If you’ve already got that perfect controller, what happens if it gives up the ghost in the middle of a gig? The computer keyboard might not be the most stylish or the most gratifying way to manipulate your DJ software, but it’s often faster and more effective than your trackpad or mouse.ĭifferent software deals with keyboard mapping in different ways. But there are plenty of DJs getting started, still searching or saving for the perfect controller. In an ideal world, you’ll be set up with a powerful controller or two. In this article we explore the best uses and mapping considerations for the buttons that you always have with you on your laptop! THE FULL SETUP While there’s usually a better workflow than hunching over your keyboard, there are instances where using your computer’s keyboard gets the job done better than anything else. And remember, “it’s a tool, not a rule”!ĭo you have a preference between Traktor’s Open Key notation/analysis and Mixed In Key? Have you struggled understanding this too? Please share in the comments.Digital DJing and controllerism has come a long way from simply “laptop DJing” (say it with contempt for full effect), but for most digital DJs the laptop remains the central part of their setup. While Traktor’s analysis is less sophisticated and less accurate, the way it works within the software (colour coding, key recommendations) is pretty neat, so you need to weigh up the pros and cons, decide on “your” system, and stick to it. I think it would be a good idea to choose one or the other though, or things will get mighty confusing. It’s also more accurate than Traktor’s key detection, but nothing is perfect, so again, trust your ears. The reason Mixed In Key sometimes gives two readings is that it’s more sophisticated than Traktor in that it can see key changes in tracks (not all tracks are the same key all the way through), whereas Traktor can’t. (There is actually more to it than that for those who want to understand this deeper, but it’s too much to go into here.) Forget about majors, minors, sharps, flats etc. In other words, exactly the same as Mixed In Key. The popular “rule” is to mix to the same code, or if you want to change, keep the number the same if you go to the other “letter”, or keep the letter the same if you move up or down a number. There is no mystery about Traktor’s system: it just used different numbers and letters than Mixed In Key’s. But you’re onto that already due to hearing good matches instinctively before you discovered digital key analysis, so I think you just have to have a bit more confidence in your instincts. Use key mix ideas to suggest next tracks, not to decide them. It’s a tool, not a rule, and the energy level and fluidity of your mix is based on bigger things that whether the tunes are in key. Mixing in key is only as good as the analysis you have, and so you must always trust your ears. “Maybe someone could break it down for me little better or at least let me know if I truly am overthinking it? It’s probably best to use one or the other but having seen the different results each program has given me, I’m almost questioning whether or not my lack of understanding for the Traktor system may or may not be throwing off my musical programming aka energy levels / fluidity of my mixes.” Digital DJ Tips saysĪ few things here, Rayanaldo. I might be overthinking it, but when Mixed in Key tells me a song is “8A”, “8B” or more than one and Traktor has marked the song as “2M” or “2D”, it throws me off a little. “What I’m wondering is… I analysed a few tracks using Mixed in Key, to see what the difference between Mixed in Key results and Traktor results were. Awesome! Then Traktor came out with the key detection feature, even better! Only problem is while there are a few tutorials that explains how to mix using Traktor key notation, most if not all explain it using major minor sharps so and so forth. With a new notation system and sometimes confusing options, Traktor’s keymixing system can seem difficult, but actually, at heart the way it works is very similar to Mixed In Key.ĭigital DJ Tips member ( join here) Rayanaldo writes: “I’ve been DJing for around seven years now so I’m fairly familiar with manually mixing in key although I don’t always know what key it may be I’ve trained my ears pretty well! Then I discovered Mixed in Key.
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