Operation Manual

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User Manual – 25/32
9. DJING BASICS
For detailed information on how to use the bundled VirtualDJ mixing software, please refer
to the VirtualDJ user manual, included on your DJ Console Mk4's installation CD-ROM or
available for download on the Hercules Technical Support website (http://ts.hercules.com).
First off, you will want to make sure that the audio files in your music library have been analyzed
in the VirtualDJ software, which will determine the BPM (beats per minute) values of your tracks.
Since mixing music tracks together involves synchronizing their beats while the two songs overlap
with one another, you will need to select tracks whose BPM values are similar to one another, to
make for seamless transitions from one track to the next. Alternatively, you might choose to mix a
track with another track whose BPM value is half or double its own value (60 BPM and 120 BPM,
for example), which can also make for a fairly smooth transition between tracks.
Please note that analyzing files to determine their BPM values in the VirtualDJ software can take
some time to complete, particularly if you are analyzing a large number of songs, and should be
done in advance of a party; this process also consumes a lot of your computer's system
resources while it is being carried out. We therefore recommend that you analyze the entire
contents of your music library overnight, for example.
The VirtualDJ software lets you create “virtual folders”: you can create a virtual folder by clicking
on the red “virtual folder” icon in the software, and then assigning a title to the folder. A virtual
folder contains a collection of shortcuts to tracks, allowing you to quickly access a group of tracks
you have selected, like a playlist: dragging an audio track into a virtual folder will not physically
move the file into that folder, but rather will create a shortcut to where the track is located. This is
a very handy way to organize groups of songs for your DJing sets, and you can also make sure
that groups of tracks in your virtual folders have similar BPM values to one another. You can use
the file explorer in the VirtualDJ software to browse through your tracks, or use the search feature
to find specific tracks, and then simply drag and drop them into your different virtual folders.
While a track is being played on Deck A for the audience, the DJ presses the Listen B button on
the DJ Console Mk4 and uses headphones to listen to and adjust the next track to be played.
The DJ might make adjustments to the track’s pitch (using the pitch encoder knobs and the Pitch
Bend buttons), and make sure that its beat lines up properly with that of the track playing on Deck
A. As the track on Deck A is nearing its end, the DJ starts moving the cross fader towards Deck
B (and can use the volume faders for each deck to help with the transition as well), so that the
audience gradually hears more of what is being played on Deck B in the mix. The DJ can adjust
the EQ controls on each deck to help tracks blend in smoothly with one another: for example, by
reducing the mid and treble frequencies on one deck, so that mostly just the bass frequencies
(including the song’s beat) are heard as one song transitions into the next.
While songs are playing, the DJ can also use the effects and looping features on the DJ Console
Mk4 to call attention to different parts of songs or their mix, to pump up the crowd and keep them
dancing: the creative possibilities for mixing are endless – and with a bit of practice, you’ll be
mixing like a pro in no time!