Mixing Help

[Life on Other Planets AKA Johns]

Hey all i need some help please. ok here do i start. hmm ok here goes. Now i know it's programming that helps make a mix sound smooth. Lets sart by when u go to a shop and buy vinyl how do u know u have a track that mixes in with the one u are buying. i mean i recently bought tracks and i can't seem to find other tracks in my collection that woul fit the tracks i just bought. the reason i bought these tracks is cause i like the sound in them and the general feel of the tracks. How do u guy's mix? I also have alot of trouble with certain ryhthm's. is there a way to mark on a record the rhythm of the track. Please help me get sarted on the right track. i can beat match very well. i sorta understand phrase mixing but people can explain that to me aswell if they like. the only prob i have is finding right tracks to mix into each other and making it sound close to perfect. Thank's for any suggestions. also i have tried mixing certain tracks from different comp's and tried to work out why they work together so well but i just can't figure it out eg i would get 2 tracks from let's say digweed's gucd and mix them like he does and try work out why he places the mix where he does, certain rhythm etc.

[breakout]

Re: Mixing Help

good question mate...I've basicly learned how to mix by mixing things that are not "clicking" together at first mixing is important but if you want to know truth some or most of the compilations are mixed on pc's (that I am sure made by dj was zabiela and lisle compilations ) anyhow the best way is to visualise how those will sound together and then mix them...working with eq is a key to success...another important thing is crossfader but thats a thing that each one of us had to learn by himself.Why they sound so perfect ? because mastering and sound engineers worked hard for each sound to be perfect you can do it at home just for your ears by hard working and trying to separate each one of the sound...now when i am mixing i hear not a song as a phrase but phrase full of sound which makes me mix track for minute or more...that is also important some of the songs are good only mixed by short way (just quickly move crosfader to the second track and you will know) and others are good mixed for few minutes hard to judge at first but you will do it in few years good phrase selection is success for you as a dj and for a listener of your set so...go and challenge this sound

[neoee]

Re: Mixing Help

Johns I've noticed that digweed uses the filters on the A&H mixers instead of using the eq's. If you've ever tried it you'll learn that it controls the sound much more effectively since you are sweeping across multiple frequencies rather than what you are limited to on the individual eq knobs.

As far as programming, this doesen't always work well but does do about 90% of the time, try starting the first beat of your queued track just following the last breakdown in a song. Since this is where most producers start winding down tracks it makes for a great place to introduce the new one. Introduce the highs first and then at the right time (you'll know it) swap the bass over to the second track. Also another something that has helped me is what I call a one armed approach. Act as if you only have one hand to use. Instead of turning down one bass knob and turning the other simultaneously try turning the bass back on your outgoing track first (about a 1/4 turn) and then on the next bar turn the other one up. I've found this makes for a much smoother, less noticeable mix. Hope that helps.

[BobbyJassi]

Re: Mixing Help

Johns I've noticed that digweed uses the filters on the A&H mixers instead of using the eq's. If you've ever tried it you'll learn that it controls the sound much more effectively since you are sweeping across multiple frequencies rather than what you are limited to on the individual eq knobs.

Im not sold on this to be honest and i wouldnt recommend any dj to do this. Last thing you wanna do is have the crowd covering there ears because there is excessive hiss coming through on the mix. i have an xone:92 and this techique, it dont sound right! Its all about tweaking the mix. Use the gains and the up fader to make a consistent sound. bring the up fader in and use the gains to control the levels. remember, once it is locked the only thing most djs needs to do - is cut and bring in the frequencies. And if the tracks are right it works....

As far as programming, this doesen't always work well but does do about 90% of the time, try starting the first beat of your queued track just following the last breakdown in a song. Since this is where most producers start winding down tracks it makes for a great place to introduce the new one. Introduce the highs first and then at the right time (you'll know it) swap the bass over to the second track. Also another something that has helped me is what I call a one armed approach. Act as if you only have one hand to use. Instead of turning down one bass knob and turning the other simultaneously try turning the bass back on your outgoing track first (about a 1/4 turn) and then on the next bar turn the other one up. I've found this makes for a much smoother, less noticeable mix. Hope that helps.

This i agree with mate.
Buy tracks thats sound like they'll fit, thats the keys...
when im on beatport i'll think, warm up, peak time and ''just go for it'' kind of tracks.

make sure you post your mix on here for us mate...

[neoee]

Re: Mixing Help

Im not sold on this to be honest and i wouldnt recommend any dj to do this. Last thing you wanna do is have the crowd covering there ears because there is excessive hiss coming through on the mix. i have an xone:92 and this techique, it dont sound right! Its all about tweaking the mix.

You don't actually sweep the filter all the way to the right (when on high pass), only about mid way, enough to cut out the bass. Also have resonance set to the middle as not to add to the sound on either end (not that it should make a difference on the highs when in high pass). I went to see diggers in Vancouver one time and they had a camera looking down on him which they projected onto the screen above, thats exactly what he was doing and it sounded fine. I've personally used this on my 62 many times and I get much smoother mixes out of this than the traditional method. I don't know if you've tried it but next time you get a chance try it out. BTW nice mixer.

*edit* your still using the upfaders and xfader the way you normally would, this is only for the eq'ing bit.

[Life on Other Planets AKA Johns]

Re: Mixing Help

Thanks guy's i will try it tonight if i get a chance. i will upload my set to u guy's i don't think it will be any good but i will try. any other suggestions? Also when i do my mix how would i use say megaupload to upload my file. and does mega and u send it cost anything to upload a file onto?

[Yao]

Re: Mixing Help

programming a set = knowing your records. No filter bullshit whatsoever: by knowing your records, you will be able to determine if the one you're holding in your hand is going to fit in nicely with the rest of your collection in the first place.

Your records are your instruments too: know them inside out, preferrably so well that you can mix them in your head...

[hulkhuss]

Re: Mixing Help

^^^^^^ good point

[xintrax]

Re: Mixing Help

I think it has also to do with the genre the records are.

For example, i find it more difficult to mix deep progressive than progressive house.
In a set, when i go over to the more deeply stuff, it's hard for me to build up for 40 min. because most of the time, those records have such a specific melody that i hardly can mix together. For that i'm obligated to change back more quickly to the more housy stuff.

Don't you agree that the genres you are into play a factor?

[Life on Other Planets AKA Johns]

Re: Mixing Help

Ok guy's thanks for your help. but knowing your tracks how do u memorise them. what are he certain features or elements that are most important to remember? is it the bass line melody rhythm etc. sory i must soundlike a total mron but i would like some help. like i said i can beat match perfectly but my next step is just to make thosemixes sound really good. how do u guy's mix eg bass lines first than melodis etc. i guess if someone would be kind enughto give me some music lessons and how to build a track that would help alot and also some music theory. sorry bout all the pain guy's and girls but this would mean alot to me. Thanks

[geoffgulley]

Re: Mixing Help

programming a set = knowing your records. No filter bullshit whatsoever: by knowing your records, you will be able to determine if the one you're holding in your hand is going to fit in nicely with the rest of your collection in the first place.

Your records are your instruments too: know them inside out, preferrably so well that you can mix them in your head...

Couldn't have said it better...

Johns, it comes with time. If one track you're playing has an ending of just drums, maybe the kick, maybe the kick and snare with a cymbal swell ending lets say, then your pretty free to have anything mix with it. If the track your playing has and ending including the bass and/or some synth line then your probably going to want to go with a track that only has drums as the intro until the previous song has ended or you've mixed out. If the next song has any bass or synth line that isn't in the same key as the previous song it's not going to sound good no matter how well it's beat matched.... understand what I'm trying to say? In other words I'm not going to take a song in a C key if it has a bass line all the way through to the ending and mix it with a song in D if it has a bass or synth line in the beginning so they'll overlap. I'm not saying it can't be done but I try and avoid clashing keys at all cost. The next song can be a different key but the main elements shouldn't be noticable until after the previous songs main elements have ended... Am I making any sense here? I starting to confuse myself and I've been doing this forever . So it really does come to knowing your music. I can play Piece Process "Synthsations" knowing it leads out with drums and the main "synth/bass line" and that the next track is going to have to have a lead in of only drums for it to "flow" well....

[hulkhuss]

Re: Mixing Help

^^^^^^^ how do you tell what key a song is???

[Life on Other Planets AKA Johns]

Re: Mixing Help

Hey there gooffgulley thanks for your help. i sortta understand what u are getting at. i guess i just need to know my tracks a bit more. how many times do u guy's need to listen to a track before u larn it fully? 5-8 times? and how do u guy's arrange your records. by bpm, key grener?

[geoffgulley]

Re: Mixing Help

"^^^^^^^ how do you tell what key a song is???


OK.... forget "knowing what the key is" and just know "the key is different".

[Life on Other Planets AKA Johns]

Re: Mixing Help

to tell the key of a song u ned a keyboard hooked upto your mixer. then play a track. wait for the bass line and melody. while that is playing press each note on the keyboard. when u hit a note that blends in best with the bassline and melody u most prob have the key. then u have to work out if u have a major or minor chord. major is root note+4+3 and minor is root note+3+4. Some lables like border community records actually give u the key of each of their tracks. it's a good way to c if u are finding the keys of your tracks properly. for example i would buy a border community track not look at the key and try work it out myself. once i think i have it then i will look at the sleeve. Any other record lables that have tell u the key's of their tracks. i know zero tolerance & debunk records do this. Any others u guy's have come across?