DJ-beat mixing w/ PT Free

[cleigh]

Is there a Pro Tools for Dummies book? I may need it as some of the terminology in the manual is over the head of a non-musician such as myself.

HERE'S WHAT I GOT:
Using Pro Tools Free (thank you Digi), I have imported and looped a drum beat.
I used the Identify Beat function to set the BPM.
I have another song of close, but not exact BPM that I want to match up.

QUESTION: Is there an easy way for PT Free to do this for me? How?

I have played with the Time Compression/Expansion plug-in but can't figure out how to make it work in this way. I could keep tweaking with the song I want to put over the drum loop until I get it close but, of course, time...

I realize there are software packages marketed more toward DJs but I've got to believe that PT will help me accomplish this goal. I got some good advice from you all last time I thank you in advance.
Does anyone else out there use PT for these means? Just curious.
Peace, Chris

[Jahmontee]

The program you are looking for will be out in Nov. and it's called PHRAZER by: Bitheadz..... this software is the MAC version of ACID for PC's and it does instant tempo and beat matching.

Phrazer will be Pro Tools best friend!!!

Jahmontee

[cleigh]

Here is a brilliant response from another meaasge group that answered my question, in case anyone wonders...

yes, you can beat mix in pro tools.heres how its done:
1.import both loops into your session
2.select the first loop making sure you zoom to sample level to get the most accurate loop points
3.once you have your loop perfect (use loop playback to test)seperate the region and get rid of the extra regions
4.do the same thing to the other loop
5.then line up the the first sample of the second loop so it exactly lines up w/ the first sample in the first loop
6.now select the first loop and pull up the time compression/expansion plug it will tell you the end time of the loop. remember what it is
7.now select the 2nd loop
8.w/ the 2nd loop selected enter in the end time of the previeus loop and processs

this method has worked very well for me, even on 30 or 40 sec mixes and i can do it very quickly.
good luck
atnarko

[obseco]

I've been usin this method above for a long time to mix commercial tracks and make remixes, but...

-Make sure you're editing the source material the best accurate you can. Cut the loops exactly.
-Use Serato Pich'n'time or Speed (audioSuite plugins) instead of Digi Time comp/exp. plugin. Much better.
-Use samples as a time reference to change tempos (instead of bpm or hh:mm:ss). It's the only way to keep two stereo tracks at the same beat for a long time.
-If you're working with a stable tempo (no bpm chages) use Grid mode to accomodate the whole mix with the session tempo. I'll help you a lot if you have to cut or move whole regions quickly.

I've been making megamixes this way for a long time.