Do you use the crossfader?

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
1

Do you use the crossfader?

I don’t use the cross fader while i mix, just the volume (since i do not scratch) does anyone else do this or am i missing out something on crossfader mixing?

2

I use the crossfader for tricks, but for blends ill use the line faders.

Theres lots of fun to be had jamming the crossfader left and right switching back and forth between two songs. Or using the cross fader on the steep setting so you can play in a tone in a rhythmic fashion :slight_smile:

3

I use it when I want to. Tricks, blends, crabs, cutts, you name it. :wink:

4

I do all my mixing on the crossfader and I don’t scratch. I’ve always used it, and I think a well adjusted crossfader blends a LOT smoother than line faders.

But I’m a minority in this.

5

Very rarely only if I’m scratching or doing something fancy. I used it when I had a rotary mixer only if I needed to slam a track in and it would be too much of a pain using the knobs. On the xone 92 rotary I also used it to control the filters once in a while (Link VCF to Xfader button)…

6

I use it to do some cuts sometimes, when the mix requires it.

7

X fading is something I don´t like much, everyone has his style and I never do X type transitions, I am an equing maniac so corssfading is never my way to go. I love all the control you have with line faders and eqs, specially if you like to layer stuff. I often try to disable the crossfafer or unassign it if the mixer allows it so I don´t accidentally bump on it.

But that is just me… :smiley:

8

I use the x fader, along with eq knobs… I guess it just feels natural to me, and I dont really have any dj friends in the area, so its kind of difficult to pick up new techniques.

9

I don’t think you’re alone in this one. :wink:

10

I’m not alone in being a minority? Or being a minority in this? Cause as of this post there are two of us that use the x-fader and don’t scratch :stuck_out_tongue:

11

I’m also using only the linefaders and not the crossfader. But that also has to do something with the layout of my mixer (VCM-600, the crossfader is just in a really bad place). I really like simple crossfder stuff like cutting and some crabs, but I believe I don’t miss out on something, because I’m more of an EQ guy now, especially with my four decks and mastering in Ableton nowadays…

12

I dont scratch and I definitely use it.

But are you talking about the device or the function itself. I used the xfader alot when I only had my BCR (all nobs). I use it for straight mixing . Like situations when I want to bring in something at exactly 25% and not go over that amount for a certain point in a song…kinda like a wall (that is just one example for me)

13

I use faders mostly.. when I try to use the crossfader for cuts it feels so unnatural cos I’m not used to it xD

14

I have used the x fader since the days of using 1210’s and scratching, nowadays i don’t scratch or do anything remotely turntabalist but I still use it out of habit, currently getting into using the upfaders, but i still slip back to use it.

heard on the Xone 4D you can switch it off, so i might just try that and see how it goes.

15

I too hardly ever Scratch, but i allways use the crossfader, ever since the days where adjusting the curve wasn´t an option.
And then i need the second hand to do somthing else, like Eq, triggering something, holding a drink…

16

I blend tracks with the crossfader. As I venture further into 4 Deck territory, I try to use the volume faders more, but this way I always end up wishing for another hand or two.

I made my first DJing attempts as a 15yr-old hip hop head, trying to scratch on crappy belt driven TTs and a no name mixer… I always dreamed of clicking away with one of these fancy Vestax xfaders. Now that I have one, right here in my VCI, I owe to my past-me to make good use of it. :slight_smile:

17

I only mix two decks most of the time so I tend to use the crossfader often. I find going from side to side feels more natural then up and down.

18

I can understand why someone would PREFER to use volume faders rather than a crossfader to mix from one track to another, but I can’t understand why it would be BETTER.
Can anyone educate me on this one?

19

you have more control mixing with the vol faders, you get control over each channels volume independently. say the song you are mixing out of hits a quiet part and you want to raise that channels vol with completing the mix out. or say the song you are mixing into hits an unexpected loud part, if you hands are on the vol faders then you can make adjustments that much quicker. mixing with the crossfader to do that you have to reach back up to the faders.

this is with dj mixers, with midi controllers, the crossfader has more uses IMO because you can dual map it for other things. I really don’t like mixing in the box though.

20

I used the crossfader to cut in my line faders at preset levels, so literally like a 3-way switch between any left channels, any right channels and all channels; I’ve never felt comfortable throwing a line fader up without throwing it all the way so I guess that’s how I compensated years ago

I guess to add to charo’s points that with a crossfader you can’t run both channels off the curve, i.e. both channels at 80% (as opposed to 100% and 80%) which in the situations mentioned such as quiet/loud part of tracks can be handy

All personal preference though I guess as every DJ I’ve met has a slightly different style!