Sign In:     

Forum: General Discussion

Topic: Using VirtualDJ free; how to mix....

This topic is old and might contain outdated or incorrect information.

Hi.

So I have a carefully selected playlist.
What I am wondering is how to do 2 things (I have read the manual to the free edition but it can help when an actual person - hello everyone - explains processes basically):

1) Can I set a point at the end of a track where I match the BPM to the next track? Ie, 25secs before the end, change BPM from track on Deck 1 to track on Deck 2? If so, how can I do that and how do I save what I have done?
2) (this is the more important question) - - Example: Track on Deck 1 is ending - I want track on Deck 2 to play after a certain number of secs. How the hell (this may be simple, but I can't seem to do it) do I make Track 2 play automatically after this amount of time? I have been practising loads and kind of have a sense of how long after track on Deck 1 should be played but I am DJing for the first time in public soon and kind of need it to go very well for a first time.

I hope that someone can help! I imagine that for most people who use VirtualDJ, these questions are facile in the extreme!

I am so glad to have found this software though. :)

Twindow.
 
Posted Fri 28 Dec 12 @ 6:57 am
Hmmm...

The basic idea behind DJing is that the DJ starts, stops and mixes the tracks live. VDJ (and most DJ software) is designed for that type of use.



If you're looking for software that holds your hand and "does it for you" check out Mixmeister and/or Mashup (from the Mixed In Key guys).
 
Yes, I thought that someone would say something like this.
I'm not looking for hand-holding, I'm trying to understand the software better so that I can become a better DJ.
So, either I am not phrasing properly what I require or some opportunistic snootiness is occuring.

I think that what I want to know is whether I can add extra time to an audio track.... Is that possible (the time will have been pre-determined by myself and not somebody holding my hand, if knowing that inclines anyone to offer help more obligingly). :)

Ta!
 
Add time? Well the length of an audio file is the length of the file - it's a set thing.

If you want to appear to make the track longer, you can loop a section of it, so that it repeats.

Another option is to slow the track down, which then affects the tempo.

The best way to make a track longer on a permanent basis is to edit it using some audio editing software. Audacity is one example.
 
twindowlicker wrote :
I am DJing for the first time in public soon and kind of need it to go very well for a first time


Please also note that Virtual DJ Home is for non-commercial use only. it is against the terms of the EULA to use the home free edition for public performances.

Keith
 
Yeah, I am just practising on it. I won't actually use it, don't worry! And, I'll be happy to buy it if I decide that I want to. :)

I've got Audacity.

Don't worry - I have been using various tools to try to improve my performance when I eventually dj.
 
I think that the issue here may be the distinction between PRODUCTION software and DJ software. The former, you set a track, alter start/stop times, add this or that and save it as you mentioned. A DJ software like VDJ it is for an on-the-fly PERFORMANCE. If 2 tracks are selected you need to count out the beats in your head and literally push play when the next track should come in while fading the 1st track out. It isn't something that you "save" as a file and then replay.....Now markers or CUE POINTS can be saved and marked at different positions in the song for you to know what transition/effect you may want to apply, but again nothing automatic, it is ALL up to you......I recommend learning to count beats, measures and phrases FIRST. This teaches you song structure and w/out it you WILL be lost. There is free tutorial info on the VDJ for you to explore on this subject.....Now if all you want to do is play song A and then fade in song B when it concludes, you can use the Automix feature. It is basically a like a cd player with a fader. Again more info in the manual on that......I don't think anyone was trying to be snobbish to you. I do however think that many of the users on the forum are Professional DJ's/producers, and sometimes they are so used to the technical discussions on here that they are a bit caught off guard and a bit unprepared to handle a new users simple questions with an equally simple explanation.....Ask all the questions you like. Everyone here is friendly. I hope this helps....

http://www.virtualdj.com/images/pdf/VirtualDJ%207%20-%20User%20Guide.pdf (Automix discussed on page 19)

http://www.virtualdj.com/forums/6288/Mix_lessons/DJ_MIXING___basic_-_advanced_-_pro.html?page=1 (Intro tutorial covering beat matching, phrasing, mixing, etc....Lots of GREAT advice)
 
DJing and Music Production are two overlapping areas that I think many ppl. new to the "DJing world" dont have a correct understanding of. While yes many DJs nowadays produce their own tracks and DJ them live, (ie Guetta, Skrillex, Swedish House Mafia) Djing is at it roots simply playing another artists songs arranged in a pattern that either creates a certain mood or makes ppl. dance, etc. DJing is 98% about SONG SELECTION and 2% or less the "performance.".........If you would like to try music production out (ie making the mashups of 2 songs, making remixes, etc.) you might be better suited trying a production software like Fruity Loops, Ableton Live, or the free Audacity. While some of these production tools can be used in live DJ sets, they go far beyond the scope of VDJ into actual music creation, making beats, adding choruses, etc.....
 


(Old topics and forums are automatically closed)