Traktor 2.5 -- external mixer function

if you are using an external mixer you need a multi output soundcard that will probalby ship with more robust drivers than some crappy stereo number and hence be less likely to cause glitches / problems than when "not using an external mixer.

most people find it easier to use an external mixer unless you have a midi device to control that damn crossfade knob.

4 decks is not so important to me!

Also, do you get an EQ screen with Traktor? I'm using Mixmeister and it's almost perfect bar a few things (no pitch shift, no 'unplug the deck function', no way of adjusting or cutting the high/low/middle) but I'd really like a program with an inbuilt equaliser.

sounds pretty far from perfect!

Does anything do the unplug effect? Is it possible to do it in advance on Cool Edit or Wavelab?

by "the unplug effect" do you mean what it sounds like when you hit the start/stop button on a turntable?

yeah where it slowly grinds to a halt. ive since found a workaround for this, but i rarely use it anyway, it's a bit too gimmicky

i remember adjusting the bass/treble in mixmeister.
i think you right click on the track and create handles and drag them up and down, and end up with a little graph.
not so great for live mixing, but possible.
haven't installed it on my new system or i'd double check...

the newer version has onscreen knobs to adjust the hi/lo/mid, good for linking up to a behringer external mixer, but you may as well do all that on the main mixer anyway.

i do wish it made it easier to do those gimmicky tricks like scratches, spinbacks and unplug-the-decks. ableton seems to work in a very similar way so im hoping there'll be plugins for that to do the job.

Yo, anyone wanna recommend me an entry-level piece of hardware to use w/ Traktor? I mostly just wanna learn how to use it and maybe DJ at someone's party or some shit. I'm thinking the Numark Mixtrack Pro but really I have no idea.

It should be under $300 btw, or less if it doesn't have a built-in soundcard

how about the keyboard

not kidding

free

I use the Behringer bcd 3000 with traktor pro. It has its own built-in soundcard and run ps for like ~$150. Never had a problem with it in abt 4-5 years of two-three nights of use a week (but I've entirely avoided using the jog wheels, if you want to do any scratching this isn't the setup for you).

tlg otm

idk is the keyboard really adequate? Also I need an external soundcard anyway if I'm actually going to start doing something

right, the numark looks pretty good for that

the keyboard is adequate if you have external sound and you're willing to not look like a dj

how do you futz w/ the levels and faders and stuff in realtime w/o using the touchpad? Is it easy w/ the keyboard?

haha no it's not easy

you gotta go into the preferences and assign keys to various functions, like up one notch or down one notch every time i press o or p, or filter 2 on when i push i. i find it useful for controlling filters whereas with the faders i use the mouse

it's a pain in the ass. if you can afford a controller buy one.

ya I mean I just did a crazy work week and got overtime + christmas bonus of like 100 + christmas money + amazon gift card, and it seems v silly to spend 100 on just a soundcard when i can spend an extra 80 and get a mixer/controller/whatever as well

though it WOULD be nice to get something w/ inputs so I could rip all my vinyl

If you have access to a record player and a receiver you can probably rip your vinyl?

spend 200 on a soundcard

If I am spending 200 on a soundcard it better have a mixer built around it too bcz I will not have much left to spend on one.

My budget realistically is like $300, if that

oh i already said that oops

and yeah I have a record player and a receiver but I need a way to get it into my computer that's not line in bcz that will sound like ass

Put that money aside, wait another month or two while you save a bit more and buy the Kontrol S2 or S4. Well worth the money and they will make learning and using Traktor fun and easy.

With my income now it would take me like 4 months to save up to buy that.

I mean what does the S2 have that justifies 3x the price of the Mixtrack Pro?

If space is not an issue, I would recommend getting a second hand analogue DJ mixer and a sound card with two stereo outputs. Buy a cheap USB keyboard and put stickers on the keys which control the Traktor interface.

With this setup you can easily add a record, or CD deck to your setup if you feel like it at a later date, and the analogue mixer will be more responsive than a digital equivalent.

I'd have to look at the Mixtrack Pro to compare but the Kontrol series is perfectly matched to Traktor's layout, super intuitive, high quality built-in soundcard, etc etc. Check out some youtube vids of people using them to see what they can do. Maybe it's not the right option for you but I firmly believe they're the best mixer for Traktor.

also depending on where you live and how much functionality you actually need you might just want to go on craigslist and buy whatever some 12 year old is selling secondhand

Oh ya, if I rly got serious about it and started actually doing gigs and shit and making money I would probably upgrade to the Kontrol hardware at some point, but from the videos I've seen the Mixtrack seems very competent at its price point.

also depending on where you live and how much functionality you actually need you might just want to go on craigslist and buy whatever some 12 year old is selling secondhand

this is good advice as every wannabe DJ buys a controller and then realises that they dont have the time for it. Theres a good market in both Traktor and Maschine 2nd hand, but with Native instruments are picky with second hand licences so make sure you are buying the licence AND the hardware.

I am selling a Faderfox DJ3 on ebay at the moment, but you'd have to pay for shipping from the UK.

these things are all horrible but this one has a few features that are sorely lacking from others in this price range

http://www.adjaudio.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemNumber=1460&Category=23

has balanced xlr outputs, so you can go direct into active monitors or an amp without worrying about interference and you'll have a nice hot signal. 2 rca inputs with ground so you can connect a turntable for when things go tits up.

That looks good!

Apparently the soundcard in the Mixtrack Pro isn't ASIO-compliant (though apparently with some fucking around you can get it to work with ASIO4ALL); how big of a dealbreaker is this, really?