Development for Hercules

Hi,
I'm a long time user of traktor. started using it in version 1 and been lovin it ever since.My place is too small for turntables, so i was pretty pleased when the hercules controller came out. I was a little disappointed to see that some of the features i really like from 2.6 are missing from the hercules console editition of the traktor dj studio. Are there plans to integrate these two editions? or do I have the choose between being able to use my controller and the features I've grown used to?

I don't care so much about the leds but I'd really like to be able to scratch with the jog wheel. Anyone know how to do that in 2.6.1?
Cheers
steve

 

Steam_R...Your in luck my friend.

You are able to scratch in 2.6.1 with the Hercules DJ Console. Here's how:

Go to the "Setup" tab on the top right corner of Traktor...select "MIDI" and make sure that the Hercules Console has an "X" next to it.

Next...go to "Section" and select "Deck Controls". Scroll down until you see "Deck Scratch On"...highlight it on channel A. (To turn scratching on I use the left "Cue" button on my Hercules to trigger the "Scratch On" function). Make sure the "Learn" button is highlighted and then hit the left cue button. You should see something like "CC9" appear in the MIDI line. Make sure you check off toggle as well so that once you hit the buton to begin scratching it will stay triggered until you hit it one more time to turn scratching off.

Repeat this same procedure for deck B with using your right "Cue" button.

Next...scroll to "Deck Scratch" and make sure to highlight channel "Deck A". Now use the learn function to turn the left jog dial into your scratch pad. Just spin the left jog dial until a "CC 45" shows up. Also, make sure to check the box labeled "Incremental" and turn both "Sensivtivity" and "Acceleration" to the middle positions, you can adjust these as you see fit later.

Repeat this again for Deck B using the right jog dial.

Go to save and rename the file so that you can revert back to it at anytime.

This is how you would go about "midi-mapping" your Hercules buttons to Traktor 2.6.1. for any of it's controls.

I hope this helps...let me know how things work out.


jim aka biggz

 

well posted!
That's great. I knew how to program the midi stuff . I've been using traktor with a midi mixer for a bit now. The flexibility of the controls was one of the features I was missing in the Hercules Console edition. I never figured out how to use the deck scratch feature in there, and didn't get the whole deck scratch on setting. Thanks for the heads up!
Steve

 

Steam_r...

I'm glad I can be of assistance. How's the scratching working out? I've noticed that if you mess with the "Mouse Scratch Transmission" under the preferences tab you can fine tune your stuff.

Also wondering about the Hercules Edition of Traktor...is it any good? What options/features are missing? Can you still setup midi mapping the way you want to, or is it stuck to a prescribed pattern? How about those LED's...do they ALL work and blink when toggled? I ask because there is no way for me to know when scratching is turned on unless I actually go to scratch...it would be great if the Hercules would light up when this is enabled.

jim aka biggz

 

Hey,
Scratching is pretty good. Sounds cool and there's obviously much room for tweaking(my favorite part). I've been using the cue button as you suggested, but I have mine set to no toggle, so I have to be holding the button down to scratch. This seems to work out better for me because I just have to release a button rather than press it again which I had a hard time getting my hands around.

The Hercules Console Edition of Traktor does enable all the lights, etc but things work a little differently. The jog wheel does a few functions depending on which led is lit up, set by the triangular button on top of the leds. It can be a filter controller, scratch, or seek position cue control. The fine tune setting allows you to micro adjust the track while playing, and the motion is just like tapping a record to slow it down. It's a little tricky to control, and because the controls are so close together, it's easy to nudge the jog wheel and throw off your mix while trying to do something else.

The sad part is all the features you lose from the 2.6.1 version. Filters are presets only and you can't control width or resonance. No key locking. You can only record to audio file as opposed to nmx format. No prelisten. You have to use the Hercules as a sound card (I peronally like my Echo Indigo DJ better). You can't edit the controller midi map at all nor can you use an additional controller. and so on and so on.

So though the implementation of Hercules features is pretty good, overall the product feels like a big step backwards from the current version. I'm hoping they manage to merge the feature sets for 3.0.
Steve

 

Thanks for the heads up brotha...It doesn't sound like the Hercules Edition is the right fit for me...saved my ass $40. I just wish there was a way to get the LED's to work with 2.6.1. Oh well...there's always 3.0 as you mentioned.

jim

btw...I also use the Echo Indigo DJ soundcard...solid piece right? What kind of DJ'ing do you do?

 

Hey,

I'm a househead from way back. I host a little blog/radio site off my dsl line at http://steamspace.com/. I'm lovin anything off of OM records these days, and Derrick Carter and Mark Farina are my DJ heros.

Echo Indigo DJ kicks ass! I use it with a toshiba tablet which is brilliant for making music. Reason works realy well too. Just reach out and tweak. I've always thought that was the coolest part about mixing with Traktor. You can write tack and mix with it 5 minutes later. Taught me more about writing and arraging than anything else I done.

Anywhere I can check out yr mixes mate?

Steve

 

Steve-O...

Thanks for the link...I'll be sure to hit it us ASAP. I'm also a house-head...love it all, from deep house to funky house to progressive house and everyting in between. Mark Farina is AMAZING! And Derrick Carter, I mean come on...legendary. I'm also a fan of the Scumfrog, Deep Dish, Daft Punk, and Basement Jaxx...just to name a few. I'm also into many other styles of dance music, drum & bass, chillout stuff and even some good techno (Riche Hawtin). I'm sorry to say, however, that dance music around here isn't all that popular anymore so I'm stuck playing alot of pop/rock/funk/disco/hip-hop for parties. I'm a mobile DJ who runs a company called 3rd Half Productions...we do alot of private dj parties and karaoke gigs. It's fun stuff if you can push aside the 'cheese' factor.

I don't have any mixes posted up just yet, as I'm not exaclty a "mix DJ"...but I do have a small home-based recording studio where I produce alot of original material under the name "Freud", as well as arrange remixes and various projects like cheerledaing mixes, etc. You can check out and download a few of my tracks here:

http://www.audiostreet.net/freud

Let me know what you think. I have tons of other tracks but these few will give you a good idea of where my head is at musically. Enjoy brotha.

jim