problems with CDJ's & TRAKTOR

I agree with you on the Womb set - it just didn't cut it, but there were good tracks on there but not programmed to the high standard's you'd expect from Sasha. I have followed Sasha for over 20 years and am well aware of his dalliance with Ableton and for a time he did lose it. The more I think about it I think the issue is not the mixing platform itself it's the effort that's put in to be truly creative. whatever the medium. My view is that some people can be lazy when using DAW's as the synching is taken care of and with key measuring devices you can just bang out reasonable mixes but they're not really that inspiring which as you say - manifests itself on playback. That's my point about using CDJ's as it raises my concentration levels  due to having to beat match and it does inspire me like nothing else as I too have used Ableton. I guess to surmise you're right it's not the platform  it's how you use it  - you've just  got to be creative I guess. 

I'm with Paulm on the "cheating" thoughts about Traktor. Which makes me wonder why people spend $6000 - $7000 on CDJ-2000's and a DJM-2000 or DJM-900 and end up using it to control Traktor? lol

I can completely understand if you purchased them to use with rekordbox, but since have decided rekordbox isn't stable enough or isn't up to par yet. But why purposely buy all that just for Traktor... Because it looks cool and you know everything is top of the line? Honestly, a $1200 DDJ-T1 does the exact same thing as using Traktor, except it gives you 2 extra decks and saves you over $4500!! 

I used Traktor when I started DJ'ing, but I felt it was cheating every time I would mix. It was just too easy... Took away a part of DJ'ing that was unique. I don't care if people disagree with this, it's just my own opinion. I have since switched over to rekordbox, and I could tell right away that things felt better. Yeah it's taken me a little to get use to because it actually requires a bit more work because I can't press 1 button to beat match and sync my tracks perfectly. It took me a bit to get it right since I've never had to beat match before. (well, I have once, but I got super lucky and I was insanely accurate my first time) I guess it doesn't matter if you want to use software to beat match and sync your tracks, but I'm young and fresh to DJ'ing, and I'm sticking with the classic and retro DJ's here who think Traktor and Serato is like cheating.

As for listening to DJ's in clubs. Yeah small venues are 100's of times better than large venues for sure Fuse!!!! I love smaller venues! But I also feel, that if the DJ's I like and listen to were to switch over to something like Traktor... wow... I really have no idea what I would do!? I'd probably refuse from going to see their gigs as it really doesn't take much talent to DJ with Traktor or Serato. It would just lose it's feel to it and be pointless as I would feel I could do that exact same mix if I was at home and used a cheap $150 software that half the world uses and considers they know everything about DJ'ing. I think it goes both ways Fuse... If you want to criticize about people saying beat matching is "holy" and say beat matching doesn't take much effort and that software like Traktor and Serato don't take away anything from sets and mixes; then I'm going to say Traktor and Serato are making DJ'ing too easy nowadays and it's turning up too many people who think they are the best DJ's in the world because they can create a flawless mix and post it. Just because you can create a flawless mix, doesn't mean you know much of anything about DJ'ing, even myself, I still have a hell of a lot to learn, but at least I feel I'm taking a harder and more honest route to learning what it's about. But to be honest, someone can honestly say the exact same thing to me about using CDJ's and not using vinyl! It goes every single way nowadays... DJ'ing has changed so much and it's nothing like what it use to be. I wish I could DJ with vinyl! Now that is where the true talent in DJ'ing started! Back before all of these extra electronics, and software to help us out. The only thing the electronics and software should be used for is to make your sound more unique and to change things up more often, not just to make things more "straight line" like Paulm said. 

I don't know really. It's everyone's own preference. But I'm just saying it from my perspective as I used software in the beginning, but felt it was too easy and wanted to take things a step further to make things more challenging that what my friends do. I wanted to 1 up them on something I do different and make the sound more unique and bring on a bit more work while DJ'ing for me. Keeps me on my toes. ;) I had too much time DJ'ing with software. I could text, I could walk around, I could go get drinks, just nonsense in my opinion! lol So I needed something to keep me more on the ball and make it look like I'm actually doing a little more work! But I think eventually I'll get pretty good at beat matching and I'll come back to having a bit more time on my hands. Then I'll need to add another element, or effects machine, or something to keep me busy, keep people interested, and make it a bit more challenging for me and take up some of that spare time.

Alright, I've voiced my opinion and was pretty harsh... now here comes the shit storm with people bashing me and my thoughts and agreement with Paulm that Traktor and Serato is kinda like cheating.... :P lol

Let's hear your thoughts and what you guys think software does to DJ'ing.. takes away a feel for the crowd or the DJ... adds time for better things to do with DJ'ing like effects or working the crowd... Opinions?

well said Foster ;) I follow you on the full line!

But I find that i'm also cheating using a cdj 2000 and Rekordbox analyzed files... 

I match the bpm, and then just cue in...   jeah what do I need to do ? tape the bpm counter ? :p

I just use all the "power" of the Cdj...  and of course that makes me able to mix faster etc.  My mixes are better now... never boring parts...

Use what you want to use! just let the music speek for you ;)

Perfect TheOne! Short, Sweet, Simple, and Smart. ;)

I agree, I feel the same way with the 2000's and 900 myself. But I feel better about using these than software still. lol Yeah tape over the bpm counter would be funny. lol But what can we do really?

Even if I wanted to go all retro/classic vinyl I'd have to use Serato or Traktor to play new music unfortunately. As technology moves forward, I'm sure we'll find ourselves unable to escape the power of something like Traktor or Serato,but I hope Pioneer keeps up with similar top of the line equipment like the CDJ 2000's, 900's, and DJM 2000 and 900 where you can use your computer, but only as a hard drive basically with rekordbox! I don't want to be looking at my computer. Heck, I might as well just use a hard drive in 1 of the players, or a USB flash drive... maybe I will... lol

Thanks TheOne! Good to know I'm not alone along with Paulm! :D

Wow, way off topic from the original post though! lol

@Michael, just making sure that 1 track is set to "Master" before pressing "Sync" on the other player?

Let me know if you need me to explain it a bit better. 

Foster

interesting additions to the conversation.

1. you can use traktor without pressing the sync button

2. traktor gives out midi clock if you want to use external gear (drum machine, other sequencer etc)

traktor does have its uses -  although generally i agree with paul - it does feel a bit like cheating sometimes.

@Phil - Well put my friend! I agree. Traktor has some great functionality and is a great to expand horizons and add extras such as drum machines and other sequencers as you said. It's perfect if you continue to expand your work, change your sound, tweak your methods, and want to make things more 'live' like and need to quick mix or use a lot of samples. I would have to say Traktor is necessary if one plans on doing all of that.

But for my situation, just mixing tracks and using regular built in effects, I feel I need more to do and a bit more of a challenge than Traktor. Yes you can use Traktor without pressing the "Sync" button, but I wanted to get away from even knowing I had the ability (because people who see Traktor being used and know anything about it will assume that I'm using the "Sync" feature), and because I wanted to get away from the latency and sometimes lag Traktor would give me when I used it.

Good to hear your thoughts and opinions Phil.