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 v.1.3.2, made for performing with Traktor Pro in combination with 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 has come from composers, performers and DJ's, like Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Delia Derbyshire, Laurie Anderson, Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre, Andreas Vollenweider, Kraftwerk, 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 decks. Looking for better and more 'grip', I moved on with the APC40 Mk2, a great controller although very complex to map for the functionality I wanted it to have, not available on standard DJ-controllers.

To get the mapping and method materials you can choose a fair price yourself 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 and to be able to create energy so that people get moved!

With or without the mapping you can use the 3+7 method, described at the lower part of this page, and see how it works for you. You can apply it regardless of type of controller, device, software, digital or vinyl.

If you have any questions, feedback for future improvements or if you are interested in a GRIP2 or GRIPZ 3+7 course, 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: background, 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 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 musical elements.

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 GRIPZ 3+7 ENERGY MIXING METHOD is a live performing and DJ-method, aimed at creating a desired energy on a dancefloor by playing, triggering, drumming and mixing specific parts of tracks purely based on their energetic character, so that people get moved.
This has been my main goal when developing the GRIP2 MAPPING, as described above. The mapping supports the method.

Key components: seven 'energy tactics' based upon three generic musical elements

The method can be applied regardless of type of controller, device, software, digital or vinyl. It involves the use of seven 'energy tactics', applied with three generic musical elements of any track: fills, breaks and rhythms.

What are 'energy tactics'?

Energy tactics are intentional actions in your DJ-set or performance to play and mix a specific energetic elements from fills, breaks or rhythms, with the purpose to affect the present energy, and in such a way that people will get moved. For example, one tactic is 'spark' the energy with a fill, another tactic is 'build' the energy with a break, and another tactic is '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 combining techno, house and 80's.

Hotcues or not?

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 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. More on rhythms, as well as on fills and breaks, below.

The seven energy tactics in detail

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

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 mapping):

1. 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.

Energy tactic for fills:

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.

2. 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.

Energy tactics for breaks:

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.

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.

3. 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.

Energy tactics for rhythms:

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.

BOOST the energy

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

PEAK the energy

The aim of PEAK is to climax the energy.

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.

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

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Getting it to work

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

Making the method work starts by sensing, seeing and responding to the energy on the dancefloor. Then apply the desired tactics and create your own sequence and composition of unique parts and sounds from different tracks, creating an energy so that people get moved.

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 energy and their fit as a) one of the three musical elements and b) one of the related seven energy tactics

2. Optional: decide whether these parts should be loops and 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!