New Hercules RMX DJ console preset for Mixxx 1.10.x

[Geert]

This is an alternative midi controller preset for the 'Hercules RMX DJ Console'. The differences with the standard 'Hercules RMX DJ Console Advanced' preset are:

Deck scratch mode
Scratch mode for a deck is now also enabled while holding the Shift button (which still is the Stop button).
When the deck is stopped the sensitivity of the jog wheel is decreased to increase accuracy.
Both changes are made to improve cueing up songs, and to have faster access to the scratch function.

Hot cue buttons and hot cue preview
When pressing a hot cue button (keypad 1 to 3) the position of a hot cue is set if it wasn't set before. If it was already set the player jumps to the hot cue position. If the deck was stopped it wil remain stopped at the hot cue position, if the deck was playing it will continue to play starting at the hot cue position.

Pressing Shift and a hot cue button clears the hot cue position.

When a deck is stopped and the player is set at a hot cue position pressing and holding the corresponding hot cue button will start hot cue preview, which is a loop of about 1sec. During this loop you can trim the hot cue position.

Trimming hot cues and moving beat loops
Trimming hot cues and moving beat loops is done using the jog wheel. During these actions the sensitivity of the jog wheel is decreased to increase accuracy.

Beatloop buttons
Keypad buttons 4 and 5 are used to start a beatloop:
- Shift and button 4: start a beatloop of 2 beats
- Shift and button 5: start a beatloop of 4 beats
- Button 4: start a beatloop of 8 beats
- Button 5: start a beatloop of 16 beats

A short push on Keypad button 6 will toggle a beatloop on and off.

Pressing Keypad button 6 combined with Forward/Backward doubles/halves a beat loop.

Move a beatloop with the jog wheel by holding down Keypad button 6. The loop will move in steps of one beat so it stays in sync with the other deck. When a deck is playing a loop can't be moved beyond the player position, which makes it safe to use during live playback.

Shift combined with keypad button 6 aligns the grid with the current player position.

Permanent pitch change buttons
The Forward/Backward buttons are used as permanent pitch change buttons (1% change for each key press).

Holding Shift Forward/Backward starts fast forward/backward.

Pitch slider center value calibration
Older versions of the Hercules RMX DJ have a different internal value for the center position of the pitch slider. When you move the pitch slider and set it back in the center Mixxx might show a pitch value that's not equal to zero. In this case press Shift Pitch Reset once to fix this offset. Move the slider again to check the center position value. You need to do this on one deck only, this will also configure the other deck. Repeating the procedure on the other deck will actually reset the change.

Mic on/off button

The leds on the Pitch reset and Sync buttons will follow the 'beats per minute' and pitch rate of the decks. The Sync led will be switched on when the bpm of the decks is identical. The Pitch reset led will be switched of when the pitch is not zero.

Press the Scratch and a Kill High button to toggle the flanger.


How to install the new preset:
- Dowload the file in attachment
- Shutdown Mixxx
- Extract the 2 files in the download to the Midi directory in the installation directory of Mixxx
- Start Mixxx
- Open Preferences/Midi controllers and load the preset called ''Hercules RMX DJ Console Very Advanced'.
This won't change the original presets that came with Mixxx, so you can always switch back to your previous one.

Please let me know if you find this preset usefull so I know if I should continue to post updates of it.

(When still using Mixxx 1.9.x check out topic http://mixxx.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3009&p=11347#p11347).

Happy Mixxxing.

Geert

[Geert]

A bit later than planned but here it is, the first preset for the 'Hercules RMX DJ Console' that enables some great new features that come with Mixxx 1.10. The most important change at this point is that manually creating loops has been replaced by automatic beat loops.

I'm working on some more features (like moving beat loops and controlling the samplers), so stay tuned.

[Geert]

Update to version 2.1. Now a beatloop can be moved with a jog wheel in steps of one beat whithout stuttering.

Full description and new download in the first post of this topic.

[anders]

Hi Geert,

Nice to see a driven person that makes nice improvements!

I have not been able to find time to integrate your changes in the advanced mapping. I will probably not be able to find time in a near future either. From my point of view it might be better to replace my advanced mapping with yours as the default advanced mapping. Just remember to keep the use cases simple enough for others to grasp.

If I find time to do some mixing I will give you feedback on the current version.

Keep up the good work!

[Geert]

Hi Andy,

I know development takes more time than most people realize. If you don't plan an update it might be a good idea to add my mapping because it contains a lot of improvements and it's a good showcase of Mixxx features. However it seems like I just missed the release of Mixxx 1.10.

[Geert]

Update to version 2.2, compatible with Mixxx 1.10 released yesterday.

Changes:
- When holding keypad button 6 the Previous and Next buttons will halve or double a beat loop.
- Bug fix for moving beat loops (timing went wrong when the pitch was not zero).
- The leds on the Pitch reset and Sync button will follow the 'beats per minute' and pitch rate of the decks. The Sync led will be switched on when the bpm of the decks is identical. The Pitch reset led will be switched of when the pitch is not zero.
- Pressing the Sync button when a deck is not playing will only sync the bpm, when the deck is playing it will also beat sync.
- Enabled the Mic on/off button.
- Optimised the beat loop code.

Updated files attached to the first post in this thread.

Geert

[NateB]

Hi, i've recently purchased an RMX & was hoping to use the mappings above to set up my RMX with Mixxx 1.10 (i've tried the VDJ software supplied & dont like - plus they're support team aren't very supportive!!)

Could someone very briefly explain how I go about applying the settings above into the software?

Thanks

[Pegasus]

Download the attached ZIP file above and extract it into the midi directory where Mixxx is installed. (/usr/share/mixxx/midi on Linux, %PROGRAMFILES%\Mixxx\midi on Windows) The preset should then be visible in the MIDI controller preferences drop-down when you start Mixxx.

[Geert]

It's been a while since I updated this post so I just wanted to let you now I've been using my preset for months now and I'm very happy with it. Happy with my own work ... That's why I don't have any updates planned on short term.

[Obee]

Hi Geert,
Many thanks for this script, i'm just returned home after a mix session with friends and i was deceived to see what they can do with hercules & traktor, especially with the loops, but now, with the help of your script, i can do the same !


What do you mean with this, it does not occur on my console, i'm supposed to see the led blinking ?

The leds on the Pitch reset and Sync buttons will follow the 'beats per minute' and pitch rate of the decks. The Sync led will be switched on when the bpm of the decks is identical. The Pitch reset led will be switched of when the pitch is not zero.

I have updated part of the code to fix the flanger issue, see this thread
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2626