Potential Bug or Design Issue with FX Interference in Mixing Panels
I’ve encountered an issue that may be a bug or an intentional design choice, but it significantly impacts creative mixing when combining effects from different panels. Below is a detailed breakdown of the problem:
Issue Description
When playing a song and applying an effect via the Manual FX Panel or Instant FX Panel, adding an FX1/2 effect (e.g., Echo Out) should not override the initially applied effect. However, the behavior differs between Instant and Manual modes, leading to undesirable results in certain scenarios.
Observed Behavior
Instant Mode:
When an effect (e.g., Underwater) is applied in Instant Mode, and then an FX1/2 effect (e.g., Echo Out) is added, the system overrides the previous effect.
This causes a volume spike before the Echo Out effect is applied, making transitions in this mode unsuitable for smooth or creative mixing.
Manual Mode:
Adding an FX1/2 effect (e.g., Echo Out) after an initial effect in Manual Mode works as expected, creating the desired transition without overriding the previous effect.
Video Demonstration:
(https://youtu.be/RX9JAr08fYs)
The video illustrates the difference between Instant and Manual modes when applying FX1/2 effects, highlighting the volume spike and override issue in Instant Mode.
The screenshots show the differences in behavior when adding FX1/2 effects to Manual versus Instant FX, further clarifying the issue.
Expected Behavior
The FX1/2 effect (e.g., Echo Out) should never override the initially applied effect, regardless of whether Instant or Manual Mode is used. This would ensure consistent and predictable behavior for smoother transitions and creative mixing.
Request for Feedback
Is this a bug, or is it an intentional design choice? If deliberate, it seems to limit the flexibility of combining effects in Instant Mode. Any insights or workarounds from the community or developers would be greatly appreciated!
i think what you are observing is related to the “hold” vs “toggle”
“hold” assumes when activated via mouse/button it remains “on” until another action is executed
“toggle” remains on until it is physically untoggled
Hi @Pato_Selekta, thanks for the detailed explanation and video - this was very helpful. I was able to replicate this on my setup. Honestly, I’m not sure if this is a limitation of the new FX 1 and FX 2 buttons or if this is a bug. I’ve passed this onto our engineering team for further review and comment. I’ll report back when I have news. Thanks!
Hi again @Pato_Selekta, I spoke with engineering. The FX1 and FX2 buttons are essentially 2 more Instant FX buttons. Currently djay only supports having 1 Instant FX running at a time. So, pressing a second one automatically disables the first one. You can combine them with Manual FX though. I hope that helps.
I fully understand the design of Instant FX, where effects are applied one at a time, and how this differs from Manual FX. However, FX1/2 are distinct modules that should operate independently of the Instant or Manual FX systems. I strongly believe it’s both logical and essential for the engineering team to ensure these modules function separately to enhance creative control and prevent unintended interactions.
The Core Issue
Currently, applying an effect in Instant Mode or Manual Mode influences how FX1/2 (e.g., Echo Out) behave, often overriding the initial effect in Instant Mode and causing disruptive outcomes like volume spikes. This severely limits the ability to execute smooth, professional transitions or creative mixes. FX1/2, as separate modules, should not be impacted by the state of Instant or Manual FX panels.
Why This Matters
Independent Functionality: FX1/2 are designed as distinct tools for specific effects, such as Echo Out, that complement the primary effects applied via Instant or Manual modes. Coupling their behavior to the Instant/Manual system undermines their purpose and restricts creative freedom.
User Expectation: Users expect modular systems to work independently, allowing for layered effects without interference. For example, adding an FX1/2 effect should enhance, not override, the existing mix, regardless of whether Instant or Manual mode is active.
Creative Control: Forcing FX1/2 to conform to Instant/Manual logic creates unpredictable results, such as the volume spikes observed in Instant Mode, which degrade the quality of transitions and mixes.
Proposed Solution
The engineering team should decouple the FX1/2 modules from the Instant/Manual FX systems. This means:
Pressing an Instant or Manual FX button should have no impact on how FX1/2 effects are applied.
FX1/2 should consistently add their effect without overriding or being influenced by the primary effect in either mode.
Call to Action
This is not just a minor inconvenience—it’s a fundamental limitation that hinders the full potential of the mixing system. I urge the development team to prioritize separating the FX1/2 modules to ensure they operate independently. This change would significantly improve usability, reliability, and creative flexibility for all users.
I’d also love to hear from the community: have others experienced this issue, and do you agree that FX1/2 should function independently?
Hi again @Pato_Selekta, thanks for the additional information. I have confirmed with the engineering team that this is not a bug and the FX are behaving as expected. The new FX1 and FX2 sections were added in a recent djay release and they function as Instant FX, but in the different location for easy access. The current rule in djay is that only 1 Instant FX can be used at a time.
In the meantime, if you want to stack multiple FX, you can use up to 3 Manual FX at a time in conjunction with the FX 1 and FX 2 buttons for 4 total.
However, your points are well taken, so I’ve changed this topic from a Bug Report to a Suggestion. Basically, the feature suggestion would be to allow 2 Instant FX to be applied at once. So, in your case, this would also mean 1 Instant FX plus either FX 1 or FX 2 at the same time. Please confirm if this is the essence of what you’re after so I can submit the feature request in our internal system for the dev team to consider. By changing this to a suggestion topic this will also allow other users to upvote it so we can gauge user demand for this and prioritize development accordingly. I hope that helps. Thanks!
Sounds good. Thanks for confirming @Pato_Selekta. I have passed this onto our dev team for consideration. In the meantime, please use the blue Vote button at the top left of this page so we can gauge user demand for this feature. Thanks!
