Max/MSP DJ Stuff - the program allowing to replace the traditional DJ-equipment by a computer and MIDI-controllers

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

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Look at the picture to familiarize with interface elements, which need to read this paragraph.

1.	2nd type marker.
2.	Start point.
3.	1st type marker.
4,5.	Sector for set start point to the selected marker (you must click righter or equal in marker).
6.	Sector for remove markers. If markers exist then this sector will be green.
7.	Switcher for prelistening function. Simultaneously on/off indicator.
8.	Low frequency envelope sector. Simultaneously may use for switch on prelistening function.
8a.	Main sector.
9.	Mirror of marker.
10.	Current position of the track.
11.	Save markers in the preset-file.
12.	Set 1st type marker in start point (not in current position).
13.	Set 2nd type marker in start point (not in current position).

m1.	Set 1st type marker in current position (not in start point).
m2.	Remove last marker.

Markers. Markers are disigned for mark some musical events on navigation window.

program have 2 type of markers. They not have any functional distinctions, they have only notional distinctions. Markers of 1st type are precise, 2nd type are not precise. It means, that 2nd type markers is set exactly to the begin of musical tact. Markers of 1st type such accuracy do not suggest. Thus, if you start track from 2nd type marker, then you will be sure that track will start from begin of musical tact. Marker that set by clicking on [m1], while track playing, will be set in current position of the track and will be a 1st type marker - because you can not guarantee what marker will be set exactly in beginning of tact. Sectors [4], [5] are designed for set start point to selected marker (you must click righter or equal in marker). Sector [4] differs from [5] only that play will begin not from marker but 1,5 sec. earlier. For hearing which musical event corresponds to the given marker.

Main function of markers are described below. Look at the top picture, there left track are "coming" and right track are "leaving". When you will be listen begin of "coming" track and adjust his speed, you can set marker by [m1]. These markers can assign to some important musical events (as example, it may be points there you want start or end mixing). At the same time in right player will appears mirror of markers [9] of left player. Mirror will appears in manner, that "distances" between the current position of a track and mirror in right player are equal to "distances" from a start point to marker the left player. These distances take into account speeds of both player. Thus, mirrors are allow planning "areas for mixing on the track" more exactly.

You can set and remove markers viaMIDI-controller.

set    - 68n / 80n
delete - 69n / 81n

If you use Evolution X-Sesson and Evolution MK-449C, then setup may looks like this:

prelistening - is a posibility of hearing in headphones any(!) area of track, that plays in monitors.

Example 1.
You may want to listen end of current track, which play in monitors, for determination of "mixing scenario". For this purpose you can activate prelistening function and listen any area of current track in headphones without any affect on monitor sound.

Example2.
If you linger with choosing of next track - you may can't have enough time for listen of begin of track and for determination of end point of mixing. I.e. - you choose next track and start adjust his speed, but soon it is necessary to begin of mixing and you don't have time for listen enough of track without seek ahead it. But if you seek ahead it, then both track will be desynchronized and you can't adjust speed more exactly. In this situation you also can use prelistening: when you adjust speed exactly as need, you may activate prelistening for listening needing area of track and then you can back to speed adjusting.

You can can switch on prelistening by [8] or [7] (less convenient). Switch off by [7]. You may adjust volume and timre as well as Foobar. Correction block does not affect on prelistening function. Correction block and speed control does not affect on prelistening function.

You may use prelistening function for exact determination mixing areas on both track ("coming" and "leaving"). Look at the top picture. When you set markers on "coming" track (left player), you may activate prelistening on "leaving" track (right player) and looking on the mirrors you can make determination perfect areas for mixing on both tracks.

Protection from unreasonable user action. Using this function not only is expedient but also desirable at work of the program in mixing mode - because it prevent some unreasonable user action, without limiting functionality of program.

If this function is activated, then:

1.	Start/stop button on MIDI-controller will blocked, for player which is opposite to currently loaded player. For example, if you begin mix from left player, then after you load right player: leftplayer will not respond to start/stop button of MIDI-controller. This designed to prevent careless stop of currently playing track.
2.	Loader window is blocked, for player whose "crossfader volume" not equal zero. I.e. you can load file into right/left player only if crossfader is in left/right position.This been designed for prevent load file into player which currently playing and for prevent entering track, which been newly loaded and which not ready yet for mixing, into mix.
3.	If player loudness not equal zero and you touch navigation window for this player, then prelistening fuction will automaticly switched on. This makes to prevent "jump" of track, which currently played in monitors, and to make more comfortable activation of prelistening function. Thus, you can activate prelistening, for currently played track, by clicking on sector [8a].

Metronome. The idea of this function is explained on examples:

Example 1 (441 KB).
Very much frequently tracks in style goa trance, psy trance begin and come to an end with "relaxation". The given example shows it. 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. If you activate metronome, then you can hear ticks to the rhythm of music. Number of ticks relatively to selected reference point will shows on special window.

Thus, if you select first bass drum after "relaxation" as reference point, then you can use "relaxation" for mixing and for speed adjustment. Is possible to choose a suitable point for mix start and make mix with musical tact synchronization, by looking on tick numbers.

Example 2 (418 KB).
In this example the end of track is present. Approximately 1.5 minutes prior to the end there are "relaxation" without any rhythmic components. If you want start mixing with first bass drum after "relaxation", then it's difficult to not miss it. In this case you also may use metronome.

a1.	Reference point
a2.	The button for BPM calculation.
a3.	The button for BPM calculation. It differs from [a2], he counts not each click but through one click - it's designed for calculate slow tempo tracks. In this case you should press the button twice faster than BPM of music.
a4.	The current value of the calculated BPM (Quantity of clicks / time of measurements * 60000).
a5.	Average BPM from 10 last clicks. When the last 10 measured values BPM differ from each other less than 0.2%, then this widow become red. You can copy value from this window to paste in mp3 tags, as example. Expediency of existing of two indicators [a4], [a5] is under doubt and it is possible what in the following versions of the program it will be removed.
a6.	Save 1st metronome settings to preset-file.
a7.	Set and remove reference point. Simultaneously the indicator of activity of a metronome.
a8.	Tick number, relatively to the chosen reference point.
a9.	Step of "accentuation" of tics. (only for 2nd metronome).
a10.	BPM correction (1000 units / 0.9% BPM).
a11.	Reset for [a10].
a12.	Correction of reference point position (in ms).
a13.	Reset for [a12].
a14.	Ticks volume.

b1.	Management of a metronomes of the left player.
b2.	Management of a metronomes of the right player.

In program exist 2 metronome. 1st metronome for 1st example, 2nd metronome for 2nd example. In one time can work only one metronome. Management of metronomes is carried out by [b1], [b2]:

	values 0-29 - 1-st metronome is chosen and it is audible in headphones;
	values 30-63 - 1-st metronome is chosen, but in headphones it is not audible;
	values 64-100 - 2-st metronome is chosen, but in headphones it is not audible;
	values 101-127 - 2-st metronome is chosen and it is audible in headphones.

Wider bordering of the button [a7] tells about choice of this or that metronome (1st metronome is chosen on picture)

Now we shall familiarize with work of a metronome in practice. The information is necessary for work of a metronome is: BPM a track and position of a reference point. First, we shall look how work 1-st metronome, which intended for cases described in 1st example. Load in the program a desirable track (it is possible to use an audio file from an example) and calculate his BPM, by clicking [a2], [a3]. During measurement has no speed value, only it is important do not change speed during measurement. If the pause between clicks more than 1.5 seconds, then program perceives it as the beginning of a new session of measurements. About sufficient accuracy of measurement results you look on a window [a5], it will redden as soon as the last 10 measured values BPM will be differ from each other less than on 0.2%. Now it is necessary to specify a reference point. For this purpose set a start point in the necessary place (in the considered example it will be the first bass drum after "relaxation") and press the button [a7]. Deduce in headphones a sound of 1-st metronome by [b1] (you may choose and save loudness of metronome in user settings [a14]). You may correct, if need, BPM and reference point position by [a10], [a12] (the metronome should "ticks" in a sync with music on sufficient removal from a reference point). During correction BPM, will be corrected, in appropriate way, value in a window [a5]. That's all, adjustment of a metronome is completed and his parameters can be kept in a preset-file by pressing the button [a6].

Now we shall consider work of 2nd metronome. He works completely similarly 1st metronome, but in the way of sound output to the headphones a little differs. As it is clear from examples: 1st metronome will be used only for "coming" tracks, and the second only for "leaving" tracks. Therefore 1st metronome it is audible when the track is deduced in headphones and simultaneously a metronome switched on by [b1], [b2]. The 2nd metronome it is audible always if he switched on by [b1], [b2] irrespective of, whether the track in headphones or not.

Besides in 2nd metronome there is an opportunity to accent "tics", i.e. to accent everyone nth. "tic". What for it is necessary? Load in the program a desirable track (it is possible to use an audio file from an 2nd example). Adjust a metronome and choose as a reference point the first bass-drum after "relaxation". For a composition from an example more suitable will accent each 4th "tic". Therefore set a step of accentuation equal 4, by [a9]. Now it is clear, that in case of absence of accentuation, it would be difficult to feel the moment of the beats introduction after "relaxation", because it controls only by displayed tic numbers [a8], and the control over hearing would be impossible.

Metronome management is possible via MIDI-controller, as well as from a without_MIDI window.

metronome - 24 / 25

If you use Evolution X-Sesson and Evolution MK-449C, then setup may looks like this:

Because adjustment of a metronome takes some time, it is not designed to adjusts it directly during mixing.

Playlist. Full addresses of all audio files loaded in Max/MSP DJ Stuff, are remembered in object [p3]. By pressing the button [p1], in the buffer-folder will be formed playlist (m3u) with all tracks which you used in the mix. You may edit content of object [p3] by double click on it. By pressing on the button [p2], the address of last loaded file will be removed from memory of [p3].

Attention. This function works similarly playlist function, but he remember only files for which been press [p6]. By pressing [p5] you can create playlist in buffer-folder. What for it is necessary? During mixing, you may find out any defect in some file and you may want eliminate this defect after mixing. Then you press the button attention and the address of this file is remembered in memory of a computer - you should not use for this purpose your own memory.

"Divining" of speed.

If you have a track which have been record not on original speed, and there is no opportunity to define his true speed. Then is possible to use this function. You can try to guess speed. Press [s1], thus value of speed [s3] will unvisible and will set to random value in a range from -8 % up to +8 %. Adjustment of speed in this case are allowed from without_MIDI window or by MIDI-controllers (the same handles that are used for adjustment of speed of a left player, but the range in this case will be +-8% on both handles). Try to set correct speed value. To know about the current value of speed - press the button [s2].

Record a mix.

Press [r1] to start record. Time of record is displayed on [r2]. For end of record deactivate the button [r1]. The written file will have a format of 44100 Hz. 16 bit, stereo.