Upfaders - Headroom poll

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
1

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

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

3

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.
http://forums.pioneerdj.com/entries/20791337-DJM-900-LED-meters-Nexus-USB-Output-level-

4

i leave just a little room, to give a little punch on the drops

5

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.

6

Faders up to top then gains for volume tweaks is how I do it. Never go in the red :slight_smile:

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 :slight_smile:

7

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

I usually go all the way to the top, and use the channel gain to set the volume max.

But:

[quote=""031999 “”]
i leave just a little room, to give a little punch on the drops
[/quote]

This is good practice - I like it. Gonna steal that one… :wink:

9

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

Ditto, channel faders to top and I use the gains for level matching and drops.

11

Sometimes for me, upfaders are just on/off switches with a slight delay on them.

12

GAIN AT 30% AND FATHERS 50% I try not get red lines …

13

So no swag in your sets??

14

I stick as much as i can to the “no red” rule… but you know some times Just like to go nuts too… lol

15

If I leave room, I’ll just end up at the top by the middle of my set and The whole mix won’t sound flat. If I need a boost, I’ll use the gain. It’s a good practice though.

16

like everybody - all the way up, gains for the levels.

one reason being… try cutting and stopping your fader exactly at the same spot

17

Just like bringing my tunes in on the one but not at full volume… so x fader means i can bring it in hard but lower volume fader means it’s not sudden volume over load. Then normally every 4/8 bars i nudge the volume up till both at same volume then nudge down outro tune.

Reckon plenty djs do that :slight_smile:

18

Hate adjusting super sensitive small gain pots…rather adjust my channel faders