shorted out mixer from Radio Shack I got third hand 17 years ago. I was walking into every gig with a cooler (not a crate, but a beer cooler) full of vinyl and a roll of duct tape in my bag for on the fly repairs as I played hoping like hell I made it through my set. My point is, as you grow as an artist, your gear will be evidence of your growth because it will grow with you.Quote:
Originally Posted by efung28
Every software has a learning curve involved. Was it a bit daunting for me making the leap from being a vinyl junkie who was dragging 2 100+ count record crates everywhere to depending on my laptop to carry me through a show? Hell yeah. But I'm also a tech geek. So, the transition was smoother for me than most because I read how-to manuals for fun. After getting the basics down and finding how each feature of my software and hardware would benefit me in a live setting, that is the same moment I upgraded to TSP.
I took baby steps when I went digital. I started with M-Audio Torq. Much like Virtual DJ, I learned Torq is built for beginners and it shows. It's buggy and sold for cheaper than the others. Then I tried Serato Scratch Live after the SL-3 box was released. I thought SSL was solid setup, but I was itching to get more bang for my buck and tweak my gear even more. By then, the only choice that was robust enough to change with me as I changed it to suit my needs was Traktor Scratch Pro. Yeah, TSP was a little overwhelming at first. But I grew into it eventually. Thanks to that touch of overkill, I'm scratching on the vinyl control, glitching the sound with my Dicers, manually bridging Ableton Live into TSP adding a bit more to the mix with my APC 40.
As you grow as an artist, your needs will grow. As your needs grow, your gear must have the headroom and extras to help you grow and inspire you to learn how to gain that little extra edge over the next DJ wanting that same payday.
Aside from that, take pride in gaining a little extra versatility. I've gone to auditions and the club manager narrowed his decision between myself and this other dude. The head bouncer asked, "Which one of you can use turntables in your mix?" I raised my hand. My competition stayed quiet. I reported for work 7pm that Saturday night. The other dude was at home simply because I had skills using a different method to spin. Traktor Scratch Pro 2 allows you to learn CDs, vinyl control, MIDI control, and more options above what you hadn't dreamed of yet that than you can shake a stick at. I understand you may not have CD decks or turntables, but believe me when I say it may come in handy one day to at least learn how to use them.
So really. Are you sold on springing for the bigger version, or should I keep going...?
(...and no, I do not work for Native Instruments. I got no stake in this. I'm just offering a starting DJ some advice I wish I got when I started.)