Traktor Virtual MIDI port

I wrote about the Traktor setup with Ableton earlier and since I now have an extra computer I use seperate computers for the different programs and the MIDI sync works perfectly.

Only on Macs... :(

Today I tried setting the system up on one computer like they did in the Dubspot video. However this will not work with a PC!
THE VIRTUAL MIDI PORT IS ONLY AVAILABLE ON MAC!

The solution for PC:
There are some software solutions out there that will help you sync Traktor and Ableton without any cables or hardware.
I've tried MIDI Yoke earlier, but upgrading to Traktor 1.2 I got some major issues with my midi controllers and it's said to have some issues with 64 bit OS aswell so this time I tried LoopBe1 from nerds.de and it worked perfectly.
It's simple and easy to set up and you should try it if you want to integrate both Traktor and Ableton on one computer.

Using one turntable on four decks in Traktor (Repost)

I looked at some of the "new features" listed in the article by DJTechtools about Traktor Pro 2 and figured I had to repost the videos from one of my earliest posts.

It says in one of the additional features:

• Multiple decks can now use the same CD or turntable input.

It's possible through the midi mapping to do this in Traktor Pro aswell.

The reason I made the video was to show that it's possible to use one turntable to control any deck in Traktor, but also the posibility of switching between controllerist and turntablist modes very easily. So even with one timecode source (CD or Vinyl) connected to your Traktor system you can easily switch deck or just simply turn the whole timecode off and use the internal playback.

DOWNLOAD MAPPING HERE

A DJs Christmas list

Okay, so I started on some xmas list a couple of weeks ago, but I didn't get any time to follow up. And then digitaldjtips.com did one: 16 Christmas Stocking Fillers for Digital DJs.
Thanks alot!

Some addition that I want:
DJ TECHTOOLS MIDIFIGHTER

This is the coolest midi controller on the market. Get this controller is as simple as it is genious and has, according to DJ Techtools, the push buttons on the market. It just looks fantastic and you can customize your own controller and have DJ Techtools build it or get a DIY-kit for some afternoon soldering. Love it.

Vestax Pad-One



 This nice little pad and touchpad is a pretty close thing to Korg's Nanopad. Using a pad for controlling effects is pretty efficient since you can control three parameters with one click. X-axis, Y-axis and on/off.
The pads can give som extra buttons to mash when you are juggeling hotcues. Or use it to mash some rhytems in some sample software.

Which takes me to my next post on the wish list:
Roland Handsonic 10 or 15

Mashing some rythems on your own and using them as loops is probably the best surprise that Traktor S4 gave us. Recording loops and adding different elements and layering them on is an amazing tool for those of you want to create some extra in addition to mixing tracks.
There are alot of nice tools out there but for me the Handsonic series from Roland stands out. Get it now and get the coolest percusion on the block.


M-Audio SP-1

Foot pedals can be a nice addition when your hands are bussy with something else. The Traktor Kontrol S4 is equiped (probably thanks to Ean) with a foot switch. This is used as default to start recording loops. Will be a nice addition to the previous item on the list.

Akai MPK mini

Adding beats is "easy". Adding melody lines can be a bit more challenging and you probably need some background in playing on keyboard or piano to add something extra. Use some synth software and record basslines, hits, stabs or other melodic lines to take performance to the highest level.
Or just use this compact controller for controlling purposes like Ean Golden do with his Oxygen 8.
Keep in mind that the knobs on this one isn't very good, so you might want to get an extra set of rotary knobs aswell. :)

Contact DJ Techtools and you might get some just for this controller. Here's the buttons for the VCI-100.

Going digital

Have you gone digital yet?? The toughest thing about going digital is digitalizing your music collection. Ripping music from CD and Vinyl is a timeconsuming and insainly boaring job, but it's a good way to run through all of your tracks and descide wether or not to import them.

Ripping from CD:
A pretty easy job if you have the right tools.
The biggest tast is to name your Tracks. Using EasyCDDA it's a blast. If you have been good with TrackID your tracks on burned CDs or if you are ripping directly from an excisting studioalbum the system will fill this out for you!

Ripping from Vinyl:
This is a more painstaking job, but DigitalDJTips.com just released a pretty good guide.
Read it here

Hardware guide updated

I've updated the hardware guide with a very long list of links to controllers and mixers for Traktor.
Now with over 65 90 links to the gear that is suited for Traktor. I'll update with som additional info in time, but for now you can enjoy the list +++.

Check out the guide!

Something missing? Comment or send me a mail.

Keeping your music safe (2/3): Backing up

For an overview: Go to Part 1.

In this part we'll run through all the things you need to do to keep your music backed up with the different methods of back-up and look at some pros and cons to the different methods.

Manual backup

The simple prosidure of copy paste
can suddenly become your saviour.

This is a simple copy and replace function and it can create some problems. There are a couple of things you should be aware of. Traktor store their info in the MP3 file, so just copying new files to the folder will make the last updates to your allready backed up tracks fail. That's why you should copy and replace all your  backed up files. So the easiest way to be sure that your backup is up to date is to just overwrite the previous backup.

Pros
You don't need an internet connection to get your system back up and running.

Cons
You have to remember to back up.

---

Automated Online Backup

The backup is done regularly once you've set up your system.
You just have to make sure to be online from time to time.

Using automated backup the system will create a backup routine that will execute once you are connected, so the only thing you have to make sure is that your computer is connected to the internet. The system will also take into account updated files that Traktor has altered, and so you have the latest version always available. Just install the program that's included with your backup service, select the folders you want to back up and the schedule. I recommend using a daily backup setting even though you don't have your computer on you'll be sure that it will start the next time you turn it on.

Cons
When you don't have a internet connection you can't get to your folders.

---

Syncronized virtual backup

Blue arrows are actions done on your Traktor laptop.
Red arrows indicate actions done on your purchase/archive computer.

Using a syncronized folder will make it possible to work on separate computers and be able to download new tracks, archive old tracks that you don't use and manage folders. Then you just connect your Traktor computer to your service and your current music folder will be updated with all the changes you've done.

Install the software on your staging/download computer and your Traktor computer. Dedicate one folder on each computer where you syncronize all your files.

On your download computer you can have a download/purchase folder, a syncronized folder and a Archive folder.

Inside your synchronized folder you can have an in use folder with all your tracks that you use, a staging folder (if you do your organizing on your Traktor computer) and a "to-archive" folder where you put your tracks that you want to archive.

When on your Traktor computer you just work within the synchronized folder. You import your tracks from your "staging folder" to your "in use folder" and from your "in use folder" to your "to archive folder".

On your download/purchase/archive computer you move from "download folder" to "staging folder" and from "to archive folder" to "archive folder".

Pros

This minimize the risk of viruses, spyware and other malware since you do your surfing and browsing on another computer then Traktor is installed on.

Cons
When you don't have a internet connection you can't get to your folders.

In part 3 we'll look at what to do once your computer crashes and you have to restore all your music and data.

Keeping your music safe (1/3): Overview



How many of you are backing up all your music? When do you do it?
It's really important to be on a regular backup plan and make sure that your data is safe.
You can either do this manualy or use an automated backup system.

There are a couple of things you should back up:
1. Music folders (Where ever they are on your computer)
2. Traktor setup folders (C:\Users\[user]\Documents\Native Instruments\)
3. Traktor Install folder (Put the latest version of Traktor and updated drivers for your soundcard and controller here)

Backing up these folders will make you able to quickly get back on your feet if you have a hardware malfunction. As long as you are able to get to the backup source you can quickly get a new installation of Traktor runing with all your music and settings. We'll look more closely at the restore procedure in part three.

Manual backup routine:
The simplest way to make a backup is to use an external harddrive and simply copy your tracks and settings to the disk. The best thing about this is that you will now be able to use this while on the road
Another way to do this is to use a Network Storage (NAS) like drobo or a hardware connected.

Automated online backup:
Depending on how much music you've got you can use free online backup options.
Services like mozy and idrive can give you great online backup posibilities. And for about $50 USD you can backup all your files online and the folders will automatically sync once you connect to the internet.

Virtual syncronized backup:
Dropbox is a super tool for backing up and working with you music.
You can use this service to manage your folders on other computers then your performing computer and sync them. More about this in part two.

Go to: Part 2

Software and guide

I thought I'd might share some tips on software and hardware for Traktor DJ.

Check out my software and hardware guides.

Routing audio sources through the Traktor software

It is posible to run an audio signal from the inputs on a soundcard through Traktor. And no... Not through the multicore cables.This is running an external audio source through the software and back out on the soundcard output. It's a great feature because pulling the audio through the system one can use the internal EQ, filters, effects and more Traktor features on the standard Vinyl or CD source.

The way to do this is to change the deck parameters to Audio Through. It is located underneeth the BIG letter for each deck.

One of the other options is Internal Playback. This is meant for DJs using MIDI-controllers. You can see that the deck is sat in this mode by looking at the transport buttons. They will show CUE and CUP.

The final option is the Scratch Control. This will enable the Relative Mode and Absolute Mode buttons to apear. This is used by DJs using timecode for deck transport controls.

Connecting two instances of Traktor

I'm going back home this easter and I'm gonna play together with two of my best friends on Long Friday (April 10th) at Tiger Tiger. We are gonna use two instances of Traktor and run them together and I looked into connecting the Master BPM from one of the computers to the other.
The concept is quite simple. One Traktor (The master) controll the Main BPM and the other Traktor (The slave) reads off it through MIDI.



Follow these 4 easy steps to make it work:
1. Connect a MIDI cable from midi out on the master to the midi in on the slave
2. Ensure that you have activated the midi on both computers: Preferences > MIDI Setup. Activate both the Input and Output devices.
3. On the master Traktor activate Send MIDI Clock. The offset is for compensating the lag from the MIDI interface and cable.
4. Now set the correct master tempo settings:


Click on the metronome beneeth the FX1 to access the midi options.
4.1 On the picture is the setup for the master.
4.2 On the slave select Clock Master to EXT.
(See the Master buttons on the decs become inoperable on the slave Traktor)

Now the MASTER deck BPM will gradualy adjust the BPM on the master which then will controll the master tempo on the slave through the MIDI interface.

I got it working, but I'm not to happy with the stability. I needed some time to match the midi clock offset, but I used two of the same tracks and looped them and adjusted them untill satisfactory and that seems to be the way to do it. The master tempo on the slave computer seems to be working overtime trying to adjust and jumps up and down alot.
However it will still after that it was got off beat quite quickly.
Use Sync button on the MIDI Clock on the master to resync the slave. I noticed that it was even better to tur it of and back on ( Play / Pause ).

Midimodifiers for Traktor Pro

Traktor 3 had Midi pages for changing functions of the buttons and knobs. Traktor Pro has Midi Modifiers which basically is like midipages on steroids. You have eight modifiers which all have eight positions and the possibility to have two modifiers, so that’s 8*8*2= 128 functions per button.

You can make a button for instance do one function when Modifier #1=0 and one function when Modifier #1=1. In my TotalControlABCD.tci I have a couple of different examples with various complexities. In the original setup file for the Total Control there is only on example, and it is fairly simple. One clicking the button beneath the browser knob you can turn of or on the jog wheels. There is also a function for turning on the light on the adjacent button.

The setup is like this

As you can see the field corresponds with the setting M1=1 to Modifier #1 = 1. The blue field where it says that it is suppose to be changed back to the 0 state.
Notice that the CD DJ-jog only works when M1=1.
Hopefully this will explain the basic usage of the midi modifiers.
Have fun!