Simulating Post Fader FX in Traktor Pro 2

In certain settings, the Gater FX acts pretty much like a volume fader, which can be hooked up pre-FX(say, delay), effectively changing the FX to post fader.

I first thought it to be sort of cumbersome to set up and use another effect to simulate post fader FX, but now that I've gotten into custom mapping, I've managed to come up with settings that can make the whole "simulating" part pretty much transparent.

Since I see quite a few people out there waiting for Traktor to update its FX units to support post-fader, I made a video tutorial explaining what can be done now to get quasi post fader effects in Traktor. Something to do while we wait...

Please check it out if you are interested!

Simulating post fader FX in Traktor Pro 2 (approx. 7 minutes)
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MwqxEKsU2U"]Pump Up the DJ Eng. Vol.1 Simulating Post Fader Effects in Traktor Pro 2 - YouTube[/ame]

Since it's not "Real" post fader, there are a few things...

##Post fader effects (PFFX) mode trouble shooting##

(1) You got to have the volume up before going into Post Fader FX Mode.
The simulation itself is positioned pre-fader, so this is unavoidable. If you're mixing in, cut in the sound and throw it into PFFX.

(2)You want to be careful coming out of PFFX mode when the fader is all the way down.
The fader being down usually means you want that deck to be quiet right? Well, coming out of PFFX entails sound, because the REAL volume fader is up - remember?

(3)Maybe okay for mixing out, but not really great for mixing in.
Suppose you decided to go into PFFX mode half way during "mixing out" a track. All you need to do is STAY in PFFX mode and you can either gradually mix the rest of the way out, or you can cut out whenever you like. If you no longer want the prolonged echo/reverb, you can dry them out using the dedicated control of the FX. No problem. Just don't forget to stop the track before switching PFFX mode off. However, if you decide to go into PFFX mode half way into "mixing in", say, the volume being at around 60%, no matter how hard you smash the fader to the top end, the volume isn't going to get any louder than 60% - remember, the volume fader is stuck there. So, if you really want to pull this off, you need to come out of PFFX mode once in a while to increase the volume - something you might forget when you're going nuts with the FX and all.

The video shows how to set up your channel fader but I only did this because I usually don't use my crossfader. After completing the video, I put some thought into this and found out that, though a bit more complicated, modifying the crossfader is a much more elegant option, and probably what those of you who scratch really miss about set-top DJ mixers. I will write up a tutorial and post a link here later, but for those of you that customize your mappings, the following video should be pretty much self explanatory.

Supplementary to Simulating post fader FX in Traktro Pro 2
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjBsZe3kxq8"]Supplementary to Vol.1 - Simulating post fader FX in Traktor Pro 2 - YouTube[/ame]


inspired by a post I saw on DJTT Forums by tdmusic
Thanks! You opened up a whole new world for me.



Edited: 11/15/2011 For those who mix externally
In the video I said it works for external mixer mode as well. Obviously, I do not mean that this method will keep the effect sound going even if you cut out the sound using the fader on your hardware DJ mixer. For that, we need a whole other solution. The good news is, there is a real solution for those who mix externally - you get to use the send/return FX. My simulation, however, could be a handy way to get "post fader-ish" sounds, such as muting the song but letting the delay go on for a bit, before fading it back in (which you can't do with the freeze function), for those who mix externally. The downside is that you can't get that effect with the fader on your mixer - you need to use a knob or fader on the controller.

 

I finally done it, papa…

post fader effects with the cross fader!

Since the volume fader retains full control over the output -- unlike the volume fader method I explain in the video -- it's really a lot less likely to screw up your mix by switching to and from post fader effects mode at the wrong time. In fact, as I will explain further below, there is really no "wrong time" with this method, as long as you are aware that what ever effect you've got loaded in the FX Unit you are going to use as the post-fader-fader (i.e., the Gater) is going to lose its function as an effect as soon as you go into PFFX mode.

Long and complicated, I know, should be worth it if you really want post fader.

Post Cross Fader FX Mode -the mapping-


- This is for Deck A
- X depends on how you want this method to fit in your setting.

Control/Assignment/Conditions/Type/Mode/Value

@The mode enter/exit button (10 inputs and 1 output)

(1)Effect Select/FX Unit X/none/button/direct/Gater
This loads Gater into the FX Unit of your choice when button is pressed.

(2)Effect On/FX Unit X/M1=0/button/direct/0
This turns OFF the FX Unit when first entering the mode to make sure that the Gater won't produce sudden unwanted silence. (For example, when entering mode from a full wet flanger)

(3)FX Button 1/FX Unit X/none/button/direct/1
This activates the mute button.

(4)Effect Parameter 1/FX Unit X/none/button/direct/0
This sets the noise parameter to 0.

(5)Modifier #1/Global/M1=0/button/direct/1
(6)Modifier #1/Global/M1=1/button/direct/2
(7)Modifier #1/Global/M1=2/button/direct/1

The above three together work as a toggle switch for Modifier 1 to toggle from default (0) to ON (1), to stand-bye (2), and then back and forth between ON and stand-bye. We need a stand-bye state because we want the cross fader to control the Gater's dry/wet knob at all times when in post fader effects mode, but not when we are using the FX Unit for other effects.

(8)Effect On/FX Unit X/M1=2/button/direct/1
This turns ON the FX Unit when moving from stand-by to ON.

(9)FX Panel Mode/FX Unit X/none/direct/button/single
This changes the panel mode to single if necessary.

(10)X-Fader Assign Left(*)/Deck A/M1=1/button/direct/1
This assigns Deck A to the left side of the cross fader when deactivating the post fader effects and moving to stand-bye.


(output1)Modifier 1/Global/none/LED/Output/controller range=1to1/MIDI range=0-127/invert and blend unchecked.

@The Cross Fader (6 inputs)

(1)Effect ON/FX Unit X/M1=1/button/direct/1
This turns the Gater on when post fader effects is activated for the first time.

(2)Effect ON/FX Unit X/M1=2/button/direct/0
This turns off the Gater when the fader is moved for the first time after entering stand-bye mode. This could have been assigned to the button, but there is a brief audio burst when the unit it turned off at full right position, which is a likely timing to do just that.

(3)Dry Wet Single/FX Unit X/M1=1/FaderKnob/direct/none(*)
(4)Dry Wet Single/FX Unit X/M1=2/FaderKnob/direct/none(*)
This makes the cross fader control the dry/wet of Gater only when in post fader mode (ON and Stand-Bye).

(5)X-Fader/Global/none/FaderKnob/direct/none(*)
This is the standard assignment for the crossfader. It should be in your mapping by default.

(6)X-Fader Assign Left(*)/Deck A/M1=1/button/direct/0
This deactivates the assignment of Deck A to the left side of the crossfader, when you first move your crossfader with post fader effects ON. Again, this is assigned to the fader not the switch because it's when you move the fader that you really mean to go into the mode.


Notes:

The controls that I marked (*) depend on how you like your crossfaders to work. I gave an example for a straight forward set up (Deck A to the left side of the not-inverted crossfader) but if you're the type that uses the cross fader the other way around, etc... you might need to play around with these values.

I first had a mapping with much fewer programming... However, I kept running into small problems like there would be a brief burst in audio level when turning the Gater off via button. This most likely has to do with the order that Traktor handles things when multiple controls are assigned to one button (because they can't happen all at once). I know I can make a simpler mapping if I were able to choose the order of events, but I guess we will have to wait for NI to feel that's a necessary option for users.

Note that you have to do some mapping/programming of your own to work this into your .tsi. The mapping above makes a button that throws Traktor into post fader mode and then into post fader stand-bye mode. It doesn't get you out of it, meaning, even though the stand-bye mode may feel just as if everything is normal, it's not -- for example, moving the cross fader moves the dry/wet knob and turns off the FX Unit. Who wants that when using a flanger or something...

The simple --yet more programming needed-- way to go about this would be to make a separate "exit button".

Exit mapping example(3 inputs)
Effect ON/FX Unit X/none/direct/button/0
X-Fader Assign Left(*)/Deck A/none/button/direct/1
Modifier #1/Global/none/button/direct/0

This could be mapped to a dedicated button, or you can use a shift+"which ever button you are using for the post fader effects toggle", if you know what a shift button is.

How I would go about it is to make sure that activating any other effect in the FX Unit used in the post fader mode will restore the default settings for crossfader (because that's about all that needs to be done) and change the state of Modifier #1 to whatever it should be next.

If you are the type that uses FX 1 and 3 for Deck A and FX 2 and 4 for Deck B, use another Modifier (#2, perhaps), another FX Unit, and substitute Right for Left and do the same mapping for Deck B. You may need to check or uncheck the invert check box in some controls while you're at it.

If you are the kind that uses all FX for all decks and control the routing via the "Effect Unit On" switch:

Change all controls for "Effect ON" to "Effect Unit X On".
Additionally, create: Effect ON/FX Unit X/none/button/direct/1 (to turn on the effect in case it was off in the prior state)

Then, choose a separate button for Deck B, use modifier values 3 and 4 for the ON/Stand-bye toggle, use the same FX Unit as Deck A, and:
Duplicate everything! But while you're at it, substitute all Modifier Conditions and Values as 0 to 0 (the same), 1 to 3, and 2 to 4.
Additionally, the modifier toggle gets a bit more complicated.

You already have for the DeckA button…
Modifier #1/Global/M1=0/button/direct/1
Modifier #1/Global/M1=1/button/direct/2
Modifier #1/Global/M1=2/button/direct/1

These are the straight forward duplicates for the DeckB button…
Modifier #1/Global/M1=0/button/direct/3
Modifier #1/Global/M1=3/button/direct/4
Modifier #1/Global/M1=4/button/direct/3

But you also need…
For Deck A button
Modifier #1/Global/M1=3/button/direct/1
Modifier #1/Global/M1=4/button/direct/1
and for DeckB button
Modifier #1/Global/M1=1/button/direct/3
Modifier #1/Global/M1=2/button/direct/3

…in order to jump directly from Deck A PFFX to Deck B PFFX.

And finally… remember, jumping is just another way of exiting the mode, so you got to do the exit mapping, i.e.,

For the Deck A button
Effect Unit X On/Deck B/none/direct/button/0
X-Fader Assign Right/Deck B/none/button/direct/1

For the Deck B button
Effect Unit X On/Deck A/none/direct/button/0
X-Fader Assign Left/Deck A/none/button/direct/1


That's it! Go ahead and give it a try.

Really, it's simpler than it looks.

It took me ten times longer type this up than to actually map it.


Piece of cake, eh?


Let me know if you run into problems.

 

thanks...

 

Can you post a video to see how it works for you ?

 

I'm using it at 1:04~ in the first video.

 

@djdoraemon

Thanks for having dreamed that sh't up man!
I had seen it in the djtechtools forum, i implemented it in my vci100 fw1.4 mapping, it works great.

I have it dependent on another modifier, when the modifier is on, it loads different settings for fx 3 and 4 and loads a gater for fx 1 (deck 1) and a second gater on fx 2 (deck 2).

Also by using the crossfader with a full slope (hardware setting), i turned my crossfader in another modifier that goes from 0 to 8 (modifier value). Setting up the acceleration curve on the crossfade modifier, i then use it to activate fx 3 for a delay on deck 1, and on the opposite side of the cross fader it activates fx 4 for a delay on deck 2, when the crossfader is in the middle it kills both delays.

One last thing, you can record into the loop recorder post fx for any of the decks that are using a gater as a cross fader. That means you can record a post crossfader delay, but that also means you can record you cuts (if you scratch) into the loop recorder, all that because when using cue (as the source) in the loop recorder selection, the cue still gets cut by the crossfader. So you can record at will a performance with cuts, without having to record the master.

I tell you its great ! It should open a lot of possibilities for anyone using internal mix and traktor scratch pro.

 

Thanks. Great video too.