Yamaha Djx 2 Manual

Chapter 19 The Outside World
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83Mute the speakers
If you’re routing the DJX-II’s sound to a DJ mixer or external amplifier/speaker system, you may 
want to cut off the sound of the DJX-II’s built-in speakers.  Easy!  Simply insert a phone plug into 
the PHONES jack — or hook up a set of stereo headphones for monitoring the DJX-II sound.
Naturally, even when the built-in speakers are muted in this way, audio is still output through the 
LINE OUT jacks. 

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Chapter 20
DJ Performance 
Master Class
Take it up to the next level!  Use these advanced tips as a springboard to explore all the 
amazing DJ possibilities — and become a true mixing virtuoso!
84Creative fill-in 3
Here’s a cool technique for stopping the Pattern and coming back in with the rhythm.  Select P14 
and start with V1.  Then, hit PATTERN STOP and the same Variation as shown.  You may want to 
slow down the bpm — to better help you hear where to play the changes! 
85Break to a new beat
Here’s...

Chapter 20 DJ Performance Master Class
63
86Switch the drums!
Try this slick trick!  Here, you’ll keep the Phrase Parts of a Pattern going, but slip in a different 
rhythm to back it up.  This is a technique the pros use to switch the beat around, yet still maintain 
the flow!
Select P17 and A02, then start V8.  Then, on the “one,” press PHRASE1+2+3 of the Part Mixer and 
Activator Loop1 simultaneously.  The Pattern drums drop out and the Activator Loop kicks in — all 
on the same beat!  To go back, press...

64
88Upside down, inside out!
Sometimes when you play certain Parts in a Pattern by themselves, it’s difficult to hear where the 
downbeat is.  Especially in an intro.  Your ears may fool you into hearing and expecting a com-
pletely different downbeat!  Then, when the rest of the rhythm kicks in, it turns your feet (and whole 
body!) around.  Like with this tricky intro!
Select P18 and set only the Bass Part to play (with the Part Mixer).  Then start V1.  Let the Bass play by 
itself for a few bars, and...

Chapter 20 DJ Performance Master Class
65
90Sync up your samples to the Pat-
tern!
By now, you’ve probably got a few really hot samples recorded to the DJX-II.  And maybe you’re 
itching to use them with the Patterns.  Well, here’s how you can do just that — and keep everything 
in sync!
While playing one of your Sample Loops, listen carefully for the beat and tap it out on the BPM/TAP 
button.
The Pattern starts automatically at the same bpm as the Sample Loop.  If the Loop and Pattern drift 
out of...

66
91Play a Pattern, trigger a Performance
Work on using the Pattern Player and Performance Player in tandem for your onstage mixes — 
both give you so much more than you get with either one alone!
When youre playing a Pattern, press one of the Performance Player Pads — to instantly switch 
over to a recorded performance.  Then, instantly switch back to the Patterns again, simply by 
pressing one of the Pattern Player keys.
Its a good idea have a bank of your specially recorded performances loaded and...

Chapter 20 DJ Performance Master Class
67
93Taking the pulse
The DJX-II has a variety of bpm-related tools that help you get the proper bpm — such as tapping 
it out (Tip 78) or capturing the bpm from an external source (Tip 94 below).  Sometimes you may 
find it difficult or impossible to get an accurate reading, however.  In the end, the best tools are your 
ears!
Use the AUDIO BPM COUNTER or Tap function to zero in (as close as possible) on the bpm of an 
external source.  Then, to fine tune the bpm...

68
95Toggling on beat, muting in rhy thm
Now that you’ve got your rhythm skills down, try out some of these more compli-
cated maneuvers!
Try using the TOGGLE key (in the Part Mixer) rhythmically.  Set the Part Mixer up so 
that only Phrase 1, 2, and 3 are playing — then play the TOGGLE key on every beat 
of the Pattern, so that the Parts alternate in rhythm.  Try other playing Patterns as 
well — such as hitting TOGGLE twice every beat (in 1/8 notes), or playing even 
more complicated, syncopated...

Chapter 20 DJ Performance Master Class
69
97Sync applications — using the 
DJX-II as the slave
Here we’ll do the opposite of Tip 96 above.  This sophisticated application lets you play sequenced 
Patterns and song data on an external sequencer and have the Patterns of the DJX-II lock into the 
bpm of that device.  
1 Set up the DJX-II and the external device.
Use a standard MIDI cable to connect the two devices as shown.
2 Set the DJX-II to “external sync.”
Simultaneously hold down BPM/TAP and turn the...

70
98Get more Patterns!
One of the great things about the DJX-II is how open-ended the system is!  You can get additional 
Patterns from the DJX Internet Site (
www.yamahadjx.com), and — with the downloadable 
Pattern Launcher software — load that Pattern data right into your DJX-II!
Once new Pattern data is loaded, select one of the Patterns U1 - U5 to play the desired Pattern.  (U1 
- U5 appear only when User Pattern data has been loaded to the DJX-II.)  Up to five Patterns can be 
loaded at one time.
...