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-- how do u make a smooth transition between tracks?

how do u make a smooth transition between tracks?

i listen to famous djs like pvd oakenfold or tiesto i can barely tell when they mix in 2 different tracks how they do it?
from the moment u beatmatch and mov the slider to the middle what u do to make the transition smooth so 2 tracks dont collide together and make fukt up noise instead of music
because even if i match them in phase the beatsh still shift after like 10 seconds and i dont really touch hi mid low levels

well if they start to drift after 10 sec...you're not really beatmatched are you? anyway, try to play with eq and work on matching the beats closer...

That's a pretty broad question and alot of different components fall into line to make a seamless transition. You have to beat match the records, then you need to match the gain level of the channels so you don't have one insanely louder than the other, then you need to phrase match the incoming record with the outgoing when you start mixing it in, and finally you need to work the EQ knobs. This is generally how I do it and most of the time it comes out sounding pretty golden. Bear in mind I've greatly simplified this process b/c I can't be arsed to write a dissertation on it. If you want more in-depth advice (I would imagine you would) look around in the beginner DJ topic at the top of the page. As far as the X-fader I never touch it. Up-faders all the way!!!

EDIT - If you can't get it to match for more than 10 seconds then they weren't matched to being with. A trick which help train your ears to get the tracks matched is sit there and play two record over each other and try to ge them to match up for as long as possible. I was usually happy with it when I could get them to line up for about 2X64 beats.

it all depends on wat mixer you got.. a good mixer will make better transitions, a shitty miixer does a crappy job

quote:

Originally posted by djshan it all depends on wat mixer you got.. a good mixer will make better transitions, a shitty miixer does a crappy job

Not true, trainwrecking is still very possible on a Xone:92

quote:

Originally posted by djshan it all depends on wat mixer you got.. a good mixer will make better transitions, a shitty miixer does a crappy job

hey man... quit being so disgruntled about your VMX300. mine's still kicking it fine... you're just a picky bitch!

Get the records so they stay matched and then basically just experiment with the eq's until you get a smooth mix. Where you start the incoming track is a big factor too. Sometimes if I'm just messing around I'll try mixing the same songs over and over just starting the incoming track at different points until it sounds best. Of course you couldn't do this playing at a party but practicing like that helps.

Most important is to mix in KEY!!

You can have your beatmatching spot on, and work the eq's and fader to death, but if want really seamless mixes then mix in key.

quote:

Originally posted by djshan it all depends on wat mixer you got.. a good mixer will make better transitions, a shitty miixer does a crappy job

Yup. You don't need a $2000 mixer to mix well, but there is definately a minimum bar that needs to be met. Probably the cheapest mixer that I would recommend would be the Behringer VMX-200, mine is still going strong, and has all of the basic features that someone starting out could need.

I did a live trance set in a store one time, on a mixer that only had two band EQ. Mixing trance with very limited EQ control does not sound very good...

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Originally posted by SgtFoo hey man... quit being so disgruntled about your VMX300. mine's still kicking it fine... you're just a picky bitch!

aaahhh i hate my vmx300.. the eq's suck, lol.

quote:

Originally posted by AJS1 Most important is to mix in KEY!!

Totally disagree with you. Not even close to the most important. The kid is just starting out, beatmatching and phrae matchign are by far the most important things he needs to know about.

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Originally posted by zizack Totally disagree with you. Not even close to the most important. The kid is just starting out, beatmatching and phrae matchign are by far the most important things he needs to know about.

I agree that Harmonic mixing may not be the most important thing to think of when you are starting out. But he is correct with regards to the reason why it sounds so much better when they do it.
The simple fact is that PvD, Armin and Tiesto amongst many others, mix harmonically and that's what makes them sound really good. Harmonic mixing is just the science behind musical flow. Beat matching is in actual fact such a small part of what it's all about and the greatest skill is knowing how keys work together.

There will be those who disagree with me on this count and that's fine but most of them only disagree because they don't know how to do it.

I would still say to the younger DJ that maybe he should focus on matching but he should still be mindful of what works with what.

Cheers
Nem

Listen to Nem, he's old and wise... (well he's wise anyway, don't know about his age, don't even dare to ask him... )

Seriously though, mixing can be very basic, but can also be very complicated. It depends on how and what you want to mix.

Right now, don't worry about harmonic mixing.

Start focusing on beatmatching. Beatmatching is (easily said) getting two different tracks at the same speed and than throw the intro of the second over the outro of the first.

If you can not keep them at the same speed for 10 seconds, you don't have them beatmatched properly. Beatmatching is all about tempo, not about phrases.

quote:

Originally posted by djxtension Listen to Nem, he's old and wise... (well he's wise anyway, don't know about his age, don't even dare to ask him... )

LOL, yup he is old too... Well for a TA anyways. Turned 33 last Saturday.

Cheers
Nem

quote:

Originally posted by zizack Totally disagree with you. Not even close to the most important. The kid is just starting out, beatmatching and phrae matchign are by far the most important things he needs to know about.

Well, of course.I agree beat and phrase matching has to be perfected 1st. And when I started out that's all I worried about. And should be all a beginner worries about for 12 months maybe..

But a while ago after a gig, many a person came up to me and commented that lately my mixing had improved greatly... saying it seemed to flow better.

And I think I know why.... mixing in key.

I'm not an expert at this yet either, but it sure does take your sets to the next level when you get it right.

quote:

Originally posted by Nemesis44 I agree that Harmonic mixing may not be the most important thing to think of when you are starting out. But he is correct with regards to the reason why it sounds so much better when they do it. The simple fact is that PvD, Armin and Tiesto amongst many others, mix harmonically and that's what makes them sound really good. Harmonic mixing is just the science behind musical flow. Beat matching is in actual fact such a small part of what it's all about and the greatest skill is knowing how keys work together. There will be those who disagree with me on this count and that's fine but most of them only disagree because they don't know how to do it. I would still say to the younger DJ that maybe he should focus on matching but he should still be mindful of what works with what. Cheers Nem

I have to agree with this fully as well.

Harmonic mixing may not be something to focus on when you start out (since you have to spend the majority of your time just getting the beats matched and such), but it is very, very important. Harmonics were pretty easy for me due to my musical background - I don't even think of things in terms of key, just what sounds "right" and "wrong" when mixing.

I've heard a couple of amateur DJs playing livesets that clearly didn't think about harmonics, and it definately makes you grind your teeth and wince when things clash harshly enough.

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