Decks and manual mixing

MCV DJ has two decks, A and B. Each can load a different file. This lets you keep one song playing while preparing the next, then transition between them.

If you are using the automatic queue, stop it before controlling the decks manually. During queue playback, several deck controls and the manual crossfader are disabled.

Load and control a track

Press Load file… on the desired deck, or use File > Load deck A… or Load deck B…. Select the file and wait for loading to finish.

Loading a replacement pauses that deck. Use the deck that is not playing if you want uninterrupted audio. If loading fails, the previous track is kept; check the status before continuing.

The main controls are:

| Control | Result | | --- | --- | | Play | Starts the track or resumes after a pause. If it has reached the end, playback restarts from the beginning. | | Pause | Keeps the current position so you can resume later. | | Stop | Stops the track and returns to the beginning. | | Track position | Lets you jump to another point in the file. | | Deck volume | Adjusts how much that deck contributes to the mix. | | Prelisten | Lets you check the track through the configured private output. |

Understand the crossfader

Crossfader, deck A to deck B balances the two decks in the mix:

  • At the A end, A is heard and B is excluded from the mix.
  • In the center, both are heard.
  • At the B end, B is heard and A is excluded from the mix.

The crossfader does not start or stop a track. A deck can keep advancing even when its side is inaudible. It does not control the microphone, effects or liners either.

Example: transition between songs

  1. Load one song into A and another into B.
  2. Move the crossfader all the way to A.
  3. Play A and check its volume.
  4. Prepare B. You can prelisten if you have configured that output.
  5. When you want to start the transition, play B, or use Send to mix if it was in prelisten.
  6. Gradually move the crossfader toward B. The songs overlap as you move it.
  7. When you reach the B end, stop A if you no longer need it.
  8. Load the next track into A and repeat in the opposite direction.

When mixing manually, you decide when the incoming track starts and how quickly to move the crossfader.

Adjust levels without distortion

Deck volume lets you balance songs against each other. Master volume affects the entire program, including the microphone and carts. Your speaker or Windows volume determines how loud you physically hear it; this is separate from the level you prepare in MCV DJ.

When several sources play together, their combined level may be too high. If clipping warnings appear or audio sounds distorted, lower the source volumes or master volume. Final clipping protection does not replace a good balance of levels. You do not need to set every control to maximum.