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-- Whats the best manner to build a tracklist for a set or an album"?
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Whats the best manner to build a tracklist for a set or an album"?

Well, I used the "search" button but I dont ve found nothing interesting till now...

Can u help me? Or give some tips?
What I ve read about or I think:

- Finish the set with an anthem or classic, is it ok?
- Put the best track in the middle, never in first, obvious.
- Mix vocal tracks together, I mean, in sequence...
- 30 secs is ok when beatmatching.

And...
- How do I mix styles"? What do ya think if I follow this sequence:

(start) -> prog -> uplifting -> hard (some more "tech" stuff-> uplifting -> (end)

- Differences between sets or album tracklists? It`s common people say when live I feel the crowd and choose the next track , can I do it when mixing in my bedroom? following myself (the crowd at the moment) expecting other people feel the same when listening my mix?


- Last: any links about this"?


Thanks attention.

I've only been mixing live on my college radio show for about 2 months now, but this is what I do, given the fact that I don't have too many records to work with (about 60). I usually start off with some slower tracks. I think if I start off with something uplifting, something hard, or a classic, then I have no place to go in the set. So I like to put some progressive trance or house, maybe some breaks in the beginning.

I try not to put too many vocal tracks back to back. At the very most, I will do two vocal tracks, but other than that I try to alternate, or maybe go two instrumentals then a vocal. This is just a personal preference considering there are only a few vocal tracks that I really like.

I like to end my sets on a classic, something like For an Angel (E-Werk Mix) or Sparkles (Transa Remix). For me, these tracks are just too good to be followed by anything else.

Pretty much my sets increase steadily in terms of bpm and energy, but once I get some more records I will try to add more peaks and valleys in my set. I only have a two hour radio show and I don't DJ anywhere else, so I think what I'm doing right now is fine.

I like to Finish whit hard tunes

Is really weird the change techno to uplifting(atleast to me)

To start a set use some uplifting and then go to prog... whit the uplifting u can get a nice opening

How do I mix styles"? What do ya think if I follow this sequence
is really hard to me...do this kind of thing....but do it if you can

Put the best track in the middle, never in first, obvious (agree)but u can start whit your best tune

just play a bunch of good shit that mixes well and flows nicely...there is no equation of genres that make a set of cd good..you should just play what goes good together. i suppose most people like to start out less energetic and work up to something, but i dunno...i say just pic a great intro track and let it loose from there...

stop thinking about things like this too much is my advice. if You are thinking about it & asking questions then you arent really on the right track. Do whatever you like, not what people tell you in here, apart from me obviously. Just forget all these stupid 'rules', unless you want to be yet another shit wannabe trance dj like most of the others caught up in all the nonsense like this.

logicly you go from slow tracks to fast tracks as it's easier and more pleasant on the ear to pitch up instead of pitching down. but like laushinameee & floorfiller said, do it how you like to do it and experiment

I only pick the opening and the finishing tracks, the rest I make up as I go along.

ending on a classic is really passe and predictable - i suggest not doing this

quote:

Originally posted by Laushinameee ending on a classic is really passe and predictable - i suggest not doing this

Why? As long as it isn't a too overplayed classic and the crowd likes it I really don't see the problem.

quote:

Originally posted by Sand Leaper Why? As long as it isn't a too overplayed classic and the crowd likes it I really don't see the problem.

its just not very original - its like starting with the standard 2/3 prog tracks then banging out tiesto tracks. Its boring & predictable & its been done - its formulaic. A lot of 'amateur djs' on here are far too hung up on becoming the next ASOT Armin style dj. Attempting to be like anyone else is the most obvious sign of you being on the wrong path. What makes these tracks 'classics' anyway? the fact that djs like armin / pvd / tiesto have all played them & 'finished' on them. It would be much better to mould out your own track that you finish on, like PvD with Dreamland a few years back, if you really must insist on having a 'finishing track'.

i've wondered a bit about how do to a decent set without going the typical "build up progressively" approach, it seems to be the only way that works for me.

it also seems to be harder to play just progressive than to do a set of prog+trance: being stuck on progressive can make a set sound very "flat", without ups and downs. mixing up distinct "sub-styles" of progressive seems to be a good way to overcome this (like for example do a break between melodic tracks with something more percussive). of course, this applies to other styles, not only to progressive, 100% epic anthem sets can sound even flatter.

quote:

Originally posted by Laushinameee its just not very original - its like starting with the standard 2/3 prog tracks then banging out tiesto tracks. A lot of 'amateur djs' on here are far too hung up on becoming the next ASOT Armin style dj. Attempting to be like anyone else is the most obvious sign of you being on the wrong path. What makes these tracks 'classics' anyway? the fact that djs like armin / pvd / tiesto have all played them & 'finished' on them. It would be much better to mould out your own track that you finish on, like PvD with Dreamland a few years back, if you really must insist on having a 'finishing track'.

I see your point, however, I fail to see how me closing a set with Visions Of Shiva - How Much Can You Take would be like "starting with the standard 2/3 prog tracks then bang out tiesto tracks".

quote:

Originally posted by Sand Leaper I see your point, however, I fail to see how me closing a set with Visions Of Shiva - How Much Can You Take would be like "starting with the standard 2/3 prog tracks then bang out tiesto tracks".

obviously it depends on the indivdual case, some people just have better taste in music than others. People saying 'can i finish on a classic' immediately brings to mind shite armin style rubbish, not good things like that.

The primary role one undertakes as a DJ is to push a certain unique sound of music forward. As a result song selection is vital.

Programming than becomes a response and extension of ones artistic abilities to select songs. Thus one can not master programming until he/she masters song selection vice versa.

Programming will be dependent upon the song selection. Programming is not a formula but rather a story. Stories vary in the message or theme they bring forth. Thus the DJ has the important role of becoming an author of music through his song selection and placement. Songs become the words to this story created by the dj. The songs will give cue to their place in the 'storyline'.

The programing of what one chooses to play first,second, last, ect. affects the storyline. The more important question to ask oneself is whether a song placed at a particualr spot in the mix is congruent with the narration of story you are hoping to convey to the audience.


Understanding these principle of song selection and story telling create the true artistic DJ.

quote:

Originally posted by Laushinameee ending on a classic is really passe and predictable - i suggest not doing this

The reason I do this is because 1) I don't have too many records, especially ones that would be good set ending records that aren't already considered classics, and 2) because I feel like it. Not everyone is out to shake-up the industry. I DJ because I enjoy it, and currently I have no aspirations to ever gain residency, tour, etc.

The college radio station where I spin is located in southwest Virginia, not exactly the hot bed of the electronic scene. People aren't tuning in to hear the next Sasha, PvD, AvB, Tiesto, Zabiela, and the like. In fact, few people here have heard of them. I can honestly say I don't play tracks because those DJs play them, I play them because I enjoy them myself. My goal is first of all to have fun, and secondly to expose people to this sound.

If you noticed in my reply to the original poster, I said I like to do this and I like to do that, rather than say "you need to do this" or "you should do that." When I DJ I do what I'm comfortable doing and what makes me enjoy it. If you think starting slow, building up, and ending on a classic is passe, then so be it.

quote:

Originally posted by Floorfiller just play a bunch of good shit that mixes well and flows nicely...there is no equation of genres that make a set of cd good..you should just play what goes good together. i suppose most people like to start out less energetic and work up to something, but i dunno...i say just pic a great intro track and let it loose from there...

hahah yea! pretty nice summarized. pick a nice intro (mark norman - overkill (intro mix)) hehe. nah do what u think is good!

haha, 30 seconds for beatmatching? u having a laugh, 50 secs minimum but usually 1:30

I'm with Laushinameee on this one. Just play tracks you love, in the order you think might sound good. If you end up trying to copy somebody or conform to a particular style, you're going to sound like an carbon copy of someone else.

If you're playing records just for fun, just play what you like. If you want to try to be a successful DJ and progress beyond your bedroom, concentrate on building your own sound and structure. IMHO, the world needs more individual DJ's and not more [insert famous DJ name here] ripoffs.

Oh, and why not 30 seconds for beatmatching? You'll want to vary it a fair amount (otherwise you'll sound like a machine) but there doesn't have to be a prescribed period of time to mix two records together. Sometimes a 30 second mix with tons of impact works; on other occasions, a beautiful 2 minute blend can be preferable. Find out what works for you and the tunes you play.

Just my 2p worth, mind.

quote:

Originally posted by Ste haha, 30 seconds for beatmatching?

Yeah, I guess every DJ has his own style, but I could never do a 30 second beatmix, I like mine around the 2 minute mark, or longer if the tunes permit

quote:

Originally posted by Laushinameee stop thinking about things like this too much is my advice. if You are thinking about it & asking questions then you arent really on the right track. Do whatever you like, not what people tell you in here, apart from me obviously. Just forget all these stupid 'rules', unless you want to be yet another shit wannabe trance dj like most of the others caught up in all the nonsense like this.

I think you're absolutely right on this one. Music must be about feelings and that is all.

quote:

Originally posted by Ste haha, 30 seconds for beatmatching? u having a laugh, 50 secs minimum but usually 1:30

the mix depends on the track. some tunes require a long blend whilst others require a quick cut.

Again there is no standard but rather what you feel sounds right.

But I can not stress the importance of song selection.

Let me repeat this again:

quote:

The primary role one undertakes as a DJ is to push a certain unique sound of music forward. As a result song selection is vital. Programming than becomes a response and extension of ones artistic abilities to select songs. Thus one can not master programming until he/she masters song selection vice versa. Programming will be dependent upon the song selection. Programming is not a formula but rather a story. Stories vary in the message or theme they bring forth. Thus the DJ has the important role of becoming an author of music through his song selection and placement. Songs become the words to this story created by the dj. The songs will give cue to their place in the 'storyline'. The programing of what one chooses to play first,second, last, ect. affects the storyline. The more important question to ask oneself is whether a song placed at a particualr spot in the mix is congruent with the narration of story you are hoping to convey to the audience. Understanding these principle of song selection and story telling create the true artistic DJ.

As far as the ending on a classic goes, I don't mind it, but I think a slightly less cliched way to end a set is to play an anthem as your penultimate track and then end with something banging. Tiesto often did this, the best example was a set he did a few years ago where he played mostly up-front tunes before ending with The Sound Of Nature and then DJ Montana - The Bridge In The Park. It worked well.

imo, u gotta FEEL what your gonna spin,
let the energy of the track/feeling
take you further

I ve read all posts...
thanks all, I saved this thread on my disk hehe...

One question I have yet is about the mix between tracks, for example, there are sets where the dj stop the song and start other, I mean, no mix: only stop-one-play-other...

Does it happens when things go wrong (I remembered the Airwave song now hehe) or stop-play is good? it turns off the dj feeling for some seconds uh?
What is better"? trainwreck for seconds or the stop-play stuff?

mix what the hell u like why r u asking other people what u should mix like.
uve got to develop ur own style of mixing and stand out from others that the difference between a good dj and a bad one

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