The combination of Traktor and Ableton in a DJ setup is a toolkit that (for now) is unparalleled for performers looking for versatile software solutions. We’ve read plenty of tutorials on how to sync Traktor and Ableton, but where most of them stop at a simple how to, today’s video focuses on why. Learn how to use four solid techniques that combine the best of both worlds in the video inside, and download a free template to try it out yourself!
THE TECHNIQUES
For simple reference, here are the four techniques we show off in today’s video:
Technique 1: Traktor plays a song while Ableton runs MIDI loops on a drum machine (which is manipulated live). In this example, Traktor audio is side-chaining to the drum machine, creating a tight mix.
Technique 2: Traktor provides a beat (this example is perfect for house) while Ableton runs a MIDI loop on a synthesizer (Operator is used in the video) that does live synthesis, side-chained to the Traktor beat.
Technique 3: Old school beat and scratching from Traktor, which does live side-chaining to the finger drumming in Ableton.
Technique 4: Straight-up scratch routine and finger drumming jam (no tracks, no loops, all live) while Traktor signal side-chains to the finger drumming.
A WORKHORSE DUO
Welcome to the world of “Trakleton” – my nickname for the pairing of these two softwares. Whether running across two laptops (like in the above video or in our behind-the-booth interview with Chris Liebing), this type of setup allows for a way more dynamic performance environment than either software on its own.
The setup used in the video combines two laptops, one running Traktor, and one running Ableton. Traktor is providing the master clock and sending MIDI sync signal via an Audio 10 interface to the Ableton laptop’s MIDI (using an Edirol FA-66 interface). Both stations require some quick and easy software setup (read on for the complete setup guide).
Traktor provides the master tempo, but Ableton is responsible for all the mixing. Traktor’s audio signal is routed into Ableton and divided into two tracks, one for deck A, and another for deck B. It’s super-awesome to run Traktor’s audio into Ableton because this allows you to dynamically side-chain the two audio sources to each other. For those unfamiliar with side-chaining, it’s the effect that drives that beat driven “pumping” that you hear in nearly all electronic music, especially noticeable in electro house when the synth gets quieter as the kick hits, then soars up in volume between kicks. When playing together or adding new sounds to a finished mix, side-chaining is absolutely critical because it makes the two elements actually sound like they go together.
The Ableton template, mapping, and soundpack are all available at the end of this article!
SYNCING TRAKTOR AND ABLETON
There are many resources online already on how to sync up the two softwares, so we decided to not focus on that part in the video. This configuration process is essential for the techniques we show off in today’s video, so here’s a very simple rundown of the necessary steps to get the programs playing together.
Using Two Computers:
In Traktor:
- Open Traktor’s preferences
- Navigate to MIDI clock menu
- Check “Send MIDI clock”
- Navigate to the Controller Manager
- Under “Device”, click “Add…”, then “Generic MIDI”
- Select your audio/MIDI interface (i.e. Audio 10) for both your In and Out ports
- Go to your master tempo area (by clicking the metronome icon in the left FX slot), uncheck “Auto” under Clock and hit the play/pause button in the Send section to start sending a sync signal
- In order to keep the two programs synced, we recommend using the Sync button on your decks (unless you just want to beat-match manually, but just know slippage between the programs will happen more readily)
In Ableton:
- Open Ableton’s preferences (Live > Preferences)
- Open the MIDI/Sync tab
- Where it says “Input” for your audio/MIDI interface turn “Sync” on and turn off “Remote” and “Track”
- Exit preferences and click the big “EXT” in the upper left hand corner of Ableton’s window
Finally, you’ll want to turn on both programs’ metronomes and adjust the “sending offset” in Traktor until the two metronomes play together in sync (this offsets latency). You can also do this in Ableton but try to adjust in only one program at a time otherwise you’ll contradict yourself!
Using One Computer:
Follow the exact same steps as with two computers, except in Traktor’s Step 6, instead of selecting your audio/MIDI interface when you “Add Generic MIDI”, you’ll want to select “Traktor Virtual Input” and “Traktor Virtual Output” for your In and Out ports. Likewise in Ableton, you’ll want to activate “Sync” from “Traktor Virtual Output” instead of your audio/MIDI interface. You’ll also need to download and install a simple audio router called Soundflower (for Mac – Windows users, please post suggestions for similar internal routing programs in the comments!). Simply select “Soundflower (2ch)” as your audio device in Traktor and in Ableton select “Soundflower (2ch)” as your audio input device. Create a new audio track and arm it and you’ll have your Trakor audio ready to go.
Connecting Ableton and Traktor together can get complicated – so feel free to ask questions you have in the comments below!
MAD ZACH’S ON-THE-FLY SYNCING SECRET
FREE DOWNLOADS TO GET STARTED!
I’ve put together a super-handy Ableton template complete with side chain macros, an all-purpose drum machine, a Simpler loaded up with a saw and square wave (already mapped for awesome arpeggiations and modulations), a free sound pack, and tracks set up to replicate all the techniques demonstrated in the video. The most exciting part of the mapping are the pre-mapped side-chain macros, which allow you to easily determine and adjust what’s side-chaining to what without the need for any complicated routing or programming knowledge.
- Sign Up on the Weekly email to get Mad Zach’s Template for Ableton this thursday.
- Pick up the free scratch samples Mitch was using!
Hi there. Thanks for that great article. I’ve seen many tuts on how to synch Ableton and Traktor together, but they all take for granted that the reader is using a MAC. Poor we PC users 🙁
Anyway, I have investigated a way of doing it on a PC. Problem is MACs have an internal midi clock, something most PCs don’t have. Therefore, the function “Traktor Virtual Clock” is only available on Traktor’s MAC Version. On a pc version it’s just not there. The solution is to install a virtual midi clock. The one I use is Loopbe1. It does a great job and does not need any configuration at all. Otherwise, you just follow the steps described in this article.
For the audio routing Sounflower does not work on a PC neither. I used Jack Audio Router. Honestly, it’s a bastard to set up.
I’ve stopped routing my Traktor decks trough Ableton. The reason I was doing it was to send part of the signal (via sends) to an FX, but I realised that I can do that through the sends of my mixing table. I connect the “fx send” to an input on my audio device, and then route it back to the “fx return”. This is where I am still struggling, as there is a considerable latency created in the process and my synched effects do not sound synched. I am trying to compensate that with some simple delay, as described in that article but cannot get to it to work. It seems I need some kind of negative delay, something to pull the audio forward, which I don’t think is possible. I would really appreciate some advise on the issue. Thanks in advance.
The side-chaining is important as you say but, as I don’t route my Traktor audio I just have a 4 on the floor kick drum on a muted track, which I use as a source for the side-chaining.
anyway to get this templete
Hey guys so I have S8 and I am trying to run both programs together,
but I cant figure out how to get the pre-listen/cue signal from my S8.
What do i need to get this working? Please 🙂
Hey Guys, i am so late to the party on this one, however there is something that i have not been able to work out. I would like to use my 2000’s in HID mode as well as my partner using ableton like you show in the video is this possible?
so for example 1… what are the sidechain settings used?
I happened to have this setup and use sidechain in the same way…
Then I discover this tutorial / article, which the sidechain sounds better implemented
I am able to have my MIDI sync work, as in when I change the tempo on one computer using my Traktor S4 it changes the tempo of my ableton on my other mac. I don’t understand how you are getting the audio into separate tracks in Ableton though from decks A and B. Anyone know how he did this using the Focusrite MIDI interface he has?
Hi, is it possible to do this using an S4 mki and a komplete audio 6? I would send traktors midi clock (master) trough the S4 to the audio 6. I’d connect the K audio 6 to a mac running ableton
yo guys, I know this has been out a long time, but any chance we could still get the Ableton template??
is that ableton template available for free download or purchase still? late to the party i know
how did you get the traktor decks from your boys computer routed into your computer?
whats the chance of a Live 9 updated Mad Zach ??
where can I download the template about
Anyone had experience with using Ableton and Traktor from one PC using a launchpad S for live performance and the NI Z1/ ipad for Traktor Pro? I started out with Ableton/Launchpad and the NI audio 6 as my soundcard but want to add the Z1 now and am avoiding going to a larger setup using a Traktor S4 or S2? Any suggestions? Thanks
Hi there, awesome tutorial, just wondering how i would go about integrating a scratch A6 interface with my Motu 828mk3, iv tried creating an Aggregate device within my computers midi settings, but the vinyl im getting into ableton from scratch is distorting, when i skip traktor and play back a normal vinyl its fine…. any help??
I have a quick question related to the audio portion of this setup. How is the audio currently routed? I tried this technique using the audio output of my buddy’s traktor controller going into the input channel of my audio interface. Works but after awhile, there are some latency issues. We have finally decided to go the external mixer route to avoid the latency. Is there any way that effects from ableton can be applied to traktor without traktor being routed into ableton via interface I.e. input on mixer
Is the ableton template still anywhere availible?
Using the same Mac computer do you know how to use the TSP vinyl timecode. When I switched the soundcard from ADJ10 to Soundflower 2 channel the vinyl timecode stops working but the audio makes it to ableton. I have been battling with this for the better part of a year.
I have a question: i have a pioneer djm 800 a traktor kontrol x1 maschine and the audio 10. I already have mashine connected to traktor. Is it possible to connect traktor, ableton and mashine to the djm so i can use the effects of ableton on traktor and still use mashine synched with traktor to use my samples?
I’m seeing a common thread here. My setup is TP2 running (Mac 10.7) four decks on the internal mixer. A & B are controlled by the Mashy app for the iPad, and C & D are controlled with the Quneo midi pad. Audio and headphones go through the Komplete Audio 6. I know about the Virtual midi for syncing. My questions are: How can I route all of this into Ableton Live 8 with the internal mixer to either do just a straight DJ mix through 1 audio track, or assign the 4 decks to 4 tracks in Live? Can I route Live back into a Deck Input? Also- can I use a second computer w/ Live to play both together via a USB Midi cable? THANKS
Is possible to use this routing with Kontrol S2 without any external audio card ? Because when i use external mode at Traktor routing (described in this video – 03:33), my faders and cross just disappear and i cannot use that with Kontrol S2. Any ideas, please ? Thank u so much !
Great article, and that Satchmo pack is fire.
Was curious about MZ’s thought’s regarding Maschine Integration with traktor. What is the best way to maintain midi sync between traktor and maschine? Is there an effective delay method like the one you use for the ableton/traktor combo above?
I’m having a hard time figuring out what the most efficient way to use maschine Mk2 with the S4. Maybe this is a noob question, but is there a way to patch Maschine into a specific deck of Traktor, including fader/effect functionality? What are the best practices of Maschine integration?
I’m loving how artist like Richie Hawtin sometimes use the step sequencer functionality, but the Midi synch seems like such an Achilles heel.
Could this be done using the Pioneer DJM-T1 Traktor-mixer on the PC1, is it a must to connect PC2 tru an old typ of midi-cable or could I use USB or LAN Cable?
Traktor doesnt list Traktor virtual input and output when I set it up with Ableton on 1 laptop can you please help! I use Windows 8 32-bit
Traktor doesnt list Traktor virtual input and output on my laptop for connecting to Ableton with 1 laptop
ableton template?
I just joined djtt, even thou I’ve been reading articles on here for about a year, Ive run trakelton for awhile now. I was wondering how to get the ableton template. I thought I would get an email, but have not. Also I’m thinking of running the same f1 to ableton and traktor via switching the midi mode, haven’t tried it so far but have been visualizing the proccess.
Wheres the ableton template?
Hi DJTT, I have a question. I have an S4 in which I’m not using deck D for anything. I have a track in Ableton with Skannerbox and would like to control the volume of that track (in Ableton) with the fader on the D Channel of the S4. I used the method above to link the 2 programs together and want to use Skannerbox for on the fly drum manipulation when mixing in tracks in Traktor. I use OS X. How can I route this? There’s gotta be a way.
I’m having some serious issues with either routing or latency in the process of running ableton through traktor. I am using JackPilot (Jack Router) and have everything setup correctly, audio is coming into ableton but audio is still coming out of traktor for some odd reason??? I know this because firstly there is a noticeable phasing effect happening. This brought me to realize that both ableton and traktor are playing audio at the same time. If i mute the channel is ableton that is receiving audio from my deck in traktor I now hear the track as it should be, but its coming out of traktor. If this internal routing is correct i should hear nothing when i mute that track in ableton, like muting a bus. Is JackPilot somehow still telling Traktor to use analog outputs? Is there a bug causing traktor to use the JackPilot outputs but still causing audio to use Analog outputs?
Some bizarre things here that I would love to have corrected, any insight…..
Cheers
Check this Halloween Traktor/midi fighter vid:
HELP!
i did what was said in the article to run it on one computer, and wasnt a fan, so tried to switch my settings back to normal. Now when i open Live to produce, i cant use my computer keyboard to trigger midi or play a chord with a synth. On the top right corner, the upper left square flashes when i press a key on my keyboard saying its accepting the midi signal, but not working to play sounds.
not sure what setting i may have changed, can anyone help me out???
i am wondering if instead of running 2 sound cards with 2 computers, to run 2 computers: 1 with traktor running and an S2 as the soundcard, and the other running Live with a PreSonus audiobox.
how do you like the Midi singles? i was looking into getting a NI:Machine to trigger drum loops and synth loops as well as play some stuff like from ableton, but have it time synced with whats playing in traktor. is this possible? and if so do i just use the steps listed above?
oh and i am running 2 mac book pros 15 inchers, 1 the new gen 1 the older gen, which of the 2 (Live or Traktor) requires more CPU power?
HELP PLEASE 🙁 i´ve been trying to get this working for sometime and am finding it quite frustrating as no matter what i do i keep getting a glitch/crackle every so often that makes it all out of sync and this is with a massive buffer and latency. Has anyone managed to use Traktor thru Ableton with only one computer using a basic MBP 13″ 2011 4Gigs RAM and a Audio 2 DJ without any problems? I just want to know if this is possible cause i´ve wasted HOURS playing with latency and buffers. I´m using Soundflower 64ch with a 2048mb buffer and 44100Hz on the application, same buffer on Traktor which gives me a 46.4s latency and -34ms on Ableton Error compensation and it stil does it. Everything is at 44100Hz and Ableton has a 1340mb buffer size. Any suggestions on what i might be doing wrong? I´m also using a VCI-100 controlling Traktor and a MPK mini to control Turnado and Stutter on Ableton. Hope someone can point me in the right direction on what to try next cause i´ve ran out of ideas and looked everywhere online without finding any solution. I´m also using the fastest USB (furthest away from screen) so it shouldn´t be that either even though i think the slowest was working better for some stupid reason. Thanks in advance and keep up the awesome posts.
I have manged to get Ableton running (as a slave) in the background to Traktor, I use JackOSX as the router and an Audio8 but your Audio2 should be the same concept. I dont know if you want to use ableton as the master or not and if you want to be playing loops with abeton sync’d to traktor where you will be playing full tracks? For my purposes i simply wanted my traktor decks running through four channels in ableton so i could use additional VST effects (tired of traktors fx). What routing app are you using? Like soundflower or JackOSX etc…
i have used jack os instead of soundflower to do the same thing on one computer, but now i want to use the effects of ableton by routing back into the soundcard from the aux sends on the mixer into ableton and back out up a return channel on mixer..can anyone help
If I understand correctly, you want to use Traktor and have the advantage of Abletons effects as post-fader? Basically, inserting ableton in the signal path before audio goes out to a mixer? This is exactly what I have been trying to figure out and have finally found the solution but am having issues.
You dont need to route the return back to your soundcard, set the output on the return ch to ext and to your desired output ch. This worked for me
Just an FYI, the sidechaining that is mentioned in this article refers to the Compression audio effect with sidechain option turned on. Important to note because another effect that allows sidechaining is AutoFilter, which can also be sidechained using an incoming audio signal.
oh, and I seem to have signed up for the news letter too late. Can I still receive the one containing the ableton template…
So the sidechaining technique looks like my kind of tool. Working on 1 computer, and I don’t want to control two programs live. Would this work if i’d assign the sidechaining to an Ableton channel though which I send my D deck (traktor Remix deck with a kontrol F1) on which I’d do the finger drumming and have the sidechaining affect the other channels (deck A, B and C routed through Ableton)?
hi guys i and a friend working on this new dj setup for us where trying to use the maschine vst in ableton on a windows computer. on a mac we are running the traktor the big issue is that we dont have the money to buy really expensive soundcard like the audio 10 at this moment our setup consist of 1 X1 kontrol 2 F1 kontrol 1 Xone K2 1 Maschine 1 Audio 2 soundcard is there a way to pull this of and running
thanks for the template, Mad Zach – but there are 28 referenced audi files missing.
is it functional?
those might not have been one’s I used but let me know if thats the case we’ll get it sorted out
28 missing files here …
I love this and have been wanting to use something similar my studio, and ideally live, but it seems like a complicated setup to run with if you’re trying to do this in a live setup? What I mean is, most cases when you go to a club you’re setting up in a booth where a DJ is already spinning, and you dont have a lot of space or time … is there a schematic of how the sound should route from app to app, and from device to device? Or am I just over complicating something that is actually quite simple?
anyone know why I can’t trigger any clips in live when this is running? They just flash and don’t start playing.
I’ve had this problem too.. disable the external clock in Live by clicking the EXT button and then launch a clip, and then re-enable the external clock by pressing EXT again.
Can someone please send me the link to the ableton template? did not receive the newsletter.. :'(
it went out this monday, there were two packs in there make sure to take a careful look
Any chance that you reupload or send me the Ableton template?
Have you guys received the weekly email in the past two weeks? Me no.. Should I have to worry about?
I <3 you guys… been playing around with ableton+traktor but it just didn't seem to be practical. THANK YOU for addressing the MIDI sync issue, and the side chaining fix is genius!
Hey Zach, awesome idea. This is a much more effective way of automating things like soft synths and other instruments so that they glue a little better. I signed up for the newsletter but I never received the template. Any chance you could email it to me?
Ryan
didn’t you get it on Monday?
Where the template link?
My Mac is pretty powerful (i7 + 8GB) so my question is – do you think it’s wise/safe to just use 1 laptop & 2 cheap LCD monitors… or is it best to dedicate 2 machines to this kind of set up?
It sure would be cheaper using one laptop only, and audio syncing would be a lot easier. When running on two machines, but having only one soundcard, you’d have to send audio (with JACK’s NetAudio Driver) back and forth through a LAN cable. Didn’t test this, but I wonder what would happen with the latency (as now we’re talking about network pings!) and how stable this is.
I think you’d have to test yourself. My PC is actually an i7 920 with 12GBs of DDR3(-1333)-RAM, so pretty similiar to your setup. The overall DSP load I experience is Ableton percentage + Traktor percentage. So when you use a lot of VSTs for example, it goes crackle crackle little sound…
I’ve seen people syncing Ableton and Traktor on 2 machines, but they used 2 soundcards, not just one. And that also means a LOT of cable plugging…
Hey great movie &technique what is the funk/disco track at 3:18? Cheers!
If you are having problems getting things to sync with multiple MIDI controllers, see how many of your devices are set to Sync in your Live MIDI preferences. I’m running Live slaved from Traktor and I was going crazy because there was so much drift and nothing was syncing up and then I realized that Live was also sending sync to an iPad using the TouchAble app. So the midi clock was going from Traktor to Live to Touchable. Once I disabled the sync for Touchable my system got much more reliable (The machine has 6 other midi devices plugged in to it).
Im still more interested in finding a good way to have ableton route into traktor on deck C or D on the same laptop so I can do my normal DJing with Traktor and do all my sample and finger drum stuff in ableton and mix it all via my S4….
Any luck? I want to do the same thing!
I am playing on Deck A and B and my F1 on deck C, never use my D deck. I also want to have Abelton at the D deck.
You need an advanced midi router like midi/ox on the pc. This will let you split the midi signal from the S4 and send it to both programs. Then you need to create a filter to block out the midi signals your giving to ableton from going to traktor. It’s pretty complicated but you only have to do it once.
Is there a place that explains this setup a little more in depth?
Mad Zach’s delay knob trick is elegant simplicity at its finest. Definitely using that one. Cheers!
on Windows i use maple midi which is a virtual midi cable to sync up traktor and ableton. Thus i am on a 32 bit windows 7 right know, not sure if this works for win 7 64bit. try out the compatibility mode on the maple installer.
Can you do this with Serato instead of Traktor?
PARTY IN THE CITY WHERE THE HEAT IS ON
ALL NIGHT ON THE BEACH TILL THE BREAK OF DAWN
WELCOME TO MIAMI
BIENVENIDO A MIAMI
“Mac users, please post suggestions for similar internal routing programs in the comments!” 🙂
what decks are Mitch spinning on?
stanton str8-120s
this is pretty amazing
I like to use Ableton as the audible master tempo (I match
everything to the beat that is played from LIVE.) I have Traktor sending midi clock to Ableton
through mid yoke since there is no virtual midi out on my Vista 64 bit. I have ableton receiving this midi tempo
message. I also like to have the same bpm typed into both programs (i.e.
125.00). I don’t screw around with the audio jack. I use two sound cards for my
one computer. I have traktor sending
master audio into my Sapphire 6 inputs. I make sure ableton has a dedicated
channel for this. So I have:
midi from
trakor>>>>>>>>>>>midiyoke>>>>>>>>ableton (virtual)
Audio from traktor>>>>>>>s2>>>>>>>>Safire>>>>>ableton
(physical)
Then I load up ableton with a ton of audio clips and start
those. Then I load acapella samples or loop small sections of songs in traktor.
My goal is to play live as an instrument and make traktor have to match
whatever is playing out of ableton. It’s easier to control traktor via s2 to
match ableton then the other way around (audio wise).
I am currently trying to find the right soft synth to run
with Traktor and Ableton to really create on the fly. Nothing too CPU intensive
but quick and loads to money presets.
My only issue is queuing. I have to headphone jacks, one in
the s2 and one in the sapphire 6 so I need to find a solution to this.
Try like the opposite of a splitter for the headphones. Do you run the sound cards in the same location?
If using one computer, the real trick is not to use the midi sync at all. Sync to Master tempo in Traktor and set Ableton to the same tempo. Start Traktor first then start Ableton on the downbeat, nudge Ableton to lock phase and it will stay locked with Traktor for days. Map Ableton’s nudge buttons to your controller so you can fix Ableton’s phase if needed. This will not work with vinyl control, only sync using Master tempo in Traktor.
Fist post btw, so Hi guys 🙂
thats a good trick albeit a bit janky I’m sure it works great though! We actually found ourselves turning off sync sometimes too and just matching by ear (the old fashioned way) which in some ways was more free
Plus you dont get accumulated latency – which you must get when using that knob in Live. 😉
A note download 1.9.7 and not 1.9.8 it has issues and bugs that seem to make the audio server crash.
Windows Setup Part 2
Windows Setup Part 1
I’m wondering, could I run traktor with my APC40 and ableton with a launchpad and korg nano like Zach, on the same computer, without all the controllers messing up each others?
I tried that having the 4 decks of traktor feeding into 4 channels of ableton but because traktor had to be set up as external, I also had to map the APC40 to ableton as well to control the levels and things started to get ugly between the controllers… The reason that I separated the channels instead of feeding ableton only into one, is that I wanted to add stutter edit vst on each channel independently. If any of you has a similar set up that works…
Can’t wait to get Zach template to see you this was set up with the side chains and all…
If you’re trying to use one controller to do double duty on two programs, you need to separate the data streams somehow. I run a Traktor/Live system with one APC, but I use Bomes MIDI Translator as the in-between. I think there are a few simpler, but less functional programs out there as well.
Mad Zach for president.
where is Ean?
oh ‘Jesus’, plz come back!
I use a setup similar to this. However, the delay technique in Live to compensate for tempo phase drift is not necessarily the most accurate. I recommend using Traktor’s Clock Sync button. When you hit that sync button, the next downbeat in Traktor is sent as SMPTE 1:1:1:1. That way Live and Traktor are now back on the same downbeat. If using two laptops, I use a bi-directional MIDI connection over ethernet via OS X’s MIDI Network Setup to send the sync button from one of my Live MIDI controllers to my partner’s Traktor setup. The only issue with this is certain looping plugins will break their loop if they receive SMPTE 1:1:1:1. Also, Live requires a MUCH larger buffer to work without glitches properly if syncing to an external clock. This seems to only become an issue if you’re using tons of plugins, but it will inherently increase latency.
good call, yeah my delay technique is more of an “oh shit! knob” than a proper setup. Does the clock sync button effect live playback at all?
its good for when you’re performing and if things get a bit out of sync just locking them back in without even having to look at the screen
Oh yeah. If your method is Traktor as master tempo, it realigns everything in Live instantly and sometimes in a not-so-pretty way. The best approach I’ve found is to hit the clock sync on the “and” of four, as in: One…Two…Three…Four-and. That last eighth note allows for the processing time to occur and drop the one actually, ON the one. The best time to use it is in a break when only Traktor audio is playing – that way no one even notices.
Great article. I have one question though, can Zach scratch as well? Seems pretty multi-talented.
Software for Windows:
“LoopBe” for internal midi routing
“virtual audio cable” for internal audio routing
works well for me but you’ll need a good cpu if you like to build massive effect racks with both programs.
“Windows users, please post suggestions for similar internal routing programs in the comments!”
?! ASIO should do just fine – supposed your audio interface will provide a few channels.
The RME Babyface I am using, for example, has 24 hardware channels and an internal mixer if you want to mix/route on the hardware. Otherwise just assign virtual (ASIO) in/outs in Live’s tracks (audio to -> configure…) and connect these with Traktors various line-ins and outputs.
You guys made a good decision letting Mad Zach join the team. He just pumps out these awesome articles non-stop.
We have used jackOSX but that dont work anymore:( we have lots of problems with soundflower. maybe you can show your setting from the setup above ?
Is there any downside for leaving “auto” on when you sync the two softwares on the same computer? I have tried this in the past without detailed instructions and the midi sync was waaaaaaay off, even using the built in compensation in ableton. I’m hoping that next time I do this it will be more stable.
you’ll want to turn off “auto” that way everything is sync’ed to one source instead of constantly shifting the source tempo. At least that worked best for us 🙂
Thanks!
Yes Windows user post alternative’s to SoundFlower
Don’t you all think it’s about time DJ Tech Tools started a proper software fistfight and released their own DJ Software?! 🙂
This would take more resources then what they have and why take away from traktor dont break something thats not broke…
No point reinventing the wheel 🙂 Makes more sense to leverage existing software and create innovative workflows that give you more power over your music rather than creating entirely new softwares – which would ultimately just duplicate functionality of existing software.. I think at this time combined workflows like Ableton Live + Traktor/ScratchLive provide a level of control that people are just beginning to master. Once these become inadequate, people will inevitably come up with more innovative solutions. Until then, there is a huge number of untapped techniques that are yet to be discovered/mastered using off-the-shelf DAWs.