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Forum: VirtualDJ Technical Support

Topic: DDJ-FLX10 - Stems EQ per Channel Question
So I finally decided to upgrade to the DDJ-FLX10 (will be coming in soon), and I was just going through the functionality on the DDJ-FLX10 hardware manual page

I noticed that, for the Mixer section, there is a Shift + PFL function to switch the channel to a stem isolator mode (as marked on the faceplate), but the manual doesn't describe it, and there isn't a SHIFT_PFL key that I can see in the list of key mappings for the controller.

Is there a reason that this is missing, given the Rane Four/Rane Performer has this functionality?
I noticed that the Rane Four/Rane Performer do not have a master cue (so it's easier to know that it's a deck that is being cued) - is this the reason? Can it be worked around?
Is it missing at all (am I misunderstanding the manual/current mappings)?

It's not that I absolutely need the functionality, it just seems a bit odd that it is missing and it is possible with other controllers.
 
geposted Thu 16 Apr 26 @ 2:47 pm
Will check and let you know.

My notes say "SHIFT_PFL is hardware, should not be mapped" but cant recal why.
 
OK, cant find anything that works in a "hardware" way, the only thing is that if you assign to SHIFT_LED_PFL to get the status the ON/OFF is On and Blinking instead of Off/On. So you get this annoying PFL led blinking every time you press SHIFT.

Anyways, perhaps the FLX10 was initally mapped when the eq_mode +1 deck was not yet implemented.
So try the following and see if it works as expected..
SHIFT_PFL : eq_mode +1 deck
SHIFT_LED_PFL : not eq_mode frequency deck
 
I got used to using the stems with buttons because the “eq_mode +1 ‘deck’” option didn't exist at the time. Later, I tried mapping the function once it became available, but it didn't work as it should.
It works in skins—it switches the deck’s EQ to stems or frequency mode—but when I use the FLX10, it switches all channels to stems mode. However, the moment I move a knob, they revert to Frequency mode, so I have to manually go to the stems menu and select ModernEQ, and then all the knobs work.
But let’s say I want channel 3 to be in Frequency mode again—no matter what I do or where I select it, all the knobs just revert to ModernEQ when I move them.

I tried several times, but since I’m not good at mappings, I gave up and just use the dedicated buttons. 😅
 
This is the mapping of SHIFT_PFL on the Rane Performer:

setting 'stemsRealtimeSeparation' 'fully disabled' ? nothing : setting_setsession 'eqModeDual' 'None' & eq_mode +1 deck


And the mapping for SHIFT_LED_PFL on the the Rane Performer:

setting 'stemsRealtimeSeparation' 'fully disabled' ? off : setting 'eqModeDual' 'None' ? setting 'eqMode' 'Frequency' ? off : blink : off


It seems that at the very least, it also includes an extra check for if stemsRealtimeSeparation is enabled to allow the change to be done.
I don't have the controller yet to try @djdad's mappings, but it didn't seem to me like too much work to try to do, given the Rane Performer/Four now do it (hence I asked).
 
@djvinyltouch I'll try this later, then. I hope it works because I'm used to working with stems using the knobs in rekordbox.
Thanks.
 
@AlexRdZaik cheers man - let me know how it goes (the controller comes in on Saturday for me so I just have to wait).
 
Just an update on this (I got the controller now):

The mapping I lifted for SHIFT_PFL is the correct one for this controller (it matches what happens in Serato/Rekordbox).

The mapping I lifted for SHIFT_LED_PFL still needs adjustment to be correct.

From what I can tell, that mapping makes the PFL/Cue button blink always, once SHIFT_PFL is invoked to enable the Stem EQ mode, and disables the blinking once the Stem EQ mode is disabled.

However, when I checked what happens in Serato/Rekordbox, the button only blinks when in Stem Isolation mode and at least one of the EQs (EQ_HIGH, EQ_MID, EQ_LOW) is actively being changed.
Other than that, the regular lighting persists (no light = channel not selected for PFL, no light = channel selected for PFL).

As it is already late on my end, I didn't try to work through what would be needed to make SHIFT_LED_PFL work as in Serato/Rekordbox, but I assume that the keys for EQ_HIGH, EQ_MID and EQ_LOW may need to be changed to do some sort of variable setting (while changing)/unsetting (when finished), and that variable needs to be checked from SHIFT_PFL to know whether to blink or not (replacement of the unconditional blink branch with that conditional blink logic).
 
Just an update - I got it somewhat working with a few changes:

EQ_LOW

eq_low & set '$DDJFLX10_EQTOUCH' 1 & wait 200ms & set '$DDJFLX10_EQTOUCH' 0


EQ_MID

eq_mid & set '$DDJFLX10_EQTOUCH' 1 & wait 200ms & set '$DDJFLX10_EQTOUCH' 0


EQ_HIGH

eq_high & set '$DDJFLX10_EQTOUCH' 1 & wait 200ms & set '$DDJFLX10_EQTOUCH' 0


SHIFT_LED_PFL

setting 'stemsRealtimeSeparation' 'fully disabled' ? off : setting 'eqModeDual' 'None' ? setting 'eqMode' 'Frequency' ? off : var '$DDJFLX10_EQTOUCH' ? blink : off : off


The blink logic for SHIFT_LED_PFL is still a bit janky - it's probably doing the blink logic unconditionally if already blinking (so the blinking could perhaps be behind another variable) and the eqs are sharing the same variable to signal the flashing (two eqs turning at the same time may have unexpected results on the flashing), but it somewhat works.
 
I also noticed that when holding down shift, and having stems EQ enabled for a channel, that channel's cue/PFL button will blink.

See all of the info here from Pri Yon Joni's video on it (info/demonstration comes at about 6m20s):
 
(Final) update:

@djdad's condition is sufficient for the right behavior (with no variable setting), along with the condition lifted from the Rane Performer for the right behavior (blink logic probably already handled properly internally).
SHIFT_PFL: setting 'stemsRealtimeSeparation' 'fully disabled' ? nothing : setting_setsession 'eqModeDual' 'None' & eq_mode +1 deck
SHIFT_LED_PFL : not eq_mode frequency deck.
 
As i said previously, i really dont like leds to blink while i mix, as they personally distract me, making me thinking that there is some "warning". This will happen when SHIFT is pressed of course, but could become an issue to some.
Assuming that the majority in nowadays are using EQ in some Stems mode, do you still think it's wise to map the SHIFT_LED_PFL ?
 
So it only blinks when you move one of the EQ knobs or hold down the shift button. When you don't do any of those, the LED behavior is as it would be normally (no blinking is superimposed).

The reason I would say yes, is because this LED behavior matches what happens in Serato, Rekordbox and even DJay Pro, and I believe this is to give you a clue, as a user just looking at the board itself (and not the laptop screen) of you being in a stem isolator mode, rather than the regular frequency EQ mode.

Not mapping it this way doesn't take away any functionality, but I can potentially see other users coming forward asking why it doesn't behave like it does with the other platforms, and you would have to look at the laptop screen to reminded of what EQ mode you are in.
 
I've sometimes been caught out when switching between EQ and stems, turning a knob expecting it to do A when it's still assigned to do B. I end up looking at the laptop screen and realising I need to switch back.

IMO it's always going to be an issue until all our gear has little screens above each knob or the knobs can change colour. 🙂