Tips to improve?
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  1. #1
    Tech Convert
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    Jun 2012
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    Default Tips to improve?

    Hey guys, I'm kinda new into djing and I feel like I'm stuck right now.
    I used to mix in ableton and I've switch to traktor 5 months ago. I just
    bought an S4 with a F1 to practice but I feel like I'm not progressing since 1-2 weeks.

    What I do;

    Mix in key
    Phrase (I use beat to cue function)
    Beatgrid (Every damn single track, I also put cues everywhere)
    Eq well.
    In fact, I am the 128 BPM master. I can do flawless mix and get everything clutch.

    I also use the sync a lot and the phase meter, I can't really beatmatch by hear for now.

    The problem is that I am from a small city with 1-2 clubs and people here and not big fan of the
    EDM scene. You can mix a couple of the top 10 beatport here and here but people really do like pop, hiphop and
    even sometimes trap. When I was studying in toronto, djs would play only 128-140 stuff the entire night and the dancefloor was running the entire night.

    I find it very difficult to mix different bpm stuff together. I overuse the freeze/delay fx but thats it. When I listen to local djs here, the transitions are most of the time meh and people don't really notice. Most of them are from vinyl so they just do the scratch thing and switch very quickly. They also use a lot of segways.

    So if you guys could help me I would appreciate. Also, I would take any books/dvd recommendation.

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    DJTT Moderator Dude Jester's Avatar
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    Default

    learn your tracks.
    practise.
    practise some more
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  3. #3
    Tech Wizard Rip van Winkle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jester View Post
    learn your tracks.
    practise.
    practise some more
    and some more and don't put cues everywhere. put them where you want to start your track from. no sense in putting up multiple cues if your not using them, and it makes quick selection easier. You will have a hard time mixing different BPMs together if you use sync all the time. I'd stronly advise you to switch it off for a while and learn to mix by ear. You can then switch it back on but i think this is an essential skill if you want to fully understand the basis principles
    HP Pavillion 17" , i7 core 2nd gen, 8Gb ram / Traktor Scratch Pro 2 / Ableton Live suite 8 & 9 / Traktor Kontrol S4 / Traktor Kontrol F1 / 2x Numark TT200 / Hercules DJ Console RMX / Akai MPD24 / Evolution MK425C / Evolution UC33 / Sennheiser HD215 / M-Audio Audiophiles BX5A active monitors

  4. #4
    Tech Guru
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    I think multiple cues is a good idea in case you miss your first mix in point.
    Bedroom DJ | Pioneer DJM-800 | Pioneer CDJ2000 and CDJ900-NXS | 2 x Mackie MR8MKII | Sennheiser Amperior

  5. #5
    Tech Mentor
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    If you want to make it more interesting, start beatmatching manually. It doesn't sound like you're doing that at the moment. You could also look into using other effects besides echo-freeze. The fact that you own an F1 means you can look into samples, fingerdrumming and using the sample recorder. In combination with the F1, the recorder is MAGIC.

    Djtechtools has several tutorials on the above. Another great source for inspiration and learning for me is ellaskins on youtube. He has made literally thousands of tutorials on different levels, styles and equipment. Dubspot also has some good stuff for free, it's where I got the inspiration to use the sample recorder.

    Good luck and don't give up! You'll find your way if you keep trying different things.

  6. #6
    Tech Wizard
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    Quote Originally Posted by SlvrDragon50 View Post
    I think multiple cues is a good idea in case you miss your first mix in point.
    I do this for that very reason. I usually have a cue where I should have started and an additional one 8 to 16 beats after just in case I goofed it the first time I can still mix the phrase.

  7. #7
    Tech Convert
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    Alright thanks guys! I'll definitively look into beatmatching by ear. I beatgrided the 1/4 of my library and don't feel like doing the rest, so i'll def. want to learn that.

    I'm trying to master the S4 before using the F1 ;p
    I'll look into hiphop dj'ing tutorial. Not a big fan but people's seems to like it.

    Thanks again!

  8. #8
    Tech Guru antifmradio's Avatar
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    learn to mix without a monitor, in your headphones, and without looking at the screen

    if you can do that then u are most certain to learn your music as well. Gotta get those BPMs matched by ear mate

  9. #9
    Tech Mentor
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    I love all of Traktor's capabilities and features but for all the stuff it does, I feel more and more distance has come between me and mixing. Having screens are great interface but mixing is about sound. I guess where I'm going is...
    Try doing things without looking at the screen.
    Traktor Z2, Numark TTX1,Ableton Live 9/Push,Roland TR8,Eurorack modular
    Techno/Experimental

  10. #10
    Tech Guru SirReal's Avatar
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    You shouldn't need anything more then a load marker and your ear. Turn off sync and don't look at the screen.
    "Walking the fine line between Stupidity and Genious" My Soundcloud ---- My Mixcloud
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