Best way to organise music for djaying

[snatch69]

I am really struggling as a newbie to Ableton as a DJ.
Someone please please give me some of the best ways as to where I should store my music, and how I should set up the file browser so its quick and user friendly to search tracks.
I do like to store my tracks in associated genres. I dont really like the idea of haveing all tunes loaded on screen. Like to find the song and then use it (but ideas are welcome).

I was thinking of setting it up so for example like this -
Drag playlist genre crates from Itunes into a single folder and useing this folder.
I use Traktor also where all tracks are in Key. So I was thinking of haveing traktor open and searching tracks that way. Then go to the associated folder in the Ableton Browser and right clicking for search command. Then drag and drop on track required to play from there.

** Would really appreciate everyone's thoughts on this tip. Including any ideas on key setup.. Feel free to include any youtube links.

Help Help Help Help Help Help Please

[invol]

Everyone figures out their own workflow and organization system but there are some common tricks.

I do my production and DJ pre-production on my desktop, then move everything to my laptop for performance. iTunes is useful on my laptop for keeping track of names and artists, but not on my desktop because of sheer volume (many thousands of songs). Ideally you do not want to have to deal with managing a huge iTunes Library every time you play.

Here is my workflow.

One folder for songs to warp.

A folder of newly warped songs - remember to hit Save in Clip View after warping.

On my laptop I have a project folder for my DJ sets, so I copy the newly warped songs and .asd files to Samples -> Imported folder in that project. Sort by date modified, then drag those newly warped songs into your Live Set, iTunes Playlist, etc. Make sure to not have iTunes copy the files if you go this route, or you may lose .asd files.

I have most of the songs I use for any given set already loaded onto tracks named in some useful way (almost like a bin, etc), and then just move them around as needed. Color code them in a way that makes sense. I use Red for hard/fast, blue for slow or atmospheric, etc...

Collect All and Save will also be your friend : )

Hope this gives you some useful ideas.

Cheers,
Brian

[snatch69]

Thanks Brian for your help. Sounds pretty good.

Cheers

[snatch69]

Found this Youtube vid which quite good useing Smart Search in Finder (MAC). I like alot, might go with it.
Thoughts anyone ???

http://youtu.be/MddGLa0NTEU

[stonee]

you can drag and drop right from itunes on a mac. you can even save them.

so for me when I dj, its simple, i just make a playlist for the style i want, and if I'm looking for a specific track, i can search it super quick, then just drag it over.

also, if you want to get really fancy dancy, you can go into your system preferences and set your mac (and itunes) output to your headphones, so you can actually preview tracks in itunes without it going through your mains.

[snatch69]

Hi Stonee, I would imagine that if your dragging tracks in from Itunes they are not warped???
Good headphone cueing trick too, nice1.

[Atomic Reactor]

I record my tracks in three part highs, lows, and drums and FX. Then I have two channels A and B that I mix between (using the group function). I put all the part for each track lined up in both channels A and B in scene view so the bpm in the sence launch (just as a reminder). I organize my tracks by bpm. From there I have both highes, lows, and drums tracks runing into a return channel where I can apply fx to both drum channels but not affect the highs or the lows. I use an iPad with ocs that I've created a costum mapping for. I think the only good way to approach this is to create your own way of mixing in ableton. Check out I'll gate website his has lot of awesome ableton insight and freebees.

[hamildad]

My DJ set-up.

I use two return channels for faderA + FaderB and set them to A & B on the crossfader. then I can have 2 audio tracks each going to sends only and return A or return B, but also have an audio track that can be clicked to either A or B, depending on whether I want to fade it in or out.

Audio track 1 > sendA
Audio track 2 > send B
Audio track 3 > can be either or none.
and any other track can be assigned independently

So I crossfade using the returns and can assign another track to either channel, but also can have the audio track outside the crossfader (not assigned to either A or B) if I want to use it for FX/Samples.

I then put 4 FXs on each return channel.

Return A > EQ, Filter,phase then delay
Return B > EQ, Filter,phase then delay

each individual track has no FX on it. to limit processor usage.

then make a return channel called cue that takes the output from main and sends to cue channel. then I can use the volume level of this channel to mix in main output with cue signal going to my headphones.

For Music organising

I use a Ipod running rockbox as a 30G portable drive and map to that from ableton. I keep the drive fairly regularly updated with new tracks and if space runs out, I lose tracks I don't use.
I still keep my 200G library topped up with all tracks, but this ipod is my record box, and i'll tailor it to the gig or set I'm thinking of doing.
it keeps me working to a manageable number of tracks as with my full library I don't have the time to scroll through loads of files looking for the perfect tune.

within the ipod, I stick to artist-album/ep/12" with genre folders (Dance, Disco, Rock etc) for individual tracks that dont need their own folder.

I'd upgrade to a 80Gig ipod, but think that sticking to 1000 tracks max makes me DJ better and more creatively. the good side is also that I can use this as a music player and audition tracks/playlists on the move to try out in Ableton at home.

I hope this is useful and if you have any feedback, I'd like to hear it.