Fader start: the mixer starts the deck

Beginner · 10 min

Open a channel fader on the DJM and the CDJ plays from its cue point. Close the fader and it returns to the cue point. This lesson uses triggers and CDJ actions.

A Trigger decides when something happens. An Action decides what happens. An action follows its trigger like a finger on a button: it presses when the trigger turns on and releases when the trigger turns off.

A held CUE button on a CDJ plays from the cue point, and letting go returns the deck to the cue point. So "fader up = hold CUE, fader down = release CUE" is a fader start.

1. Get the mixer's data#

Add a ProDJ Link source if you do not have one yet (see the first lesson). Add a Device from it and set its Device ID to the mixer's number (the DJM appears under Discovered Devices). Rename it DJM.

In its Live Data you now see mixer.ch1.fader, mixer.ch2.fader and so on.

2. Trigger on the fader#

Right-click mixer.ch1.fader → Add Trigger. Set:

Event = State On: the trigger is active while the fader is open.
Release Delay = 0 ms: it lets go as soon as the fader closes.

3. Press CUE on the deck#

Right-click the trigger → Add Processor → Action. Set:

Category = CDJ Transport, action Cue.
Deck = 1. Pick the deck explicitly: the data here comes from the mixer, so Auto (from data) has no deck number to use.
On Release = Same as action: when the trigger releases, the Cue button is released too.

Press ▶ on the Action to test it. Holding the mouse button holds CUE.

Open channel 1 on the DJM and player 1 plays. Close it and player 1 returns to its cue point. Repeat the chain for the other channels.

Variations#

Hot cue per bar: a trigger on beat.bar On Change feeding a Hot Cues action.
Fire once per beat: beat.beatInBar On Change, Release Delay about 60 ms.
Stop on the last phrase: a trigger on phrase.current Equals OUTRO feeding Pause.