So. I finally figured out how to use the effects on the new vci 1_6 mapping and it seems that whenever i mix now, it’s actually worse. Im starting to think that im getting effects happy and using them too much, thus ruining the song and the beat it has.
What is the trick to using effects during a live performance to shock the crowd, but not make them sick of it or ruin the original song too much?
i.e. is it better to stick to using effects for transitions to different songs, or before a dropped beat, etc…
This thread is to discuss how you use effects in your set, and the best means to apply specific effects to their maximum.
Personally ive found that a beat masher (without phaser or delay) is best for transitions or cue drops.
well i´m using all the fx´s traktor 3 offers me. i use them while a transition. a lot of beatmasher during a song, filter mostly for transitions or parts right before there will be a sick beat in a song. there is so much u can use fx´s for…but u have to watch out not to use them to much. and to much is to much. hard to describe when it is to much…i think u will get the feeling when u overused fx´s…
My technique is to record a set and then listen to it and see what I think. So I’ll spin for 30 minutes using the effect that I want and critique when it works and when it doesn’t. If you find yourself getting sick of the effect quickly then the crowd probably will too.
Also, it allows you to hear what you’re doing afterwards as opposed to real time, so you get an idea of what it sounds like.
I like them thru transitions and sometimes I will add a tiny effect through out the whole song, something subtle but makes the song stand out. How much you use them will depend on how u use them. If you overkill it with the beatmasher than your going to have some tired ears
Yeah, when I first got the beatmasher I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. Since I’ve calmed down a bit (especially being TPro doesn’t have one that I like)
less is more. the best way to use the fx in my opinion is almost exclusively for the transitions and blends.
My general rule of thumb is let the songs speak for themselves. The FX are a great way to enhance your transitions and blends between tracks, other than that it’s best to just leave them alone while your track is playing.
I understand DJs will feel the need to be “doing something” the entire time they are up there, but that is not really the job. The job is to play songs and make people dance, and mix these songs smoothly into the next song to keep the vibe going strong.
It’s not necessary to always be fiddling. Find other things to do with your hands to keep things active. Dance a bit, Clap, grab the Mic, have a drink of water/beer, Cue up your tracks, Give a cute girl your number etc. You’ll only a free moment for a second before you gotta start mixing in the next tune anyway!
I think another great use for effects is making your own personal mini-remix of a track. Take a track that everybody knows and apply a cool effect on the hook or bassline, even if only for a little bit. This makes people go ‘huh?’ and makes things slightly less predictable and fresher. If it sounds good and adds something to the track, I don’t see a problem with it!
Apart from that I use 'em for transistions and before big drops etc. to create tension. Taking everything bar the highs out before a fat beat drives most people crazy
And I like the Tpro chained beatmasher, but not the advanced one, that’s a bit too fiddly when your mixing live.
My goal when using FX is to use them in a way that crowd wouldn’t actually notice (at least at first) that it was me performing the FX, rather than the FX being part of the original song.
When I listen to songs, you can pick out a lot of FX that were used in its production. I aim for my use of FX to be at this level. Consequently, I don’t use FX very much haha.
IMO, you have to hold yourself back. Nobody can deny how fun it is to slam a fader to activate an effect etc., but when you’re DANCING to the music, it can get very tiresome!!
A good strategy is to plan your FX out in advance, i.e. plan to use them when you transition into the next song and not right now. This will tamper the urge to use them right then and there, and when you do use them, because you’ll have thought things out they’ll most likely sound a lot more natural. It also promotes foresight, which is a very important skill if you want to be a truly amazing DJ.
Been mixing for just over a year now, at the begining I was using effects just too much but after a while you realize that effects can be loud, you do not have to scream to be heard.
I really like the filters in T.Pro although i find kind of annoying the menu from the effects. If i want to use many effects I Mostly try to think of them in 3 different categories:
Delay, Beatmaster & Gater
Filters, phasers
Reverbs & Flangers
This way I can decide how to chain the effects but at the same time I have three different categories to give a shape to the transition.
I like long transitions so I use a lot of filters. Let’s say I have a track on channel A, I can slowly change it by using a Filter, a Filter LFO and some delay in the chained effect pannel while in the next song I have a filter at its maximum level, then I manipulate the chained effects and dry up slowly the effect in channel b.
I use the X session pro & the korg nano pad, with this two controllers you can change the way you manipulate your effects in a second, you can use the knobs in the x session and then use the x-y pad if you want to change them all at the same time.
I only use heavy effects sometimes although I try to layer the tracks with effects not to depend only on the track progression.
A good way to get nice effects (again, in long transitions) is by blending the same effect but with different settings with two or more tracks, a regular filter in a track A and then the same filter in track B but chained with an LFO filter or a Gater.
I guess the way one can use effects depends on the kind of music you like, you kinda look for all of the sensations you have when you are listening to the people you like.
example:
I can use a deck filter to cut lows out and burst the flanger and wind it up for 4 beats leading into a bassdrop/switch. Then turn them off.
This can be fantastic for trance @ 138BPM
But would simply sound like arse if you attempted it for other genres.
Another thing i’ve found is the mulholland drive filter works awesome for breakdowns with electric guitars in them - makes for a nice distortion effect. But if you use it on anything else it just sounds like noise.
Dont think about trying it on 137 or 139 bpm though… or ever 138.1.. only 138 chuckles
Seriously though, the ammount of effects that you can use depends on a number of things-
How you go about mixing (are you just mixing one track into another or are you doing lots of layering). If your set consists of alot of layering then you will be able to get away with using more effects than you could if you were just mixing one track into the other.
Your genre of music, obviously some genres lend themselves to more fx than others - psytrance for instance can lend itself to a very heavy use of effects when used in conjunction with the laying method i described above.
How much preparation you have done before hand - people doing live sets in ableton where they are playing and have specific racks setup for particular samples are going to be able to get away with more effects than a dj doing on the fly mixes will.
So the ammount of effects that i use very much depends on the situation theres times where your going to get your hands dirty with effects and othertimes you need to learn to stand back and let the music speak for itself.
All depends on the way you dj, dont you think? If you are using a lot of loops (individual that youve made yourself or from sample cds) effects can sure come in handy
but it’s the possibility of FX and Looping that makes the digital DJ-playing so interesting.
I’ve played more then 20 years with Turntables - now only with Controller (Numark Total Control) and it’s like a new birth of DJing.
I like very much: with the eq-kill buttons kill the basses at both channels and activate the reverb of the entire out - and when the beat comes back (on the 1) -reverb out and both basses back - that brings the crowd to rock and shout !
I also love the Gater - when 2 decks playing and the “old track” will go out - I use the FX-Knob like a musician instrument to choose the gate-time from 8/16/32 - and with the other hand I show the people what I do in shaking the hand in the same time that the gater.
I also love the Delay - but you must pay attention - it could be too loud in the club
I think in Traktor 3 the delay was much better - the freeze button in the new Delay is not so effective then in T3.
Sometimes I use the Key - its funny when you change the key in the “old track” every 8 beats 2 tones up and down - so you have a new melody in the background transposing
during the new track comes up.
But I also look to use the FX only to pimp up an existing track - not to transform him
The Beatmasher is a powerful tool - for me too powerful - I dont use it !
I know many people (guests) who hates FX, because of unexperienced DJs using the Delays and Phaser from Pioneer Mixers that are in the clubs
I try to use the FX like its already in the track - so that people think it comes already with it - its very funny, when other djs ask me for my playlist - and then, weeks later, they say: it must be another version you played…
So I am very happy with Traktor Pro (hopefully they will clear the bugs) because its a new dimension in DJing - and brings more personality in the DJ-SETS
yes, when used properly the gater filter is like a musical instrument
Also since you mentioned that you use it that way i suggest you try it on an X/Y pad if you ever get the chance.
im using effects mostly during breakdowns, but it really depends on the track. lot of this new fidget house and the bmore stuff comes already overloaded with effects so i usually just add eq filters or a delay combined with another delay at a different value. on the other hand when i spin dubstep i dont use any effects at all…
