Ableton & Traktor Scratch Combination.

[jarrardscott]

So i'm looking at the possibility of djing with a combination of Ableton & Traktor Scratch as i'm trying to give myself as many possibilities to my creativity. (not meaning to sound wanky).

is there anybody who has experience with this style of djing.
how did they go about it.
what was it like
how do you set something like this up.

i found a website with some information on it but it seems like i'm fiddling around moreso than needed.

just curious if anybody has information on this.

thanks

[ifuseekamy]

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/images/dead-end-sign.jpg

[jarrardscott]

why so.

if i could rewire traktor through ableton it could add the possibilities of adding my own features into songs and remixing on the fly.

[seanious]

why so.

if i could rewire traktor through ableton it could add the possibilities of adding my own features into songs and remixing on the fly.

why?

[jarrardscott]

do u seriously need an answer for that :lol:

[ferretrock]

^Well for me the question is why can't one of the packages do what you want - they're both powerful, in different ways.

In Traktor you can preset cue points and use a midi controller to flick between them, if that's what you mean by 'remix on the fly'.

[mashedman]

seriously not trying to be a dick, but maybe concentrate on one to start with. Think you're trying to add too much before you know what you're doing with it.

[deejayvice]

why does it matter what he wants to use it for. he is asking can it be done???

[seanious]

why does it matter what he wants to use it for. he is asking can it be done???

its more why does he want to do it this way. I'm sure on the fly remixing could be achieve some other way that isn't so painful

[jarrardscott]

its not just for that. but to increase what i am able to do.

[seanious]

its not just for that. but to increase what i am able to do.

Perhaps the best way would be to have two laptops? One for traktor one for ableton then have them both churning through the same mixer....?

[ferretrock]

^No. That would be dumb.
Rewire IS the way, and you'll want a way to sync MIDI clocks and to sync MIDI timeline and play/stop commands (I imagine if you sync one element, they should all be).

[truba]

why?
so he can brag that during his mix he used traktor rewired into ableton rewired into 15 cdj's, 6 djm-800's and looped back into his own ass to create something even ritchie hawtin has no clue about.

[DSILVR]

This prompts me to ask. How the fuck does Richie Hawtin do it all?

How is his set up wired etc?

[ferretrock]

^He's just using Traktor Pro with two Xone:1ds and a Xone:92, from memory.
There are videos on the Traktor website.

He canned the Ableton thing around a year ago.

[jarrardscott]

lol @ not even richie having a clue.

actually alot of djs from my knowledge use 2 laptops
chris liebing had traktor on one and ableton on another.

i have 2 laptops so i could do that, id just have to upgrade my battery on one cause its fucked.

so if ur correct jeremy i guess this website i have might be correct.

[archietech]

'course it's possible, i've been doing it for ages. just maybe help yourself by helping yourself?

you don't need two laptops, you just need to know what you're doing instead of taking shortcuts. maybe you need a few more laptops? personally i've only got one...

[forenzik]

there are a bunch of really stupid answers in this thread, written by people who clearly have no idea..

Jarrad - Yes it can be done, and certainly with 1 laptop - and while I do encourage you to explore this, I would also make the suggestion that you should spend a little time mastering everything Traktor can do on it's own first..

Traktor is a very powerfull platform - particuarly traktor pro - and you will find that it allready gives you many different ways to "remix" tracks live on the fly. I've been doing this for a while now, with the help of a novation nocturn controller (to give me a little more hands on) I have a fairly good mastering of it - and love using it!

Once you feel as though you know all of traktors functions and limitation inside out, then by all means give ableton a whirl - I know with both ableton & traktor combined you can do some incredible stuff

but bare in mind (and I don't mean to discourage you with this) - working with Ableton in a live DJ envirnment takes a LOT of preperation before hand, and what you gain in remix flexibility, you lose with some of the spontaneous programming of your sets (Being able to flip something completely different in styles or feel..etc..)
For more information on how to set up ableton with Traktor, head over to the native instruments forums - there is plenty of different resources on the topic.

anyway - I hope all this helps - Just remeber that combining both programs will take a fair bit of concentration, preperation, and a certain skill level in mastering both programs - Just make sure that when doing all this, you don't sacrifice the fundamental skills of being a DJ: Entertaining the crowd - and believe me, that's a big enough job on its own!

- Frenzie

[manuka]

i agree - getting to know traktor will be the best step to take
then check out some of ean golden's articles on 'power mixing'

traktor doesn't always require preparation, but sometimes, the beat grids are out, and loop points need to be set before you play a set (out or for recording, or whatever) so getting to know the insides and outs of something is a whole heap better than diving straight into everything

i remember reading this interview with sasha and he was talking about spending his first remix cheque on studio gear. he got so much stuff that he wasted heaps of time trying to use everything, until he realised that the best thing to do was learn on synthesizer really well first and then build on that knowledge.

so if you want to dive in to the digital realm, go ahead, but be aware that taking on too much might actually be a step backwards, rather than a giant leap forwards. in the end, its not what you use, but your creativity that counts the most.

[ekwipt]

It can be done on the one laptop but the thing you have to consider is the added latency you bring when you software wire TSP into Ableton, I haven't tried it but you'll loose some tracking ability, if you scratch it would be wise as you'll add delay from when you move your hands to the sound that's produced at the other end.

Richie Hawtin does it with two laptops one running TSP and the other Ableton live, reason is he loves the sound of the FX VST PSP Lexicon 42, which is a osftware version of an anlog delay unit: http://www.pspaudioware.com/indexen.html

He also now has Maschine as a VST inside Ableton which he uses to add beats on top of he's tracks, Richie a pretty forward thinking guy, but he's also sponsored by Native Instruments and Allen & Heath (maybe even Apple i'm not sure), so he uses his endorsements to the max (why wouldn't you).

I wouldn't software wire Traktor into Ableton, there's anought o worry about syncing 4 tracks and adding effects, working your mixer, etc, the only thing i'd love to see is Maschine as an add on to TSP, instead of the 4th deck (that would be sweet)

[toilet trained]

ok...i think you have to ask exactly what you want Ableton to bring to the table in this case.

obviously, 1) Ableton gives you the power to use any hundreds of VST effects

2) syncing samples loaded into Ableton, would be one way of adding samples to the mix

3) well, im not sure there is practically any third use for Ableton. i guess you could load a synth and mess around with some chords while a song is playing in Tracktor...i think that would be a fail though

BUT...

1) Tracktor pro already has loads of on-board effects and 2) you could use the 3rd or 4th tracktor deck for on the fly sampling, maybe triggered with a Kaos mini drumpad thing.

hence, im not sure sure the gain of combining them would be worth the pain in syncing them in the first place. The way to do it though would be to run the sound out of tractor and use it to guide the midi clock in Ableton.

[jarrardscott]

just for everyones information.

i am just looking into it as i said in the first post.

thanks for all the informative information in the last few posts though.
great help!

i am definately one to learn with one thing before diving into the next.
i usually set myself limititations even when i can do things an easier way, just to improve my creativity and see what i can do with what i have.

im using a korg nanokontrol to control filters, effects and loops in traktor, and i plan on mastering more within tsp.
i just like to get insight into the next step of my djing so i know what possibilities i have in the future when i hit the limitations of my current gear.

to be honest, i want to be seamlessly combining the effects on my djm800 and the effects/loops on traktor before i move on to ableton too.

[bradwebb]

Check these out.

http://www.djtechtools.com/2009/06/14/the-best-of-both-worlds-syncing-traktor-and-ableton-live/

http://www.djtechtools.com/2008/04/04/smart-mixing-traktor-with-ableton/

There are 2 links first one is for 2 laptops second one is for 1 laprop. i have tried the first one and got it working at home. Not to sure on the second one.

[jarrardscott]

1 laprop :stroke:

[SwordSnare]

FYI DJ Kuya demonstrating the Korg Zero 4 audio/MIDI mixer, Traktor Scratch & Ableton Live with the one laptop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6DpjVldW_c

[twistedbydesign]

i'm trying to give myself as many possibilities to my creativity.

i am definately one to learn with one thing before diving into the next.

i usually set myself limititations even when i can do things an easier way, just to improve my creativity and see what i can do with what i have.

i just like to get insight into the next step of my djing so i know what possibilities i have in the future when i hit the limitations of my current gear.

stop reading self help successmanshipity books

[RunningWithScissors]

Ableton & Traktor Scratch Combination.it seems like i'm fiddling around moreso than needed.haha yep

[big eddie]

I accidentally many possibilities to my creativity :(