[Mixing] Crossfader or Volume Fader, that is the question

Hello dear forum, :)

Well a question that might sound dumb to some more experienced DJs here, but though has been haunting my mind last night... :confused:

Which fader(s) do you use to fade in/out your tracks?
I mean crossfader is to me both faders in 1, with much less range and accuracy
With a 4 channel mixer obviously this is a bit of an easier question as volume faders would probably become more intuitive to use once we start to get more than 2 decks going.
However, I only own a VCI and I tend to stay on fader fx almost all the time, use the crossfader and compensate by EQing.

There's probably no right or wrong as long as you do it good, but am I missing any important feature/advantage with the volume faders?

to be honest do what you think gets the best results. It is your stlye at the end of the day and the only thing that really matters is how good the music sounds.

Having said this as a rule of thumb most dance djs use channel faders and most hip hop use the cross faders. Alot of djs use both. One thing to keep in mind if you are planning to use club mixers you may have to use channel faders as alot hav broken x-faders

As far as hip hop go some scratches are easier to perform on the channel faders some easier on the x fader. Ie fading a song on a channel fader is easier depending how you have it set up. but then you can set ur channel faders to cut and reverse them.

AT THE END OF THE DAY ROCK IT WITH YOUR STYLE, AS LONG AS IT DOESNT SOUND LIKE A CAR CRASH YOUR DOING OK

it will take many years to perfect ideas and techniques just keep on having a play and ur style will form

Yeah I agree do what works best for you, though it's good to ask questions like this to see what others are doing. Personally I mix with the channel faders and cut with the crossfader. I used to mix exclusively with the crossfader until I played a gig in a setup where the mixer was a cheap scratch mixer, no curve control at all -- it was on or off always. I had to learn to use the channel faders and fast! Since then I realized you have a lot more control with them, and it let me focus more attention on EQing as well. I use the crossfader for the occasional scratch or to quickly get out of some crazy effects right before a drop on the other deck. It's also great on the VCI if you're using fader effects since the channel faders won't fade volume anymore.

My problem now is I occasionally forget about the crossfader and accidentally brush it with my shirt or headphone cord... whoops, why did the music stop? hehe...

Channel

+1 on find what's best for you. Everyone's different!

Personally, for a straightforward mixing one song into the other, I tend to have the incoming track playing as normal, volume faders on both tracks on full (second one maybe down a bit but never less than half up). Then I have the crossfader in the middle.

The thing I use to prevent the second track being audible is that I turn the filter knob all the way down on the incoming track. Then, I start to turn it up, bringing in a deep subtle bass. As I'm doing that I turn the bass knob on the first track down slowly until the two bass frequencies kinda match and sound right. I then let it settle and ingrain as normal in people's heads. Then, I turn the the filter up more towards the middle dent on the filter knob on the second tracks while turning the bass knob further down on the first track so the bass on the second track is now playing over the first track. Depending on length of the mix, I may loop an intro bit on the second track and if I know the mid and highs ain't gonna sit right I have them knobs turned down a bit and tweak them in with the ones of the first track out, and if it's turn down a bit I slide the second volume fader up slowly. Then when the 'drop' happens I simply shift the crossfader over to the second track making sure the volume is whacked up by then too.

Sounds confusing but it really ain't. By doing it this way I've found that it works as a kind of bass crossfader, blending both songs. Also allows you to filter the first track out easily too without it sounding

I'm fairly new but I was going to add whatever works for you! I started with the channel faders and using the filter just like Bunford describes to help level out the low EQ but I use the xfader exclusively for cutting and slamming at important points either right at a drop or right before (say like 4 counts prior for lyrics to help pump it up). I still prefer and say the majority of my mixes I prefer blending so it's channel faders for me but if you can make it work with the way you do it, who cares what the status quo way of doing it is.

I honestly don't see the point in the crossfader. I'd much rather have switch instead.

I mean it's only for cutting, why do I want an analogue control?

can you do complex cuts with a switch no u cant tthats y it is needed

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tombruton69

can you do complex cuts with a switch no u cant tthats y it is needed

---

A "complex cut"...?

It's just changing the volume from 0 to 100% or the other way around.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MrPopinjay

A "complex cut"...?

It's just changing the volume from 0 to 100% or the other way around.

---

Uh-huh. Now do that in rapid fire triplets with a switch. Actually, do triplet-eighth note combos (1-and-uh-2-and-3-and-uh-4-and) with a switch at 120 BPM (or 100 BPM for that matter). Not gonna happen.

Not this question again. Use search.

kthnxbai

my style of mixing i only use the volume to bring the track up and then use eqing and filters to mix the tune out.

Should have added a poll man. Everyone loves a good poll.

I used to use the crossfader, but now I've been using the channels for a while. Much more precise control.

Now whenever I get bored I'm trying to teach myself to crab the x-fader. My hand just doesn't want to :p

when i'm drunk the cross fader is my worst enemy (aka @ every party)

Jester: "WTF ... No Sound *confusion* "
Anyone else in the room: *returns crossfader to correct central position, slaps jester, calls him a nub*

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jester.NZ

when i'm drunk the cross fader is my worst enemy (aka @ every party)

Jester: "WTF ... No Sound *confusion* "
Anyone else in the room: *returns crossfader to correct central position, slaps jester, calls him a nub*

---

The number of times I've done that while drunk with the echo freeze. i used to use the MF deckalized focus mapping, so I'd be on the page for the other deck like... huh? no sound?

10 seconds of panic later (normally with one track on a horrible sounding loop) and I realise that 5 minutes ago I used the freeze and left it on. Vair annoying.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by djproben

Uh-huh. Now do that in rapid fire triplets with a switch. Actually, do triplet-eighth note combos (1-and-uh-2-and-3-and-uh-4-and) with a switch at 120 BPM (or 100 BPM for that matter). Not gonna happen.

---

You mean in the same way we see Ean does in his videos with cue points and a button?

Or the way scratch DJs used to with a transform spring loaded switch/button?

It's actually easier since you don't need a second motion to push the fader back into the previous position, the button/switch does it for you.

[QUOTE=Jester.NZ;282958]return crossfader to correct central position[QUOTE]

Something like the Gain knob Jes? To quote you - 'if its supposed to sit at 12 - then why can it be rotated left and right'? If the X fader's correct position is central - why can it be moved left and right?
PS - don't be too hard on the REAL 'nub' :)

Of course it's the correct position if you're using line faders. You truly are a nub.

alcohol is a helluva drug ..

Constanoon afterble. I appear to be under the affluence of inkyhol.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BradCee

Not this question again. Use search.

kthnxbai

---

I did, and didn't find a thread.

If you could please give me a link, you'd be a very kind and constructive member of this forum :)

Yes I thought about a poll, I'm a bit late now... :rolleyes:
I so hate this moment when I realize "damn... I'm fading to nothing :cool:"

Now I got used to put back the crossfader in the middle as soon as I've done the mix and stopped the outgoing track. I think one might want to specifically train this and make it a ritual in order to avoid the horrible depths of silence, even under the influence of uhmm.. anything in fact (including a pair of legendary breasts; yes that happened too).

Same with echo, but it is a bit more evil cuz it's less visible.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fullenglishpint

You truly are a nub.

---

:) guilty as charged :)

welcome to the 1k club Jon :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pedrotax

I did, and didn't find a thread.

If you could please give me a link, you'd be a very kind and constructive member of this forum :)
.

---

you have no idea how constructive I am...

(couldn't keep a straight face typing that)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jester.NZ

welcome to the 1k club Jon :)

---

+1!

Wow - only just realised Jes - thank you. Never posted/blogged before, don't tweet/facebook and only 1 app on my Android (Shazam), so this has been quite a paradigm shift for me. I started by asking on the 'Show Your Set-Up' thread if an X1 can be used as a mixer :). You patience was exemplary. The vibe on this site never ceases to amaze me. My 'disposable income' is somewhat depleted and my wife is convinced I'm having an electronic affair (:) - in case she peeps - "Hi Love") but I think you guys are legendary. Thank you for this community, and thank you for making me feel so much part of it.

Here are two links...
http://www.djtechtools.com/forum/sho...ght=crossfader
http://www.djtechtools.com/forum/sho...ght=crossfader

And to answer : line fader and eqs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JonathanBlake

Wow - only just realised Jes - thank you. Never posted/blogged before, don't tweet/facebook and only 1 app on my Android (Shazam), so this has been quite a paradigm shift for me. I started by asking on the 'Show Your Set-Up' thread if an X1 can be used as a mixer :). You patience was exemplary. The vibe on this site never ceases to amaze me. My 'disposable income' is somewhat depleted and my wife is convinced I'm having an electronic affair (:) - in case she peeps - "Hi Love") but I think you guys are legendary. Thank you for this community, and thank you for making me feel so much part of it.

---

Thanks for being part of it! I've not been on here for that long (just tried to find my first ever post but the archive only goes back 500 posts :(), but I felt welcome as soon as I started and I've been spending a large part of my life on here ever since.

I think my girlfriend finds it comforting lol, cos I live in spain and she's back home in the UK, she knows I'm spending most of my time on here rather than going out and meeting women :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BradCee

you have no idea how constructive I am...

(couldn't keep a straight face typing that)

---

lol :D
Realized a put a space between cross and fader while searching. :rolleyes:
My bad...

Thanks for the links, I might want to set my x fader a bit smoother... while I wait to gather funds for a proper mixer.

[QUOTE=fullenglishpint;283033]Thanks for being part of it! [QUOTE]

You rock FEP (even 'tho your beer is warm)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jester.NZ

welcome to the 1k club Jon :)

---

Your X1 tsi got a lot to do with that Jes. You are a gentleman.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JonathanBlake

You rock FEP (even 'tho your beer is warm)

---

And the same to you bru. Fun fact about me: I've been through Johannesburg airport three times on my way to different places (namibia, Limpopo province, CT) but never actually been into Jo'burg.

Is it nice? Do they do cold beer? Do they do pineapple on pizza?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fullenglishpint

The number of times I've done that while drunk with the echo freeze. i used to use the MF deckalized focus mapping, so I'd be on the page for the other deck like... huh? no sound?

10 seconds of panic later (normally with one track on a horrible sounding loop) and I realise that 5 minutes ago I used the freeze and left it on. Vair annoying.

---

i do that allllll the fucking time. wtf. lol echo freeze should have a 30 second turn off switch so it never stays on for longer than it takes the echo to match and you to cut the volume... or for it to reset on the deck if you load a new track

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by djnesquigs

i do that allllll the fucking time. wtf. lol echo freeze should have a 30 second turn off switch so it never stays on for longer than it takes the echo to match and you to cut the volume... or for it to reset on the deck if you load a new track

---

Too many complications, if you have multiple decks routed to it or whatever. Annoying nonetheless.

Still a noob, and I have NO ONE around here from whom to learn, but I find myself bringing a new track up with the level fader, then controlling the EQ to bring it in more powerfully, as I use the cross fader to pull the prior song back until the new one hits.

.....if you can recommend a more effective way, I'm totally open to it. I'm not some master DJ by any stretch of the imagination, but given my limited skillset, this works for me :-)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KnightsOfTheRound

Still a noob, and I have NO ONE around here from whom to learn, but I find myself bringing a new track up with the level fader, then controlling the EQ to bring it in more powerfully, as I use the cross fader to pull the prior song back until the new one hits.

.....if you can recommend a more effective way, I'm totally open to it. I'm not some master DJ by any stretch of the imagination, but given my limited skillset, this works for me :-)

---

Dude just do what works for you bro.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MrPopinjay

I honestly don't see the point in the crossfader. I'd much rather have switch instead.

I mean it's only for cutting, why do I want an analogue control?

---

I agree with this... as a hip hop dj my faders cut in is as sharp as I can get it so its basically just an on off switch. So I have to use my up faders to control my levels.

For the OP I would suggest using both. If your xfader is in the middle with both upfaders all the way up then your volume will be too high, and when you drop the outgoing song, you can loose some energy. Working your upfaders will keep your levels in check when both songs are playing.

Last time I posted on a post like this one I was using the crossfader and EQ's mostly when transitioning. But now I am strictly volume faders. My crossfader on my VCI over a year ago busted so I was forced to use my volume faders only. It Changed my bad habits and forced me to mix with just volume faders. However I do use the crossfader when I am doing real quick cuts, which I do when I am mixing low bpm hip hop, or djing a private gig and don't care about transitions.