Re: [xwax-devel] Some thoughts and questions regarding XWAX

[Mark H. <ma...@po...>]

On Mon, 22 Jun 2009, Charles Phillips wrote:

> Stefan Welker wrote:
>>>> 3. Pitch Multiplier/ Extension. I personally use STR8 150s which have
>>>> a pitch range of up to -/+ 50%. But I often play in clubs that use
>>>> 1210 which limits me to only -/+ 8%. Being a DJ that really likes to
>>>> mix up genres together, this is too limiting. The idea of a Pitch
>>>> Extender would be great. This could be done by 2 options:
>>>>
>>>> 1st is to extend the range by multiplying the pitch, for example,
>>>> make the range +/- 16% by doubling the value that the pitch slider is
>>>> set to. This effectively halves the resolution of your pitch slider.
>>>>
>>>> The 2nd option is to offset the zero point, so that the range is
>>>> still +/- 8%, but the zero point can be moved within a range. For
>>>> example, you could shift the zero point up to + 6, giving you a range
>>>> of -2% to +14%, however in this case the resolution of the pitch
>>>> slider is normal.
>>>>
>>> That is indeed an interesting idea/feature!
>>>
>>>
>>
>> I would be against doubling the range, because this makes mixing
>> harder, when you are used to using the fine grained +/- 8  making this
>> a +/-16 slider will result in too little resolution. My idea would be
>> to simple offset the pitch with a software pitch offset with the
>> keyboard to any value +0 ... + 400 % for example  and then you can
>> still mix perfectly with the +/-8 % pitch
>>
>>
>> Stefan
>>
> I would be in favor of a multiplier.  DJs who mix with greater than 8%
> on turntables or CD decks are accustomed to the change in resolution.
> All the hardware I have encountered works this way.  I myself use Numark
> TTX-1 turntables, which offer +-8%, 10%, 20%, and 50% ranges.  Technics
> 1200s are of course the standard when I play out, so a multiplier would
> be a great workaround.

I don't think a multiplier can be done with decks. Here's the problem -- 
you're trying to distort time. With xwax as it stands, there's a direct 
mappying between a physical position on the vinyl, and a point in the 
track. Multiply up the pitch from the turntable and this relationship is 
broken.

Of course you can continually change this relationship as the record 
plays, but then scratching etc. will feel like jelly and not make sense.

The reason it works on a CDJ is that the pitch control changes the actual 
spin speed used by the jogwheel, just as if the deck is actually running 
at 120% etc..

It's late and I haven't thought about this with a pen and paper, so I 
reseve the right to withdraw this explanation at a later date when 
somebody thinks of something clever :)

But it'd be great to see someone give it a try...

-- 
Mark