| Русская версия | Max/MSP DJ Stuff |
| Last update: 2008-05-28 | the program allowing to replace the traditional DJ-equipment by a computer and MIDI-controllers |
Sorry for bad English.
Max/MSP DJ Stuff is a dual player with a mixer and designed for use instead of the traditional DJ equipment. Name "Max/MSP DJ Stuff" speaks that the program is realized in Max/MSP programming environment. This manual is designed for the readers which understand technical aspects of DJ work. The screenshots can not correspond to last version of the program, without damage to understanding of this manual.
Screenshot of the program:
Functions:
The metronome - makes "tics" in headphones to the rhythm of music. Example of use: playing goa and psy trance. Very much frequently tracks in style goa trance, psy trance begin and come to an end with "relaxation". In "relaxation", usually, rhythmic component is not exist. Therefore you can't use begin of track for speed adjustment. Besides, if you want create mix "relaxation to relaxation", you can't guarantee "beatmatching". Metronome will allow to solve these problems.
Markers and their mirrors. Markers are disigned for mark some musical events on navigation window. Let's consider a typical situation at mixing house music. You start the first track, we shall name his "leaving" track (the right player in picture). While plays the first track, you choose the following track, we shall name his "coming" track (the left player in picture). Now, you listening to a "coming" track through headphones, you adjust his speed and simultaneously set markers [B], [C] (here and further - square brackets is element of picture), for example, in points of important musical events, such as bass entering, vocal beginning or point where you plan finishing of mix. Further you choose a point on a "coming" track, from which you will enter it into a mix (a point [A] in picture). When you set markers on a "coming" track, then on "leaving" track "mirrors" of these markers will appears [Y], [Z]. Mirror will appears in manner, that "distances" between the current position of a track [X] and mirror in right player are equal to "distances" from a start point [A] to marker the left player (i.e. AB=XY, AC=XZ). Thus, "mirrors" give you knowledge of that if you now (in a point [X]) start a "coming" track (from a point [A]) then: the "leaving" track will be in a point [Y] simultaneously with "coming" track will be in a point [B] and the "leaving" track will be in a point [Z] simultaneously with the "coming" track will be in a point [C]. It allows to plan "scenario" of mixing more effectively.
prelistening - is a posibility of hearing in headphones any(!) area of track, that plays in monitors. You may listen end of current track, which play in monitors, for choosing more successful area of that track for mixing.
Equalizer for mixing. In traditional DJ equipment, equalizer based on Linkwitz-Riley crossover are used. Their lack - distortion of the form of an initial sound signal due to turn of a phase. Equalizer, offered in the given program, are free from this problem.
Correction block [EQ]. Very much frequently, different audio files have very different spectrum balance. Sometimes this difference reaches such sizes, that it is not possible for alignment of spectral balance of different tracks by only 3-band equalizer. Therefore the correction block is added. Correction block consist from 9-band equalizer and volume regulator. There is no necessity to adjust the correction block each time for each audio file again. These adjustments can be kept in a special preset-file. And during the next playing this audiofile, the correction block will be adjusted automatically.
Non-standard connection of headphones - before a 3-band equalizer, instead of after (see picture below). Very much frequently the DJ "started" the "coming" track with the "tidied up" handles of an equalizer. Thus, if headphones are connected after a 3-band equalizer, then listening in headphones during this moment may be complicated. The decision, offered in this program free from this lack.
Signal diagram:
 | foobar - the external player. It is used during a mix for search and preliminary listening of music. |
| correction block - consist from 9-band equalizer and volume regulator. |
| prelistening - consist from 2-band equalizer and volume regulator. They are used for management of loudness and a timbre of a player foobar, and also at realization of prelistening function (about prelistening function will be described in "Additional functions" section). |
| 3-band EQ, fader - 3-band equalizer and a volume regulator, they are used during mix. |
In general, working with the program looks like this:
| 1. | You make preset-files for audio files (preset-files contain the information about correction block settings). Do not look at this procedure as routine. The file-preset, being once is created, will relieve you from necessity to correct spectrum balance at the subsequent references to an audio file. |
| 2. | Use Foobar player, during a mix, to search for "coming" track and his preliminary listening. |
| 3. | Program is designed for playing of wav-files. Therefore, before loading of audio files in the program, it is necessary to convert audio files in wav-format. You can make convertion from the contextual menu of foobar's playlist. Converted files will be formed in special buffer-folder. |
| 4. | Drag the chosen track from foobar playlist to loader window of program. The audio file (the wav-file corresponding to it from the buffer-folder) will be loaded simultaneously with his preset-file - the correction block will automatically be adjusted for playing of this file. After loading, the wav-file will be automatically removed from a buffer-folder, so you should not delete the won back wav-files from this folder manually. |
System requirements:
| Windows XP. |
| Processor 2600 MHz or higher. |
| 1 GB memory or higher. (If memory size less than 1 GB, then may be difficulties with playing big audiofiles.) |
| Presence of sufficient number of MIDI-controllers (acquaintance with the program is possible without them). |
| Screen resolution not less 1152x864. |
Requirements to a sound card:
| ASIO-driver. |
| An opportunity of work on sampling rate 88200 Hz. |
| An opportunity to move a sound from one program to another. |
Requirements for processor and sampling rate of sound card are so high, because the equalizer with very smooth frequency response has been applied. In detail about work of equalizers will be described in section "Final remarks".
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