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Yamaha Djx 2 Manual

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    							Chapter 6 Part Mixer Basics
    31
    31Extra texture!
    Work on your instrument textures.  All the mixmasters and mixologists do it!  Why?  Because it 
    works like a charm!
    Try turning all the Parts off — except the BASS Part —  then select P05 and start V1. 
    Let the Bass carry on for a while.  Then bring in the Kick.  Let those two instruments simmer for a 
    while, then start up the Hi-Hat.  Pull in the Snare for a powerful beat.  Then fly in some Percussion 
    to spice things up.  Finally, get all the Parts happening, so the whole Pattern is playing.  
    Experiment with other instrument combinations and orders, let your ears be the judge... and have 
    fun!  After all, this is the way the pros build up the sound.
    p05
    wqe 
    						
    							32
    Chapter 7
    Part Selector
    Now that you’ve learned about the Parts and had a chance to fool around with them, 
    let’s see what other magic you can work with them...
    32Grab a Part and tweak it!
    If you thought tweaking the effects (Tips 13 - 23 above) was a blast, wait till you start working on 
    the Parts.  This is where the fun really begins!  
    Introducing the Part Selector and the Part Controller.  By itself, the Part Selector doesn’t make any 
    sound.  It simply lets you select the Part you’re going to be tweaking with the Part Controller.
    For example, if you’ve selected BASS with the Part Selector keys, and turn the CUTOFF knob, only 
    the Bass Part will be affected by changing the Cutoff.  Likewise, if Hi-Hat is selected and you turn 
    the VOLUME knob, only the Hi-Hat’s volume will be changed.
    Notice that this function only works on one Part at a time.  Select a Part, turn a knob — only that 
    Part is affected.  When you press one of the normal Part Selector keys (BASS, KICK, SNARE, etc.), 
    that Part is enabled for control and the others are ignored.
    33Combination keys
    Did we say you could only control one Part at a time?  Sorry!  Actually, the Part Selector has three 
    combination keys that let you call up several Parts at once for tweaking.  
    For example, press the BASS+KICK key — then use the Part Controller knobs to tweak both the 
    Bass and Kick Parts simultaneously.  Naturally, the PHRASE1+2+3 and KICK+HI-HAT keys work in 
    similar fashion for those combined Parts.
    q
    w 
    						
    							Chapter 7 Part Selector
    33
    34Tweak the Activator sound!
    Guess what?  The Activator is fair game for the Part Controller, too!  Press the ACTIVATOR key in 
    the Part Selector section, and you’ve just called up all of the Activator sounds for tweaking.  In other 
    words, the Part Controller affects ALL keys in the Activator at the same time.
    35Select all Parts and tweak them!
    Here’s where things get wild and wooly!  Press the three keys BASS+KICK, PHRASE1+2+3 and 
    KICK+HI-HAT at the same time, and all Parts — as well as all Activator sounds — are selected.  
    Turn the CUTOFF knob or another knob and hear how the overall sound radically changes — that’s 
    because all Parts and all Activator sounds are controlled together by the knobs. 
    						
    							34
    Chapter 8
    Part Controller
    In the last chapter you did some tweaking of the Parts.  Now it’s time to dig in a little 
    deeper and explore the Part Controller section.  These little knobs can really open up 
    your sound!
    36Cutoff and Resonance
    The CUTOFF and RESONANCE knobs control the filter effects.  And what are “filter effects,” you 
    ask?  Well, filters have been used for a long time with analog synthesizers, and in the right hands 
    they are capable of turning static, boring sounds into something really dynamic and animated.  
    Turn CUTOFF to the left and the sound becomes darker or “muffled.”  Turn CUTOFF to the right and 
    the sound becomes brighter.  The RESONANCE knob controls how sharp the peak of the filter is.  
    Turn RESONANCE to the right and the filter peak becomes sharp and pronounced.  Turn the RESO-
    NANCE left and the filter becomes flat.
    Try tweaking CUTOFF while RESONANCE is at about 2 or 3 oclock (see below).  The filter becomes 
    sharper, and you can actually hear the filter peak moving according to the CUTOFF knob position.
    There’s no way to adequately describe this effect in words — you just have to try it out for yourself, 
    and hear how awesome it can make your music sound!
    Volume
    Frequency (pitch) Frequency (pitch)VolumeCutoff frequency
    Resonance
    Brighter Darker
    These frequencies are 
    “passed” by the filter. 
    						
    							Chapter 8 Part Controller
    35
    37Adjust the Part volume
    Yes, the VOLUME knob is a simple control for the volume of the Part — but the simplicity is deceiv-
    ing.  By letting you adjust the volume for each Part, you can perform various arranging tricks on the 
    fly, like fading specific parts in and out of the overall mix — while the Pattern is running!
    38Tweak the cutoff 
    Set RESONANCE to about 2 or 3 oclock, then select PHRASE1+2+3 with the PART SELECTOR.  
    Slowly turn the CUTOFF knob to create a slow sweeping effect.  Twiddle the knob back and forth 
    quickly and create a wah-like trembling effect.
    q Start the Pattern.
    w Set RESONANCE to about 2 or 3 
    oclock.
    e Select PHRASE1+2+3.
    r Turn the CUTOFF knob.
    t Stop the Pattern.  
    						
    							36
    Chapter 9
    Key Shifter
    As a dance production powerhouse, the DJX-II naturally excels in the realm of rhythm.  
    However, it’s got important harmonic bases covered as well.  One of these is the conve-
    nient Key Shifter.
    39Transpose the key
    The Key Shifter section of the DJX-II lets you take the pitch (or “key”) of the overall sound, and 
    transpose it up or down — instantly!  
    Believe it or not, changing the key of the overall sound makes subtle but fundamental changes to 
    the character of the sound as well.  Use higher keys (+1 to +6) to make the sound more tense or 
    brighter, and use the lower keys (-1 to -5) to make the sound more relaxed and subdued.
    Key Shifter is especially convenient when you’re using the DJX-II with an external sound source, 
    such as CD or vinyl — letting you match the key of the Pattern to the key on the external source!
    CD MD
    q Start the Pattern or Activator. 
    e Stop the Pattern or Activator. 
    w Adjust the key. 
    						
    							Chapter 9 Key Shifter
    37
    40Create your own chord progressions!
    Naturally, you can use the Key Shifter to change chords on the fly, and create your own original 
    chord progressions — as you perform! 
    Let’s try it out.  For example, select P08 and start V1.  Then press the Key Shifter keys as shown 
    below.  Remember to keep the beat and stay in time!
    Since many of the DJX-II Patterns have their own pre-programmed chord progressions, shifting 
    the key in the middle of a Pattern may result in unexpected or unusual twists.  Experiment!  Try dif-
    ferent Patterns.  Try using only two keys, alternating between them every other bar.  Try changing 
    key only once every four bars, especially for Patterns that change chords several times over their 
    four-bar cycle.  In this simple feature there’s a huge world of musical possibilities!
    p08
    One Two Three FourOne Two Three Four
    +1+3
    0+5 
    						
    							38
    Chapter 10
    Ribbon Controller
    The DJX-II is packed with knobs, pads, switches and dials that let you work the sound 
    with your fingers.  And here’s one more expressive tool that gives you hands-on control!
    41Do some scratching on the Ribbon!
    Work out on the amazing Ribbon Controller!  It sounds just like scratching a turntable — and it 
    takes up a whole lot less space!
    Select Scratch 1 (press the SELECT button).  Now touch the Ribbon Controller and hear the charac-
    teristic vinyl “noise.”  Next, move your finger along the Ribbon to get scratching sounds.  For a dif-
    ferent scratch sound, use Scratch 2.
    As always, play along with the rhythm, and stay in the pocket!
    42Stop the turntable
    You’ve heard the effect — where the whole track drops in pitch and slows down to a grinding halt!  
    Guess what — you can do the same thing on the DJX-II, and have fingertip control over it, too! 
    Select Pitch&BPM (press the SELECT button), and the Ribbon Controller switches to control both 
    pitch and bpm simultaneously.  Put your finger at the center of the Ribbon, then slowly slide it to 
    the left — and hear the pitch go down and the bpm slow down.  Sliding your finger all the way to 
    the left brings everything to a grinding halt — just like turning off the power on a turntable! 
    Let go of the Ribbon, and the “turntable” starts up again!  The Pattern starts at low pitch and bpm, 
    and gradually works its way back up to speed.  An awesome effect that cranks up the excitement 
    factor a couple more notches! 
    						
    							39
    Chapter 11
    BPM/Tap Basics
    Control over bpm means control over the dance floor!  Some mixologists have this down 
    to a science.  Use these tips to get started with your own bpm explorations.
    43Change the bpm
    Another sure-fire way to stir things up is to play with the bpm.  Turn up the bpm and turn up the 
    heat!
    Press BPM/TAP once and turn the dial.  For you techies, the bpm range is 32.0 - 280.0.  try starting 
    the Pattern at a slower-than-normal bpm, then gradually bring the bpm up in speed to get the 
    groove really happening!
     Be careful!  If the Pattern is stopped and you turn the dial past 280.0, “Sync” appears in the dis-
    play and the DJX-II goes into the Sync Mode (see page 69).  To get out of this mode, simply turn 
    the dial to the left, until bpm values appear in the display again.
    44Reset to the default bpm
    Want to get back to the original pre-programmed default bpm?  Simply press and hold down BPM/
    TAP — and the bpm of the currently selected Pattern is instantly reset to its original speed.
    32.
    0280.
    0SYnc
    Sync Mode (page 69).  
    (Only selectable when 
    Pattern is stopped.) 
    						
    							40
    Chapter 12
    Pattern Player 
    Power Tips
    45Hitting a new Pattern and Variation 
    — at the same time!
    There will be times when you’ll want to change not only to a new Pattern, but to a specific Variation 
    — instantly and at the same time.  Here’s the best way to do that!
    First, press PATTERN/ENTER and turn the dial to call up the new Pattern number.  Then, while the 
    first Pattern is playing, press the desired Variation key.  Both the Pattern number and the Variation 
    number change simultaneously.
    Flashes
    01.
    03
    p03
    q
    q
    w
    w
    Current Pattern — 
    now playing.
    New Pattern — 
    waiting in standby.
    The new Pattern is up 
    and playing! 
    						
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