Dub FX – Traktor Performance Inside Look

Written by Ean Golden on May 29th, 2011 49 Comments

We love this guy! In the video above, he absolutely slays a street corner performance with amazing passion, true wisdom, and a creative use of technology- what more could you want?! We asked Dub FX about some of the important details and analyzed the video for a blow-by-blow analysis of exactly how it is done! As if that was not enough, DJTT has secured an exclusive video screencapture showing the Traktor screen throughout his entire performance so you can watch how everything is put together – without the fancy video editing.

EQUIPEMENT LIST

Traktor Kontrol S4
Traktor Scratch Pro 2
Shure Beta 58 (mic)
BOSS GT10b Bass FX processor (vocal bass effect)
BOSS SYB5 Bass synthesizer pedal
BOSS RC50 Loop station

BASIC SETTINGS

In the first part of the video, the mic is routed through the Bass FX unit and into the rear of the S4 (mic input).
Deck D is set to live input and the mic is being routed into Traktor there.
Traktor is in “internal” or “master” tempo mode, where all loops and decks sync to one master tempo.
There is a master metronome that is probably playing through speakers so Dub FX can time his first loop to the master clock.
The loop recorder is set to record from a “CUE” input – or whichever deck is cued into the headphones.
The loop recorder is beat matched to the internal tractor clock and all loops stay in time with each other.

FIRST VOCAL PASS

Using the loop recorder’s “overdub” function he records three passes of vocals, creating a basic music bed.
These vocals are being processed by his BOSS GT10b Bass FX processor
This recorded loop is then copied into a sample deck using a MIDI macro.

” The GT10b is an amazing toy which is where most of the magic is created. The FX are almost infinite ranging from EQ, Compression, Delay, Reverb to crazy stuff like Pitch Shifter and Vibrato. By programing the GT10, I can manipulate the sound of my voice by using different FX and changing the order in which they run, to further the manipulation. Once I have a sound that I like, I can also use the two control pedals and volume pedal to automate the FX. For example, when I swap between my two characters (Monsoon-the deep rapping voice and Lyric -the higher rapping voice) I am just using the volume pedal to change the pitch of my voice with the pitch shifter.”

“I started out with the GT06 nearly 10 years ago and over time I have perfected the sounds I use today in the GT10b. Now I have over 30 different patches I have programmed and use in my live show.”

KICK IN THE DRUMS

He now triggers a jungle drum track loaded in Deck A.
That deck is synced to the master clock so the drums automatically jump in time with the recorded vocal loops.
Now he starts to filter the loop back in so it can be heard.
Later some drum fills will be added using the Beat Masher effect in FX unit 1.

BIG UP THE BASS

Now comes Dub FX signature vocal part- a big wobble bass produced only by his voice (and some great effects)
No, I am sorry to report kids, you can’t produce that sound with Traktor alone.
Here Dub FX is using the BOSS SYB5 Bass synthesizer pedal to modulate his voice. He explains:

“I also have a BOSS SYB5 Bass synthesizer pedal which runs into the GT10 as a send return. This is a great pedal as it takes the pitch of my voice and creates a synth sound in the same pitch that I’m singing. I also have an EV5 volume pedal which controls the cut off frequency of the SYB5. Once I have chosen the type of synth I want to use I can run it through the GT10b’s Amp modeller, distortion and so on to create a huge bass sound!”

The bass loop is recorded in Traktor but is also recorded on his loop pedal (BOSS RC50 Loop station) and continues to play through the Audio Input even though the bass loop is muted. This appears to be largely for “visual effect”

“The last bit of the magic is the BOSS RC50 Loop station. This is an awesome piece of gear as it samples whatever I play through it in real time just by hitting the record button with my feet. There is a little bit of skill involved because if you don’t press record at exactly the right time the loop can go out of sync when you try to loop it. I can record three different samples and play them together or separately and I can add to each pattern as well. So usually I put a beat on 1, some harmonies on 2 and a bass on 3. This allows me to separate the 3 core elements in my composition to change the dynamics and the way the music flows. “

EXPRESSION

At this point the live recording is over and Dub FX starts to freestyle over his new music layer.
A few sample deck mutes provide a transition.
The beat masher effect is used for a beat fill.
And then a big jog wheel spin back ends the video with a “rewind selector!”

WATCH ALONG

To take a closer look at the performance, watch this video and see if you can follow the steps above in real time!

BASIC SET UP

I Loved This Article >

Ricey88

Erm obviously you guys havnt seen beardyman. Now that he blows this dude out of the water. Ricey
SeratoFail

He’s gotta be why jungles dead.
Szent2007

I have been following this site for months….Love it.
.. I have a question though….
How would I be able to record with Numark Mixdeck runningTraktor pro 2…..
in external mode since the mixer on the Mixdeck is not MIDI…Basically I would like to record my live set…..or even live practice set?
Disneystep

Before anyone starts going off about how innovative this is… we’ve been looping the amen break in some sort of live capacity for almost 20 years now.
thats about all he did.. and scream like he’s in the lion king.
http://www.facebook.com/themiah Jeremiah Stanley

It’s impressive as it is for what he’s doing. But it’s just marketing for the S4 and Traktor 2. Don’t get me wrong, I like them both, there is just nothing about this that is “unique” to them. It’s also kind of a downer that he wasn’t able to do everything with just Traktor 2.

This would probably be more easily done with more flexibility in Ableton with a Launchpad and NI’s The Mouth™ (very fun if you haven’t played with it, even better when you start to use it to send MIDI to other instruments… you can indeed play Massive or whatever with your mouth just like it says in the ad).
http://www.facebook.com/people/Vinicius-Hoffmann-Bernardes/722545416 Vinicius Hoffmann Bernardes

Beardyman is largely known in the DJTT forums.
And yeah! he is fucking insane!
Just use the search tool :D
Muzikmonkee

+1 ricey Beardyman is the shizzzz,!!
It’s cool that dub uses traktor pro2 tho

Big it up!! Nuff respect!!

Muzikmonkee
Ephortless

Damn some of yall are sipping the hatorade shits tight! Get it dub!
Garygary1

well, started watching the video and needed to pause it… i clicked the play button on the sample deck instead of the youtube play. I… am a traktor dj
http://www.facebook.com/people/PaulHolland-DoubleDutchdj/100001027166218 PaulHolland DoubleDutchdj

What a disrespectful thing to write. Thats about as narrow minded as saying turntables are better than cdj’s, like comparing two different artists from two different genres, yeah there both beatboxers, but thats where the comparison stops. Beardyman’s awesome, living near Brighton I’ve been fortunate to watch his live show develop to what it is now. DubFx is a completely different style of artist that deserves respect,

Comments on Techtools these days are as bad as what you see on Youtube, some of the shit people have come out with on this post alone paints a sad picture of the recent surge of idiots that frequent this site.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=511424961 Ben Bamford

i’m seeing him at glade (uk festival) next week
http://www.facebook.com/people/PaulHolland-DoubleDutchdj/100001027166218 PaulHolland DoubleDutchdj

Disneystep and lion king? fuck me wow your sooo funny.

Considering what Dubfx is capable of, I’d agree this S4 performance isn’t much to get excited about, kinda feels like NI gave him an S4 and a few hours later he rushed out a quick routine.

Wow check me out, I managed to be constructive without being a total dick, mr a million and one alias’s should try it sometime.
Anonymous

whether or not you’re impressed with the performance, the added value (and what makes this more than a simple traktor s4 ad) comes from the inside look at exactly how he creates the performance. that’s more of the content that people (who complain) expect from this website, and less DIY laptop stands.

[edit] besides, that performance video was uploaded by NATIVE INSTRUMENTS so of course it’s an ad for their product. ean uploaded the traktor full screen, which is more helpful for those looking for digital dj tutorials… some ppl will never be satisfied unless the hardware will song select/mix/run fx for them though…
http://blog.rebellen.info/2011/05/30/dub-fx-fucking-around-with-traktor-s4/ Dub FX fucking around with Traktor S4 | Blogrebellen Kreuzberg

[...] Kollegen drüben bei DJTechtools haben dazu noch den Screencast, der genau zeigt, was DubFX während der Aufnahme in Traktor so [...]
Br4k3r

No, that would be your mother.
AENSLAED

Hahahah Yeah! I used to DJ with a Boss GT-8B Bass FX processor, now I know someone else found the GT pedal series useful for a setup, only with the little issue that the output was mono, so you had to EQ it to make it sound “stereo”. Too bad my GT was stolen. I hope the thief goes to hell!
Anonymous

I absolutely agree with Paul. I am so disappointed by comments like Ricey’s which are disrespectful, unhelpful, and have no point. Has the board been taken over by children with out supervision? There is nothing wrong with being critical especially constructive criticism. I think we all welcome that but when it’s things like ‘mine is bigger than yours that’s why I’m better than you and I want the whole world to know it” then it’s just a waste of time to be here and weed out the haters.
tay740

this guys street performances are awesome also this is defiantly a p.r. campaign and bearly shows you what this guy can do. clearly the add is not for dub fx anyway but what the s4 can do. haters go’n hate.
http://www.eangolden.com Ean Golden

I am glad some one noticed that. Besides this being a cool performance, I personally think we provided an epic inside look at how the performance was done, providing some great material for personal set up development. To be honest, it is surprising that more people didn’t appreciate that angle.
Smegma-Head

It’s certainly interesting. But someone who knows the equipment that he owns (who read the manual etc.), is able to decypher that himself. I would if I had the same tools. On the other hand, I don’t buy and sell a lot of tools, like nowadays cats, who seem to be more like gearwhores than DJs (or they are those DJs who ask you how you did you set, so that they can bite the shit out of it).
Kieran

to each their own…. personally i think they’re both incredible!
nukage

I’m pretty sure he usually uses ableton for his stuff but this is a nice demo of how traktor is becoming more ableton-like and that it has more applications than just straight DJing. but with ableton you could probably accomplish his bass-mouth sounds with just software.
http://www.d-jam.com D-Jam

That…was utterly cool.
djerikt

+1, i read the manual, and couldn’t really apply what i read on how the sample recorder worked until i saw this. this helped put it into context for how i can incorporate these things into my sets. and this will sound different from the examples above. i like the creativity being shown.

where i work, there are text templates in our word processing software, and the text boxes are filled with faux latin text. the reasoning behind using gibberish instead of actual text is that people will focus on what was written instead of the place holder example it is. this seems to be the case here. if you are not a fan of dubfx’s music, thats fine. the example of how the features are being used are a template for you to match this to your own style.
http://www.ballsofsteelbass.com Balls of Steel

Great video! Gave me some ideas for my own performance, thanks Ean.
http://www.ballsofsteelbass.com Balls of Steel

Great video! Gave me some ideas for my own performance, thanks Ean.
Ideinmusic

hey s4 guys, when I sing into the mic the music gets softer automatically. I looked all over the settings and cant change that :-(
Ideinmusic

hey s4 guys, when I sing into the mic the music gets softer automatically. I looked all over the settings and cant change that :-(
Ideinmusic

hey s4 guys, when I sing into the mic the music gets softer automatically. I looked all over the settings and cant change that :-(
musician who cares

BIG THUMBS UP TO DUB FX
musician who cares

BIG THUMBS UP TO DUB FX
musician who cares

BIG THUMBS UP TO DUB FX
Stryceku

pretty good native instruments! I dont saw in your youtube advertisement you cant do this bass voice only with traktor. and what about effects on the mic? is it possible to do that from traktor? no I dont think so!!!!!!!!!! is pretty fucked! now I hope I will figure it out how to sync it with ableton and using only traktor S4 simultaly with ableton on one notebook and S4 with mic. anyone thanks for help stryceku@gmail.com !!!!! thanks a lot
Anonymous

who signs their posts?
Anonymous

who signs their posts?
Anonymous

I’d argue that Traktor offers flexibility in some places where Ableton doesn’t… being able to see all your waveforms live as you play is pretty huge for improvisation… Knowing that Traktor can now do things that were previously only in the Ableton domain is pretty cool to me.
Anonymous

I’d argue that Traktor offers flexibility in some places where Ableton doesn’t… being able to see all your waveforms live as you play is pretty huge for improvisation… Knowing that Traktor can now do things that were previously only in the Ableton domain is pretty cool to me.
Anonymous

Question: when you twist the dry/wet knob on a combo effect, and you’re using a beatmasher as one of the three effects, does the dry wet knob effect it as a true dry wet? Or does it do it like the gater on the beatmasher? It’s weird that beatmasher has a gater knob instead of a dry/wet knob, I don’t get that…
Anonymous

Question: when you twist the dry/wet knob on a combo effect, and you’re using a beatmasher as one of the three effects, does the dry wet knob effect it as a true dry wet? Or does it do it like the gater on the beatmasher? It’s weird that beatmasher has a gater knob instead of a dry/wet knob, I don’t get that…
Premzy09

he smokes pot,im sho..hahaha
Parrishgillett

When i saw him live he fucked up a song and said “Sorry I smoke alot of weed so I forget the words”
http://www.emilyspiller.com Em

I’m using an RC50, keys, and laptop interface. I’d like to add the GT10b, and also incorporate Ableton with my MPD26. It seems the RC50 is louder during recording, and quieter on playback… Any ideas? I’d love some feedback on putting this all together. Thanks to anyone who can help!

Em

Looking forward to DubFX at BTO on Vancouver Island this year!
http://djtechenspanish.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/dub-fx-revision-completa-de-su-rutina/ Dub FX – Revisión completa de su rutina. « dj tech tools en español

[...] original por Ean Golden Via:Djtechtools.com GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_bg", [...]
http://www.djsoftwarereview.com/blog/dub-fx-gets-creative-with-traktor-kontrol-s4/ Dub FX gets creative with Traktor Kontrol S4 | DJ Software Review

[...] = 'none'; document.getElementById('singlemouse').style.display = ''; } DJ TechTools | Dub FX – Traktor Performance Inside Look function popoverload(){ popOver(); } function popOver(){ var [...]
http://www.djtechtools.com/2011/11/20/djing-with-four-sample-decks-in-traktor/ DJ TechTools | How to run Traktor like Ableton with only Loops

[...] dimension can be brought in by using external sources via the loop recorder – think Dub FX or Beardyman – and dropping that loop into a sample [...]
http://plate.pp.ua/69348 How to run Traktor like Ableton with only Loops » Dj tech reviews » plate.pp.ua

[...] An additional dimension can be brought in by using external sources via the loop recorder – think Dub FX or Beardyman – and dropping that loop into a sample [...]
http://plate.pp.ua/69353 How To DJ In Traktor With Only Loops and Sample Decks » Dj tech reviews » plate.pp.ua

[...] An additional dimension can be brought in by using external sources via the loop recorder – think Dub FX or Beardyman – and dropping that loop into a sample [...]
K4733294

awesome!
http://www.facebook.com/tcastelvecchi Teo Castelvecchi

nah, dub fx has more musical skills. his performances are like a real track, with perfect harmonies and baselines. Beardyman is more comical and relies on impressive sounds, more like a traditional beatboxer