Think Mixxx sucks?

[djproben]

I disagree here. A phase meter assumes that the beatgrids are spot on, if the beatgrid is slightly off then the phase meter is off. I found the beatgridding in mixxx isn't very precise and fine tuneable like traktor so I would much rather have stacking waveforms and ignore the beatgrids since they are often wrong and hard to adjust to get a really good lock.

Good point - Traktor needs a more prominent signal that the beatgrid has not been checked; like maybe a different color on the phase meter. I wouldn't mind being able to switch to a stacking waveform grid when I want to (or maybe even have the program automatically show small parallel grids when the beatgrid lock is off), but the thing I like about Traktor's way of doing it currently is that the waveforms stay out of my way; if I'm concentrating on the moving pictures I'm not focusing on the music (or the crowd). When used right, the phase meter gives me more important info for basic beatmatching than the waveforms - I can instantly see not only how far off the beats are, but which record is ahead and how much I need to correct it by. Waveforms are great when you want more information but for just beatmatching, the phase meter (used properly) is simple and elegant. But yeah if you don't have good beat grids it's a mess (and you're right, so far Mixxx is pretty bad at autobeatgridding, at least based on the 3 or 4 pretty basic house songs I loaded up).

PS wanted to add that I started using DVS with Serato several years ago and the lack of parallel wave forms was my biggest beef with Traktor when I first made the switch. It took a while for me to appreciate what the phase meter was doing but now I like it a lot better.

[Gryz]

I personally feel that he more advanced the programs become, the less we are focusing on the music that really matters.

You have phase meters which people rely on 100%, stacked waveforms where you squint to see how much you are off beat, auto and manual beat gridding, which if not correct, causes shit to hit the fan as you both has stated.

I have been playing for the last 6 months or so with no phase meter, no beat grids - not even auto, and no BPM readout. I can honestly say that my sets are 1000 times more enjoyable due to the fact that my matching, phrasing, ect. is all done by hand and ear. It just makes me more proud of my mixing and you may even catch a smirk on my face when something I thought I could only do with sync or gridding, is pulled off without.

But as for the gui of MIXXX, I would like to see it more modern as someone has pointed out. That is one of the reasons I chose Traktor over Serato and VDJ...they look like cheap toys for layouts...unrealistic if you will.

[rryan]

Any chance there will be a phase meter in mixxx similar to traktor? I find that far more useful than putting waveforms side by side whether horizontal or vertical.

Yup, there's a feature request for this already. https://bugs.launchpad.net/mixxx/+bug/753301

Nobody is working on it currently, but it would really only take a few hours of work since we already correct the phase when you hit sync.

[zestoi]

can mixxx transmit midi sync now to a selected midi port? i seem to remember hunting round the mixxx wiki a while ago and found a request for it, but it wasn't available at the time. i guess that's a possibility now with beat detection etc?

[rryan]

I disagree here. A phase meter assumes that the beatgrids are spot on, if the beatgrid is slightly off then the phase meter is off. I found the beatgridding in mixxx isn't very precise and fine tuneable like traktor so I would much rather have stacking waveforms and ignore the beatgrids since they are often wrong and hard to adjust to get a really good lock.

I really wish traktor had another layout option with stacking waveforms since I think it is much more useful for DVS.

Mixxx 1.10.0 is at least a step in the right direction here. There is a beatgrid-adjust button so you can adjust the offset of your beatgrids easily. Changing the spacing is not as easy because you have to manually adjust the BPM whereas Traktor gives you buttons to easily adjust. Easier buttons for fine-tuned adjusting are in progress.

[rryan]

can mixxx transmit midi sync now to a selected midi port? i seem to remember hunting round the mixxx wiki a while ago and found a request for it, but it wasn't available at the time. i guess that's a possibility now with beat detection etc?

Nope, not yet -- though this will change once we do our big MIDI / HID revamp coming soon.

[rryan]

I personally feel that he more advanced the programs become, the less we are focusing on the music that really matters...

Totally agree here -- in the end the music is what matters. We think a lot about this because if we give people crutches it limits their ability to grow and expand their skills.

On the other hand, if you take away distractions (i.e. the DJ doesn't have to worry about timing a hotcue on the beat, or keeping the decks in sync) then the DJ can presumably focus more on the high-level: the music, phrasing, harmonics, track selection, engaging with the crowd, etc.

I know that if I had to beatmatch by hand, I just don't have the mental agility to keep 4 decks in play. I'd have to stick to 2. I think part of the reason we're seeing this 4-deck revolution come around in DJ hardware is that the tools are helping DJs expand their art by taking away distractions.

I think it's a delicate line to walk. In the end, we hope the DJ doesn't use the tool as a crutch -- but more as a power suit that helps them jump higher and run faster.

[djproben]

I have been playing for the last 6 months or so with no phase meter, no beat grids - not even auto, and no BPM readout.

I did that for over ten years - it was called vinyl. And you're right it can be a lot more rewarding to pull off a great set because you're constantly engaged with beatmatching. The lack of visual distraction keeps you focused on the music and the crowd. But if you're going to have a computer in front of you, the phase meter requires a lot less of your focus than side by side waveforms. But yeah if you want the experience of playing without any visual distraction, you ought to be able to turn these things off.

[buddha131]

I have been playing for the last 6 months or so with no phase meter, no beat grids - not even auto, and no BPM readout. I can honestly say that my sets are 1000 times more enjoyable due to the fact that my matching, phrasing, ect. is all done by hand and ear. It just makes me more proud of my mixing and you may even catch a smirk on my face when something I thought I could only do with sync or gridding, is pulled off without.

this x 100

feelsgoodman.

[Coldfuzion]

I haven't read through all of the posts, ive just skimmed through them. I don't care what anyone says, keep up the good work! It's free. NOTHING beats free.

Big thanks to the team for putting this project together and working hard on it! I'll definitely give it a shot! Very very awesome!