Dj Tutorial, Video 4,The Loop Function
The final part of a series of films with DJ Tutor, showing you the final steps to gaining control of the loop function on a CDJ-800mk2 turntable.
Step 1: Introduction
Alright, folks. Jonathan here. This is video number four in a selection I’m doing on the loop function of a CDJ turntable. Now, check out video number one, two, and three first. In video number four what we’re going to be doing is actually incorporating a loop in a mix. I’m going to be playing the latter part of a song on this guy here, I’m going to be bringing in the mix, I’m going to be bringing in this track here. Then, I’m going to go to the first track I played on this one over here and I’m going to sample a segment of the beginning of the song, and then I’m going to bring it back into the mix.
Step 2: Sampling A Segment
Now then, one very important factor here, and that is simply this. Again, this is logic to me. I hope it is to you. Let’s say you’re playing on a very, very big sound system. Now then, again, when you sample a certain segment of the actual track and you want to loop that segment it’s vitally important that you try and always make sure when you sample, even though this is playing and this track here isn’t necessarily playing, all right, now it’s vitally important in my eyes, and hopefully in yours, as well, that you keep the actual track that you want to sample in beat with the music that’s playing through the main PA. This is the main reason And that is, if it’s off-beat, what you’ll find, even with fantastic headphones, you’ll find it’s very difficult to concentrate on getting that sample to loop it.
Step 3: Precise Sample
So, now what I mean by that is simply this: the music is playing very loud on the main PA, OK? And all you can hear is something coming through your headphones. But you’re actually going to hear a second-hand sound through the main PA over the sound that you’re hearing from the headphones. So, what will happen, you could in essence misjudge the actual sample that you want to sample, OK? Now, the idea is simply this: if you can keep the track in beat, in time with the main PA, then of course you haven’t got any problems because you’re going to get a precise sample. I hope you understand what I’m on about there.
Step 4: Incorporating
So like I said, the latter part of this, we’re going to bring in this guy over here, OK? And then as soon as this one is playing, I’m going to sample a segment of the beginning of this track, incorporate it in the mix, and then if I wanted to, I could take this track out. Alternatively, what you could do as well: track one is playing, bring in track two, take track one away, sample part of track one, bring track one back in over the mix, take track two out, put another track in this guy here, bring track three over the sample of track one. OK? It’s a bit like one, two, five, seven, eight, but I’m sure you understand where I’m coming from.
Step 5: Start
So, here we go. Let’s start this one off. OK, so this one’s ready, cross fingers, and we’ll get it in the mix. Don't forget to mess around with the base and treble.
Step 6: Beat
OK, now to start, go right back to the beginning of this one, and take a segment of just a beat. Start it off, in beat. OK, bring it back in. I’ve got a beat of the actual sample.
Step 7: Third Track
OK, I just got the sample, so if I wanted to I could bring a third track in now, over this one. All I’m going to do now is bring this one back into the mix. So now that the beat’s still going. We’ve got continuity. I can pause that one, start it all over again and bring it back into the mix.
Step 8: Summery
OK, I hope you get the general idea. By the way, very quickly, in video number three when I mentioned about the actual loop, and getting that loop precise. In other words, if your loop was slightly off: one, two, three, four; one, two, three, four; I did mention that on these guys here there’s a button, which, and these are the CDJ 800 Mark Twos, I mentioned that to get that loop perfect you need to press the out, out adjust and keep your finger on it. Well, you don’t have to actually keep your finger on it. All you have to do is press it, and then of course you can get that loop perfect by moving the outside of the actual platter either clockwise or anti-clockwise. Alright, this is video number four. I hope it’s been a help. And don’t forget, just practice, have fun. That’s what it’s all about. Yes. Practice and enjoy.
