mixing between tracks

[88Mariner]

there was a thread on this forum (it's still here, somewhere) talking about the best transitions between two or three tracks. Typically, the baguio track-music saved my life-useless and the first two tracks on NE: East Coast, and a few tracks on the first disk of GU: San Fran come up. Of course, it's not limited to these three particular transitions, but they always come up. You know, the mixes that really really build a set and push it forward. Another one that comes to mind is the first three tracks on Sasha's St. Ives Dance Parade mix.

So anyways, I'm listening to some more up-to-date sets of both Sasha, Digweed, even Nick Warren, and I'm wondering....what happened to such wicked transitions? So I go and start listening to some of Sasha's older live mixes when he was using vinyl, and start listening to some of his more recent stuff using Ableton. His earlier stuff is really full of this building energy, and his more recent stuff, not so much. I mean, the tracks of course are obviously different over the span of 8-10 years, but I get the sense that there he rarely does this anymore, usually relying on that clickety-flanger effect between tracks. I could totally be the only that has noticed this, and I could very well be wrong, but I'm curious if anyone else could come to a similar conclusion about this. Alternatively, another explanation could be that tracks today don't melodically weave as well as tracks years ago. Food for thought and discussion I guess. Bring on the fire.

[thesightless]

Re: mixing between tracks

the best mixing they ever did technically speaking was expeditions. IMHO at least. that CD changed my POV on dance music from being somewhat cheesey atmospheric stuff to true blue head fuck music.

the first halves of both those CD's are utter brilliance. especially the seaside atmosphere into der dritte raum's polarstern and right into fridtious groove/ red devil/mess wit da bull.... wow.

also of note..

desyn's balance cd's , not there is some pure mixing, no computer edits at all, 100% vinyl to vinyl recording. also, nick warrens brazil.

[Steve Graham]

Re: mixing between tracks

i fully agree, with the implementaion of technology something had to suffer unfortunately.. have been listening to the 2001 pre delta heavy sasha/digweed set from orlando.. wow, truly amazing stuff there

[feather]

Re: mixing between tracks

A lot to do with the individual tracks too I'm sure.

[Garrick]

Re: mixing between tracks

^ nothing like finding those songs that match perfectly and just flow. sounds, noises, frequencies and everything perfectly in place. always helps to know what you're doing to bring out those sounds too!

[i!!ustrious]

Re: mixing between tracks

^. great transitions are one of the paramount things i enjoy most about a mix. i really love when choice choons conjoin together so seemlessly, harmonically and beautifully, that they almost take on a newborn id.

i only know how to mix with turntables, but i just bought ableton live not to long ago, and mixing with software is really weird and frustrating at times, it really annoys me (arrangement view really does). /confused

[In-SighT]

Re: mixing between tracks

danny howells - 24/7 disc one (last part of the mix to be more specific) and disc two (the idiots track mixed into that accapella) and the tracks prior and after

Some recent Jody mixes come to mind as well

so many more but cant think of them right now..

[lilsensa]

Re: mixing between tracks

I like it when two records make love to one another. Perfect mix.

[feather]

Re: mixing between tracks

Do you guys think it's because music was more melodic and had better basslines? DJs used to key-mix and blend them together beautifully, but with today's tracks, you don't seem to need to key-mix because they're either too pared down or the melody isn't the same.

[fisheye]

Re: mixing between tracks

Friction's groove --> gamelan on S & D expeditions was truly brilliant.

[nick007]

Re: mixing between tracks

Gents by no good measure are you masters in the dance music genre and I am in awe many a day reading the stuff you guys put on here.

I started listening to house music late in life (when i was 36 yrs old) and one of my first compilations i bought was Hernan's masters series and if i may put my two cents to this thread i have always thought the mix of Hernan Cattaneo & Dean Coleman "Behind The Music" and Morgan Page & Gregory Shiff feat. Astrid Suryato "All I Know" (Hernan Cattaneo & Martin Garcia Remix) was awesome.

[88Mariner]

Re: mixing between tracks

I like it when two records make love to one another. Perfect mix.

dude, that analogy is perfect.

Feather: you noticed that too? A lot less lush & funk to the tracks now.

Still though, I'm wondering why this is. As far as key-mixing goes, it should be alot easier on a computer or even mixing down edits to use in a cd-player.

[feather]

Re: mixing between tracks

Maybe it's just the way the tracks are, or the nature of the crowd ... the stage is setup by the warmup DJ so the main act comes on and only needs to play the peak time tunes and the crowd favourites to whip everyone into a frenzy. I very seldom enjoy a live Sasha set but his Thank You mixes shows he still knows how to put a set together.

Personally I'm a fan of good basslines, deep rolling ones or good beats, not the plodding shit, and you hardly ever hear a good bassline these days. It's the blending of the basslines that build up a drive and momentum in the music so it just carries you forward without any effort on your part. You might enjoy all the melodies and whatever weird sounds in the tracks, but if the bassline isn't moving you, it's not moving you.

[lilsensa]

Re: mixing between tracks

Gents by no good measure are you masters in the dance music genre and I am in awe many a day reading the stuff you guys put on here.

Please tell us why we are not masters.

[Steve Graham]

Re: mixing between tracks

I was wondering what that comment was all about

and for your information, I am a master, of my domain