This article takes a closer look at the DJ-FX Plugin in Scratch Live. Learn how to enable FX, about the different FX modes, and how to make your own custom presets!
Scratch Live by default will have the DJ-FX plugin disabled because it can use extra CPU power. So you will need to enable it by going to the 'Plugins' tab of the Scratch Live Setup screen and ticking 'Enable DJ-FX Plugin'.
Note: Below this you will also see the option to 'Enable Sixty-Eight DJ-FX send', ticking this will send the software effects through to the '6 insert' button on the Rane Sixty-Eight when it is connected.
Once enabled the 'DJ-FX' panel button will appear in the panels area on the main screen. You will have to have Rane hardware connected as DJ-FX does not show in offline-mode. When you have the DJ-FX panel open you will have the option of two modes for both the left and right FX-units. : Ultra Knob mode and Super Knob mode.
Ultra Knob Mode
Scratch Live 2.1 introduced the new DJ-FX feature the Ultra knob which allows users to chain up to three effect parameters to be controlled by one master effect knob - the Ultra Knob.
Click the Ultra Knob button to enter Ultra Knob mode. Here you can click on the dropdown menu to load an Ultra Knob effect. Click the ON button to enable the effect and use the Ultra Knob to control the wet and dry amounts of all effects.
Click the Show Parameters button to show the effects and parameters that are controlled by the loaded Ultra Knob preset. - (more about this below)
Super Knob Mode
Below the Ultra Knob Mode button is the Super Knob Mode. Here you can have up to six effects each of which has a corresponding Super Knob which controls the wet and dry amount for that effect. Clicking the Effects drop-down box allows you to choose what effect is loaded to what Super Knob. You can choose to leave a slot empty by selecting 'empty'. Click the "ON" button next to a Super Knob to turn it on or off.
The effects chain works in series going from effects slots 1 to 3, meaning that the effected audio from slot one passes through slot two, which is then passed through slot three.
Deck Assign
You can select which deck the FX unit applies to by clicking the Deck buttons in the middle of the FX-plugin GUI. Each Deck can only pass through one FX unit at a time.
Show Parameters Mode
Click the Show Parameters button to show each individual parameter for each effect. Here you can control the individual parameters by adjusting their respective knobs.
In Ultra Knob Mode, use this to select which effects are loaded and controlled by the Ultra Knob. In Ultra and Super Knob Mode you can link or unlink a parameter to the Super Knob by pressing the Link Button, allowing one master control of some parameters and individual control of others.
Macro Edit Mode
Macro Edit Mode is an advanced option that allows you to create a macro mappings for each effect and to save any effects edits made in Ultra or Super Knob Mode. It is an extension of the Show Parameters mode, so you will need to have Show Parameters open. Once opened, more controls appear which allow you to create and change parameter mappings to the Super Knob.
To map a parameter to the Super Knob :
1. Unlink the parameter that you want to map to the super knob. The Macro Min and Max buttons for this parameter are now displayed.
2. Move the Super Knob to the position that you want the parameter to start mapping from.
3. Move the Parameter Knob to the position that you want the to be the lowest value of the parameter.
4. Press the Macro Min Button (–) to set the minimum position.
5. Move the Super Knob to the position that you want the parameter to end being controlled from.
6. Move the Parameter Knob to the position that you want the to be the highest value of the parameter.
7. Press the Macro Max Button (+) to set the maximum.
8. Link the parameter to the Super Knob by pressing the Link Button.
Now when you adjust the Super Knob you will see the parameter knob move within the range that you just specified. Any parameters not customized but linked to the Super Knob will behave as normal.
You can save any macro mappings you have made to an effect by clicking the Save button by the Super Knob, and save effects combination made in Ultra Knob Mode by clicking the Save button by the Ultra Knob.