i dont see how people use live to dj

njh · Post by **njh** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 4:09 am

i tried messing with live to see how some one could dj with it and im not getting it. i put a few tracks in the session veiw and started fading between songs and it sounds like a mess. i also tried looping stuff to play along with a full song and it sounds terrible. maybe im confusing dj'ing with remixing or mash ups. what is it exactly that a dj does? are they just playing songs with out adding anything new to them?
from just messing with live it seems like it would be easier to use turntables
to dj. i really dont see live as being made as a dj tool. i see it more as a sequencer than anything else..
i guess what i want to know is why use live for dj'ing? why not cubase, why not just use winamp?

timothyallan · Post by **timothyallan** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 4:42 am

A lot of DJ's could use 2 instances of winamp!

Basically, you just have to be creative. Live isn't a set of decks, nor is it 'just' a sequencer.

StompyJ · Post by **StompyJ** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 4:46 am

erm.. if you can't figure out how to crossfade trax smoothly when they're already beatmatched, maybe being a dj isn't your calling

Seriously, it just sounds like you need to learn how to use live alot better, then all will become clear.

BeatFreq · Post by **BeatFreq** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:13 am

Read the manual again. If that doesn't help, try visiting http://www.abletonlivedj.com - there might be some insights in the forum there.

meep_audio · Post by **meep_audio** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:36 am

Have you warped the tracks that your trying to mix? If not you need to learn how to do it. If the tunes you are trying to play aren't warped then they will clash. I have tried to find a link to a guide but i can't find one. maybe some one else on the forum can post a link?

This book http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159200 ... e&n=283155 has a section devoted to warping tracks and djing with Live.

As to what you can achieve whilst djing with live, the list is endless.

This downtempo mix (note shameless plug) was done in live. I did a lot of chopping up of small bits of each tune to make the transition between tracks more natural. I also created some abstract loops to mask tempo changes.

I hope this helps you in some way.

Does some one have a link to a warping guide?

DeadlyKungFu · Post by **DeadlyKungFu** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 8:38 am

http://www.moldover.com
This is how ya do it. The genre may vary but the technique is the same.

D DAS · Post by **D DAS** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:35 am

what r u saying, live is sweet for mixing music. i agree, you probably need to warp your beats

http://www.drum-aberdeen.co.uk/Ableton/ ... Track.html

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:38 am

Innovate. Create. Think of how YOU would like to DJ. Don't worry about being a 'lemming' and doing what everyone else does.

Chances are, Live can do it. It may require some 'thinking outside the box', though.

Hatchets McGee · Post by **Hatchets McGee** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:44 am

hambone1 wrote:'lemming'

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:49 am

Cool pic, dude! Gonna use that one.

The attention is flattering, but wouldn't your time be better spent changing the world, and not hijacking threads?

nassir · Post by **nassir** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:09 pm

D DAS wrote:what r u saying, live is sweet for mixing music. i agree, you probably need to warp your beats

http://www.drum-aberdeen.co.uk/Ableton/ ... Track.html

great link..nailed it.

Sten · Post by **Sten** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 3:00 am

DeadlyKungFu wrote:http://www.moldover.com
This is how ya do it. The genre may vary but the technique is the same.

ictus · Post by **ictus** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 7:35 am

Yeah I am just kinda getting into 'trying' to DJ with it - but all I have so far is about 8 pre-warped tracks that I am triggering left to right, then down, left to right, then down, left to right....etc. I still have to suss out the cueing up in it! I still dont know how tp pre-analyze a track in Ableton so that it just comes up. Another thing, say if I have a 16 bar loop for example, maybe of a live drum break, and I bring it into Ableton - what's the first thing I should do to get it in time? There's so many options of warping.

meep_audio · Post by **meep_audio** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 10:49 am

ictus wrote: what's the first thing I should do to get it in time? There's so many options of warping.

Just find the First beat (Kick drum) of the drum break. Drag a warp marker to it. Right click (PC) select set warp marker as number one (something like that)
I then right click and select warp straight. With the metronome on, Count the beats in the break. look at the warp markers. Are they matching the break? . Just count with the break, 1234/2234/3234/4234 . If they are not matching then drag them so they are. The tempo of break will be shown in the clip settings (to the left of the wave form)

When you have the whole loop in time. Double click on a warp marker at the end of the break (will be yellow now) and then press save in the clip settings. (look to the left of the wave file by the transpose knob.)

I know this might be a little confusing. If your having trouble then post again.

Hope this helps.

njh · Post by **njh** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 1:07 pm

i decided to stick to sequencing with live.
i never wanted to be a dj anyways.