Controlling Traktor from CDJs?

[Khazul]

Is there anyone using CDJ-1000s to control Traktor 3.4 with timecoded CDs via an NI Audio 8?

How well does it work? Does the control feel responsive and positive enough assuming you have Traktor's control sensitivity set appropriately, or is there a bit of lag while Traktor figures out what you are actually doing? Any other impacts upon normal Traktor use that are worth knowing about?

I am wondering if it is worth investing in the NI Audio 8 or whether to stick with the VCI-100 controller and NI Audio Kontrol if I want to use both CDJs and a laptop together.

Thanks for any comments

[sureno]

well i bought it around a month ago and still haven't got round to using it with my mkIII's il hook it up tomorrow and give it a spin, will let you know but in the mean time i think Ed has the same set up so he's the man of the moment (bloody golden boy only playing Edwardo)

[Khazul]

Cheers - look forward to your comments

I done it the otehr way around - I used to DJ off vinyl a long time ago, but these days its been off a laptop with either Live or Traktor and hardly used CDs.

Anyway - I got persuaded by my producer it would be a good idea to get good with CDJs and a regular mixer so just bought a pair of CDJ1000-mk3 and a DJM-800 mixer and now working out whether to look at using them as controllers as well, though I do rather like the VCI-100 I currently use for Traktor.

Now I have to burn all those damned mp3s that I ripped off CD back to pairs of CDs and figure out some way to organise them - Grrrrrr!

[sureno]

Originally Posted by Khazul

Cheers - look forward to your comments

I done it the otehr way around - I used to DJ off vinyl a long time ago, but these days its been off a laptop with either Live or Traktor and hardly used CDs.

Anyway - I got persuaded by my producer it would be a good idea to get good with CDJs and a regular mixer so just bought a pair of CDJ1000-mk3 and a DJM-800 mixer and now working out whether to look at using them as controllers as well, though I do rather like the VCI-100 I currently use for Traktor.

Now I have to burn all those damned mp3s that I ripped off CD back to pairs of CDs and figure out some way to organise them - Grrrrrr!

I hate burning CD's more so the labeling, thats why i went with Traktor but now ableton, but some places don't like me using the laptop simply due to the fact its not as visually appealing as decks any way sink your teeth into this then

Music organization

[Khazul]

TBH - I'm just thinking of allways using traktor to work out sets and then just burn the required tracks to multiples of 3 CDs - one for each deck + a backup.

[sureno]

Originally Posted by Khazul

TBH - I'm just thinking of allways using traktor to work out sets and then just burn the required tracks to multiples of 3 CDs - one for each deck + a backup.

you operate 3 decks

[Khazul]

Originally Posted by sureno

you operate 3 decks

LOL - no - 2 CDs for the decks and a spare copy in case there is something wrong with one of those two - hence multiple of 3

Though I am working up to running Live at the same time for loops, samples, my own stuff etc and have done 3 and 4 ways mashups before, even if it was only having 3 or 4 tracks playing for a very short time

[sureno]

Originally Posted by Khazul

LOL - no - 2 CDs for the decks and a spare copy in case there is something wrong with one of those two - hence multiple of 3

Though I am working up to running Live at the same time for loops, samples, my own stuff etc and have done 3 and 4 ways mashups before, even if it was only having 3 or 4 tracks playing for a very short time

lol i was going to say so do you Dj out regularly?

[Khazul]

Not these days - it was my main income when I was in my 20s - long time ago

These days it started again as an occasional favour for friend gigs etc and as a useful way to proof our music - pubs/small clubs and the like, but thats all about to change next summer for the band's little trek around bits of europe, so I have to get back into it again properly and start doing regular live sets again etc - scary!

[sureno]

Originally Posted by Khazul

Not these days - it was my main income when I was in my 20s - long time ago

These days it started again as an occasional favour for friend gigs etc and as a useful way to proof our music - pubs/small clubs and the like, but thats all about to change next summer for the band's little trek around bits of europe, so I have to get back into it again properly and start doing regular live sets again etc - scary!

well if you need an extra Dj im always looking for more work hey buddy, ol' friend, pal

[EdRyan]

I don't actually use the timecoded discs. I haven't got space to set all of my stuff up at the moment. My dj setup is one room, my production gear is in the other. And when I do hook it up, it's just easier to use a normal mixer and real cds to do what I want. At the moment I just use traktor as it is, in conjunction with a Novation Nocturn and the sapphire.

The controls are pretty responsive though. From my knowledge of apps programming, I believe they purposely build in a small delay in the processing to give the system time to catch up with the timecode. But it's so tiny you won't notice or feel it. But it's better then having something quicker, but feels clunky and jumps.

I'm not sure how many traktor decks you can control via timecode though. Traktor supports upto 4 decks, I dunno if you can run them all on external time, at the same time.

[sparker]

You can control all 4 decks in Traktor with timecode vinyl or CD's - you get both in Scratch (2 of each), but can buy more timecode CD's/vinyl to get 4 if needed..

If you do want to use 4 vinyl's to control, you will need to add 2 phono pre-amps to the inputs 5/6 & 7/8 of the Audio 8 DJ.

PS - we'll have red and milk white vinyl available soon...


Stephen Parker
Music Technology Manager
Arbiter Group