Deck Basics: Loading and Playback

Part 1: Loading Your Tracks

Before you can play a track, you need to get it from your library onto a deck. There are two main ways to do this: using the software interface and using your controller.

First, a quick reminder of your workspace. The Browser is at the bottom, and your Decks are on the left and right.

Method 1: Drag-and-Drop (Software)

The most intuitive way to start is by using your mouse.

1. In the Browser, navigate to the Demo Songs folder.
2. Click and hold on a track title (e.g., "House Volume One").
3. Drag it up to the header of Deck 1 and release.

That's it! The track's waveform will appear, and it's ready to go. The following video gives a quick demonstration of this.

Method 2: The DJ Way (Controller)

Now for the more practical, hands-on method using your DJControl Inpulse 200. This is how you'll work when you're in the flow of a mix. You'll use the large rotary knob and the 'Load' buttons.

Let's locate these on your controller.

Here's the process:

1. Turn the Browse Encoder (6): This scrolls through the tracks in your library list.
2. Press the Browse Encoder (6): This allows you to enter or exit folders (like a click).
3. Press the Load Button (6): Once you've highlighted the track you want, press the 'Load' button for the deck you want to put it on (left button for Deck 1, right button for Deck 2).

This next video demonstrates this process perfectly.

Practice Time:
With DJUCED open, use your controller's Browse encoder and Load buttons to:

1. Load "House Volume One" onto Deck 1.
2. Load "Electro House Volume One" onto Deck 2.

Part 2: Basic Playback - Play and Pause

You've got your tracks loaded. Now, let's make them play. This is the simplest part. Each deck has its own Play/Pause button.

On your controller diagram, these are part of the transport buttons (1). They are usually the largest, most prominent buttons on each deck.

• Press Play/Pause once to start the track.
• Press it again to pause the track exactly where it is.

When you press play, you should hear the music through your speakers (as long as the volume fader for that channel and the master volume are up). Don't worry about the volume levels for now; just make sure you can hear it.

Part 3: The Cue Button - Setting Your Starting Point

This is one of the most important buttons in DJing. The Cue button is not just another "pause" button. Its main job is to set and return to a precise starting point in a track.

Think of it like a bookmark. When mixing, you don't just start a track from the very beginning. You find the exact beat you want to start from (usually the first beat of the song) and set your Cue point there.

Let's look at the official functions from the user manual. The Cue button is also part of the transport controls (1) on your controller, right next to Play/Pause.

Let's simplify that into what you need to know right now:

1. Default Cue Point: When you first load a track, DJUCED automatically sets a Cue point at the very beginning (0:00). This is perfect for now.
2. Return to Cue: If a track is playing and you press CUE, the music will stop and jump back to that starting point.
3. Stutter/Preview: If the track is paused at the Cue point, you can press and hold the CUE button to play the track. When you release it, the track stops and jumps right back to the Cue point. This is extremely useful for "tapping" the button to the beat of the other song to make sure you're ready to launch your track in time.

Your First Practice Routine

Let's put all three skills together. This routine will help build muscle memory for these core actions.

On Deck 1:

1. Load a track using the browse encoder and Load button.
2. Press Play/Pause to start the music. Let it play for about 10 seconds.
3. Press Play/Pause again to stop it.
4. Now, press the CUE button. Notice how the track jumps back to the very beginning (the default Cue point).
5. Press and hold the CUE button. The track plays. Release it. The track stops and returns to the start. Try tapping it a few times.

Now, repeat the exact same 5 steps for Deck 2 with a different track. Get comfortable with how these three buttons feel and react.

Conclusion

Fantastic work! You have officially moved from a spectator to a participant. You are no longer just looking at the software; you are controlling it and making it produce sound.

Here are your key takeaways:

• Loading Tracks: You can load tracks by dragging them in the software or, more importantly, by using the Browse encoder and Load buttons on your controller.
• Play/Pause Control: The Play/Pause button gives you simple, direct control over starting and stopping your music.
• The Power of Cue: The Cue button is your essential tool for setting and returning to a precise start point, which is critical for timing your mixes.

You may have noticed that when you play a track, it comes out of your main speakers for everyone to hear. This leads to a crucial question: how do you prepare your next track without the audience hearing it?

In our next lesson, we will solve that exact problem. We'll explore how to use your headphones to preview a track independently, a skill that is at the very heart of being a DJ.