1st time playing out wit new set up (Traktor & Maschine)

I'm playing out this weekend, and it will be the first time I've used Traktor out live, and maschine.

I'm using TSP2, Maschine, 2 Kontrol X1's. I have a djm 500 at home, and it only has 3 LINE inputs, so i can only use 3 traktor decks,

Ive got Deck A & B as traktor decks, and Deck C as a maschine running live input, and deck D is un used.

the mixer at the club will more then likely be a DJM800, so i can probably use the 4th channel/deck d for the night.

But basically, i'm just a bit nervous as its the first time ive taken it all out and played in a club with my new set up, so is there anything i need to know i any hints, because im going to be coming with all my equipment and trying to set up while the current DJ is playing... I'm thinking im going to use the 2 channels he isnt using, (more then likley the DJ will be using CDjs and 2 channels) so would i just connect my rca's to the other 2 channels, get my tracks ready, and wait until hes on his last tune so i can unplug the 3rd channel and get maschine ready...

problem is, theres 4 channels on the mixer, but will only be 2 cdjs, so ill have to wait untill hes finished with one deck and on last track before i can even unplug one cdj and et my intro looping etc... oh man

hope anyone can shed a bit of help, unless im just worrying lol. thank you.

 

i use 4 decks...so i always have to wait for the other dj to finish...what i do is to set up everything away from the dj both and the other dj work area. then just before start i plug in 2 channels or 1, then during the first track i connect the rest.

anyway you have to be more than sure exactly what you are doing when you are setting all this up, because you will not be able to test it until its your turn. so basically the best "hint" is to practice to connect and disconnect everything several times until you are completly sure of what you are doing and have no change of FAIL or no sound going out, etc... you have to be able to connect everything like a blind guy to say it in some way.

 

Right yeah, I see. I was thinking, as I as CDJS as time code for deck A and B, I could instead, just for the intro, use no time code, like just use the X1's to play the dirst two tracks, and once the other DJ completely finished and I've intro'd and got my first track running, then I could just click the CD icon and then use time code CDs, that way, I won't fiddle about with rca's and CDs while the other DJ is finishing etc, u get what I mean mate?

Just Maschine does take a little bit of fiddling with before it's perfectly clock synced with traktor, but yes, I'm going to put some normal CDs in my CDs and practice connecting and and setting up while it's running, thanks for replying mate.

 

Yes i got it, that would be nice way to practice.

Regarding to Maschine i know there is always a Midi Clock Offset to correct, but what i don't know if its always the same value that you have to correct if you are using always the same setup (same cables, same computer, etc..) because if the offset value its always the same after each gig and/or everytime you turn on the computer, then you don't need audio to check if its correct everytime before you start playing (meaning no need to listen to it), you know what i mean? you always set the same value and ready to go..

Anyway, good luck with that! im thinking on getting a mikro maschine in the near future, i just need to use it a bit and see how it feels

 

Ah yes, I had a lot of trouble with the clock offset sync in the beginning stages on syncing Maschine up to traktor, I could just NOT get it running smoothly, but of course after some playing around (and help on the Internet) was told that -17ms was a rough estimated value to go by, and it worked, after all the problems, it just always stayed in sync, thank God!

BUT, lately, for some unknown reason, it had really been playing up, I have made no changes to my set up, still the same, but Maschine comes out of sync really quickly, and when i start up I pretty much always have to adjust masch's clock offset up and down.

I'm really not to clued up about all the milli seconds delay/ midi clock offset etc, Unfourtunatly

But I'm not sure why, but at ' -17 ' it's just not sticking in sync, and it always used too, hopefully I'll just get an exact perfect value and it'll never need adjusting! (dreaming, lol).


And yeah go for it! Not too sure how or what the Maschine Mikro works/runs, but Maschine is my most FAVORITE piece of equipment ever, it is amazing, for production AND live in DJ sets, watch some YouTube vids of Dubfire/Richie Hawtin/Chris Liebing uaing it, some door stuff, man!

 

I think that adjustment of your buffer settings in either program can affect the clock offset latency. Maybe that's what happened when your -17 stopped working? Mine's set to -8ms, and it's nice and tight from session to session, but I haven't messed with anything for a while either...

 

I also play with Maschine and 4 decks. Got myself a 4D so I don't have to share the mixer - hated plugging all those cables. Now I carry 12 kilo's of equipment - but it still weighs less then the old vinyls.. I would do a combination of advice you've already received above:

- Start playing internally - or burn an intro on a CD to give piece of mind.
- Make sure all is ready to plug in - use labels on the cables.
- Plugin as soon as possible - you can do a lot of cablework before you start
- DO not touch latency during set - this must be consistent.

There are many advantages running Maschine trough Traktor, but I've decided not do - saves a huge amount of latency.
There are plenty of FX in Maschine to work with.
However - don't change it now - you will need to readjust latency if you do.

Make sure you have a CD or an IPhone with music - so you can put something on then the sh*t hots the fan.

Good luck!

 

If I'm turning up later and have not had a chance to pre-setup then something that I've been doing recently works a treat. I use an audio 10 soundcard to route 4 decks externally into the mixer, which can be a right nightmare to setup (lots of cables in the booth, getting to the back of the mixer etc etc).

What I have now is all my cables taped together as on thick cable, but with the ends free and labelled (deck a, b, c, etc) at BOTH ends. I've found this just cuts down on faff nicely and keeps the booth a bit tidier.

See what you think.
Cheers

 

Hey FreakyMofo, how did you route Maschine through a live deck on traktor? I've been trying to work that out for a minute.