Extracted from the "Try this for a total mind f*@k" thread, here's a challenge for you to all have a go at this week:

Equipment allowed:
- as many decks/cd decks as you like
- whatever mixer you like
- NO monitors

Challenge:
- create a 30 minute mix
- you are only allowed to have one channel cued at once
- no cueing the master channel
- no split cue
- you must therefore beatmatch tracks by switching between which channel you're listening to quickly to try and see if they're in time

upload your results (using Yousendit or whatever) and post a link here

If you'd like a slightly easier version, either:
- allow yourself to cue the master channel, so you can at least hear the output

If nothing else just tell us how you got on Good luck


This might be a total flop and it's possible no one will bother , but if we get a few responses then I'll do another one next week...

Let me know (pm or whatever) if you've got an idea for a challenge and I'll use that one week.

___________________
Stu Cox |

are you allowed to eq?

al give it a go, but i wont be able to get on the decks for another couple of weeks, but il post it when its done regardless of the outcome! give u's all a laugh

___________________

if the tracks have well defined kicks i can see if they are in time using the led meters on the mixer, or do i have to cover those as well?

quote:

Originally posted by Nic if the tracks have well defined kicks i can see if they are in time using the led meters on the mixer, or do i have to cover those as well?

stick your ears to the needles to, u can usually hear the percussion

___________________

Hoping to give this a crack soon, I think these challenges are a good idea.

If I don't say you can't do it, then you can do it... so yeah you can use EQ if you like, yeah you can use the level meters.

But the point is it's supposed to be a challenge for a bit of fun - if there's anything you're doing which you think yourself is cheating, then don't do it. If there's a variation you can come up with which you find easier but still a bit of a challenge, have a go and let us know

Just interpret it how you like, it's really just a suggestion of something to play around with.

___________________
Stu Cox |

quote:

Originally posted by Stu Cox If I don't say you can't do it, then you can do it... so yeah you can use EQ if you like, yeah you can use the level meters. But the point is it's supposed to be a challenge for a bit of fun - if there's anything you're doing which you think yourself is cheating, then don't do it. If there's a variation you can come up with which you find easier but still a bit of a challenge, have a go and let us know Just interpret it how you like, it's really just a suggestion of something to play around with.

Exactly. I see it as a time to reflect on those little things I do that are 'cheating'. I use Final Scratch, so I am going to do as you indicated, but I am also going to make sure I don't use the waveform indicators. Just the little things that make you a solid DJ.

Great idea for refining skills!

Thanks for this Stu... I'm actually really excited to give this a shot after studying this weekend...

___________________
last minute disco dot net

This didn't seem too hard by the sounds of it, but if I interpreted the rules correctly, this is pretty damn hard. Basically it's mixing without hearing both tracks at the same time, right? Only hearing one track at a time?

Neat idea! I'll give this one a try

I'm guessing the only way you'd know how your mix went is only after you listen to the recording. I know that I'd be tempted to switch to master just for a second in the middle of the mix to see how it's going...

quote:

Originally posted by Tranc3 This didn't seem too hard by the sounds of it, but if I interpreted the rules correctly, this is pretty damn hard. Basically it's mixing without hearing both tracks at the same time, right? Only hearing one track at a time?

Maybe we're starting off a bit hard for the first one? I'll try and make the next one slightly easier. Funnily enough, people with the less expensive mixers who just have a switch to select which channel they're cueing will find this a lot easier as they can chop that backwards and forwards where as people with separate cue buttons for each channel will have to keep on hitting both the cue buttons for the channel you're using to switch which one you're listening to.

Please don't beat the shit out of your mixer trying this!

___________________
Stu Cox |