Giving Traktor Pro 2 a Spin...

[ahoustondj]

There are three things to know about the "Cruise Mode" in Traktor (aka "autoplay").

1) Cruise mode can only be turned on while a song is playing.
2) Cruise mode will walk any active playlist.
3) Two options need to be enabled: "Load track at the end of current track" and "Stop deck at end of track"

After that, there are controls that allow a smooth/sharp transition and set the time for the crossfade.

See this for more...but you don't really need the fade in/out markers set, or the "sync" button pressed.

That is true and that is why it is so versatile. One can jump from one playlist to the other seamlessly.

 

[Proformance]

I'm with Jon, none of the softwares do it all.

They tend to fall on either side of a fairly clear fence: mix or automation. I find that mix programs are weaker on auto-play features just as you would suspect - because mix DJs in a club don't walk away from control or play "background music" the way mobile DJs and entertainers do.

 

[Jon Tuck]

Jon,
Have you tried out ALL the other DJ Software to know that none of them do it how you prefer? Tell us if you will. How do you prefer it to be? What features are you looking for in a DJ software that you cannot find in an existing DJ Software?

Actually over the years have tried nearly all but a few european offerings. Many have changed and possibly deserve a new test drive but for the most part I have kept an eye on the others as I always hope for the perfect choice. It took me until a yr ago to switch completely over. I no longer bring CDS other than a few emergency backups as I have two computers and a trust mini disc player loaded and locked
.

 

[ahoustondj]

Actually over the years have tried nearly all but a few european offerings. Many have changed and possibly deserve a new test drive but for the most part I have kept an eye on the others as I always hope for the perfect choice. It took me until a yr ago to switch completely over. I no longer bring CDS other than a few emergency backups as I have two computers and a trust mini disc player loaded and locked
.

You did not answer the last two questions! What are you looking for that is lacking in whats available out there?

 

[jokerswild]

There are three things to know about the "Cruise Mode" in Traktor (aka "autoplay").

1) Cruise mode can only be turned on while a song is playing.
2) Cruise mode will walk any active playlist.
3) Two options need to be enabled: "Load track at the end of current track" and "Stop deck at end of track"

After that, there are controls that allow a smooth/sharp transition and set the time for the crossfade.

See this for more...but you don't really need the fade in/out markers set, or the "sync" button pressed.

Ya but, form what I can tell the fade in / fade out markers help to tell the autoplay when to start and end a song giving better control over autoplay... especially for songs like Baby Got Back where you wouldn't normally play the entire intro of the song..... and in the case of the Eagles tune Hotel California when you might not play out the entire song ending...

 

[ahoustondj]

Ya but, form what I can tell the fade in / fade out markers help to tell the autoplay when to start and end a song giving better control over autoplay... especially for songs like Baby Got Back where you wouldn't normally play the entire intro of the song..... and in the case of the Eagles tune Hotel California when you might not play out the entire song ending...

Rob,
One can prompt a mix to the next song at anytime. If you have it in cruise mode and are using the software to make the mix, just drag up the slider of the next song in cue. There are many ways to even shorten the song without missing a beat.

 

[Hank Davidson]

... especially for songs like Baby Got Back where you wouldn't normally play the entire intro of the song..... and in the case of the Eagles tune Hotel California when you might not play out the entire song ending...

I actually edit songs like that and keep them in the library as such. I also lengthen some of the shorter slow dances.
(Don't you hate it when there's only 30 seconds left to a song by the time the couples get to the floor?)