Upfaders - Headroom poll

View Poll Results: Where do you like to mix using your upfaders?

Voters
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  • All the way up

    30 83.33%
  • Somewhere towards the top, but I leave headroom

    6 16.67%
  • I red line the mixer and make ears bleed

    0 0%
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  1. #1
    DJTT #1 setup pimp 2012
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    Default Upfaders - Headroom poll

    I come from primarily mixing with rotary mixers (I use a Rane MP-2016 these days). These mixers channel knobs can go from 0-10 of course. It's always been good practice that when mixing with one of these rotaries, the mixers sounds best when you keep your channels at around the "8" mark.

    This is where the mixers gain structure comes together best, and it gives you some headroom if during a mix you need to boost one of the channels a bit higher. I believe this goes back in time to the Bozak's and UREI's, which didn't have gain knobs per-channel. Essentially, your rotary channel knob IS your channel gain.

    On my Rane, things are little more modern. You have the channel fader, but you still have per-channel gains as well. I still always mix around the 8 mark for good practice.

    Now, I also have a DJM-900. I tend to still mix around the 8-9 mark, but most DJ's I see using this mixer just throw the faders all the way up. So as a general poll, which do you prefer and why?

    And if anyone knows, how is the mixer actually designed to sound best?

    Levels are key to proper mixing!

  2. #2
    Tech Guru Kwal's Avatar
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    Default

    I throw mine all the way up, but I don't let my levels go red obviously.

  3. #3
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    Default

    DJMs have plenty of headroom (19dB above 0), so as long as you set your gain right there's no need to stop short on the faders.

    Apparently due to the headroom of the mixer the 4dB point is optimal.
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  4. #4
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    i leave just a little room, to give a little punch on the drops

  5. #5
    Tech Guru sarasin's Avatar
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    All the way up.

    Leave the master out in the yellow...max.

    Then use the AMP to control the actual volume.

    Understand the Gains Stage......set the Master Volume carefully and use the EQ to shape the overall sound.

    If you want a bit of punch....use the Gain.
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  6. #6
    Tech Guru MaxOne's Avatar
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    Faders up to top then gains for volume tweaks is how I do it. Never go in the red

    I also use traktor auto gain so rarely need to tweak gains by much

    I normally set the volume of the tune im bringing in to about 2/3rds then bring in tune with x fader then start working the volume up in tune coming in and down on tune going out
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  7. #7
    Tech Guru Kwal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MaxOne View Post
    Faders up to top then gains for volume tweaks is how I do it. Never go in the red

    I also use traktor auto gain so rarely need to tweak gains by much

    I normally set the volume of the tune im bringing in to about 2/3rds then bring in tune with x fader then start working the volume up in tune coming in and down on tune going out
    Never seen it done like that before.. Does this do anything in your opinion or do you just do this because it's a habit?

  8. #8
    Tech Guru Patch's Avatar
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    I usually go all the way to the top, and use the channel gain to set the volume max.

    But:

    Quote Originally Posted by 031999
    i leave just a little room, to give a little punch on the drops
    This is good practice - I like it. Gonna steal that one...
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  9. #9
    Tech Guru Kwal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Patch View Post
    I usually go all the way to the top, and use the channel gain to set the volume max.

    But:



    This is good practice - I like it. Gonna steal that one...
    I use the gain for that reason, lower the gain during breaks to let people hear each other for a min or two, then start raising it once the buildup comes and give it that extra crank just before the drop and boom. I actually got that tip from someone on this forum.

    Either way, whatever method works best for you.

  10. #10
    Tech Guru Tarekith's Avatar
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    Ditto, channel faders to top and I use the gains for level matching and drops.

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