DESCRIPTION:
Video response to DJ Techtools competition...

BASIC SETUP
The set is organized in four channels that are color coded for visibility.

Clips are launched by pressing PLAY or alternatively, by triggering SHOT. Difference is that a PLAY is quantized and shot is not. This allow for some pad action! The SHOT is setup so that it stops whatever is being played as a quantized clip. Vice versa, if a clip is being played quantized the non-quantized stops. This setup is borrowed from Moldovers hugely impressive mash-up set.

In addition, the STOP button obviously stops clips and the volume fader does exactly that. The UP and DOWN scrolls through the scenes.

This is sort of a holiday setup with just the Mac and the iPad working. Normally, I also use the Xone 3D for alternatives. Love to have several ways of controlling the same things.

Happy to share template if anyone is interested...

EFFECTS
The XY pad controls an Auto filter (similar to a sweeping filter in Traktor. The buttons labeled 16, 8, 6, 4 and DRY control a Beat repeat via a dummy clip channel so that the entry on the Beat repeat can be quantized to 1/4th notes (Beat repeat can be unpredictable otherwise).

MASTER CHANNEL
The master channel only has one master effect, a simple delay that is used in the end of the set.


CLIP ORGANIZATION
I try to find interesting loops in the entire songs and isolate them as clips. These are then tested using trial and error to find interesting combinations to play around with.

Interesting combinations are organized horizontally and set progression goes downward using the UP and DOWN buttons.

SONG PREPARATION
Songs are run through Platinum notes for pitch correction and volume normalization + Mixed in key for determining key and BPM (enabling harmonic mixing used in some places).

CONTROLLER SETUP
The set is controlled using an iPad that runs touch OSC (see the screen dump in the movie). This layout is built using Touch OSC editor. The iPad is connected via USB rather than WiFi to enable better latency.

SETUP PROS
I have road-tested this setup a couple of times and it is very easy to use and I find that I get lost in the performance quite easily. Guess that is some sort of proof that tech does not get in the way of creativity. Also like that it is simple and that all the controls can fit on on 1 page.

CONS
Tempo - The big benefit of Abletons amazing time stretch is also a drawback. You tend to get stuck in one tempo and I'm yet to work out a way to do tempo changes more fun.

Cruise control - If I'm not careful, it's rather easy to just scroll clips and play songs in a straight line. For routines that can be OK but for a longer set I think I need to find a better way to organize the clips so that songs can be played more "on the fly". This is probably the thing that I like more with Traktor, you have 4 decks in which you can load anything at any time. On the other hand, it is super-convenient to instantly load a scene with 4 different songs instantly. If I could wish for features it would be:

In Ableton: assigning cue points in a clip that can be assigned from a controller. Sort of giving Ableton a third dimension.

In Traktor: The ability to load a prepared 4-song-setup a the touch a button.

FUTURE IDEAS
Certainly would like an Midifighter to replace the touchpads on the iPad. Would like something more tactile and immediate. Griid or Midipad also looks promising and can't wait to see what the new version of Traktor brings to the table.