TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- DJ Booth
-- How to control bass EQ's when mixing in a second track?
Pages (2): [1] 2 »

How to control bass EQ's when mixing in a second track?

Sorry for the newbie question.. but can anybody explain how to control the bass EQ knobs on both channels when mixing in the second track. You obviously need to cut bass on the track you bring in ontherwise it will clash with the bass frequencies on the track playing, but I would love to see how exactly this should be done properly.

Does anybody perhaps know of a good video at Youtube which explains this very well.. i have looked myself and there are many videos but none show well what I want to know. Or if there isn't a really good one somebody here could perhaps upload a tutorial on youtube explaing this?

Thanks for all help!

Re: How to control bass EQ's when mixing in a second track?

quote:

Originally posted by Dance123 Sorry for the newbie question.. but can anybody explain how to control the bass EQ knobs on both channels when mixing in the second track. You obviously need to cut bass on the track you bring in ontherwise it will clash with the bass frequencies on the track playing, but I would love to see how exactly this should be done properly. Does anybody perhaps know of a good video at Youtube which explains this very well.. i have looked myself and there are many videos but none show well what I want to know. Or if there isn't a really good one somebody here could perhaps upload a tutorial on youtube explaing this? Thanks for all help!

I don't get your question.

There's no perfect way to do anything in the world of DJ'ing and if I understand you correctly there's certainly no set way of working your EQ.

When you break it down this is what is typically done:

1) Use the volume faders on each channel to fade one track in, and another track out in a smooth fashion.

2) Use the EQ knobs on each channel to fade parts of one track in, and parts of another track out in a smooth fashion.

So what sounds good to you? Experiment with that mix five different ways and see what happens. Perhaps the tracks you are mixing are too clashy and should be avoided a your current skill level.

Yes, you're essentially asking how to mix. It really depends on the tracks you're working with.

And I know this is not what you want to hear but the only way you'll leran is through many hours of practise, trial and error.

It's not just bass EQ you need to worry about, it's also the treble too. I largely don't touch the mids, unless I'm lowering or raising the volume of a prominent element in that range.

Re: How to control bass EQ's when mixing in a second track?

quote:

Originally posted by Dance123 Sorry for the newbie question.. but can anybody explain how to control the bass EQ knobs on both channels when mixing in the second track. You obviously need to cut bass on the track you bring in ontherwise it will clash with the bass frequencies on the track playing, but I would love to see how exactly this should be done properly. Does anybody perhaps know of a good video at Youtube which explains this very well.. i have looked myself and there are many videos but none show well what I want to know. Or if there isn't a really good one somebody here could perhaps upload a tutorial on youtube explaing this? Thanks for all help!

Err, you're basically asking how to cheat mixing?

Obviously if you are on channel 1 and transitionning to channel 2 killing the LOWs on 2 that would most likely mean you don't know how to mix.

Get used to mixing and not cheating your way through.

I don't know what you mean with "cheating".. but if you're spinning epic trance (think Armin).. when the first track is playing and you bring in the second track won't you have the bass EQ cut on the second so the bassdrum of track 2 doesn't clash with the bassdrum of track 1 when mixing in and then at some point you will raise the bass eq on track 2 when crossfading but it's for that i need some good guidelines on how to do.

Are there any vids out there that give a good example of how to mix trance or house tracks cause that's what i am playing.

Sorry that i forgot to mention the style i am doing cause if you don't mix music with punchy 4/4 bassdrums then i can understand why my question is confusing but hopefully now you know what i mean.

Thanks for all help!!

Ahh i understand. You're thinking that both channels Low freq will clash and make an undanceble bassline.

For this it's fairly simple. Just play around and play with what sounds good. If you're not convinced, ask some friends for some advice. Still not convinced, post the mix in this forum.

Just get two tracks beatmatched and spend an hour or so mixing in and out of each other - it's a great way to learn EQing without the distraction of beatmatching each time.

quote:

Originally posted by Jarvmeister Just get two tracks beatmatched and spend an hour or so mixing in and out of each other - it's a great way to learn EQing without the distraction of beatmatching each time.

I agree with Jarv.

After your last post it sounds to me that you need to master some of the fundamentals of mixing. Your questions will answer themselves the more you practice.

Learn how to key all of your tracks and it makes things so much easier.

quote:

Originally posted by mfitterer1 Learn how to key all of your tracks and it makes things so much easier.

For someone starting off I wouldn't go near keying your tracks.

What Meister Jarv said is definitely a good call.

I used to only have 20 records when i started off. Over and over and over I'd play the same tracks together trying out different things.

It's all down to repetition. While trying things you might not have tried before.

quote:

Originally posted by Dance123 but if you're spinning FAIL trance (think Armin)..

Fixed

Seriously, theres no right or wrong way and mixing in a track with the bass cut or killed can be a great way of switching out basslines or changing energy - even swapping between the two bassline patterns each bar etc.

Regarding Trance the theory is fairly simple. The aim is to switch from one bassline to the next as smooth as possible to (in best case) make it almost impossible to hear the switch.
Since the low frequencies of the bass are all in a quite narrow bandwidth you get an amplification of the intensity if you play two basslines parallel: beat 1 + beat 2 = beat 3 with a much stronger/louder bass then either 1 or 2 alone. (constructive interference)

So in order to prevent the rise of the volume at the low frequencies while a transition you need
either: to turn down the low EQ of the incoming, fade in and then turn it up, while parallel turning down the old one
or: turning down the low EQ of the ending track, while fading in the new track.

I mix based on the first method: After beatmatching I turn down the low EQ of the new track. Depending on the track I also need to lower the highs and mids, but usually not more than a quarter turn. When the cue-point arrives I start fading in and (usually) after both tracks play at the same volume I start exchanging the EQs, means turning up the new and down the old ones. Then I fade out the old one.

quote:

Originally posted by DJSoulstone Regarding Trance the theory is fairly simple. The aim is to switch from one bassline to the next as smooth as possible to (in best case) make it almost impossible to hear the switch. Since the low frequencies of the bass are all in a quite narrow bandwidth you get an amplification of the intensity if you play two basslines parallel: beat 1 + beat 2 = beat 3 with a much stronger/louder bass then either 1 or 2 alone. (constructive interference) So in order to prevent the rise of the volume at the low frequencies while a transition you need either: to turn down the low EQ of the incoming, fade in and then turn it up, while parallel turning down the old one or: turning down the low EQ of the ending track, while fading in the new track. I mix based on the first method: After beatmatching I turn down the low EQ of the new track. Depending on the track I also need to lower the highs and mids, but usually not more than a quarter turn. When the cue-point arrives I start fading in and (usually) after both tracks play at the same volume I start exchanging the EQs, means turning up the new and down the old ones. Then I fade out the old one.

Nicely artculate explatnation of one method of mixing basslines but it's not "trance theory" - I can name probably a dozen ways of bringing in a bassline and yes the smooth smooth mix xounds great when done way, but it gets really boring if more than a few mixes are done that way, let alone the majority of the set is done that way.

For instance, I sometimes like waiting until you know there say, 8 bars of the bassline in the playing track left when you begin to cut in the cue track. Cut it in (by taking the playing bass from normal to killed, while simlutaneously taking the cue track bass from killed to normal) in a way to make the bass notes create a new pattern, then when those 8 bars expires, you jack in the cued one from that point.

Depending on how you cut it in, you can essentially create new basslines and even do a thematic progression of the bassline (closer you get to the expiration, the more you cut in the cue bassline etc.).

Re: How to control bass EQ's when mixing in a second track?

quote:

Originally posted by Dance123 Sorry for the newbie question.. but can anybody explain how to control the bass EQ knobs on both channels when mixing in the second track. You obviously need to cut bass on the track you bring in ontherwise it will clash with the bass frequencies on the track playing, but I would love to see how exactly this should be done properly. Does anybody perhaps know of a good video at Youtube which explains this very well.. i have looked myself and there are many videos but none show well what I want to know. Or if there isn't a really good one somebody here could perhaps upload a tutorial on youtube explaing this? Thanks for all help!

just try a few times with the records u plan to mix. ull understand what sounds best after a couple of attempts. a good dj know his songs and know which ones fit and remember how they should be mixed together. some tracks might not even have bass at the part your mixing, whats the point even touching the eq at all then? u do not need a youtube tutorial to learn how to open a door do eventhough some doors are heavier than others? be carefull the first times but once you know your track u can be more agressive on your mixing (and opening doors too).

The way I described is, in my opinion, just the basic and the (as you also said) most used way and kinda characteristic for Trance. Regarding the original question I think it's the answer he wanted.
Of course that doesn't mean that you shouldn't explore, but it's a good way to start.

since i'm in a good mood i'll tell you one of the many ways i eq bass when mixing

i always liked to kill the bass of the exit track on the 32nd beat of the phrase and slam (slam smoothly/precisely/confidently...) the incoming tracks bass in at that moment which will be the 1st beat of a phrase if that makes any sense. armin used to do that a lot... and he is the number 1 dj in the world! the actual eqing movement for the bass knob (before tweaking for perfection) takes a split second. its like:

track 1 bass24-bass25-bass26-bass27-bass28-bass29-bass30-bass31-kill32--kill1---kill2
track 2 kill24---kill25---kill26---kill27---kill28---kill29---kill30---kill31---kill32--bass1-bass2
actual eqing happens--------------------------------------------------------(h e r e)

***notice both eq's are killed on the 32nd beat on both tracks
****you can also use other variations when there are build ups and drop offs at the beginning or end of phrases (thats where knowing your tracks comes in handy)
*****a lot of the time the bass is killed in the track on the 28th beat (by the producer not the dj thats mixing) right before a new phrase and there is just a snare and thats a good time to mix/smoothly slam in the new tracks bass and kill the exiting tracks bass
******i know its tempting to use kill buttons/switches or whatever, but it sounds much better if you're using precise eq knob movement cuz its smoother and sexier

just make sure you know how far you're turning up the incoming tracks bass (monitor through headphones so you have an idea of how much you're gonna have to turn the bass eq knob to get the desired level) you can always tweak it but if the bass comes in too low or too high it sounds like sh*t... if done correctly you can make the hairs on peoples necks stand up.

make sure you let me know how that goes for ya cuz i wanna know if i helped you at all

good response person above me

I hardly ever touch EQs when mixing. For me it all about track selection and level control.

^
WHOA!
thats something different, fo sho!
ive never even heard of such a simple way to mix in a track.

quote:

Originally posted by recoil ^ WHOA! thats something different, fo sho! ive never even heard of such a simple way to mix in a track.

Yeah, and it's probably one of the better pieces of advice Ive seen on here in a while.

I remember mixers that didn't even have EQ's!

im gonna try this technique out tonight.
it sounds so rediculous

quote:

Originally posted by recoil im gonna try this technique out tonight. it sounds so rediculous

Ridiculous? You can't be serious. Mostly only beginner to intermediate DJs are the ones I see committing EQ abuse. It really isn't so simple because you have to pick your tracks in a way that allows you to do this and you have to be very tight and controlled with your fader levels.

it's not a case of eq abuse, i think limiting yourself to the volume faders will bite you in the ass when trying to play something in a different key or even mixed down or eq'd different.

quote:

Originally posted by Zild Ridiculous? You can't be serious. Mostly only beginner to intermediate DJs are the ones I see committing EQ abuse. It really isn't so simple because you have to pick your tracks in a way that allows you to do this and you have to be very tight and controlled with your fader levels.

It's actually the other way around, as most newbie DJs I've seen don't use EQ at all.

Every professional DJ I know of use EQ to mix. Why? Because frequency clashes sound god-awful!!

The technique you describe is a VERY oldskool way of mixing.

It really just depends on the types of tracks you are mixing. Using faders/rotaries only can sound very good on some transitions.

I'd hardly throw it out just because it's "n00b-like" to use EQs, though.

Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright © 2000-2021, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.