What does your DJ setup consist of? (Plug-ins)

[Theo Void]

Greetz?

I have so many DJ templates that I use at different times. I've recently started playing out much more and I was hoping everyone(or someone) could share their Software setup in Live.
I just think it would be interesting to see how different artists set up their tracks, decks, sends, plug-ins, dummy tracks, master channel, fx racks, mappings, beat slicers, one-shot tracks, loops and what have you.

I have lots of good plug-ins so my shit tends to get ridiculous at times.
So share............If ya likey.

[tobybennett]

whatever plug-ins you use, stick to the native Ableton plug-ins when DJing. Live runs much better when not using VSTs or AUs. I play out a lot too, and I too fell victim to the Covert Operators way of using Live. I was using it as a video game. Dummy clips, complex routing, etc. I was so involved with trying to use Live in a way that no one else had, but I was missing the big picture. I just use a simple DJ Rack on each channel that I designed, 4 audio tracks, and an Akai APC40. All the tricks you can do with Live are great, but they don't sound too hot on the dance floor. I've seen DJs flange an entire track on the old Pioneer DJM-500 when it first came out. It was a cool little effect, but all people want to hear are quality tracks and great mixes. If you don't own them already, buy Platinum Notes and Mixed In Key and learn how to mix harmonically. (If you don't already know how.) In my opinion, forget the dummy clips and the 8 sends and all the gadgetry and concentrate on track selection. Just my opinion, hope it shed some light....

[Theo Void]

TonyBennett¬

Thanks for the reply. I agree with you. It is rather difficult trying to make all that stuff work in a live situation.
Honestly when I DJ Live I keep it pretty basic too as I have had a few humbling experiences while playing live and trying to work thru some complex set up.
I usually end up just using a reverb send, and a delay send.
I like to chop things up every now and again during a set so I make use of beat repeat and Audio Damage Replicator quite a bit.
I was just wondering how others set up their DJ rig inside Live.
I too used it as a video game and was worried about being Mr. Super Innovator, ya know?
But keeping it simple may be the best way to go. Especially beacause the music I play changes constantly. Its not very repetive at all.

I will also check out harmonic mixing.

Thanx

[suspended childhood]

I only use plug-ins at home.

set up: simple 4 tracks, 3 loops, and 1 fx. sends are set for filters and delays.

volumes and eq8 on each track.

you could get a VCM 600 and add a little spice...great maps and kill switch out of the box.

at the end of the day, people just want to dance. too much tweaking will ultimately drive people nuts and make you look bad. maybe an effect every 15 mins most.

[!STiTCH!]

I use the built in VST's with the following exception

PSP Vintage Warmer + BBE Sonic Maximizer always on my Master

Other than that I tend to utilize what came with ableton.

[sailordrift]

whatever plug-ins you use, stick to the native Ableton plug-ins when DJing. Live runs much better when not using VSTs or AUs. I play out a lot too, and I too fell victim to the Covert Operators way of using Live. I was using it as a video game. Dummy clips, complex routing, etc. I was so involved with trying to use Live in a way that no one else had, but I was missing the big picture. I just use a simple DJ Rack on each channel that I designed, 4 audio tracks, and an Akai APC40. All the tricks you can do with Live are great, but they don't sound too hot on the dance floor. I've seen DJs flange an entire track on the old Pioneer DJM-500 when it first came out. It was a cool little effect, but all people want to hear are quality tracks and great mixes. If you don't own them already, buy Platinum Notes and Mixed In Key and learn how to mix harmonically. (If you don't already know how.) In my opinion, forget the dummy clips and the 8 sends and all the gadgetry and concentrate on track selection. Just my opinion, hope it shed some light....

+1

I recently DJ'd my first gig with Ableton, I come from a vinyl 12" DJ background (A/B) and while I was concerned about the 100's of ways Live can manipulate tracks, my background in DJ'ing keeps me focused on tracks and I enjoy not messing with them too much - a good track speaks for itself. My set up is also to use the native plugins (even with production if I can stomach them) but more so for DJ use because of the drain on CPU. Since I A-B DJ in Live as well, I'll just through a effect rack on each of the tracks and set the macros to my controller. The effects are pretty common ones and used during long stretch sequences of a track where it is becomming mundane (like +16bars going nowhere).

So in this set up I don't have to use dummy clips, or a bunch of sends, etc. HOWEVER, that all being said, since it was my first gig, i did have this running question in my head all night askign "What more can I do with this, what can I add..." Sometimes we have to let go and keep it simple...

[sailordrift]

at the end of the day, people just want to dance. too much tweaking will ultimately drive people nuts and make you look bad. maybe an effect every 15 mins most.

my rule of thumb in DJ'ing (assuming we're all talking about dance music - techno, not hip hop) is that if the track is not changing every 8 bars, I should be changing something (but very slight) even just a boost in Low EQ or a short delay / verb. Simple, maybe not even noticeable to the common dancer, but if it's a track that's dragging, I try not to let it go past 16bars for sure, 8 is the threshhold where I start putting my finger on the trigger...