GRIP2 v1.3.2 MAPPING (for Traktor Pro and Akai Apc40 Mk2) & GRIPZ 3+7 ENERGY MIXING METHOD ©

Welcome and introduction

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"Creating energy so that people get moved."

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Hello and welcome to

• The GRIP2 MAPPING: made to perform with Traktor Pro and the Akai APC40 Mk2 controller;
• The GRIPZ 3+7 ENERGY MIXING METHOD: creating energy on a dancefloor with three musical elements and seven energy tactics.

"GRIP" stands for having a grip on the music as DJ or performer and affecting the energy on a dancefloor so that people get moved.

Besides experimenting with sound through production and DJ'ing, my inspiration for this method and mapping has come from great composers, performers and DJ's, like Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre, Grandmaster Flash, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Delia Derbyshire, Carl Cox, Speedy J, Richie Hawtin, Chris Liebing and Ean Golden.

I have been developing the mapping and method from 2018 onwards, starting with a mapping for the Akai APC Mini controller, controlling up to three or four decks.

Looking for better and more 'grip', I moved on with the APC40 Mk2 in 2021. A great controller with more and bigger pads, knobs, pots and faders, but very complex to map for the functionality and ultra fast Traktor workflow I wanted it to have, not available on standard DJ-controllers.

To get the mapping and method materials you can name a fair price or add a tip.

Once you have tried them, please drop a rating and comment here. Your feedback is very much appreciated in my mission to get space for you and me in DJ-booths to be able to create energy so that people get moved!

The 3+7 method can be used with or without a mapping. In fact you can apply it regardless of any type of controller, device, software, digital or vinyl.

If you have any questions, feedback for future improvements or if you are interested in an GRIP2 or GRIPZ 3+7 course (private or group, on-line or in person), feel free to contact me. You can also find me on social media and YouTube (links at bottom of page) including videos of me performing with the mapping and method.

Thanks for using, supporting and sharing. Enjoy playing and performing!
MAARToN

GRIP2 MAPPING: purpose and features

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"Grip to perform."

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In developing the mapping and method I had the following goals in mind for DJ'ing and performing, in my case Techno:
- Create and mix compositions of unique parts and sounds from two, three or four tracks;
- Have direct performance control over these parts with a controller;
- Be able to create a desired energy by playing, triggering, drumming and mixing or layering parts based on their energetic character.

After the past years of creating the mapping, experimenting and playing gigs with this setup and method, I can say it gives me a lot of performance possibilities and freedom to create a certain energy with different musical elements, it gives grip to perform.

GRIP2 MAPPING V1.3.2 summary

Versatile hybrid DJ performance mapping for Akai APC40 Mk2 – Traktor Pro 3 and Traktor Pro 4.
Full and simultaneous control of 4 track decks, 32 hotcues, 4 stem decks, 4 MFX, 4 FX units/4 Pattern players, 6 FX presets, 8 macro FX, Filter, 16 Stems, 16 Slices, automatic GUI layouts, back-up 4 channel mixer and more.

Some of the unique features

• Direct and simultaneous access to the 4 decks’ transport controls (Play, Cue, Flux) and Loop/Move controls. No deck switch or shift needed, fast and easy workflow;
• Direct and simultaneous control of either the 4 decks' 32 hotcues, the 16 slices, the 16 stems or the 16 slices and 16 stems combined! No deck switch or shift needed, fast and easy workflow;
• Direct and simultaneous control of 4 FX in Single mode with 16 knobs and 16 buttons or 12 FX in Group mode;
• 6 button operated custom FX presets for Delay and Reverb, 8 fader operated custom Macro FX for Ramp Delay, Reverse Grain, Tape Delay, Gater, Iceverb, Peak Filter, Formant Filter, Beat Masher;
• Full and simultaneous control of 4 Stem decks with 16 stems total, 8 Stem volume faders, 16 x Stem Filter and FX, even Stems + Freeze & Slice. No standard controllers have direct access to 4 decks, 4 FX units, 32 hotcues or 16 slices or 16 stems or 16 stems and 16 slices combined!;
• 4 Pattern Players with each 4 Knobs, 4 buttons and 16 pads to manually control all Pattern Player steps, including full Led feedback;
• Auto-GUI layouts: Function dependent GUI layouts like Beat grid Prep mode and Loop Recorder + Audio Recorder, Parallel deck layout;
• True Knob takeover with Led feedback: function dependent knobs, leds and parameter settings are in their right position or value when switching, meaning knobs, encoders and leds return to correct settings where you left them;
• Back-up 4 channel mixer with Volume faders, EQ, Gain, Cue, Cue Volume, Mix Volume, X-fader A-B.

APC40 setup size is less then 1 CDJ and fits in your backpack. Functionality of the GRIP2 mapping is more then 4 CDJ's..? The price of 4 CDJ's is..

GRIPZ 3+7 ENERGY MIXING METHOD: creating energy on a dancefloor

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"It's the energy inside that counts."

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The skill of a DJ is knowing what music to play when.

Assuming that music, people and everything is energy, a force which can not be seen but can be felt physically and emotionally, the GRIPZ 3+7 energy mixing method is a live music performing and DJ-method that helps you to:

• Learn to decide what to play when by considering the present energy of people, space and sound;
• Create or maintain an energy so that people get moved physically and emotionally.

This can be done continuously during your performance or set as follows:

• Sense and 'see' the type of present energy of people, space and sound (the basis of DJ'ing);
• In response, affect that energy in a way that you believe is needed, by playing, triggering, drumming and layering or mixing specific parts of tracks, based on their energetic character and capability to affect energy.

These have been my main goals when developing the method and mapping, as described earlier. The mapping supports the method with color coded leds for hotcues. More on that below. Applying the method is optional.

Key components: seven 'energy tactics' for three types of musical elements

This method can be applied regardless of type of controller, device, software, digital or vinyl. It involves the use of seven 'energy tactics' to affect the energy on the dancefloor and in the existing space, applied with three types of musical elements of any track or song: fills, breaks and rhythms.

What are the seven 'energy tactics'?

The energy tactics are seven types of intentional actions which you can apply at any given moment and as often as you want in your DJ-set or live performance, in response to the present energy of people, space and sound. Each action involves playing and layering or mixing the specific energetic elements of a fill, a break or a rhythm, to affect the present energy in such a way that people will get moved. In other words, affecting energy with energy.

For example:

• 'Spark' the energy with a fill;
• 'Build' the energy with a break;
• 'Boost' the energy with a rhythm.

Genres

In my case this is mostly for Techno but the method can be applied with other genres too, like House and Hip-Hop, or by combining (elements of) genres, for example Techno, House, 80's, Disco, Dub, Electro, Dub-step, Dance-hall and so on.

Because the specific energetic capability of sound and music is the basis of this method, instrumental music lends itself very well for it, but basically any parts of tracks, songs or other musical pieces can be used.

Hotcues or not?

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"You get to know the music you're playing deeply."

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The use of hotcues is optional but I find they give the best and fastest workflow for live performing. Besides, setting hotcues in advance is a great way to learn and understand tracks, especially the structure of a track and the energy of the different parts of a track. This way you get to know the music you're playing deeply and you will be able to apply the method best.

Rhythms

As mentioned, the three types of musical elements which form the basis of this method are fills, breaks and rhythms. Here, rhythms are parts containing at least bass and percussion, giving a distinct, moving energy. In traditional song structure these rhythmic parts are usually the verses and choruses, but in this method they do not necessarily have to be that. It's the energy inside that counts, not their position in the track. This applies to all used parts. More on rhythms, as well as on fills and breaks, below.

The capability of the seven energy tactics

For the seven energy tactics, which are based upon these types of musical elements, I have chosen names that relate to energy: Spark, Kick, Break, Boost, Build, Peak and Rest. These names refer to parts of a track and the specific energy of these parts, but they also refer to the magical effect they have when playing or triggering them: changing the energy on a dancefloor accordingly.

Here are the details on how the seven tactics are divided over fills, breaks and rhythms (and for those who are using the mapping, between brackets is how they are set up in the GRIP2 mapping):

Fills (Yellow – Hotcues 1 and 2)

Fills can be used as an intro, outro, short intermezzo or to add energy on top of other parts playing. They are distinctive audio pieces of a track which ideally do not contain kick drums or no percussion at all. They can be short in length, used as loops or as one-shots or samples, and may contain for example synth sounds, a particular hook, chords and melodies or vocals.

1. SPARK the energy

The energy tactic for using fills is called SPARK, referring to an electrical spark, as fills can be seen as sparks.
Aim: To suddenly ignite the energy, to excite, to surprise, by playing specific fills of a track.

Breaks (Green – Hotcues 3 and 4)

Breaks are energizers, divided into two energy tactics, BREAK and BUILD. Like fills, they ideally do not contain kick drums, to provide a break after or in between heavier parts to regain energy. They can be used as loops very well, be layered on top of each other for more intense breaks or for extended breaks.

2. BREAK the energy

The break, a quieter part usually before a new rhythmic part with percussion and bass starts or before a drop, the point where the bass and percussion kick in heavily.
Aim: The BREAK tactic can be applied to lower the energy or to draw attention.

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"Affecting energy with energy."

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3. BUILD the energy

A quieter part usually before the main drop in a track.
Aim: BUILD can be applied to briefly lower the energy, to create and build up tension.

Rhythms (Red – Hotcues 5-8)

Rhythms are where the dancing is happening. They are divided into four energy tactics: KICK, BOOST, PEAK and REST. These tactics are rhythms with at least some bass and percussion. They can be an intro or the main parts of a track or an outro and can be layered with sparks (fills) or exchanged with breaks and builds.
In techno, KICK in my method is not much more than a kick-drum. BOOST contains an extra bassline or extra percussion like hi-hats. PEAK is where all instruments play together. REST is a step down in energy and in terms of number of instruments and is usually towards the end of a track.

4. KICK the energy

The aim of KICK is to really move the energy and the crowd initially or it can serve as a step back from more intense percussion parts.

5. BOOST the energy

BOOST is to step-up and higher the energy to a next level.

6. PEAK the energy

The aim of PEAK is to climax the energy.

7. REST the energy

REST is to release high energy and let it flow for a while, cooling down so to speak, and to transition into another energy. It can be used as a loop very well.

Getting it to work and preparing your set

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"Your set becomes the track."

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So, this explained the three musical elements and their seven energy tactics: Spark, Kick, Break, Boost, Build, Peak and Rest.

As explained, making the method work is by sensing, 'seeing' and responding to the energy on the dancefloor by applying the suitable energy tactics accordingly. This way you build your own sequence and composition of parts and sounds from different tracks, creating an energy so that people get moved. Your set is not just made up of tracks, your set becomes the track.

Finally and firstly, to prepare for using the method and hotcues, simply follow these steps:

1. Determine and categorise parts of your tracks based on their types of energy and their fit as:

a) one of the three musical elements;

b) one of the related seven energy tactics.

2. Optional: decide whether these parts should be loops and if so, determine the length/size of the loops, for example 4, 8 or 16 beats;

3. Optional: store your selected parts as hotcues.

Now you are armed with your own personal energy tactics, ready to perform and create a special energy to make sure people get moved.

Good luck and have fun!

ZIP file content
. 1 GRIP2 mapping file (tsi)
. 1 Release and installation notes plus usage tips document (pdf)
. 9 GRIP2 mapping pictures including guides (png)
. 6 GRIPZ 3+7 energy mixing method pictures (png)

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Contact

Email: maarton@gripz2.nl

Or send me a dm on my social media profiles.

🙂 Based on your user experience, drop a rating and comment. Your feedback is very much appreciated in my mission to get space for us in DJ-booths everywhere and to create energy so that people get moved!