How to map beat synced LFOs (triangle, square, sawtooth, rev. sawtooth) in Traktor

[Phi]

This is a quick tutorial that will explain how to map several types of LFOs to knobs/sliders in the Traktor DJ program. This is really just a simple exercise to help you understand the process.



First, you will need to install/use a small midi-loop utility. I use LoopBe for this, but you could use any of the multiple midi utilities out there for this purpose.

Once you have installed the midi-loop open Traktor's controller manager and create a new "Generic Midi" device to become a template for further LFO tweaking.

I will use the FX unit 1's dry/wet knob in this example.



Set the midi in/out to "all ports" so that your midi loop is active. Then add a "beat phase" output with it's normal settings to the mapping. This will be what "drives" our LFOs.

add out> deck common> beat phase*
map the beat phase to an unused midi note/channel



To map a sawtooth LFO to the D/W knob simply...

add in> FX Unit> Dry/Wet adjust> fader/knob> relative and map it to the same note/channel

When playing a track you will see the D/W knob moving from 0 to 100% in the span of one beat and instantly dropping back to 0% for the next beat.

to get a reverse saw wave simply "invert" the control and you will see the knob dropping from 100 to 0% in the span of one beat, and then it will reset to 100% for the next beat.


to get a triangle wave LFO we need to map one sawtooth wave and one reverse sawtooth wave to happen back to back in the span of one beat. To do this we will need to use a toggling modifier to switch between the waveforms halfway through the beat.

add out> deck common> beat phase> controller range min = 0.0> controller range max = 0.125> blend off
This will be our "trigger" to tell the first sawtooth wave to begin it's climb. Map this to another unused midi note/channel.

add in> modifier 1> button> direct value to 1> mod con M1=0
map this to the same note/channel as the restricted beat phase output


add out> deck common> beat phase> controller range min = --0.5 controller range max = --0.375> blend off
This will be our "trigger" to tell the second sawtooth wave to begin it's decent. Map this to another unused midi note/channel.

add in> modifier 1> button> direct value to 0> mod con M1=1
map this to the same note/channel as the SECOND restricted beat phase output.

Then map a sawtooth LFO to the original unrestricted beat phase output with a rotary sensitivity of 143 and the mod con M1=0

Also map a rev. sawtooth LFO to the original unrestricted beat phase output with a rotary sensitivity of 143 and the mod con M1=1

When playing a track you should now see the D/W knob swinging from 0-100% and then from 100-0% in the span of one beat.


To make a square wave simply change the D/W knob type to button> direct value = 0> mod con M1=1
and the the reverse... D/W knob type to button> direct value = 1> mod con M1=0


Now set up another modifier to control the LFO on/off and find a creative way to use this in a set.

Have Fun!

[c0nsul]

YEAH!

[Stewe]

Here's my contribution to this thread. Hopefully this can also spark some ideas for anyone interested in learning this mapping concept...


Allows using push encoder to select between Twister's four internal MIDI banks:



Potential for the Remix Deck Sequencer:



Routing channel B Output Meter in to the MIDI In at channel A... This would be interesting to try out with some motorized faders.



Beat Monitor sequence - in this case a four beat loop:



Slice track in to the Remix Deck: