Controllers: How to attain accurate 0.02% pitch resolution?
So through my searching, I have found that it is quite a challenge to find anything that naturally supports capacity for 0.02% incremental changes in pitch, which I consider standard CDJ-1000 behavior (or any well made CD deck for that matter). Mostly (if I’m correct in this notion) because either the pitch slider is not physically long enough (and/or at an appropriate -/+ range) to accommodate the change in values accurately enough, or the MIDI stepping which are on the slider aren’t high enough in value to accommodate all the changes in values adequately.
Based on this, I have been reading that the only solution is either a high resolution MIDI slider which can handle the above feature (i.e: VCI-300), or using an endless encoder knob and assigning it to the pitch function (which I’m not a fan of personally, as I like to see-saw my slider to match beats).
Is there a controller which naturally does a 0.02% change in pitch resolution on -/+ 6% pitch range in Traktor, and if not, what are some of the work arounds people use do attain this functionality.
For example, I’ve heard of people assigning the jog wheels on a VCI-100 to change pitch value when the Shift button is activated.
Also, by all means, if my understanding is inaccurate or partial - inform me
Always good to know that I missed something in this case, could you link or elaborate a little on that?. I’m assuming by course, you mean a MIDI control which handles large, whole percentage jumps, and another MIDI control which handles the more fine, fractional percentage changes?.
your certainly not the only one who pitch bends when needed. I have also found that the lower resolution midi controllers (vci-100) are not suited to beatmatch manually with the small pitch faders. which is why I almost always use the jog wheels to control pitch and the outer rim for super fine adjustments. in this way it behaves like a cdj, which is what i learned on. Lately ive given up trying to impress the seasoned vinyl dj’s and use sync to match phase and pitchbend accordingly.
I guess your only other option is to search for a controller that supports hi res midi (14bit) or HID to achieve finer pitch control
14-bit Midi should be able to do the trick, along with HID, or using standard midi in fine/course with modifiers like you suggested. Not very many controllers use 14-bit midi though, it’s a shame.
I use a pair of SCS3ds now, which have relative slider strips mapped to both fine and normal pitch resolution.
When I used to use a BCD2000 tho I found it easiest, for my mixing style, to map fine pitch buttons. So when mixing I could get it within the right bpm range with the BCDs low resolution pitch faders, then fine tune it with the buttons while still being able to pitch bend with the jogs (kinda like the way I use TTs).
I’ve seen some mappings with the fine pitch assigned to the jogs when a track is playing, to solve the same problem but that just creates more mappings for me as I’d have to add the pitch bending buttons for my style.
Didn’t NI add something in 1 of the recent updates to help with this?
My problem, plus, I think it’s super crappy that NI sort of half assed the high res MIDI support, since jogwheels aren’t supported, only knobs and faders.
As of right now, I have deducted that if Im gonna stick with Traktor, I need an EKS Otus Raw for what I need in a controller, and if I go with Serato Itch, then a Numark V7 hits the mark as well.
Frankly, I’d rather get the Otus Raw, but no word as to when it will be out, further busting my balls -_-
Technically there is 14 bit midi jog wheel support, it just doesnt function. That is you can assign 14 bit messages to the jog wheel midi mapping but it doesnt actually work.
Can anyone provide any further information about using jogs to adjust pitch? I can’t get used to using the vci to mix drifting tracks, its just not a a technics deck or cdj when it comes to that aspect of mixing i know, but i must have more options. If i could have better control over the pitch i could use it more as a stand alone item. I have a lot of vinyl rips that drift and i just cant be arsed fixing them all in ableton.
Yup that is the one thing that lets it down. Thats why i’m very curious to see what others are doing exactly to see if i can get used to using it without usiong sync. I like beatmatching and love just throwing on a track without having to pre prepare it.
Basically we either need a ableton style warp function within tracktor or some other way of more acurately riding the pitch.
I am very curious as to how the jog wheel is used.
Fader length to accommodate for MIDI step accuracy also. An endless encoder knob will also do the trick since it has no limited parameters for increase/decrease values.
To add to this. I often find myself frustrated with pirch accuracy. I only really use it when I am mixing after another DJ at a club and I want to beatmatch their last track and fade into mine. To compensate I have been starting up with tracks with endless tones or just do quick cuts. But it does seem a bit of a work around and people do take notice.
Do you guys find it accurate enough to say beatmatch on your VCI 100 SE from some CDJ’s?? Is there a work around??
Use the jog wheels for pitch. I have .01% pitch accuracy in Traktor because I do all my BPM changes on my jogs and never touch the recommended “pitch” fader. Just assign your jogs to Up and DOwn on tempo and set the resolution to Fine. Or Ultra Fine, can’t remember, at work, not in front of the comp, etc. etc. etc..
General faders blow for really serious accuracy if there isn’t 14-bit control. shrug So yeah, use the jogs. If you use the jogs then every controller can have tight pitch accuracy.
