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Re: Entering the world of harmonic mixing...frustration
couldn't agree more ^
really never, ever.. payed attention to the part of the track info where the key's listed.
in my cd case for playing live all i have is a cd and a paper with a track title written on it.
listen to the song you're playing at the moment, at some point you feel the kind of a track that might go as the next one in your set... put it, try it out, hear it.. if it feels okay for you and if you're feeling the crowd and think they might like it too, play it! if it sounds awkward from any of the reasons - change it. as simple as that. i didn't really see anyone playing with me or playing, at all, paying attention to the song keys while playing gigs :o
tho, reading this topic made me wanna try it out someday
to see what i've been missing for all of this time for some promo, maybe.. or something, just to feel the difference (if there's any).. but i still don't understand why that bothers anyone that much.
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Re: Entering the world of harmonic mixing...frustration
to me playing in key is as important as listening to some one sing in key, lets say a piano is playing in one key and the singer is in another, it doesn't matter how good either of them are they won't sound as good as they could in key.... sure it may be ok or pass as a good mix but if it's not in key it is lacking ......music out of key is just that, out of key
just my 2 cents try to play in key always if not i pick a song that doesn't have a lot of synth to it. sometimes you get stuck tying to find a bridge from where your at and to where you want to go and you have no choice but to just play a song
here's a good test to see if it matters....If you have tracktor cut on the keyed button so the track remains in the key it was wrote in....mix two tracks of fairly diff bpm's but the same key.....then cut off the key of one of them and tell me how it sounds off keyComment
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Re: Entering the world of harmonic mixing...frustration
MIK doesn't make mixing easier at all. Knowing the key of your records gives you the confidence to pull off longer mixes as you know there isn't going to be a sudden clashing of sounds as a bassline comes in.
I used to key my records up with a keyboard before MIK so it doesn't change the way I do anything really, just the makes the preparation process quicker, easier and more reliable.
Don't be a slave to it though, there are ways of jumping around the scale and going where you want to go.
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Re: Entering the world of harmonic mixing...frustration
^ what he said...mixed in key is good but for loooonnnnngggg transitions and you shouldn't force it...I think some songs can be mixed with quick transitions without aligning keys...The Idiots ARE Winning.
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect."
Mark Twain
SOBRIETY MIXComment
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Re: Entering the world of harmonic mixing...frustration
Definitely. You can always take the bass out of the track you're mixing into half a bar before the next track's drops. That often sounds pretty good in itself and can really get the room going. There are other ways too, like "energy boost mixing".
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Re: Entering the world of harmonic mixing...frustration
Weizy:
Mixing in key is like mixing in beat. Its fundamental to a clean un-noticeable mix, a skill most dj's have forgotten based on the tricks a mixer can do these days.
I have been mixing in key for over 10 years, and while i use a program for quicker results to find the key these days, sometimes the same key tracks don't mix as well.
The reason for this is quite simple, some tracks have stronger bass lines\produced on diff programs from samples and either have cords playing in sub-dominate keys that may over power the track, meaning your key guide can not produce the best mix.
Mixing in key is a tool and guide to track selection, but you still have to programme the tracks and see what happens when you combine two tracks together x amounts of 32's from the break.
And furthermore those who say mixing in key is not a reqirement, I would say that s fair enough, however Dj's like Anthony Pappa, Zabiela and Seaman all utilise keys to programme their sets, and we know how good Pappa is in mixing and transitioning from one track to the other.
If you paly prog/tech house, email me and I will discuss this with you further as i have heard numerous world knwon Dj's mix, and I can tell you the ones who mix out of key most of teh time are not very creative and sound ordinary in the transition.Comment
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Re: Entering the world of harmonic mixing...frustration
^ +1
@Mattsteel: One of the most detailed and correctly stated posts I ever saw on such categories
Perfectly said and explained and you will find me agreeing with your statement!
Good job mate
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Re: Entering the world of harmonic mixing...frustration
Panolix. thanks i appreciate your feedback
Its a topic that Djs love to debate. I prefer to use keys, but some dont. Personal choice i suppose.
I might actually post a set I have done recently, mixed live, that is predominately in A and D Minor. It may reiterate why keys help the mix, as the idea is to smoothly transfer from one track to another.
Do you listen to Prog/tech house?Comment
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Re: Entering the world of harmonic mixing...frustration
saw diggers cds. appears he also mixes in key or at least writes it down.Comment
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Re: Entering the world of harmonic mixing...frustration
As promised from a previous post on Harmonic Key mixing a set mixed in B Minor and F# sharp only.
Just completed one installment of many more to come of my new mix set compilations titled Orchestrated Symmetry.
Pending my website showcasing new mixes every week/fortnight this is the first compilation of a new series of sets / mix arrangements that capture the essence of electronic music in the way it should be mixed and presented.
This arrangement and all to follow are mixed live on 3 CDJ's with the average mix ranging between 2.30 to 4.0minutes, arranged by key.
Below is the link and track-listing.
Would like to know peoples thoughts on the differences of mixing in Key ( per this mix) and not in Key.
Orchestrated Symmetry (Design 1)
the pre-meditated blending of tracks to create ...the perfect balance
Track-list
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1. Brisker Magitman Wet (Roger Martinez Re-Interpretation)
2. Momentum - Free thinker (Tech Mix)
3. Balcazar Stuck on the red clue (Matt Rowan remix)
4. Lank Twinge (Quivver remix)
5. Kazusa and Magon -Ashphalt Lines (Matt Rowan Remix)
6. Arno Cost - Souvenir (Delicious Remix)
7. Mad 8 ( Shawn Christopher) - Just Another Sleepless night
(Paolo Mojo remix)
8. Dj Taucher Mach Dich Mal Locker ( Moshic Remix)
9. Espen Butterflies (original mix)
10. Cevin Fisher Freaks come out (Gabriel Robella Remix)
11. Cid Inc Tundra White (Inkfish Rmx)
12. Espen - Tune This (Original mix)
13. Douglas K The Curse (Original Mix)
14. Sergio Fernandez Salvation (original mix)
15. Peter Martin - Heat (Derek Howell Remix)
16. Espen Pitch That (Original mix)
17. Tarrentella - Karma (Dale Anderson Remix)
18. Tarrentella - Karma (Fiord remix)
19. Guy J Dust ( Original mix)
20. Henry Siaz and Marc Marzenit Second Vision (Original mix)
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Re: Entering the world of harmonic mixing...frustration
Harmonic mixing is only important when harmonic elements are present, such as when mixing melody. When the beatmixed segment of one track is pure percussion (i.e. "free beats"), then it is atonal and can be beatmixed with virtually anything. Even a short melodic segue wil suffer when tracks are in incompatible keys.Comment
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