ios dj mixes / apps

touchconspiracy

You all know I dj as well as produce.

I'd like to hear from any of you who use dj apps for any purpose whatsoever.

I've been using dj apps for years. Started with Amidio touch dj, which was ok but did not beat match that accurately. Then cue.play.dj came along and that was slightly better. Things progressed further with an app called sonosaurus Rex and I actually used that live in clubs in Denver which raised loads of eyebrows!

They couldn't understand how it was possible to mix smoothly on an iPad and WITHOUT CUEING WITH HEADPHONES!

I never did like Djay by algoriddim or the dreadfully overcrowded dj player app, so I was in bliss when native instruments released Traktor dj, which is heads and tails above the rest.

I currently use Cross Dj cause I can just mix whatever is on soundcloud, as I cannot sync with iTunes currently..I like it cause it's simple yet stable and keeps the focus on well timed mixing rather than hiding behind fancy fx.

Here's a clip from a mix I did which hopefully should serve to convince sceptics who doubt ios dj apps are the real deal once I release it.

So please share your mixes and favourite dj apps:)

Matt_Fletcher_2000

I use Djay2 for playing at parties and stuff - just for fun now and again. These days I stream straight from spotify into DJay2 which is great as long as the wifi connection holds up in the venue.

I have to have a convoluted backup involving iPhones on AirPlay mode with local spotify tracks if it doesn't!

I like Djay2 a lot. The FX can glitch a bit, and some of them are naff but a few of the sugar bytes ones are great. Other than that it's just stable and pretty easy to use and do simple things like looping and triggering samples etc. I play it pretty safe because I've normally had a few drinks!

It also works well with audiobus. Although not if you're streaming from spotify.

touchconspiracy

Sounds great matt! Need pay for spotify account though right?

Please share some mixes sometime!

@Matt_Fletcher_2000 said:
I use Djay2 for playing at parties and stuff - just for fun now and again. These days I stream straight from spotify into DJay2 which is great as long as the wifi connection holds up in the venue.

I have to have a convoluted backup involving iPhones on AirPlay mode with local spotify tracks if it doesn't!

I like Djay2 a lot. The FX can glitch a bit, and some of them are naff but a few of the sugar bytes ones are great. Other than that it's just stable and pretty easy to use and do simple things like looping and triggering samples etc. I play it pretty safe because I've normally had a few drinks!

It also works well with audiobus. Although not if you're streaming from spotify.

djjuniorpops

I use DJay 2 also on iPAD and Serato DJ on Mac, I would post a mix with DJay 2

touchconspiracy

Yes, please post! What genres you like to spin?

@djjuniorpops said:
I use DJay 2 also on iPAD and Serato DJ on Mac, I would post a mix with DJay 2

Tarekith

Been DJing for about 20 years, turntables, CDJ, Ableton, Traktor, you name it, I've used them all over the that time frame. When I got my first iPad was pretty into djay just for kicks, amazing you could do all that with something so portable. But i mainly just used it at home for fun, nothing serious.

When Traktor DJ came out I was more interested, and quickly adopted that as my main DJ app. Still is too. I did a few hours parties and even some last minute sets at the local bar back in Seattle. Really fun way of working, no doubt.

If I wasn't so in love with the possibilities of my S8, I think I'd be rocking the iPad and a Z1 for everything and be having almost as much fun.

CalCutta

When I'm too lazy to turn the decks on, I'll use Djay2: Spotify integration and I don't have to use some stupid "sync" button to blend.

I'd really love it if Djay2 would let me use control vinyl, then I'd use it permanently.

Hex047

Djay 2 is the only Dj app I have tried on the ipad, before that I was using cross dj on a android tablet. Initially bought djay 2 to replicate the impc sampling workflow using the timetable. Apart from playing parties and live sets, i haven't used it that much...still prefer real hardware for now.

touchconspiracy

Great! Me too, been mixing since 85, but lol, I jumped from 1210's to iPAD , actually iPhone

I really shake my head when I see all these cdjs and laptop arrangements

Agree, traktor dj is amazing

@Tarekith said:
Been DJing for about 20 years, turntables, CDJ, Ableton, Traktor, you name it, I've used them all over the that time frame. When I got my first iPad was pretty into djay just for kicks, amazing you could do all that with something so portable. But i mainly just used it at home for fun, nothing serious.

When Traktor DJ came out I was more interested, and quickly adopted that as my main DJ app. Still is too. I did a few hours parties and even some last minute sets at the local bar back in Seattle. Really fun way of working, no doubt.

If I wasn't so in love with the possibilities of my S8, I think I'd be rocking the iPad and a Z1 for everything and be having almost as much fun.

touchconspiracy

So u do it traditional without bpm sync? Wow..

Impressive

@CalCutta said:
When I'm too lazy to turn the decks on, I'll use Djay2: Spotify integration and I don't have to use some stupid "sync" button to blend.

I'd really love it if Djay2 would let me use control vinyl, then I'd use it permanently.

CalCutta

Oh yeah, esp. on Djay 2 when you make sure the pitch fader's more exacting (forget what the option's called, it's in "Advanced Settings"), it's easy. Probably even easier if you set it to a fader on a MIDI controller (I've been too lazy/impatient to do anything MIDI with Djay 2).

Not sure if you saw me mention this in the other thread, I dj'd on SubFM for a few years (go to Archives and search Cal Cutta if you're curious). I technically started on drum machines but I'm more proficient as a DJ.

I'll record a mix on Djay 2 tonight, that would be fun.

For the record, when I do turn the decks on, I use Traktor Scratch Pro with control vinyl, and then pull whatever out of the crates.

touchconspiracy

Nice! Whistla and raggz are old mates..

But here's a curious question, if by a touch of a button, perfect bpm sync can be had..why bother with headphones and pitch faders? Even Carl cox, Grooverider etc use bpm sync but still mix incredible ..

Anyway, looking forward to your mix mate, keep it underground as always:)

@CalCutta said:
Oh yeah, esp. on Djay 2 when you make sure the pitch fader's more exacting (forget what the option's called, it's in "Advanced Settings"), it's easy. Probably even easier if you set it to a fader on a MIDI controller (I've been too lazy/impatient to do anything MIDI with Djay 2).

Not sure if you saw me mention this in the other thread, I dj'd on SubFM for a few years (go to Archives and search Cal Cutta if you're curious). I technically started on drum machines but I'm more proficient as a DJ.

I'll record a mix on Djay 2 tonight, that would be fun.

For the record, when I do turn the decks on, I use Traktor Scratch Pro with control vinyl, and then pull whatever out of the crates.

CalCutta

Because Sync is less fun and I spent a lot of time practicing beatmatching coming up.

Whistla's really nice, not talked with Raggs much but she played sax on Guido's "Mad Sax", which is one of my favorite songs ever, so big up Raggs!

touchconspiracy

Lol ok, but if ur spinning Dubstep, it's mostly 138-140 bpm anyway

For me, if I can sync, far more focus can go elsewhere, and I like to hold two tunes together for ages old school style!

@CalCutta said:
Because Sync is less fun and I spent a lot of time practicing beatmatching coming up.

Whistla's really nice, not talked with Raggs much but she played sax on Guido's "Mad Sax", which is one of my favorite songs ever, so big up Raggs!

CalCutta

Not just spinning dubstep (gave that up circa-'11, and I started as an IDM DJ, which has no universal tempo), and I mixed a lot of disparate styles in with dubstep when I did.

I tend not to focus (or want) a lot of bells'n'whistles in a dj set. I want to hear good selection, creative blends and flourishes of good turntablism. If the former's good enough, I don't care about the latter 2.

touchconspiracy

Yes, good selection of tracks that suit each other nice and great blends is the key! I'm not into all this sampling and extremely long builds ad nauseum either

@CalCutta said:
Not just spinning dubstep (gave that up circa-'11, and I started as an IDM DJ, which has no universal tempo), and I mixed a lot of disparate styles in with dubstep when I did.

I tend not to focus (or want) a lot of bells'n'whistles in a dj set. I want to hear good selection, creative blends and flourishes of good turntablism. If the former's good enough, I don't care about the latter 2.

djjuniorpops

@touchconspiracy said:
Yes, please post! What genres you like to spin?

I have been in the business for years ,there is no set genres I spin, but in a late's I am doing a lot of house,would post mix on the weekend, since I work nights these days.

touchconspiracy

Thanks man, looking forward to it!

@djjuniorpops said:
I have been in the business for years ,there is no set genres I spin, but in a late's I am doing a lot of house,would post mix on the weekend, since I work nights these days.

mister_rz

Leaving your sl1200-1210's for an ipad is like leaving your wife for a mannequin, I jest, sort of, been trying to get into traktor on ipad, I like that you can play the beats, beat sync still makes me clench my buttocks tho, I prefer to feck things up beat matching the old way.

CalCutta

@mister_rz said:
Leaving your sl1200-1210's for an ipad is like leaving your wife for a mannequin, I jest, sort of, been trying to get into traktor on ipad, I like that you can play the beats, beat sync still makes me clench my buttocks tho, I prefer to feck things up beat matching the old way.

This...so much this

I do have faith though that iPad's will (sooner rather than later) become powerful enough to run some kind of version of Traktor Scratch that allows for control vinyl (or cd's if that's your bag).

mister_rz

@CalCutta said:
I do have faith though that iPad's will (sooner rather than later) become powerful enough to run some kind of version of Traktor Scratch that allows for control vinyl (or cd's if that's your bag).

There is a dj app that can do this, but I forget what it's called, love it if traktor for ipad got vinyl control, I'm just using my ipad as a controller with this template http://www.digitaldjtools.net/mappings/mashy-for-lemur

CalCutta

Are you thinking of Conductr? I'm pretty sure you still need the laptop, and that Conductr is basically supposed to act as a master MIDI interface/controller so you can put an iPad where you'd normally put your laptop...but you still need the laptop. Seems like bloat to me.

mister_rz

Is an app called dj player, supports most timecode vinyl too, I've got it, but haven't tried it out with timecode yet, although the new traktor osx update is upsetting, so I might give it a spin, it's had this ability for a few years too, iap, which is fair enough.

CalCutta

hmmm hadn't heard of that, will need to research, thanks!

touchconspiracy

Gosh, real djing is about mixing tracks that work well together and making ppl dance. IPad can do it as good as technics and pioneer..takes up less space and u don't need a flight case..

mister_rz

No, no, no, no, no, real djing is about touching something big and round, real real djing is about touching something big and round with no pitch control, so you have to use your fingers to slo things down and speed them up, real real, real djing is using a gramophone and jazzband.

What you refer to is rubber djing, it looks real, feels real, hell it even smells real, then the sync is out of whack and you get confused and think, wtf, this thing clangs worse than me.

mister_rz

@CalCutta said:
hmmm hadn't heard of that, will need to research, thanks!

I'd been holding off as I've heard about issues with the mk2 traktor timecode vinyl, but I might give it a go as like touchconspiracy said, ipad is a nice portable system, think other timecode is fine but I haven't tried it, might be time for me to invest in a set of ms pinky vinyl.

CalCutta

I just got a Kontrol Z2 mixer (love it so far), so I'll probably stick with Traktor. Ah well, maybe NI will update their app eventually.

touchconspiracy

Lol, funny guy

With traktor dj and cross dj , I've not yet experienced bpm sync going out of whack lol. Can hold two tunes for minutes perfectly

Promise u, no clanging lol

@mister_rz said:
No, no, no, no, no, real djing is about touching something big and round, real real djing is about touching something big and round with no pitch control, so you have to use your fingers to slo things down and speed them up, real real, real djing is using a gramophone and jazzband.

What you refer to is rubber djing, it looks real, feels real, hell it even smells real, then the sync is out of whack and you get confused and think, wtf, this thing clangs worse than me.

djjuniorpops

Quick mix on the fly using DJ Player App , recorded in AudioShare.

djjuniorpops

DJ Player is the best iOS DJ app, the only thing it don't have a sampler , the developer says it's on the update list