Please support MX4P in future Traktor versions? [MULTI-TRACK DJing!]

Hi all, long-time Traktor user but regrettably First Time Forum poster here.

I recently came across an article in Computer Music (UK magazine, Issue CM132 November 2008/Future Publishing) about a newly developed encoded format (like mp3) called MX4P, which is a format that allows multi-tracked/multi-stemmed audio tracks to be fully editable, which could really be a kick-start to a new DJing Revolution. Let me explain...

Imagine you got an mp3 from somewhere (iTunes for example), but you could adjust the levels of individual stems (such as Drums, Vocals, Bass etc) or mute them if you so wished. It can also allow for parallel mixes so you may have the Original and several Remixes in the same file, and you could switch between each one at a click of a button. Or, an amalgamation of both: Like the Drums from the original but don't like the vocals from the remix? No problems, switch tracks/channels! Welcome to MX4P!

The reason I formally put this request forward for NI to look into the technologies' application in DJ Software (or perhaps a similar variant such as iKlax or MT9) is because of the flexibility to mute a stem, adjust the volume, perhaps even apply an effect to any single stream if Traktor allowed it.

Multi-track DJing is something that I have dicussed with various other DJs, but at the moment it is highly impractical with current technologies (try carrying 2 Multitrack Recorders to a gig, AND have the tunes to play on them...). We would love to be able to do it!

For all the producers/remixers out there, an MX4P creator is out already (developed by Musinaut in France I believe) for approx $349, which invloves a simple drag-and-drop process. So, all you need to make your own MX4P files is bounce-downs of desired stems (bounce all the Drums to one WAV/Ogg and drop it in, Bounce the Bass down etc) and the creator renders it as a compiled MX4P file.

If someone from NI could post an opinion on all this it would be most appreciated and really very nice

Thanks for taking the time to read this,

TENMEN//UK
[DubTerrain.net DJ]
www.myspace.com/tenmendubstep

 

I ain't speaking for NI but I looked at the format. Its really targeted to production not so much end users, the decoder was $249.00 when I looked at it last year. You are are right it could allow you to do a lot more with the music but I doubt the label are gonna be too keen to have their music deconstructed down to stems, I will be brillyint for indie stuff but adoption is likely to stop there.

Phil

 

Yes, I see your point. I guess because the type of music I DJ is still fairly "indie" in a sense, it just seemed like a typical thing the Dubstep scene would try to follow.

On the contorary though, there is an increasing level of digital DJ's who do a spot of remixing on the side, so it might be something they would want to use along side any acapella they may have found, if that makes sense? (sorry long day at work!)

Also, I was thinking of the number-crunching Traktor and its host machine would have to do in order to function properly, it's a pretty massive task! I'd assume Traktor uses the Sample Rate clock to peform its pitch/speed controlling (i.e. Pitch Fader@ -10% = Playback Sample Rate @ -10%), so to do that for multiple tracks PER DECK is a pretty monsterous math session!

I've been reading about MX4P being used by some guy who has 15 stems, so it would appear that MX4P is only limited by its medium's capacity!

Thanks for your help Phil, anyone else got any views or can help some more?

 

Whilst in principle, the idea is appealing to me, practically, I can't see it being useful in Traktor in the foreseeable future - in addition to what Phil said about adoptation by the labels etc, just think about the extra degree of control you'd need within traktor to work with that many audio streams... I often struggle with 4 (and I have a controller with more midi control than most!), never mind with 8 or more per track! Also, how would this translate into on-screen feedback? Even after the trimming of the fat in pro, there's still a hell of a lot going on already.

I think this would definitely be more useful in something like ableton, where extensibility of the interface already exists. Especially now that they have track grouping in Live 8.

Going back to what Phil said though, think about how long it's taken the record industry to adopt Mp3, and allow us to have non-DRM protected music. Can you really see them adopting a format that allows you to pretty much do what the f*** you like with their music after it's been published any time soon? If you take a quick scan through the digital DJ license restrictions for the UK, you'll see you're not even allowed to apply effects to the music, or have a transition longer than 2 seconds! When you see things like that, you realize just how backwards the labels, and recording industry in general are when it comes to DJing, and allowing us to play the music we want, how we want to play it.

Rufus

 

awesome! was looking at some r & d literature on this a while ago. I thought it was an great concept as well and I wrote several providers asking them look at it & consider including the system in thier platform. I think thats what is necessary to get a proper improvement made. My obsession with multi track DAW mixing and DJ transport there-in has got me making weekly visits to a psychologist.

Ive been kicking the ideas of a frequency isolater that works at the decoder level as well.

When we study the acutal nutz and boltz of compressed file technologey these types of ideas appear a little more within reach. Don't be discouraged. With people like NIN releasing albums as stems and having great success with his listenership, and every 10 year old with a computer able to run traktor or ableton, the industry will have to keep entertaining. Ten billion DJS are going to need more stuff to remix and cooler ways to do it.

Yell at the providers, they have ears.

 

I completely agree with your whole post Rufus.

Also unless an artist releases an album as stems , as signaturex mentions i dont think record companies are gonna get remotely behind this technology. I doubt that many artists have the resources like NIN to do it anyway.

 

I think when MX4P Creator becomes free or cheaper, things may just sky-rocket. I think we can pretty much write off mainstream releases supporting MX4P for all kind of legal reasons, but you gotta remember the smaller independant labels...

I would presume that they would look into releasing select tunes/artists to try and appeal to any DJs who use MX4P, plus you also have to think of the value of the sample.

EMI have an entire division dedicated to finding unsolicited samples from James Brown records and seek compensation for such mind/brainless rippery. I know that if I had a track with a drumloop people would sample easily from MX4P files, I'd go with it purely because the industry likes to claim money back from activity such as this. It could be a way to address the balance.