Dj Tutorial, Video 3,The Loop Function
The is the third part in a series of films breaking down the loop function of a CDJ-800mk2 turntable into easy steps. This will truly help you use the loop function well when Dj'ing.
Step 1: Get Prepared
I shall be using a CDJ800 Mark 2. Check out video number one and two first.
Now then, in this video what I'm going to be doing, similarly to video number two, I'm going to be sampling a piece of the music and looping it.
The only difference is I'm going to show you something on here whereby if the actual sample that you've recorded is slightly off, you can actually make it so it’s a proper loop.
Step 2: Understand The Problem
Now then, I'll explain myself.
Let's say for example I sample a section of music. And let’s say it's a tiny bit off. Now then, let’s say I was a machine and I was doing that as a machine would be able to (a lot better that I would). And I had to incorporate that counting into counting that was perfectly in time. What would happen, very quickly, is that the dodgy counting, the one I did first, would be out of beat, out of time with the one that was counting in time.
Now then, utilizing a few gadgets on this guy you can actually get that sample, get that loop in perfect beat.
Step 3: Obtain The Sample
What I need to do first, how I’m going to sample the music is simply this. There's a button here, like I said on video number two: "real time cue in". I’m going to press that on the count of one. And then I’m going to count two, three, four in time with the music that’s playing.
When I get to number one again I'm going to press "out". And just below the “out” button you’ve got the “out adjust”. Now then, that’s important, because you can adjust the actual sample.
Now, what I’m going to do, I’m going to make it so the sample, when it’s looped, it’s slightly out of sync. Alright, so let’s have a go.
Step 4: Adjusting The Sample
When you press the out button and keep your finger on the “out” button while you are actually listening to that sample of that loop and by utilizing the jog-wheel on the actual side, you can listen to the sample.
But what you can actually do, you can stretch it to make it longer or you can reduce it to make it shorter.
Now think about it. If, let’s say, I pressed that button too soon, I would have to stretch that sample out to make it longer so it is in beat. If I press that button too late, I would have to reduce that sample to make it a loop, to make it in beat.
So, I’ll give you a demonstration here.
Step 5: Get The Sample In Beat
I started to go anti-clockwise but then I realized I was going the wrong way. So I started to go clockwise, but I went too far, so I had to go anti-clockwise again to get it in beat.
Now again, this is where, really, you need to use you ears. You need to tap as well. But, let's say for example, I had this particular track in beat, in time, perfectly beat-matched with another song. There’s no reason at all why I can’t decrease the volume on the mixer of this particular song. Listen to this one through the headphones. Listen also to the other song that’s playing. Start the sample in beat to the other music. Listen to the beat of the other music and try and match the beat of my sample with the other music.
Now, by listening, practicing, which is very important, and concentrating on that beat, after a bit of practice and a bit of time, it could be a week, it could be a day, it could take you six months, but eventually you will learn how to get a perfect loop. Now, we’ll do exactly the same thing again.
Step 6: Practise And Enjoy
So overall, with video number three, basically this video is showing you a function on this guy here whereby if, and a lot of people have said to me that they find cheaper samplers and cheaper effects where you can get a loop, you can never get a true proper good quality loop. With this you can. It just takes a little bit of practice, a little bit of ingenuity and use your ears and you can do it.
Video number three. Loop function on this guy here. It’s a CDJ800 Mark 2. Practice and enjoy.
