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Projects / Trash

Trash

A Traktor mapping that turns Ableton Push into a DJ controller.

Released May 4, 2014 · Version 1

Trash (get it?) is a Traktor mapping for Ableton's Push. It turns the Push into a full DJ controller with nothing but the Push and one mapping file. Add the optional Max patch to see track names and knob values on the Push's display, or a Kontrol Z1 for a real crossfader and dedicated EQ knobs.

Features

  • Complete control of all four Track Decks
  • Choose Remix Deck or Track Deck flavors for Decks C and D
  • Complete control of two Remix Decks, including all four pages, loading, reversing, looping and recording
  • Two separate Remix Decks at the same time
  • FX Units 1 and 2 in Group or Single mode, including effect selection
  • Perform FX mode: instant, hands-on control of six effects at once
  • Prep mode for preparing tracks with speed and precision
  • Loops & Cues mode for crazy mashups and on-the-fly cue drumming
  • Optional Max patch to use the Push's display and touchstrip, including track and artist names
  • Optional mapping for the Kontrol Z1 to add a crossfader and dedicated EQ knobs

Push reference

Pick a mode, then hover over or tap any control to see what it does. Turn on Hold Shift to see each control's Shift function, or search for a function to light up every control that does it.

The Max patch

The Trash Max patch

This patch for Cycling '74's Max brings the Push's display to life: labels for the knobs, visual feedback of knob values, loop and move lengths, track position, and track and artist names for Decks A and B. It also keeps the Kontrol Z1 mapping in sync with the main mapping, so the Z1's knobs follow the current mode.

The port labels in the patch (Push In-Port, Denon Out-Port) match the port names in Traktor, and each display section can be switched on or off.

Setup

These steps were written on Windows 7 (64-bit), using MIDI Yoke NT for MIDI routing. If you get Trash working on a different setup, so others can benefit.

Install

  1. Download the files above.
  2. If you need them, install MIDI Yoke NT and the Max Runtime. With MIDI Yoke NT, use the 32-bit Max Runtime; the 64-bit version doesn't seem to assign ports correctly in this setup.
  3. Plug in and turn on your Push (and your Z1, if you have one).
  4. Launch Traktor and open Preferences › Controller Manager. Under Device Setup, choose Add… › Import TSI › Import Other… and pick Trash-v1.tsi. Set the In-Port to MIDIIN2 (Ableton Push) and the Out-Port to None.
  5. Optional, Kontrol Z1: repeat step 4 with Trash-Z1-v1.tsi. Set its In-Port to Out To MIDI Yoke: 3 and its Out-Port to Traktor Kontrol Z1.
  6. Optional, track names: choose Add… › Denon › DN-HC4500. Set its In-Port to None and its Out-Port to Out To MIDI Yoke: 2. Track and artist names for Decks A and B will scroll on the Push.

Traktor port settings on Windows

Every session

The order matters:

  1. Turn on the Push.
  2. Launch Traktor.
  3. Open the Max patch with the 32-bit Max Runtime. Set its ports to match your setup, and switch display sections on or off as you like.
  4. In Traktor's Controller Manager, select the Trash mapping and set its Out-Port to None, then to Out To MIDI Yoke: 1. The Push's buttons and display light up. If they don't, switch back to None and try again. If there's still nothing, check your MIDI routing.
  5. With a Z1: hold Mode and press A and B together to enter MIDI mode. The Z1's A and B buttons now follow the Push's deck selection (and so do its EQ knobs). To use their original cueing functions, switch to Decks A and B mode and toggle cueing there.

Max patch port settings on Windows

Modifier reference

For tinkerers: Traktor modifiers and the states Trash uses for them.

Modifiers and what they control
ModifierControls
Modifier 1Knob mode
Modifier 2Global Shift
Modifier 3FX Unit 1 mode
Modifier 4FX Unit 2 mode
Modifier 5Button mode
Modifier 6Remix Deck subpages
Modifier 7FX buttons
Modifier 8Touchstrip
Mode values
ValueKnobs (M1)Buttons (M5)Touchstrip (M8)
0A/BA/BOff (locked)
1FXPrepTempo bend
2EQ A/BRemix CPitch
3PrepRemix DJog
4Remix CC/DSeek
5Remix DPerform FXVolume
6C/DLoops / CuesFilter
7EQ C/DUnusedCrossfade

Questions

Does the mapping control FX Units 3 and 4?

No. Units 3 and 4 can still run, but you'll need to control them another way.

Why do artist and track names only show for Decks A and B?

The display borrows a Denon controller's output, which only sends info for those two decks.

Why can't I switch the knobs to EQ from Perform FX or Loops & Cues?

Those modes control all four decks, so there's no way to choose which two decks to EQ.

Why didn't you include a certain feature?

Trash covers the functions I use most, within the limits of Traktor's two-condition system. If you think a major feature could be added and have an idea how, .

Where is the Prep mode for Deck B?

There's only one Prep mode, and it's for Deck A. My little brain can only process one track at a time!

Credits

Trash took lots of research and help. Thanks to:

  • Native Instruments for Traktor
  • Ableton for the Push
  • Ean Golden and Mad Zach of DJ TechTools for inspiration, mapping videos and track prep ideas
  • Siytek and others for reverse-engineering the Denon Traktor output
  • Adam Murray for reverse-engineering the Push's display
  • Julien Bayle and nativeKONTROL for their Ableton Push documentation
  • Hundreds of forum contributors, YouTube uploaders and product manuals
  • My wife and three kids, for putting up with me while I built it

From the log