Are multiple beat markers possible?

Just started using this program and pretty impressed so far. A few questions though...
1) If I recorded a track and there is a part in the middle of the record that skips and throws the grid off beat, can I create another beat marker at that beat so it lines back up and makes a new grid from that point on?.
Or should just make the first beat marker after that part.

Also anyone know why songs would skip or stutter during playback? Latency? Computer bogged down? The actual audio file doesn't do it.

Thanks

 

(1) Yes. Just turn off the snap to grid button when you position the second beat marker. When the track is playing, press sync again after you pass the second beat marker.

(2) could be latency of the soundcard - try bumping it up a bit in the preferences. Otherwise, it could be computer memory, could be processor speed. Could be many things! I only get glitches in autoplay mode, when traktor loads the next track, but I've probably not got enough memory.

GS

 

If the mp3 always skips at the same place, but the original doesn't, I would re-record, something probably went wrong during the recording process. Another quick check before you re-record: try the mp3 in winamp/xmms and see if it skips.

 

I stumbled on an easy way to set multiple beat markers for songs that have jumps/bad edits/varying tempos and I have yet to see this method described elsewhere:

1. Turn all your beat markers into generic cue points. Make 'em all blue, then they jump to the edges of the Traktor-detected beats (turn that "snap to grid" feature back on!).

2. Add more generic cue points, esp. right after the bad spots; for tempo drifts, just sprinkle the cues throughout the file till you run out.

3. Jump from cue to cue and change 'em all to beat markers (Well OK you can leave that first one as a load marker).

4. Start editing the BPM untill you get a decent compromise between the sections delineated by the beat markers.

Doesn't always get you there, but it works sometimes and it's much faster than manually trying to scoot the cues around.

 

Just wanted to give you guys the heads up, but you're definitely NOT using beat markers correctly. I mean, if it works for you then that's great, but it's technically wrong (just search the forums for confirmation of what I'm saying).

 

Yep George is right. when you actually try to mix across those cues, you run the grave risk of jumping beats or just being way off (read: Trainwrecked). If what you do works for you don't let us hold you back but if you take the time to learn to place beat markers properly it will take you no more than 20 seconds to setup a brand new new track without a grid and start it playing in perfect time.

Phil

 

Search for what? Gimme just a clue

 

What specifically in the previous discussion would make you think that I'm mixing across the beat markers?

 

Well, you could try "multiple beat markers"...

 

If you have a track that jumps or has a beat offset if you add an additional beat marker when you go to mix in another track you will either get a wreck or a beat jump that sounds awful and despite it being only briefly audible it will be heard by one and all. Its worse too if the track you are mixing with has no beat grid. If no other track is playing when you jump markers there won't be a problem but if you mix tracks for long periods, (I regularly mix two tracks together for almost the entire length of one track which is why i make this comment) then its gonna show.

If your beats Grids are like this:

&nbsp!&nbsp!
A12341234 12341.....
B1234123412341.....

(The Bang indicates Beat markers on Deck A
In theory Traktor should automatically compensate for it and it often does but if it doesn't you can see a wreck ensuing. Also I have seen cases where Beat 2 on Deck A will get lined up with Beat 1 on Deck B (it shouldn't but seemingly it occasionally does)
There is a simple workaround for all this though and that is to be ready with the sync button when you are mixing and cross an off-time beat marker. Also note that in breaks and breakdowns the beat emphasis some/often times shifts to the 2. don't woory about shifting the beat markers because they will come back in measure time when the beat comes back, and you won't won't be wrecking during the breakdown.
The problem with beatgrids as that stand today is that they cannot compensate for a track where tempo shifts or drifts in that case you need to add additional beat markers OR you need to work without a grid. Either way its a little more complex but it is doable so long as you stay on top of things.

Phil

 

This is a good discussion but I think it might be important to emphasize one thing for the as-of-yet uninitiated which might clear things up a bit.

Beat gridding with one beat marker should NOT be a problem for probably 99% of new electronically produced music (including dance and hip-hop) which, at least if the impression I am under is correct, is what the great majority of us here play.

If you can't set up a grid properly on electronic music, the problem is most likely caused by playing tracks from a mix where the tempo isn't constant (e.g. a mix CD). In that instance, I would recommend you just get the grid as tight as possible on the parts where you intend to do the majority of your mixing. There are tracks which change tempo in the middle of things and IMHO you're probably going to have to do thing manually or wait for Traktor to get warp markers like Live as opposed to coming up with some way to get the current setup to work automatically.

Oh, and PhiL is completely correct. Beatgridding done properly is a very quick process for most songs. In fact, I would be inclined to say that if you can't get it in 20-30 seconds, you're probably better off working without the grid.

Also, I can confirm that it is important to set the grid on a downbeat if you expect sync to work. My brother and I recently had an extensive discussion about this and here is how I proved it to him. Take two hip-hop tracks (or other tracks where you have a half-beat rythym [I believe that's the correct terminology] like kick-snare-kick-snare - In Da Club is a great one for the sake of example) now on one deck put a grid on the down beat. Do the same for the second track in the other deck. Now, hit sync and play them and listen. Now, go to one of the tracks, erase the previously set beat marker and set it one beat forward (on a snare). Now play them with the sync button again and see the difference. I think you'll see what I mean. With a four on the floor beat you probably won't see much of a difference most of the time, but if you play breaks then you will totally notice it.

Just thought that I would mention that since it's something that didn't occur to me for a LONG time!

 

I see what your concern is now. I was taking for granted that people would know not to mix over a beat marker. Setting multiple beat markers means, for me, being able to beat mix, albeit briefly, trax that I was not able to mix well at all on turntables.
I get a relatively stable section right after a beat marker set at a strategic point late in a song and hence just enough time to get out.
I love old techno from the late 80's and some of it was, I think, recorded on cassette, edited with an x-acto knife, and spliced with cellophane tape>:
Think "Strings of Life".

 

Just to "play the Devil's advocate", there are some important exceptions. Try gridding Daft Punk's "Rolling & Scratchin'" (OK so I'm an old fogey and I think that a track from '95 is new skool...). It has a very effective tempo drift that I think contributes to it's stature as one of the best techno songs of the decade.
In fact, I have a pet theory that when DJ software that can deal easily with tempo changes becomes commonly used, electronic music production will get a bit more interesting because we'll be able to use tempo changes as a compositional element. The beat mixing obsession of the 90's has forced composers into a straightjacket of fixed tempo that really needs to be removed. I'm not saying you can't write a great piece of music at a fixed tempo, but what if you don't want to? It's a constraint that no other form of music in history has faced!

 

As a breaks DJ, it is of course essential for me to know this.

I go to a lot of Psy-Trance parties and I'm always hearing DJs who either a) can't be bothered to match up the bars as well as the beats, or b) just don't understand the concept. I think it makes the mix sound shabby (to the trained ear anyway).

I'm not just being a technical snob here - there is an artistic benefit to matching up the bars, as the musical phrases will work together more harmoniously. Then again, it may even work to have the bars staggered slightly - whatever, as long as it sounds good, and hopefully the DJ is conscious of this!

 

For some reason that post has me down as a guest - I'm a registered user I'll have you know!