Introduction to an Unusual Music Mixer Person

[Sunshine]

Introduction to an Unusual Music Mixer Person

Hello Everyone!

I’ve posted in the forum a bit and I’d now like to introduce myself. I’m not your typical DJ by any means. I don’t even really consider myself a DJ.

I am a 44 year old woman (yup!) who has always loved music and in college back in the early 80’s I would entertain at parties using A-tracks (remember those?) cassettes and records. It was just something immensely enjoyable and still is. In fact, music is therapeutic and what keeps me grounded in an insane world and I suspect many here feel the same about their connection to music.

I play at small loungey events that people seem to really enjoy. Playlists are unpredictable, super eclectic and global. I’ve never done a paid gig due to a combination of lack of confidence and just not bothering even when it’s offered. It’s almost like guilt to take money for something that feeds my soul so much.

Downtempo, world music, chill, and deep, minimal, soul house are favorites. Technologically, I’m a basket case. Although I’m a digital design instructor, talk of tks, latency and sound cards is head spinning and that’s why I’m here.

I want to learn what tools to use to work for my style. I’m not interested in scratching and so far, I’ve moved from the basic Numark Fusion CD/Mixer kit to connecting my MacBook Pro and iPod to a mixer. Anyhow, that hasn’t been too comfortable and until recently, the VCI 300 was my dream – it’s hard to tell if it will ever emerge and supposedly, Itch software isn’t all that it’s scratched up to be. I just purchased Traktor 3 and it’s super fun, even with much left to learn.

So… I need help and this appears to be a solid place to get it.
Since I’m not interested in scratching, are there any solid controllers that you can suggest – for example between the VCI 100, VCM 100, Xsession Pro ad so on.

Please pardon the length of this post and be patient when I ask weird questions!

BTW Ean, I’ve got tons of really fun VB smilies if you want them.

Cheers.

[tekki]

If you can’t be bothered about scratching, you might want to check out the VCM-100. A solid little controller and soundcard in one.
You also want the simplest DJ controller software, unfortunately I cannot make any recommendations on that.

Really simple & cheap = [u]mixxx[/u]
supported controllers:

• Vestax VCI-100
• M-Audio Xponent
• M-Audio X-Session Pro

What took me about half a day to get used to = traktor
As far as I know, any controller will do.

[djxsquizet]

Wow thats freakin ballin story right there. I am the same way with out music. It helps me get through this cracked out society lol. Music can determine the way I lift in the gym, if I am feeling down it can make me happy, if I am mad it can make me even more pissed off.

Since you just got tractor the vcm-100 would be a good choice.

Also the X-session pro its cheap and works well just for plain ol mixing ya know. I use it with ableton live and I love it it does what I need to to do. I am keeping it when I move to traktor myself.

The only thing about the xsession pro is its very nimble I bet the fader knob on channel b it still works but just looks weird.

But at a party I was doing tequila got into it. I dried it out and it still worked.

Good luck on your journey into digital dj’n!

X~

[philll]

hi sunshine , i feel with you
traktor is worth to learn ,and step by step you will bring your creativity in it
like the most users here i would recommend the vestax vci 100, its a simple ,solid and sexy unit to play with. you will have fun for years with it,and the same with traktor you can easily learn things step by step even the technical things (i am totaly uncreative when it comes to that point but i managed that too,took some time but things always seem to be more complicated as they are)
but then again you will have to do the external soundcard thing but even that is very nice to do and to learn
my opinion is to go for a controller and a external soundcard. i absolutely live here and now but when i look in to the future you re always better with special gear for special operations and not for the combinated controller and soundcard things

[Chilly]

@Sunshine

… I would entertain at parties using A-tracks (remember those?)

I think you mean…8-tracks?

[tekki]

@Chilly

I think you mean…8-tracks?

Think so.

[Sunshine]

@Chilly

I think you mean…8-tracks?

Thank you! That’s what lack of sleep does to you.

8-Tracks – these gizmos

[Sunshine]

Thank you tekki. I already purchased Traktor 3.

[Sunshine]

Wow thats freakin ballin story right there. I am the same way with out music. It helps me get through this cracked out society lol. Music can determine the way I lift in the gym, if I am feeling down it can make me happy, if I am mad it can make me even more pissed off.

Thank you… I hope you’re mostly happy than pissed off.

[QUOTE]Since you just got tractor the vcm-100 would be a good choice.

Also the X-session pro its cheap and works well just for plain ol mixing ya know. I use it with ableton live and I love it it does what I need to to do. I am keeping it when I move to traktor myself.[/QUOTE]
Since the VCM 100 is about the same price as the VCI, I’m considering to purchase the xSession, then wait for the next batch of VCI 100 LEs

[QUOTE]The only thing about the xsession pro is its very nimble I bet the fader knob on channel b it still works but just looks weird.

But at a party I was doing tequila got into it. I dried it out and it still worked.[/QUOTE]
Do we even want to know how tequila ended up o your gear?
It’s good to know that the xsession can withstand the power of tequila.

[QUOTE]
Good luck on your journey into digital dj’n![/QUOTE]

You are very kind. Thanks again and good luck to you too!

[Sunshine]

@philll

hi sunshine , i feel with you
traktor is worth to learn ,and step by step you will bring your creativity in it
like the most users here i would recommend the vestax vci 100, its a simple ,solid and sexy unit to play with. you will have fun for years with it,and the same with traktor you can easily learn things step by step even the technical things (i am totaly uncreative when it comes to that point but i managed that too,took some time but things always seem to be more complicated as they are)

Hello philll! I’m trying so figure out the layout and preferences and I’m having a blast with the little I’ve been able to learn so far. Indeed the goal is to get comfortable enough with the technology so that the creativity has room to breathe.
Your progress gives me hope.

[QUOTE]but then again you will have to do the external soundcard thing but even that is very nice to do and to learn
my opinion is to go for a controller and a external soundcard. i absolutely live here and now but when i look in to the future you re always better with special gear for special operations and not for the combinated controller and soundcard things[/QUOTE]
So far, I plan to get one of the VCI 100 LEs if I’m lucky and the Presonus Firebox looks like a possible sound card.

Thanks for the encouragement.

[tekki]

@Sunshine

Thank you… I hope you’re mostly happy than pissed off.

Since the VCM 100 is about the same price as the VCI, I’m considering to purchase the xSession, then wait for the next batch of VCI 100 LEs

No hard feelings… nothing but love on this forum.

X Session Pro by M- Audio is great. But I do think you still need another controller for track selection.

[Sunshine]

@tekki

No hard feelings… nothing but love on this forum.

X Session Pro by M- Audio is great. But I do think you still need another controller for track selection.

I feel the love.
Yes, I’ll use the X session with a mouse until the VCI is available. I didn’t realize that tracks could be selected with the VCI. That’s awesome! I wish there was a video to show how that works.

[tekki]

Well… You could also look for a small controller like a Contour Shuffle pro or something like that(Griffon etc.).

VCI-100 vids on youtube, that might help you:

Liquid Drum & Bass 10 minute Mix

Especially the second one sees the DJ scrolling down his track selections.

(You might also want to look at the M-Audio Exponent by the way! Mighty awesome controller, which is much better in real live, as seen in pictures!

[BentoSan]

@Sunshine

I feel the love.
Yes, I’ll use the X session with a mouse until the VCI is available. I didn’t realize that tracks could be selected with the VCI. That’s awesome! I wish there was a video to show how that works.

Theres still a lot of life to be breathed into the VCI-100, so it does make it a pretty good choice. However with the HD midi scheme thats going to come out in the next few months does make things very interesting. This will make devices more responsive and be more accurate. I am personally strongly considering holding off buying any more midi devices until this standard comes out.

If you really need more buttons or knobs in the meantime but do not want to blow alot of money try the Korg Micro line of devices that just recently came out. They are super cheap, super small, super functional and will tie you over until the HD midi specifications hits.

@Sunshine

So far, I plan to get one of the VCI 100 LEs if I’m lucky and the Presonus Firebox looks like a possible sound card.

Sorry to say but there is no such thing as a VCI 100 LE, theres a VCI SE (special edition) which is the black one Ean cooked up with vestax. Sadly you wont be able to get one of those unless you bid on ebay auctions for ones with arcade buttons. There is software coming out however that will make the VCI-100 act as the VCI-100 SE - or even better you could buy a firmware cable thats going to come out soon to replace the firmware on the VCI-100 to the SE firmware All of this will be available exclusively from DJTT.

The Presonus firebox is a good unit, i have one myself and are yet to be able to pick something that i do not like about it.

Hope this helps

[Sunshine]

@tekki

Well… You could also look for a small controller like a Contour Shuffle pro or something like that(Griffon etc.).

It looks interesting, like a weird mouse.

VCI-100 vids on youtube, that might help you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwWaK23qMow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03AIg194-CQ

Especially the second one sees the DJ scrolling down his track selections.

Very helpful…Thank you.

(You might also want to look at the M-Audio Exponent by the way! Mighty awesome controller, which is much better in real live, as seen in pictures!

I saw it at Guitar Center - it seemed toyish and some guy claimed it crapped out on him during a set.

Cheers!

[Sunshine]

@BentoSan

Theres still a lot of life to be breathed into the VCI-100, so it does make it a pretty good choice. However with the HD midi scheme thats going to come out in the next few months does make things very interesting. This will make devices more responsive and be more accurate. I am personally strongly considering holding off buying any more midi devices until this standard comes out.

So far the VCI 100 is top on my list.
What is the HD midi scheme and is there a thread about it?

@BentoSan

If you really need more buttons or knobs in the meantime but do not want to blow alot of money try the Korg Micro line of devices that just recently came out. They are super cheap, super small, super functional and will tie you over until the HD midi specifications hits.

Korg Micro is a keyboard??? I have no clue how to use keyboards let alone use to control DJ software.

@BentoSan

Sorry to say but there is no such thing as a VCI 100 LE, theres a VCI SE (special edition) which is the black one Ean cooked up with vestax. Sadly you wont be able to get one of those unless you bid on ebay auctions for ones with arcade buttons. There is software coming out however that will make the VCI-100 act as the VCI-100 SE - or even better you could buy a firmware cable thats going to come out soon to replace the firmware on the VCI-100 to the SE firmware All of this will be available exclusively from DJTT.

Heh heh… You are right. I guess it would be LE if Ean created some unique hand made art on each one.
I look forward to the coming updates.

@BentoSan

The Presonus firebox is a good unit, i have one myself and are yet to be able to pick something that i do not like about it.

Hope this helps

Yes, the Presonus firebox seems like a good match for my needs.

You’ve been super helpful, thank you. Your name makes me hungry for a good chicken combo bento box.

Be well, BentoSan.

[tekki]

@Sunshine

It looks interesting, like a weird mouse.

Very helpful…Thank you.

I saw it at Guitar Center - it seemed toyish and some guy claimed it crapped out on him during a set.

Cheers!

It does have some quirkes… But boy… these things pack a mighty wallop when using!

[tekki]

@Sunshine

So far the VCI 100 is top on my list.
You’ve been super helpful, thank you. Your name makes me hungry for a good chicken combo bento box.

LOlz.. that’s another translation of the word.

[miyuru]

To explain MIDI versus HD MIDI:

MIDI is the language that controllers (among other devices) communicate with our software with. It’s actually a really old standard but it’s stuck around because, we never really needed anything more.

The main limitation of regular MIDI is that each knob/fader/etc. can only have 127 steps. What this means is, as I slide my tempo fader from top to bottom, the tempo will increase in 127 steps. You can see how this limits you because you might want to beatmatch your track to 127 BPM but you can only go to 126.9 or 127.1 BPM! The easy fix is to hit the sync button in this case, but anyway…

HD MIDI will be more precise, essentially rendering controllers more sensitive.

If I were you, I’d just go with a regular VCI and until you get that with a soundcard, explore Traktor using mouse and keyboard. And don’t forget to read the manual, it’s an excellent reference.

[Sunshine]

@miyuru

To explain MIDI versus HD MIDI:

If I were you, I’d just go with a regular VCI and until you get that with a soundcard, explore Traktor using mouse and keyboard. And don’t forget to read the manual, it’s an excellent reference.

Thank you, I feel a little smarter now.
The manual will be my bedtime story tonight!