How do you mix a track with 3/4 time signature?

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-- How do you mix a track with 3/4 time signature?

Posted by Yohan on Jan-01-2007 05:56:

How do you mix a track with 3/4 time signature?

Normally, most tunes have a 4/4 time signature, meaning 4 beats per bar.

Recently I came across a tune that has a 3/4 time signature.

To say the least, it makes mixing a bit tricky.

So is there a particular technique do you use to mix in and out of a 3/4 track?

Posted by Trance Nutter on Jan-01-2007 06:10:

which track? I'd be interested to hear it

Posted by Yohan on Jan-01-2007 06:55:

Spooky - No Return (Spooky's Son of a beach mix)

Posted by Nemesis44 on Jan-01-2007 09:02:

It's not a 3/4.
3/4 is usually applied to Waltz, the track is actually a 4/4 but has a jazzy human element to it so the drum programing may have had a bit of 'swing' applied to it.

I haven't tried mixing it and some tracks can be harder than others but generally speaking, as long as the track is actually recorded properly it shouldn't be an issue.

Cheers
Nem

Posted by MinuS on Jan-01-2007 12:01:

Its definitly 4/4, but I think I know how you could think its 3/4. The melody hits on every other 3rd beat, so it does kinda sound like the beat itself is 3/4. Pretty cool sounding track though, havent heard it until i read this. Ill prolly pick it up, that offset melody could sound real sick if mixed properly.

Posted by T-Soma on Jan-01-2007 13:52:

You got to remember to be more creative, its possible to make transitions without beat matching. Its very easy for the transition to sound crap though but I don't see why it can't be done.

Posted by Kaveh on Jan-01-2007 15:47:

There was a 3/4-track posted in the Music Production Forum some year ago. "Pjotr G - 3 2 1" I believe. Very creative and a really good techno track.

Edit: Found it, http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=272726

Posted by IgnazZio on Jan-01-2007 16:38:

Idd, great track! But shitty to mix with I guess

Posted by RJT on Jan-01-2007 17:12:

Isn't the bassline in the Son of a Beach mix actually in 3/4?

Posted by Nemesis44 on Jan-01-2007 18:00:

quote:
Originally posted by RJT
Isn't the bassline in the Son of a Beach mix actually in 3/4?

You could argue that, but I would say that it's more a question of what the guys from Spooky decided to leave out rather than a traditional 3/4. The bassline has an element of funk whereas a straight 3/4 is a bit more mechanical than that, at least in my opinion.

That is the key to writing a funky bassline usually, i.e. leave some room for the track to breathe and you will find that it has more bounce.

Cheers
Nem

Posted by Nemesis44 on Jan-01-2007 18:03:

quote:
Originally posted by Kaveh
There was a 3/4-track posted in the Music Production Forum some year ago. "Pjotr G - 3 2 1" I believe. Very creative and a really good techno track.

Edit: Found it, http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...threadid=272726

He he, why doesn't it surprise me that it was him.

cheers
Nem

Posted by montana on Jan-01-2007 18:11:

well, there is two ways to mix 3/4 to 4/4, one, if you have access to cdj's then work your looptool, for 3/4 into 4/4, make a 2beatloop, mix fast and you are good to go. for the 4/4 into 3/4, make a 3beatloop, and the same procedure.
the other way is to from 4/4 to 3/4 (if you are doing a 16bar mix), is to mix in the 3/4 track on the 5th bar. mathematicly it's going to align on the 17th bar. and for the other way, hmm, i forgot, but remember the bars & structure and you are good to go

Posted by s3nate on Jan-01-2007 18:51:

quote:
Originally posted by IgnazZio
Idd, great track! But shitty to mix with I guess

Stu Cox mixed it

Posted by Yohan on Jan-01-2007 19:30:

Well, on my first attempt, didn't sound too bad as I slowly brought in the next track which had an ambient sound for melody.