Comments for djtechtools.com

Comment on The Cheapskate’s Laptop Stand by iRetwistmusic

iRetwistmusic — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:26:23 +0000

I Recently built a pvc stand like in the first pic and I must say that whoever came up with the idea is ingenious.Great idea.I use mine as a monitor stand in my studio.I’m now getting ready to build a second for my dj laptop.

Comment on Got Headroom? by Ean Golden

Ean Golden — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:39:46 +0000

So if we were to create a method for setting up your gain staging before each gig- what would that be? So far I have:

1: play loudest track with auto gain off- reduce master out so it hits at approx -3db

2) load 2 loud songs in each deck with auto gain on and then reduce the gains of each -2/3 db

It seems like using auto gain in conjunction with a digital gain knob might also be partially to blame.

Comment on Got Headroom? by DJ G.Stefan

DJ G.Stefan — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:37:10 +0000

Digital mixing is, for the moment, not an option for a pro DJ. It is a cheap and easy way to learn to mix, or to use at small private partys, but you cant really compare it with an Allen & Heath mixer etc.

I think if the MIDI-controller manufacturers want to get in the pro DJ market, they have to come up with controllers without a mixer section and without a jog-wheel. Please bring me an asymmetric controller as the size as a laptop, thats focus on looping, hotcues, beatjump, the effets, with just faders, knobs and buttons. And it would be nice with an extra long motorized fader for the tempo adjustment.

Comment on Got Headroom? by Adion

Adion — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:21:02 +0000

Usually in the clubs I have been to the audio is very loud, and there are a lot of people. If you are talking about sound quality, I think you will always hear more details at home in a perfect environment than in a club.
Furthermore, no-one really complained about the low quality of vinyl records (estimated dynamic range of about 50-60 dB, and hardly any content higher than 18kHz), so I don’t think it’s a problem to lower the digital signal by a few dB’s even if it’s only 16-bit.

It would surprise me if Traktor doesn’t internally mix at more than 16-bit though, but I haven’t tested that yet.

Comment on Got Headroom? by tobamai

tobamai — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:10:30 +0000

Ean: I’m with you on the “more headroom” issue. As far as I know, traktor only has a 16-bit audio engine (I couldn’t find anything on their website to confirm or deny this). This should provide about 96 db of theoretical maximum dynamic range, which will be reduced by the noise floor of the audio interface. While this is similar to playing a CD on a consumer grade boom box, it certainly isn’t what we want for live performances or club audio (which, historically, has to be better than home audio to get people to come out). Consider the noise level in a club or a live venue due to A/C units and crowd noise, the actual dynamic range is going to be even less.

While industrial grade audio equipment can produce dynamic ranges around 120 db, more in line with human hearing, digital circuitry is limited by physical factors to a dynamic range around 115 db, regardless of it’s internal bit depth. This suggests that 24-bit audio should be more than enough to cover the limitation of the hardware and fall in line with both human hearing and professional audio equipment, provided you have a low noise floor.

With all of that set aside, the issue of boosting a track mid set could be solved by setting the auto gain lower. You’ll set aside a couple db so it doesn’t really hit the master limiter. The problem is the cost of all of your normal audio being slightly quieter (since the master amp should be set to handle the maximum volume your source will put out, which is a boosted track) and the normal auto-gained program will be slightly less dynamic. It might be worth it if we’re only talking about a difference of 3db or so and you’re really set on giving a track a boost.

If all of your program is hitting the master limiter, you might be best lowering the auto gain just to get a more dynamic sound and avoid the limiter. You could use the external amp to boost the signal back to the level you want so long as you don’t boost any gains internally.

Comment on Flip the script- and your Jog Wheel by Ean Golden

Ean Golden — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:08:42 +0000

You can always try and do it yourself, just follow the instructions above. :)

Comment on Flip the script- and your Jog Wheel by Phorte

Phorte — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:34:07 +0000

gah! i cant work this out for a standard vci-100. can someone save a new TKS for this from the standard TKS with the new CDJ-style jog wheel and tempo nudge?

Comment on Flip the script- and your Jog Wheel by Phorte

Phorte — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:08:39 +0000

brilliant! these new mappings sound amazing.

would be great if someone could make up a TKS file for non-SE owners that will work perfectly!! can’t wait for SE but these little adjustments sound the trick.

it has happened to me a few times, especially after a few drinks, when im making fine adjustments then accidentally touch the centre of the wheel and it suddenly ’scratches’. bah!!