Disable "Master" on Decks C and D in Sampler Mode?!

[DJRicoche]

I will have to run a test to get the exact order that causes it to occur.

I do NOT use auto play. I am mixing manually.

If memory serves, it is when (for example) if the track in Deck A is ending, and ANYTHING is loaded into the sampler decks (playing or not) the "MASTER" jumps to the sampler deck that is loaded, even if you have a track ready to go (or even playing) in Deck "B".

What ends up happening is when you go to "SYNC" the tracks, Deck "B" syncs to the Sampler BPM instead of the BPM of the track in Deck "A". The only way to avoid it is to leave the samplers empty and not use them.

In my opinion Decks "A" and "B" should be the "primary" decks when Cross is set up in sampler mode; there should be an option (in the preferences perhaps) to disallow them from becoming MASTER decks, because you can SYNC them manually anyway. I don't know why anyone would want to set up a sampler deck as the source for the MASTER BPM anyway. It makes sense when using them as traditional decks, but not as samplers.

I'd rather have my samples match the BPM in Decks "A" and "B" then have Decks "A" and "B"try to take the master BPM from the sampler decks, which is what it does now.

Just give us an option to disable Decks "C" and "D" from becoming "MASTER" decks, and the problem is fixed.

Hope that makes sense.

[DJRicoche]

OK, so I found a work around (sort of) to limit the BPM of Decks C & D when they Hijack MASTER control from decks A & B and you don't notice.

It's kind of wonky - it works - but it's more of a safety net really.

What I do is load my samples as needed into the sample banks, then I manually change the BPM for deck C & D to something close to what I am playing (128 BPM for example) by clicking on the BPM Box of each player and typing in the BPM I want.

Then, when I load deck A with a track or video, I manually select the "MASTER" button with the mouse. generally, this keeps the MASTER switching between Decks A & B - but if for some reason the software switches to C or D as MASTER and I don't catch it, the BPM is set high enough that is doesn't mess up my transition due to a drastic shift in BPM.

Like I said, it's kind of a half-assed work around, and honestly, as sample decks there is no need for them to become "MASTER" decks anyway.

I wish the Mixvibes Team would give us an option to "Disable MASTER on Decks C & D" when in Sampler Mode, somewhere in the settings. I can't imagine it would be all that difficult.

It would just make it a lot easier for those of us who use the samplers for drops, etc.

Thanks!

[RoJeC]

You could give release candidate 3.2 a try. I noticed some remark on a fix for master behaviour.

[DJRicoche]

Thats good to know - I haven't been able to track down the details on the RC - I have been looking in the RC forum, but there doesn't seem to be any details about the changes. I certainly will be moving to the newer version, at least for testing.

[RoJeC]

Almost all downloadi have a button at bottom of the post with the change log.

[DJRicoche]

Thanks, I just found it. The issue addressed seems to be one where there is NO "MASTER" deck at all, and that is not what I am looking to have changed.

I simply want the ability to disable decks C & D from becoming 'MASTER" decks entirely.

[DJ Vintage]

Although I am not very big on sample use (on my old MC6000 no pads and don't want to be fooling around with mouse or keyboard shortcuts), so I am not "suffering" from what you are describing.

However, that might change in the near future (playing around with creating my own samples, in which case I will want to start using them of course).

Now, while at current I don't know if the way it works now is "THE" logical way or not, the way you describe you want to have it does make sense. Track BPM is what you are using to mix and beatmatch, samplers should follow suit. Even if there are people that use and/or prefer the current way the software behaves, I agree that making it a simple on/off switch in preferences should make everybody happy.

Someone said there has to always be a master BPM. I would think that if no new track is playing (or even loaded) the software would maintain the last used master bpm UNTIL something else is chosen, not switch to a sample bpm.

I am a firm believer that DJ workflow is just about the most personal thing there is and that it's impossible for someone else to tell you what would be logical for you. Obviously you can't get everything exactly the way you want it, but software that has most flexibility in adapting it to your particular workflow scores best imho.

Now Mixvibes is doing a good job of supporting that flexibility and I am sure that, considering the valid arguments presented in this thread, they will have another look at the issue.

Hopefully for you there will be an easy fix to make the way sampler master behaviour works suit you better.

Greetinx.

[RoJeC]

If decks a and b use line in you need an other as master to keep the master clock. All other functions are hooked up to this clock. It might be given some thought but having no master will mess up many other effects and options.

[FigDJ]

It is true that the master clock should be on at all times, however I agree that a sampler should not change automatically to be the master. i saw a very intuitive solution to this in late (RIP) Torq DJ software. Torq had a MIDI clock that provide sync to external devices and programs and it was also the master clock. Now the master clock could be made a slave to a deck or the deck could be made slaves to the master clock. You had a clock for each individual deck, a clock for the sampler and a master clock that kept everything in sync. Perhaps something similar could be implemented in Crosss.

in the meantime try using the clock start/stop buttons in the samplers. Stop the clock in the sampler and as long as one of the decks have a track loaded the samplers will not become master. If you unload the deck then one of the samplers will become the master. yeah kind of annoying because in the heat of mixing a sampler could become the master and screw things a bit.

[RoJeC]

Likely alternatives are possible. The challenge will be to keep it simple Cross style.
I still would like to have an option to have a pad(samplerdeck) played native speed....