Moving from controllers to timecode control

[Saurus]

So I've been playing with controllers in traktor for years, but after so long of being the guy that has to clusterfuck around moving CDJs and turntables out of the way to set up, I've decided to get into timecode. I'm going to end up buying a pair of Midifighter 3D's for cue points and effects, and just using whatever the event has (turntables or CDJs) to spin timecode.
Got a few questions about this.

1:
I got a great deal on a pair of 1200's. One's an M3D and the other's a MK2. I'm not sure if this is a noob question, or if the turntables are fucked up.... The problem is that the tracking dots on the outside don't line up as they should on either TT. when I place the tempo slider at 0, the middle dot is perfect, but the other settings are off. When I place the tempo fader at +6, the top dot still moves, and doesn't even out until around +7. It's similar with +3, and -3 as well.

I tried this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCEf4CArTCk to no avail. I can get it so that whichever dot I want stays still at whatever tempo fader point I want... But the other states still don't come out evely... Ideas? Or are the motors in each just fucked?



2:
I've never used CDJs in my life, much less timecode CDs... But am I correct in thinking that the cue button on the CDJ won't work in traktor, because It'll just see that the CD is playing, and start playing the Mp3 until you release the cue button?



3:
how does sync and master work with timecode? does sync still work like it would on a controller? As in, can i enable sync mode if a i want, and then release the record off beat, and it'll correct it?

What about tempo? Can I manipulate the tempo digitally, so that the track is spinning at a different speed than the timecode? I do tempo changes with multiple decks playing pretty often, is there a way to use sync mode to do this with timecode?



Thanks a lot guys.

[Toastmaster]

Put some input on a few of these issues:

1. I recently learned that getting all 4 strobe dots to not move at their correct positions is almost impossible. If you can get the zero point and the +6 point calibrated perfectly, the remaining areas are sufficiently calibrated. As for the vid, you may need to reset your zero point (the previous vid to the series) and then calibrate your pitch range. I performed both of these tasks on my turntables and it worked great; if that doesn't work there might be other issues.

2. Never used timecode CDs so can't say.

3. Sync and master work exactly like using a controller, I believe. There are two modes that the vinyl can be in: relative and absolute. Absolute is when the location of the needle directly corresponds to a place in the track, so that you can lift the needle off, travel 3 mins into the song on the vinyl, drop the needle, and the software moves the track 3 mins ahead. Relative mode means that most of the movements are focused on the software aspect, so that you can play a new track at the very beginning in the middle of the record. When you enter loops or hotcues, the software automatically places the mode into relative (otherwise these actions would be impossible since the record is still spinning). So while in relative, I believe sync, master and tempo changes work normally, as if you were using a hardware controller.

Sorry this was so long but hopefully this helps you out!

[synthet1c]

2. the cue button and loop function will work on the timecode but not on the software when using absolute mode, so you can cue up each track before you play it, or loop manually with loop in and loop out so it won't be quantized and there is a small hardly noticeable delay when the timecode loops back around.

If the club has CDJ 350,400,850,900,2000 SC2900 then you can use them as controllers giving you the ability to map to your software any way you want. I don't use traktor or serato so not sure how well the HID is integrated but it's great with VDJ.

[guiltyblade]

1. Sounds like your faders maybe screwy. If you have already calibrated and cleaned them they may need replacing. Its likely not a motor issue, just a wonky pitch fader.

2. Cue button "sometimes" works. With time code I had it work occasionally. I don't know with new time code and 2.5 if they have improved the cue function at all. I know many were begging for that to be somehow resolved.

3. Sync should work just like a controller. You press it and it syncs it up. Only thing to watch is when you do that it may take the control off the time code and put you into internal mode, so click the little CD button to get back on the cdj if need be.