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Table of Contents Table of Contents Copyright 2 Support 4 MAGIX Digital DJ user interface Quick start 1,2,3… Features Upgrade MAGIX Digital DJ System requirements Don’t lose the beat! Tooltips 6 7 8 9 10 10 11 Toolbar 11 Browser 13 Track Window and Transport Controls Track Display Colors Upper controls Waveform & Track Overview Windows Lower Controls 14 15 15 15 16 Faders & Beat-phase Display Controls Beat-phase display Faders & Mixing 19 19 20 20 Tool window Peakscope Spectroscope About 21
Support Recording 39 Settings Audio settings Audio (ASIO4ALL) PC Only General, File & MIDI Controller settings 41 41 43 47 Shortcuts 50 Index 53 Support If you experience any problems with your software, please contact our support team: Support website: http://support.magix.net This website takes you to the MAGIX user service page; the following free offers are also featured there: • FAQs (frequently asked questions) and general tricks and tips.
Support U.K.: 0203 3189218 Denmark: 699 18149 Sweden: 0852500858 Finland: 09 31581630 Norway: 0210 30665 Support request via email: http://support.magix.net/contact/uk Here you can find a summary of our technical support telephone numbers: http://support.magix.net/phone/uk Mail: MAGIX Development Support, P.O. Box 20 09 14, 01194 Dresden, Germany North America Sales Department: 9 am to 4 pm EST Mon-Fri Phone: 1-305-722-5810 Support request via email: http://support.magix.
MAGIX Digital DJ user interface MAGIX Digital DJ user interface Welcome to MAGIX Digital DJ, powered by Deckadance, the well-known reference product for DJ software by Image Line! MAGIX Digital DJ was developed by DJs and for DJs. Real DJs were asked about their wishes and requirements for such a program, and the lead developer of MAGIX Digital DJ, L.S.D. (Luis Serrano), has significant experience as a DJ.
MAGIX Digital DJ user interface located toward the top of the interface (as shown) while the Tool window switches run along the top of the window itself. Note: Pay attention to the tooltips! They will display a short description of the interface features as your mouse is placed over them. Quick start 1,2,3… We know: No one likes to read the manual. So here are 8 easy steps to DJ fame! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 1. Load the 2 demo tracks (Deck A - ‘Step It Up' & Deck B - ‘Dance with me’).
MAGIX Digital DJ user interface At the heart of MAGIX Digital DJ are the Decks, A and B as shown below. The framed areas are constant and will remain unchanged by various settings. All other areas & panels are dynamic and change to reflect the mode or settings chosen. Cue either deck by clicking and dragging on the wave displays. The center of each display shows the playback position, so you can cue decks visually if you don’t have a separate monitor mix set up.
MAGIX Digital DJ user interface • Included effects (view page 23) (equalizer, filter, bit reduction, phaser/flanger, etc.) and 3-band EQ with 3-band killer buttons, level controls for each band -36dB +12dB, band killer -48dB. • Relooper (view page 37) beat-slicing performance sampler. • 8 Slot sampler with built-in samples Upgrade MAGIX Digital DJ MAGIX Digital DJ – powered by Deckadance, does more! You can upgrade MAGIX Digital DJ to "bigger" versions: Deckadance House Edition or Club Edition.
MAGIX Digital DJ user interface System requirements Operating system • Windows XP/Vista/7 • Mac OSX v10.4 (UB) Minimum hardware requirements • PC: Intel Pentium III (or similar), Athlon XP with DirectSound or ASIO compatible sound card • Mac: Intel Mac or G4 (1.25 GHz) with sound card with CoreAudio drivers, • 512 MB RAM, 200 MB hard disk space. • Graphics card with min.
Toolbar Tooltips MAGIX Digital DJ offers realtime help functions: To see the Help panel, click on the HELP button just below the master cross-fader and hold your mouse cursor over anything that looks like a control, including some that don’t. The tooltips will explain the function of each control element in short. To activate or deactivate tooltips, click on Show tooltips in the middle of the MAGIX Digital DJ window. The language of tooltips may be selected in the setup menu.
Toolbar MIDI Setup dialog will depend on your sound card and attached controllers. Use these options to select Audio and MIDI inputs/outputs. • TAP - Tap tempo. Tap this button 4 to 8 times and the average tapping speed will be set in the BPM window. • Tempo - Displayed in BPM (32 to 256). Double-click the number display to enter a specific BPM. The tempo can also be changed with the TAP button or click on the 'fine-tune' +/- switches and drag up/down for fast changes.
Browser Browser Controls • Browse files on your computer - Click on the line marked 'Browse computer', noted above, to open a standard file browser. Once you have navigated to the directory of choice you can click on thedown-arrow marked 'Add/Remove' (above) to add it to your list of favorites. • Add/Remove Directories - Click on the down arrow at the top of the browser.
Track Window and Transport Controls Note: The font size in the Browser is controlled by the Playlist font size ("Playlist") [a, a, A] controls. Track Window and Transport Controls The track window contains a waveform display, which shows a part of the track, together with beat and cue markers in high magnification. A lower 'Track Overview' window that displays the entire song (this can be clicked to jump to the specified location).
Track Window and Transport Controls Track Display Colors Ctrl+C will activate/deactivate the spectral analysis and display mode. Beat analysis also includes frequency content, displaying the most prominent frequencies in the mix. Red indicates low frequencies (bass, drums etc), yellow through to green are mid frequencies (often associated with vocals), while blue shades are high frequencies (cymbals, hats etc).
Track Window and Transport Controls • • • • point onward each time you press the CUE button and stop when you release it. If the track is playing, it will jump to the cue point when the CUE button is pressed and then pause. Cue markers are overwritten by new ones if the track is manually repositioned while stopped (as per 'Cueing a track' procedure above). Each of the 4 numbered buttons to the right of theCUE button corresponds to 4 separate cue positions.
Track Window and Transport Controls loops/leaps are synced to the nearest beat/bar. The loop may be shortened or made longer using the arrows. • Pitch Slider - Move the slider to change the speed of the song (down is faster and up slower). The range can be adjusted on the General Settings page between +/- 6% and +/-50%. NOTE: Hold down the [CTRL] key while moving the pitch fader to get a finer resolution of 0.01%.
Track Window and Transport Controls • Left and Right Pitch Seek Arrows - Nudge the track pitch in the direction of the arrow (right is faster, left slower). A blue box will flash around the arrow to indicate the required action for manual synchronization of the beat. • DOWNBEAT - Left-click to set the downbeat position of a cued track. The downbeat setting is critically important when automatic beat-synchronization with other deck samplers, VST MIDI players is required.
Faders & Beat-phase Display Faders & Beat-phase Display Controls This section is important for manual mixing/beatmixing of your tracks. • <| & |>- Jump phase one beat. Note: these buttons also jump the LOOP & LEAP (view page 16) functions. • <<| & |>> - Jump phase one beat. Note: these buttons also jump the LOOP & LEAP (view page 16) functions. • Level - Individual deck A & B level faders. • Beat-phase LEDs - Show the 4 beats of a bar (assuming the track is in 4/4).
Faders & Beat-phase Display Beat-phase display Beat-phase - Above the main X-fader is a set of 4 LEDs. The LEDs blink on to show beat currently playing in each deck. Deck A upper Deck B lower. The down-beat is indicated below (1st LED as noted). It is important to pay attention that the decks are in step, playing the same beat of each bar (they aren’t in this example). Mixing tracks that are out of step often ends in tears.
Tool window perceived volume smooth and perhaps save a few speakers splattering all over your audience. Additional settings for the master crossfader on the Vinyl / Extended Control (view page 33) Window in the Crossfader Control section include: • CURVATURE SLIDER - Adjusts between a very narrow/quick curve (left), useful for turntablism/scratching and a more gradual X fade (right). • REVERSED - Reverses the crossfader curve, i.e. Deck B is silenced when the crossfader is set to the right.
Tool window When the peaks and or tick-marks are aligned the decks are beat matched. In order to maintain perfect alignment, the tracks have to be the same BPM, or one deck be slaved to the other. Spectroscope The Spectroscope displays the distribution of low to high frequency energy (left to right) for the Decks (A top / B bottom). Use this to gauge the relative bass/treble mix of two tracks. About The About menu displays your version (view page 9) and MAGIX Digital DJ build-number information.
Effects Effects MAGIX Digital DJ comes with several high quality built-in effects which may be particularly useful when mixing dissimilar tracks. For example, removing the bass from a pair of tracks will cut the drums, which can be beneficial if the tracks have very different beats. As always, experimentation and practice are required. Controls MAGIX Digital DJ also has a number of advanced filtering options, optimized for DJ applications. The levels of these effects are controlled by the XY control pad.
• BANDREJECT FILTER - Cuts a narrow band of frequencies. Good for 'sweeping' effects. • 8 TAP 3D PHASER - Creates a phasing effect - not a great description, we know. OK, let's just say it sounds like plunging your head into a bucket of water - is that better? X/Y control - Vertical (Y) changes the phaser depth. Horizontal (X) - Changes the speed. • ECHO - Left/right stereo bounce effect. X/Y control Vertical (Y) changes the delay volume. Horizontal (X) changes the delay speed (left is faster).
Function Window Function Window The large lower panel in MAGIX Digital DJ displays a variety of functions in response to the 'Function Switches' as indicated on the screenshot above. For more information on each function, click on the links below: • PLAYLIST - Use to arrange songs for later playback & OR to log songs played. • SAMPLER – Load samples into one of the 8 integrated sampler slots and play them back as beat-synchronized loops or individual samples.
Function Window • MIDI ("MIDI Setup") - MIDI configuration. Assign controller knobs, sliders and features to target MAGIX Digital DJ controls. Playlist The fastest method to add files to the Playlist is to use the Add Dir function or drag songs from the Browser. Playlist can be saved and loaded for later use. The Playlist when in Automix (non-shuffle) mode will play back from top to bottom.
Function Window • Analyze - beat and mufin analysis Force beat analysis on the files selected in the playlist. Pre-analyzing files is useful as it lowers the CPU overhead and load times during a live set. To select multiple files - select the first file of a group (click on it) then Shift+click on the last OR Ctrl+Click on individual files. The beat-analysis files are stored in the installation folder PC: ..\Image-Line\Deckadance\beatmarks\*.mrk, MAC: ..
Function Window You can select your music folder for analysis; the current folder open in the browser is taken by default. The analysis can take several hours, depending on the size of your collection and the computing power of your PC; it is recommended that you let it run overnight. Get recommendations In order to get recommendations, select a title in the playlist or the iTunes database and click on Recommendation. A list of similar titles will open.
Function Window Sampler You can add sound effects and additional loops to your DJ performance using the sampler. Load samples into one of the 8 integrated sampler slots and play them back as beat-synchronized loops or individual samples. Hint: You can load included samples into the MAGIX Digital DJ sampler. In order to be able to edit relooper patterns, you must upgrade (view page 9) your version to Deckadance Home or Club Edition. Controls • LOAD WAV - Loads wave files from disk.
Function Window How to sample loops To sample songs, the deck does not have to be playing. With the deck stopped, you can cue your track to the start of the region you want to record, then follow the steps under the sampler picture below (Note: The effects panel was removed in the screenshot to save space): Select the sample-length with the Loop/Leap controls (up to 8 bars can be set). Click the REC LOOP button to capture a loop of the desired length.
Function Window VST Host Note: Record, sampler record, VST plugin/host, vinyl/external control and MIDI controller functions are not included in MAGIX Digital DJ. To activate these functions, you must upgrade (view page 9) your version to Deckadance Home or Club Edition. MAGIX Digital DJ VST slots accept both Instrument and Effect plug-ins. VST (Virtual Studio Technology) plug-ins such are a great addition to the inbuilt effects.
Function Window Note about 3rd Party VST plug-ins: The Internet is bursting with 3rd party plug-ins, a great place to start looking is KVR. However, be careful not to go on-stage before thoroughly testing any VST you use – remember, they are independent programs not controlled by Image Line and can crash, bringing your computer down with them. MIDI Setup Note: Record, sampler record, VST plugin/host, vinyl/external control and MIDI controller functions are not included in MAGIX Digital DJ.
Function Window • • • • Save setup A / B - Select the Deck that the MIDI functions relate to. MISC - MIDI functions not related to any specific deck. MONITOR - Shows MIDI data from the controller. NOTE: To select a pre-configured controller use the Settings ("General, File & MIDI Controller settings") Function Window Create/ delete MIDI links • To create a MIDI link with your controller: 1. 2. 3. Click one of the functions in the list. Press the [MIDI LEARN] button.
Function Window Controls Pitch control and tempo variation are achieved by tracking the pitch and phase of a signal from a record or CD. Select the input for decks A and Busing the [Audio] options dialog opened from the top main Menu Bar (see the screenshot below). • Scopes - The oscilloscopes provide a display for the quality of the tracking signal. A good signal is indicated by a clean circle that fits inside the scope window (50-75% of the diameter).
Function Window • INPUT THRU - Passes audio inputs through to MAGIX Digital DJ output. Use this to play regular vinyl records (make sure that the associated deck is set to 'Internal tracking' so that the turntable input is not treated as a control signal). If you are using a control vinyl when INPUT THRU is "on" you'll hear the tracking signal "whistle" in the mix.
Function Window Setting Control Deck A/B inputs Audio INPUTS are used to receive the control signals from external Vinyl or CDJ decks. INPUTS are selected and set in the Audio Settings (view page 41) page. Additional settings Between the Vinyl / Extended Controls for Decks A and B are several additional settings: MONITOR CONTROL • Monitor Mix Fader - An independent monitor fader that blends between Main and PFL on the phones. • Monitor Level - Use to adjust the global monitoring level.
Function Window routed to your headphones and you have them on the correct way around. Perhaps we assume too much?! • OVERDRIVE - Colors the monitor signal and boots levels to make it easier to distinguish from the PA. Watch your ears! Note: Consider investing in a good set of 'in-ear' monitors, which effectively reduce the noise from the club PA, allowing you to monitor at levels significantly lower than normal, sparing your hearing while keeping you on top of the beat.
Function Window Relooper Editors The Relooper works by slicing and re-arranging the sample currently in the playback buffer for the associated deck. The region to be re-looped is defined by the beat markers bounding the playback marker (center of the Beat Window). Relooper patterns can be used on any track and on the bar that is currently playing. Note: In MAGIX Digital DJ, relooper patterns cannot be changed, and for this reason editing and RANDOMIZE functions are not available.
Function Window • TRACK-CODERLo-Fi distortion effect combining low order vocoder (16 bands), pitch tracking with sawtooth waveform synthesis and fold-back distortion mixed with the original signal. Database Browse your iTunes library and drop songs onto the MAGIX Digital DJ playlist. If you have iTunes installed, and your database is not displayed here, you can manually set the path to the iTunes database file (iTunes Music Library.xml) under Global settings-> iTunes database (view page 48).
Function Window Recording starts immediately if you click on the Record button in the middle. The timeline informs you of the relative length of the current playlist. MANUAL and AUTO indicate whether AUTOMIX (see Playlist) is active or not. Everything exiting the main output will be recorded. A limiter prevents overmodulation. This limiter cannot be adjusted further. The LIM indicator is active when it is in use. You should then reduce the output level ("Additional settings").
Settings Settings To open the Setup Function Window, click on the [SETUP] button located in the Function switch area at the upper middleof the main interface. NOTE: Audio Settings (view page 41) are accessed from the Tool Bar ("Toolbar"). Audio settings Audio settings page may be opened via the Audio button in the menu bar. In order to get the best out of MAGIX Digital DJ, you may need to take some time to familiarize yourself with the Audio and General, File & MIDI Settings (view page 47)on another page.
Settings • AUDIO INTERFACE - Selects your soundcard/audio & driver. PC users: We recommend using an ASIO driver, Deckadance installer includes the ASIO4ALL. • SAMPLE RATE - Select the play-back frequency of your audio interface. 44100 Hz (44.1 kHz) is most common although some interfacces use 48000 Hz (48 kHz). • AUDIO LATENCY - This is a working buffer (breathing space) used by Deckadance to avoid CPU overload.
Settings • OUTPUTS - Select audio output configuration for internal or external audio mixing. Your ability to use the options below will depend on the number of outputs your audio interface has: Internal mixing - In this configuration you can select 2 stereo audio outputs. 1. Headphones (Monitor) and 2. Main outputs (Speakers/Mixing desk). - External mixing - In this configuration you have the option to configure 4 stereo audio outputs. 1. Headphones (Monitor) and 2. & 3.
Settings 2. Click the [Control Panel] button on Audio settings to open the ASIO4ALL driver settings (as shown below). 1. ASIO Buffer Size - As shown above, the ASIO4ALL window allows you to adjust the ASIO Buffer Size (Buffer length) settings to fine-tune Buffer underrun issues (audio clicks, pops or glitches). You can adjust the buffer length for each selected device (in this case the Creative SB X-Fi is selected, highlighted dark-blue).
Settings 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Active devices - Only active devices (and their active Inputs/Outputs) can be used by Deckadance, i.e show in the INPUT / OUTPUT ROUTING options. This is the step that is required to use a USB microphone with your sound card. To activate a device click the button in front of the device name, the blue button & arrow will light to indicate the device is active. You must also ensure that the device's Inputs (In:) and Outputs (Out:) are also activated.
Settings Troubleshooting 1. Make sure you are using the latest version of ASIO4ALL, install it and try again. The latest ASIO4ALL driver will be available at www.asio4all.com. Don't be afraid to try the latest Beta (if there is one). Unavailable - If any of the inputs/outputs of the devices in the 'WDM Device List' have a RED X through them, it means they are probably being used by another audio application. For example, programs such as 'MSN Messenger', 'Skype', media players etc.
Settings 1. of 'Beyond Logic' errors. Also try closing and re-opening the control panel, unplugging/re-inserting USB audio devices and/or reinstalling the Windows (WDM) driver for the sound card. Check the ASIO4ALL Manual in the installation directory ..:\Program Files\ASIO4ALL v2\ASIO4ALL v2 Instruction Manual.pdf, FAQ at www.asio4all.com or try the ASIO4ALL forums.
Settings NOTE: If you are using a MIDI controller, configure the controller to MAGIX Digital DJ interface relationships using the [MIDI] function switch to access the MIDI Configuration ("MIDI Setup") page. Options • Disable Elastique master tempo and key lock engine - Can decrease CPU load for slower computers struggling to run MAGIX Digital DJ without audio glitches (don't forget to increase latency & use an ASIO driver). • Lock playing deck - Stops tracks loading on the playing deck.
Settings • Midi Files- Sets the location of your MIDI files. These may be used to control VST plug-ins. • VST Plugins - Sets the location of your VST plugins. • Disk Rec file - Choose the location for the disk recorder (view page 39) (located above the Function Window switches).
Shortcuts Shortcuts Note: Record, sampler record, VST plugin/host, vinyl/external control and MIDI controller functions are not included in MAGIX Digital DJ. To activate these functions, you must upgrade (view page 9) your version to Deckadance Home or Club Edition.
Shortcuts P L S X C V B N M , .
Shortcuts Sampler slot #4 rec slot #5 Sampler slot #5 F5 rec slot #6 Sampler slot #6 F6 rec slot #7 Sampler slot #7 F7 rec slot #8 Sampler slot #8 F9 rec Vinyl / Ext Ctrl.
Index Index A About ................................................................................................. 22, 49 Additional settings ..................................................................... 8, 33, 36, 40 Audio (ASIO4ALL) PC Only .................................................................. 42, 43 Audio settings ....................................................... 13, 18, 36, 41, 43, 46, 48 B Beat-phase display ................................................................
Index H How to sample loops ................................................................................ 30 L Lower Controls ............................................................................. 16, 19, 29 M MAGIX Digital DJ user interface .................................................................. 6 Master Relooper Effects ........................................................................... 38 MIDI Setup .........................................................................
Index System requirements ................................................................................ 10 T Tool window ............................................................................................. 21 Toolbar ......................................................................................... 11, 17, 41 Tooltips ................................................................................................ 7, 11 Track Display Colors .................................................
