DJ Marcel_1
Here's a little vid for DJ's that might have troubles mixing Hip Hop
Posted Sun 25 Mar 07 @ 4:43 am
DJ Marcel_1
Posted Sun 25 Mar 07 @ 4:43 am
DJ Marcel_1
Think this one might rate a sticky?
Posted Sun 25 Mar 07 @ 8:48 am
cstoll
Marcel - Thanks for the props about the DAC mapper!!!
BTW, If you want [sometime] I can explain the 'squares' and their importance -- if your interested?
BTW, If you want [sometime] I can explain the 'squares' and their importance -- if your interested?
Posted Sun 25 Mar 07 @ 2:29 pm
Double O
DJ Marcel_1 wrote :
Think this one might rate a sticky?
The video demonstration that you posted in the Mix Lessons Forum should be a sticky because that's the forum used discussing mixing. Furthermore, you should consider reposting the video in a different thread called Mixing Tutorial Videos. This would allow other DJs to post video tutorials in the same thread.
cstoll wrote :
If you want [sometime] I can explain the 'squares' and their importance -- if your interested?
That would be very helpful to a lot of DJs who need help with beatmixing. However, I think you should make video of your explanation and post it in DJ Marcel's thread in the Mix Lessons Forum:
http://www.virtualdj.com/forums/67398/Mix_lessons/Hip_hop_mixing_for_dance_clubs.html
OO
Posted Sun 25 Mar 07 @ 3:16 pm
DJ Marcel_1
cstoll wrote :
Marcel - Thanks for the props about the DAC mapper!!!
BTW, If you want [sometime] I can explain the 'squares' and their importance -- if your interested?
BTW, If you want [sometime] I can explain the 'squares' and their importance -- if your interested?
You deserve props - that mapper took time and effort.
SUre I wouldn't mind knowing the purpose of the squares - I assumed it was for the automated functions of VDJ - most of which I don't use.
Posted Sun 25 Mar 07 @ 4:09 pm
Dj Xeo
'cheers!' i like it, lets have another beer, your shout this time!
Posted Sun 25 Mar 07 @ 4:12 pm
DJ Marcel_1
Dj Xeo wrote :
'cheers!' i like it, lets have another beer, your shout this time!
BEEEEEEERRRRR!!!
Posted Sun 25 Mar 07 @ 4:17 pm
Mercen4rio
OMG
Posted Sun 25 Mar 07 @ 6:03 pm
djkboogie
what did you use to record your video
Posted Sun 25 Mar 07 @ 6:38 pm
DJ Marcel_1
I used this signal converter:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=169832&Sku=G126-1002
To my video capture card that only has RCA video and S video lines in.
Neat little box - comes with a vga duplex cable to still allow me to use my second monitor.
Not so great (as you saw) for screen shots but works just fine movies/videos.
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=169832&Sku=G126-1002
To my video capture card that only has RCA video and S video lines in.
Neat little box - comes with a vga duplex cable to still allow me to use my second monitor.
Not so great (as you saw) for screen shots but works just fine movies/videos.
Posted Sun 25 Mar 07 @ 8:49 pm
DJ Marcel_1
Bump
Posted Mon 26 Mar 07 @ 1:26 am
cstoll
DJ Marcel_1 wrote :
Bump
and why? ping!
Posted Mon 26 Mar 07 @ 1:32 am
DJ Marcel_1
so cstoll - what is the purpose of the squares under the visualizations?
Automation?
good looks?
something to bitch at?
extra grafic information to overload my video card?
J/K I'm sure there is a very good reason for them - just like i said in my vid - I usually pay little attention to them.
Automation?
good looks?
something to bitch at?
extra grafic information to overload my video card?
J/K I'm sure there is a very good reason for them - just like i said in my vid - I usually pay little attention to them.
Posted Mon 26 Mar 07 @ 1:41 am
cstoll
OK here is the skinny and I can get more technical if people ask.... and you actually eluded to it in your video when you mentioned the 4 bar beat of the Ice Cube track (I think that's the 1)
First off you have the Rhythm Waveform, now that shows you the peaks and valleys based on the actual frequencies and the volume level (pitch) of those frequencies in the song - softer = valleys and stronger = peaks. Obviously it's the blend of the whole frequency scale for every spike no matter how tall or short, but it is based on pitch and frequencies.
So, one of the other fundamentals of music is the time and tempo piece or beats per bar -- so your 4 bar beat - bingo. In VirtualDJ during that analysis of the track it tries to determine this beats per bar and represents it in what is called the 'Computer Base Grid or CBG' If you were to use a skin that has the CBG adjustments on it then you would be able to properly align the the squares to rhythm for that Ice Cube track and then you would see that your Loop is a perfect 4 bar beat as you mentioned in your video.
Oh, ever wonder why some tracks analyzed have the star next to the BPM? They are able to be perfectly beatmatched/beatlocked/sync'd what ever term you want to use. Does it all start to fit?
Also, remember there are two ways to use the SYNC in VDJ :
1. Is based on the the best that VDJ can determine by the rhythm wave form a down or up beat.
2. Is based on the Computer Base Grid (CBG) - the time and tempo
If you recall there was alot of flak when 4.2 (may have been 4.1) released and the SYNC did work the same as prior versions. That's because the DevTeam switched the default method from the Rhythm down beat to using the CBGs
So hope that helps and I am sure if I have miss represented anything someone will come along and severely correct me.
cstoll
First off you have the Rhythm Waveform, now that shows you the peaks and valleys based on the actual frequencies and the volume level (pitch) of those frequencies in the song - softer = valleys and stronger = peaks. Obviously it's the blend of the whole frequency scale for every spike no matter how tall or short, but it is based on pitch and frequencies.
So, one of the other fundamentals of music is the time and tempo piece or beats per bar -- so your 4 bar beat - bingo. In VirtualDJ during that analysis of the track it tries to determine this beats per bar and represents it in what is called the 'Computer Base Grid or CBG' If you were to use a skin that has the CBG adjustments on it then you would be able to properly align the the squares to rhythm for that Ice Cube track and then you would see that your Loop is a perfect 4 bar beat as you mentioned in your video.
Oh, ever wonder why some tracks analyzed have the star next to the BPM? They are able to be perfectly beatmatched/beatlocked/sync'd what ever term you want to use. Does it all start to fit?
Also, remember there are two ways to use the SYNC in VDJ :
1. Is based on the the best that VDJ can determine by the rhythm wave form a down or up beat.
2. Is based on the Computer Base Grid (CBG) - the time and tempo
If you recall there was alot of flak when 4.2 (may have been 4.1) released and the SYNC did work the same as prior versions. That's because the DevTeam switched the default method from the Rhythm down beat to using the CBGs
So hope that helps and I am sure if I have miss represented anything someone will come along and severely correct me.
cstoll
Posted Mon 26 Mar 07 @ 4:04 am
haz0rd
I great thing to have also is the intrumentals for the songs you want to mix.
Most singles come with instrumentals, get in contact with your distributors
and The labels let them know your a DJ and they will give you copies of their new releases.
most of the time for free. They come to the club at least once a month and hand out new vinyl and cd singles. Napster also has some of them.
now insted of using a loop you can mix in the instrumental, kill the bass on
the vocal side of the deck... Actually I prefer to reduce the bass on the side with the vocals
Why? Most of the time the Bass frequency overlaps with the voice... This is where an eq crossfader
works best!
Oh and about the square thingies.... If the beat anchors are set correctly
everything works out 4 Beats per Measure the big Square represents the start of a measure
A reagular hook is about 16bars....
Happy DJing..
Most singles come with instrumentals, get in contact with your distributors
and The labels let them know your a DJ and they will give you copies of their new releases.
most of the time for free. They come to the club at least once a month and hand out new vinyl and cd singles. Napster also has some of them.
now insted of using a loop you can mix in the instrumental, kill the bass on
the vocal side of the deck... Actually I prefer to reduce the bass on the side with the vocals
Why? Most of the time the Bass frequency overlaps with the voice... This is where an eq crossfader
works best!
Oh and about the square thingies.... If the beat anchors are set correctly
everything works out 4 Beats per Measure the big Square represents the start of a measure
A reagular hook is about 16bars....
Happy DJing..
Posted Mon 26 Mar 07 @ 4:26 am
DJ Marcel_1
I kinda figured something along those lines. I only time I really use those CBG dots is freshly after analizing a song I check to see if the Peaks match evenly with the analized BPM. They are kinda usefull for double checking the beat counts.
For a human drummer - the snare drum is usually the loudest strike in the 4 beat bar. They usually hit on the 2 & 4 beats of every measure - the kick hits on all four. On the CBG grid the 2 & 4 are tall spikes.
Oh yeah - with a human drummer they speed up and slow down unevenly. It's a very rare rock and roll drummer that is dead steady throughout the entire song.
Thats for Rock and roll
Hip Hop/Reggea uses a different emphasis on the beat - Pioneered by James Brown and Bootsy Collins.
This emphisizes the 1,2 & 4 beats of a 4 beat measure. Also they Slow things down and turn up the bass. Still a four beat measure. Usually with a drum machine that keeps things much more even. Makes odd mash-ups easy (50 Cent v Benni Benassi)
The Scolling wavefrom makes mixing (at least for me) so much more easy than counting to 4 or 8 or 16 with my foot while prepareing a loop.
Also listening to the musical phrasing is a major key. Most songs use a 4 beat phrase - repeated or 8 is common. 16 is a bit more unusual but it's there, that Fregie song for example 16 beat phrase ending with drum flares and scratch sound fx/sample (too even to be a dj)
This program is the best for the type of mixing I like to do - more constant mash-ups really than just plain quick beat slams or scratching.
Probably why I didn't like Serato when I DL'd the demo.
For a human drummer - the snare drum is usually the loudest strike in the 4 beat bar. They usually hit on the 2 & 4 beats of every measure - the kick hits on all four. On the CBG grid the 2 & 4 are tall spikes.
Oh yeah - with a human drummer they speed up and slow down unevenly. It's a very rare rock and roll drummer that is dead steady throughout the entire song.
Thats for Rock and roll
Hip Hop/Reggea uses a different emphasis on the beat - Pioneered by James Brown and Bootsy Collins.
This emphisizes the 1,2 & 4 beats of a 4 beat measure. Also they Slow things down and turn up the bass. Still a four beat measure. Usually with a drum machine that keeps things much more even. Makes odd mash-ups easy (50 Cent v Benni Benassi)
The Scolling wavefrom makes mixing (at least for me) so much more easy than counting to 4 or 8 or 16 with my foot while prepareing a loop.
Also listening to the musical phrasing is a major key. Most songs use a 4 beat phrase - repeated or 8 is common. 16 is a bit more unusual but it's there, that Fregie song for example 16 beat phrase ending with drum flares and scratch sound fx/sample (too even to be a dj)
This program is the best for the type of mixing I like to do - more constant mash-ups really than just plain quick beat slams or scratching.
Probably why I didn't like Serato when I DL'd the demo.
Posted Mon 26 Mar 07 @ 4:45 am
socross
I use the CBG squares for 2 main reasons:
If there is a long, beatless intro to a song, the squares help tell me where to start mixing it in, since finding the downbeat on these songs can be difficult.
The other reason is if you use samples, they have an easier time syncing with the music if the squares are correct, and if they were correct when you made the loop in the first place.
If there is a long, beatless intro to a song, the squares help tell me where to start mixing it in, since finding the downbeat on these songs can be difficult.
The other reason is if you use samples, they have an easier time syncing with the music if the squares are correct, and if they were correct when you made the loop in the first place.
Posted Mon 26 Mar 07 @ 6:44 am
discobrian24
Man I learn somethin new every day. Thanks to you guys for pointing this stuff out.
Posted Mon 26 Mar 07 @ 8:18 am
cstoll
well sounds, like you all got it....!
Posted Mon 26 Mar 07 @ 12:14 pm
fatkatzdj
I agree with Marcel with the wave form... I might be mistaking, I believe that you cater to all formats of music like me... Because of this, when I play a set and people come up to me WAY too excited about their request. Most people can't make their request and move on but they have to wait and stand there and stare at you like the song is the most important song of the night. This is usually followed by begging and batting the eyes... Point being made is that seeing the wave on the system can get me back on focus of the mix.
I also like cue points and I use instrumentals for higher BPM's that I can dial up the song without worrying about the vocal key being bent out of shape.
I also like cue points and I use instrumentals for higher BPM's that I can dial up the song without worrying about the vocal key being bent out of shape.
Posted Mon 26 Mar 07 @ 9:12 pm
