2016 Mini House Music DJ Set - Vanessa Rousso on Ableton Push 2

This is a quick practice session testing my new Ableton-based DJ setup...I have been wanting to make the switch to Push 2 for DJ sets (with a midi-mapped Roland TR8 for mixer controls) instead of using my traditional Traktor/controller setup. This is just a teaser...more performance videos to come! Track list to come.

Technical details about how I organized the mix in Ableton:

-DJ Set Performed Using Deck A (track1) and Deck B (track 2) as Main tracks, and Deck C as Extras Track. On each main track, there is a fade to grey audio effect rack with the main control knob for deck A and B mapped to a rotary encoder on my controller. There is also an EQ 3 device on each main deck with all three level controls (lo, mid, hi) mapped to rotary encoders on my controller as well.

-On the ‘Extras’ Track, there are various accent loops I use during transitions and to fill out the mix at diff points. The level of this deck is mapped to a fader on my controller and there are rotary pre fader delay sends for this track mapped as well.

-Sends A, B, & C are mapped to Rotary Encoders on my controller.

-I use dummy clips for effects...midi-mapped these clip effects to buttons on my tr8.

-Songs were chosen purposefully to reflect harmonic compatibility (all songs in key of 9a or 8a…except Touch It which was originally in 6b but I transposed it (-3 semitones) and remastered it then bounced that out as a new audio file to import into the project as a song in the key of 9b which blends much more nicely with the set).

I used my TR8 as my controller for this just to experiment with its midi mapping capabilities. I used the sound card on my laptop which meant that I couldn’t have a second set of outputs for cueing. I didn’t see this as much of a problem though since I put so much work into preparing the songs with accurate clip descriptions etc that I already knew what to expect in launching various clips and it was just a matter of on-time launching to worry about. I did experiment with midi mapping the cue button for all three tracks to buttons on my TR8 though for future use with a two output sound card.

I prepared each track’s gain beforehand so that their loud section levels were roughly equivalent (for balanced levels throughout the performance). I tried to leave about 1db of headroom and put a limiter on each deck just in case.

I decided to use upfaders (mapped to my midi controller) instead of a crossfader (both because that’s what I normally do during sets, and also because I use more than two tracks) to control track levels (mapped so that at the top they max out at 0db and not the default 6db which causes clipping).

Legato mode enabled for all chorus-type clips to make it easy to jump between them in a playable way with the controller.

I color-coded clips according to type of song section (intros are pink, chorus are red, outros light blue etc).

I will attach a link to the Ableton project below shortly!

[derrickhallFreakintrips]

Nice going Vanessa! I enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing 😘👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[MrDSun]

Superb! Great job on mixing and very informative technical description.

[kelseawhiting]

Thank you for making this YouTube channel. You inspire me everyday on twitter and I am so glad I get to interact with you on here as well. Thank you for all you have done for me in the past year and a half. I am beyond blessed to be able to call you Mel, and Tiffany my idols and I cannot wait to go on this DJ journey with you! I hope to meet you one day and listen to some of your mixes in person!


Your biggest fan,
Kelsea Whiting

[beautynspice]

This is absolutely wonderful, Vanessa! Thank you for sharing your talents and passion with us! Looking forward to more on the way!! xoxo <333

[lairdriver]

I really like how you set this up. Really intuitive and you really covered everything..

[AltruistOfficial]

Great set!! Looking forward to your upcoming single :)

[juliabarbosa]

THIS IS SO AMAZING!! good job vanessaa!

[JohnnieVibes]

Looks fun! I love right around the 7:30 mark.

[MarkBatres]

Excuse me this is soooo good
especially from 2:00 - 5:00

[reelzgraph]

Great stuff,   have you two thought about sampling Girls just want to have fun. I think that would be awesome. Love you both:)

[chibaby]

Vanessa I'm ready to pay to watch you play your set

[ThatWasFun]

Hey how you goin? Hey how do I get to hear more

[edyoficina]

Muito bom era tudo que eu queria um equipamento desse maravilhoso e uma ruiva muito gata pra me ensinar a manusear muito massa Parabéns gratidão

[audioplugg]

FINALLY! a female DJ who isn't showing off skill half naked.

[tanyazorachov]

Jelly Jam Salsa Yonk if yer not a puppet ever yetti, !?

[tanyazorachov]

L3mmD n EM laffy Taft nenswans lol are in NY 2 goddamnjt 😂😆😂😆 rock biter I guess join em n shit lolz