BY DJ RAZY THE BRIDGE – TUTORIAL HOW TO DJ WITH THE BRIDGE by DJ RAZY Version 1.
BY DJ RAZY „A portal is a transitionary device of sight or sound that functions as a sort of third gravitating body between the this and the that, pulling us toward itself, allowing us to bridge into the unknown from the known.“ - Roy H.
BY DJ RAZY Contents Page 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Overview 4 1.1 Introduction about Serato / Rane / Ableton Live / Scratch Live / The Bridge 1.2 What is The Bridge and how can I use it? 4 5 System requirements 6 2.1 Software 2.2 Hardware 6 6 Activate The Bridge 7 3.1 Settings for Serato 3.2 Settings for Ableton Live 7 7 MIDI-Controller 8 4.1 Controller Overview 4.2 Settings for Serato 4.3 Specific Directions 8 9 9 MIDI-Mapping 10 5.1 Settings for Serato 5.
BY DJ RAZY 1. Overview 1.1 Introduction about Serato / Rane / Scratch Live / Ableton Live / The Bridge What is Serato? Serato creates world leading audio software for professional DJ's and musicians. Serato is based in New Zealand and has partnerships highly regarded hardware, software, and record industry companies worldwide.
BY DJ RAZY 1.2 What is The Bridge and how can I use it? You have also red the main description of The Bridge on the Page before. Now I will show you the different ways to use it for your performance. We will start from zero. So here we go: There are 3 different ways to use The Bridge: Perfect your Mixtapes Record your Serato DJ performance as an Ableton Live Set, complete with song placement and fader movements.
BY DJ RAZY 2. System Requirements 2.1 Software • • Serato Scratch Live 2.1.1 Ableton Live 8.2 Mac • • • Windows Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz 4 GB RAM OSX 10.5.8 or higher (10.6.4 recommended) • • • Intel Core 2 Duo 2.
BY DJ RAZY 3. Activate The Bridge 3.1 Settings for Serato First, go to Setup – Plugins – The Bridge and ENABLE it. Then go back and open Ableton Live. The Bridge plugin will automatically work. For the future it doesn't matter which program you will open first. 3.2 Settings for Ableton The Ableton Live settings are automatically done. Now you can chose your Ableton Live output in Scratch Live Note: In this example I used a Rane SL-3 box.
BY DJ RAZY 4. MIDI-Controller 4.1 Controller Overview Now I show you the most popular MIDI-Controller for Ableton Live. Don't worry, I will not bore you with technical specifications that you already know! I only write facts about the controller and what is special about each of them. Novation Launchpad The Novation Launchpad is a very cool all-rounder. It has every function that you need to control Ableton Live. The special about this controller is the multi switchable program mode.
BY DJ RAZY 4.2 Settings for Serato First be sure that your main controller for Ableton Live is DISABLED in Scratch Live! All your other controller should be ENABLED if you want to use them in one or both programs. If not enable or disable it in one of the programs. Note this: 4.
BY DJ RAZY 5. MIDI-Mapping 5.1 Settings for Serato You have to activate the MIDI-Button in Scratch Live. Then chose the function which you want to map.
BY DJ RAZY 5.2 Settings for Ableton You have do decide your device into Ableton Live Turn the Input / Output on Activate the learn button... … and learn the functions like you would do in Scratch Live. Everything will shown on the left side and can be re-edited.
BY DJ RAZY 6. How to DJ with The Bridge In this chapter I will explain you how to DJ with The Bridge. Everything you need is just your Rane soundcard. I used the SL-3 Box and I have chosen the aux output for Ableton Live. With my TTM 56S Mixer it is no problem to run it through the aux input. Other DJ Mixer may have that too or a third, fourth or fifth channel, where you are able to use it for The Bridge. Try it out! Note: You have many possibilities with The Bridge.
BY DJ RAZY 6.1 Overview in Scratch Live Check out the next few pages from the original Serato The Bridge manual.
BY DJ RAZY 6.
BY DJ RAZY Page - 15 -
BY DJ RAZY Page - 16 -
BY DJ RAZY 6.3 Additional Bridge Controls The official manual ends here – lets go on with our tutorial! (If you need more information download the manual from www.serato.
BY DJ RAZY 7. Ableton Live – Instruments & VST(i) 7.1 Introduction Now you are ready to play with The Bridge. But you can even get more creativity in your sets! Ableton is not only a sampler that plays your audio loops through your Scratch Live decks. It owns also high quality instruments and plugins. The number of your instruments and effects are different. If you own the Ableton Suite you have more instruments like the Operator, the Amp and many more.
BY DJ RAZY 7.3 How to use VST(i) Plugins You can use it it in the same way as an Ableton Live instrument. Just drag & drop it into your Ableton Live Set. It will shown as a new audio channel. We learned that a VST(i) plugin could be everything, an instrument, an effect, a sampler and much more. So chose it with care. My favorite and one of the most public VST(i) Plugins is Maschine from Native Instruments. Note: VST(i) Plugins are normally synced to Ableton Live.
BY DJ RAZY 8. How to DJ with The Bridge 2.0 Now this is the most interesting part I think. But also the most complex! So let me explain what The Bridge 2.0 exactly is. The basics are similar to the normal Bridge setup. But we don’t use the audio output from an SL-Box! We have to use a second audio interface. That means it doesn’t matter if you have only a 2-Deck Serato Box like the SL-1, SL-2 or the TTM 57SL.
BY DJ RAZY Let me explain you my MIDI-Mappings for each controller. If you use it like me its pretty selfexplanatory. If not just give it a try or map your own individual settings.
BY DJ RAZY 8.2 Audio Routing At first you have to connect your DJ Mixer and your second audio interface into the right direction. I'll explain it in the following graphic: FlexFX SEND → Audio INPUT Audio OUTPUT → FlexFX RETURN The FlexFX buttons activate the deck which you will route through Ableton Live - one or both ! The Dry/ Wet fader regulates the volume that comes back from Ableton Live. Note: All that is also possible with other mixers which have an good quality send / return.
BY DJ RAZY 8.3 Software & Hardware Settings Switch to Ableton live and chose switch your interface from „Serato“ to CoreAudio (Mac) or ASIO (Win). After that chose your stereo input and your stereo output. Now you are able to route your audio signals through Ableton Live! The main work is done so far. Tip: Check out the latency between the „original signal“ and the signal that you route through Ableton Live. The signal should be at least the same when you pull the dry & wet fader to the right.
BY DJ RAZY 8.4 Buildup & structure your Ableton Live Set After your settings are made you have to checkout your Ableton Live Set (.als) In the Standard ALS you have only one audio channel and one MIDI channel. If you don’t need the MIDI channel, remove it. Every channel will be shown also in Scratch Live and will take unnecessary placement in the overview. Be sure you have enough audio channels. If not create them (Mac: Cmd + T) or (Win: Strg + T). Feel free to include your VST(i) Instrument. 8.
BY DJ RAZY 8.6 Ableton Live Effects for your Scratch Live Decks First way: To use the Ableton Live effects on your Scratch Live decks we have different methods. First, we could drag & drop the effects to our send and return channel. Every channel in Ableton Live has send knobs. Two per channel are standard. You can create as much as you want. Activate the effect by turning the knobs from dry to wet.
BY DJ RAZY Third way: Group all your audio channels into one group. After that use the effects on the whole group. • • • For using Ableton Lives effects on your deck(s) chose the deck(s) you wish and activate them with the FlexFX button. Now the signal will run through Ableton. After that hit the sync button for that deck (if you want to effect more than one deck be sure you have well beatmatched!) Activate the effect you want to use in the way I explained the pages before.
BY DJ RAZY 9. Showcase 9.1 Showcase with The Bridge https://vimeo.com/29307370 9.2 Showcase with The Bridge 2.0 https://vimeo.
BY DJ RAZY 10. Credits All pictures are property of Ableton Live, Serato, the Rane Cooperation, Novation, Akai, Korg, Native Instruments and Echo. I got them from the Ableton Live Homepage, the Serato Homepage, Wikipedia and Google. I thank all these company’s for their hard work. Without them, the DJ market would not be the same like now. Special thanks to Ableton and Serato for this awesome partnership. It is the greatest product on the market! For questions feel free to contact me at: info@dj-razy.
