In the era of streaming, the DJ mix is winning it all.
I don’t listen to songs any more.
Every time I reach for music it’s always a mix or radio show or playlist. The era of the single song is over.
Jun 11, 2012 In this video, I will show you how to record samples in Traktor Pro 2 without using the loop recorder built into Traktor Pro 2. Nov 08, 2017 Latest versions of Traktor Pro on Windows require Windows 10 to play ALAC. Pioneer DJ continues to keep users guessing with their newer hardware releases and FLAC/ALAC support. The CDJ-2000NXS2 and XDJ-1000MK2 both support FLAC, but the just-released XDJ-RX2 doesn’t. Aug 05, 2015 Internal Mix Recording 2:17 // 2. External Mix Recording 5:45 // 3. Managing the Recorded Files 'Recording in Internal Mixer Mode in TRAKTOR': https://support.native-instruments.co. Traktor can record from an external source, and that Audio Interface on the page is an A10. The A2 has 2 audio outputs that can not record. Your only option with this setup is to use an external mixer and a Line input on your laptop/computer soundcard. Traktor Pro 2 is loaded with a wealth of software features created for ultimate flexibility and intuitive pro performance. It offers everything professional DJ software needs. Four decks, 30 DJ effects, remix decks and loop recording are the key features of the application.
These days it’s all about continuous playback. But I’m not just talking about algorithm playlisters like Spotify or Pandora.
Let me explain…
Mixes Matter Again
I’d much rather listen to a hand picked selection of blended music than a ‘suggested playlist’. Wouldn’t you?
5 minutes on SoundCloud will tell you the whole story. Recorded live sets are everywhere.
Advances in DJ software, recording technology, and sharing platforms have made DJ mixes the king of online music. And they’re in high demand.
Radio is seeing a huge comeback because of it.
DIY online stations like NTS, Berlin Community Radio, N10.as and Boiler Room are all built on the need for curated recorded mixes.
And they’re getting millions of plays per month.
Listeners want continuous playback
There’s only one way to be a part of the online DJ mix resurgence: record and share every mix you make.
But recording your mixes can be tricky. There’s a lot to consider. How do I control the signal? What are the right levels? How do I polish my sound before I upload?
Don’t worry, I’ll answer all your questions and more with this simple guide on how to record a DJ set like a pro.
So you can upload and share all your wicked sets. And get yourself heard!
Why you should record and share your DJ sets
There’s a ton of reasons why you should be recording your DJ sets. Here’s just a few of the big ones.
- You’re missing out on a way bigger audience
You can create all the buzz in the world playing live. https://greatdd625.weebly.com/download-garageband-software-instruments.html.
But how is anyone going to continue following you after the party if you don’t have anything to listen to online?
Sharing mixes online gives you the potential for a way bigger audience.
If you’re not recording, your audience will only ever be the same size as the club.
- You’ll become a better DJ
The best way to get better at mixing is to correct your mistakes. That means figuring out what worked and what didn’t.
The only way to do that is to record your sets. Listen back and correct whatever needs fixing for next time.
- You should be using your sets in your Press-Kit
If you know how to promote your music right, then you already have a press kit. If you don’t then you need to get one.
Recorded DJ sets are a no-brainer for press-kits. For any DJ hoping to get booked or signed.
The first thing promoters and festival organizers look for when booking is sample sets from potential acts.
If you don’t have anything shared it’s impossible to hit the right ears at the right time.
How To Record Your Sets Right
The first step for recording your sets is to define what you’re going to be using.
Are you using turn tables with Serato? Are you using a controller with Traktor? Will your mix be all vinyl? It the whole thing ‘in the box?’
Before you start you should know what your setup is all about. It will influence your recording setup.
So you know what you’re going to be mixing on? Good. Let’s continue.
What to Record Your set with
There are several tools for recording your mix. But the three most popular options are an external recorder, directly into the computer or internally using your mixing software of choice.
- The external recorder
For external recorders I recommend the Zoom H4N or the TASCAM DR-05. Both will do the trick for recording depending on your budget.
![Traktor Pro 2 Recording Quality Traktor Pro 2 Recording Quality](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126026437/300473083.jpg)
Recorders vary in what input signal they can handle. You might need attenuators for certain line-in recording depending on your setup. Izotope rx advanced.
Portable recorders are easy to use. Most save your set onto an SD card. Making it easy to get your set on the computer for mix mastering.
A good portable recorder will cost about $80-200.
- Recording software
You can also record into your computer using DAW software or any audio recording software.
Some newer mixers and controllers have USB outs on them. But generally speaking you’ll need an audio interface if you’re recording from a controller into your computer.
I recommend the Presonus AudioBox iOne. It’s affordable and top quality for all your recording needs—DJ mixes and otherwise.
- Inside your mixing software
The third option is to record inside your DJ software. Serato DJ and Traktor Pro 2 both make it easy to record internally and require very little setup.
Recording directly inside your DJ software is the easiest way to get a quick recording of your set.
Ok, so you’ve picked out a recording setup? Awesome. Let’s record something!
Recording your set
If you record your mix right, it will sound too quiet when you’re done. Confused? I’ll explain.
If you’re using a mixer or controller there should be a ‘record out’ port. It’s typically RCA cord compatible. Like the picture below:
This ‘record out’ port will give you a stable signal that is independent from the master volume. The master output goes to the monitors or PA in a live setting.
Managing the recording
Recording from the ‘record out’ port will allow you to push the master volume of your set throughout the night to create energy.
Izotope ozone 5 complete mastering system crack. All without clipping your recorded signal.
The levels from the ‘record out’ are what you want to be monitoring when it comes to your recording. They shouldn’t even come close to the reds.
If you are using an audio interface, external recorder like an H4, or recording software on your computer, make sure your record levels are leaving a ton of headroom.
Same thing goes for your DJ software. Make sure your recording levels are leaving an ample amount of headroom in your DJ software.
Hot tip: don’t leave too much headroom. find a good balance. If you record too quietly white noise from your RCA can get amplified while you’re mastering your mix.
My recording is too quiet. How do I fix it?
If you listen to your recorded DJ set right after you finish, it should sound way too quiet.
Don’t worry, if it’s too quiet you did it right.
This is where set mastering comes in. All recorded mixes need mastering before you share.
But mastering an entire set takes forrrreeeeevvvveeeerrrr. No worries.
The LANDR DJ software masters your sets in seconds. It gives you front-row loudness and uniform sound.
This is where all that headroom you left is gonna come in handy.
Set the Stage
Traktor Pro 2 Software
DJ mixes are good for you AND the listener.
Digging for music helps you find new influences, discover new artists, and absorb new techniques.
Sharing your mixes benefits your listeners because they get a better sense of your influences and tastes as an artist.
They’re excellent for press kits, self-promotion, and gig submissions.
But most of all they are spaces to nurture good music and put it in a new context.
So record your mixes right, share them, engage your audience, and grow as an artist.
Special thanks to Gone Deville for his help on this guide. Check out his Soundcloud and Bandcamp.
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When I’ve taught friends to DJ, one of the things I try to get across early is the importance of matching the levels of the two tracks being mixed. A sudden big drop in the volume is a surefire way to lose energy on the dance floor – or even clear it if you’re really unlucky! The way Traktor handles metering and the labels on its volume controls can lure you into making a real mess of your levels.
When I first realised this on switching from CDJs and an analogue mixer to using Traktor and a sound card, it prompted me to take a deeper look into the best way to get the level right. Today I’m going to explain why turning the master volume down in Traktor is essential if you mix “in the box”, ie in internal mode – which if you use a DJ controller, is exactly what you do.
The problem:
You may have already run into this problem. You’ve just dropped a dancefloor-filling track, but when you try to smoothly bring in the next tune, it’s too quiet. Faders and the main volume control are already all the way up, and there’s nowhere left to go. If you’ve got the master limiter disabled, turning the channel’s gain further just results in nasty distortion. If you do have Traktor’s master limiter switched on, you can crank the volume further, but at the expense of sound quality again.
The limiter is basically a compressor, which quietens down the loudest parts of the track, “filling out” the sound to give the impression of more volume. (You know you are hitting the limiter when the red lights on Traktor’s output meters come on.)
As most dance tracks released these days are already heavily compressed, adding further compression is not a good idea if you want your set to sound good (see the Loudness Wars video for more info on the effects of over-compression).
The solution:
I’ll explain the whys and wherefores in a moment, but here’s the simple solution to the problem:
- Turn Traktor’s master output control down – somewhere around -10dB works well (assuming you have a decent sound card)
- Turn the gain on the amp or analogue mixer you’re plugged in to up to compensate if necessary – this will give you plenty of headroom, so when you drop that track that hasn’t been mastered quite so loud, you can crank up the channel gains in Traktor without worrying about distortion
Tip: If you can, sound check before your set with a track that you know is quiet – make sure it sounds loud enough and that you aren’t clipping (driving into the red) the in-house equipment that you are hooked up to.
Why it works…
The key to understanding what’s going on here is to understand what the “0dB” setting means in Traktor. dB (short for “decibel”) is a relative measure of volume – it tells you the difference between two levels.
Many analogue mixers have “0dB” marked on the VU meter – this usually corresponds to 0dBV, which means it is measuring the difference between the current level and an output voltage of 1 volt. You can push the level above this and still get a nice clean output from most mixers – on the best ones, up to +20dB on the mixer’s output meter.
But in Traktor, 0dB means “maximum output”. If you are using a good DJ sound card (or controller with a decent one built-in), this could mean you are putting out up to a walloping +20dBV. Leaving the master gain set to 0dB in Traktor is like turning every control on your mixer right up to maximum at the start of your set. Not a good idea. So why would Native Instruments choose to mark the gain control like this? Well, it’s actually fairly common for digital equipment to designate 0dB as the maximum output. If you had auto gain turned off and were using Traktor in external mixer mode, sending each tune out to your sound card at maximum volume wouldn’t be such a bad thing, as most DJ mixers can handle a pretty hot signal coming in.
Traktor Pro 2 Recording
Why use -10dB?
Earlier I suggested -10dB as a good setting for your master. There are a couple of reasons why.
Earlier I suggested -10dB as a good setting for your master. There are a couple of reasons why.
Traktor Pro 2 Mac
The first is simply experience; I’ve found this gives enough headroom to level match tracks without slamming into the limiter. If you play lots of older tracks you might find you need to use an even lower setting.
The second reason is related to the actual output voltage you are sending to the next thing in the audio chain. If you’ve every played on a big system with a sound engineer, you’ve probably been asked to “keep it out of the red” – ie to stick to a maximum of 0dB on the mixer. A clean 0dBV signal allows the guy running the system to crank it up to full volume without worrying about it being destroyed.
I use a Motu UltraLite sound card which has a maximum output around 17dBV, so in theory I should set my master output in Traktor to -17dB or lower in order to give a real output of 0dBV. If I was hooking my sound card up directly to a pro amplifier or a big sound system, that’s what I would do. In most cases though, digital DJs hook up their kit to one of the mixer inputs. DJ mixers are usually optimised these days for the relatively hot output level from a Pioneer CDJ (around 6dBV). Bringing the master level up in Traktor to -10dB with my set up gives a similar level on my mixer as I get with a CDJ.
Remember…
The key thing to take away here is that 0dB in Traktor really means maximum output. Using a master setting of -10dB (or even much lower) will give you a fighting chance of keeping the levels kicking on the dancefloor without distorting.
• This was a guest post by Colin Brown, who is a DJ with over 10 years’ experience, and who is also system tech for the Babble Collective Soundsystem.
Do you have level problems when using Traktor to DJ out and about with? Have you battled with a sound engineer about how the settings should be? Let us know in the comments.