aski in here http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...threadid=125634

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I'm only very new to harmonic mixing myself but I can help you with the "2A" part, its a system called Camelot that makes knowing which tunes are in key much easier. Basically it consists of a clock face type circular image that is split into sectors, each with a key, i.e E major and a code i.e 12B. the image and an explanation of how to use it can be found at their website, just Google it, I don't have the link right now.

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quote:

Originally posted by chris harrington aski in here http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...threadid=125634

Thanks, but besides being 81 pages long (:eek that thread doesn't answer some of my questions. However, through Nem's superb work in posting so many tunes, I will be helped!

quote:

Originally posted by Shini I'm only very new to harmonic mixing myself but I can help you with the "2A" part, its a system called Camelot that makes knowing which tunes are in key much easier. Basically it consists of a clock face type circular image that is split into sectors, each with a key, i.e E major and a code i.e 12B. the image and an explanation of how to use it can be found at their website, just Google it, I don't have the link right now.

Thanks - I've already seen the camelot site, it's good. Surely that 2A means something outside of the camelot system though?

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Mix archive | Melbourne club guide

Last edited by Domesticated on Aug-22-2007 at 07:13

Easiest way: Using a program like Mixed in Key (or better) to identify the key of the track

Most Accurate way: Using a keyboard and finding the main key of the track that way, long, tedious, but the most accurate and with the best results once you've trained up the old ear

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dude, the camelot system is just a glorified circle of fifths, and i personally find it sickening that they actually trademarked a name for said circle of fifths.

1. i personally use either my guitar or the 3xOSC in FL studio to key my tracks. a good rule of thumb is to listen to the lowest sounding note in the bassline of a track- that's usually the root note (though it's not always the case). plink around until you play the same note on your keyboard. whatever the root note happens to be, that's the key of your tune. assume 90% of the time the track is in a minor key unless it sounds really "weird" (that's just the trend in most EDM we spin). many times the first note of a repeating phrase happens to be the root note also (though once again you should never depend on it), just because that happens to be a trend in creating music.

2. that you just have to know. read about music theory. i mainly use intervals (the relationship between two notes) and relative keys (two different keys that share all of the same notes) to mix. mixing parallel keys (two different keys with the same root notes) usually works too, but sometimes there will be dissonant notes here and there that'll make the mix sound shitty. once again you probably won't be mixing a whole lot of parallel keys since most of the music we spin is in a minor key.

google "musical intervals" and "relative key". interval-wise, the least dissonant intervals for me is unison/octave (obviously), perfect forth, perfect fifth, major second, and sometimes major/minor 3rd. the most dissonant for me is minor second and tritone (augmented 4th/diminished 5th) so i usually avoid mixing between tunes with those intervals (though some will disagree with me about that).

3. i don't pay attention to that shit. not sure, but i assume the "2a" pertains to which octave it is above or below middle c on the piano, but in all honesty that shouldn't really mean shit when you're mixing. D#m is D#m, no matter what octave it's at, and i'm pretty sure there isn't a whole lot of house/trance out there that deviates too much from the middle octaves.


if you have any other questions i'd be glad to help.

Last edited by Omega_Blue on Aug-22-2007 at 09:03

shit like this fluffy, fairytale-esque pic describing the camelot dj system to the mentally disabled bothers the hell out of me.

edit: and furthermore, "camelot" is quite possibly the most ridiculous name for a "dj system" ever devised.

quote:

Originally posted by Omega_Blue shit like this fluffy, fairytale-esque pic describing the camelot dj system to the mentally disabled bothers the hell out of me. edit: and furthermore, "camelot" is quite possibly the most ridiculous name for a "dj system" ever devised.

I saw that picture and had a laugh, yeah.

Thanks muchly Omega, you've answered my questions accurately and succinctly, a rarity on internet forums.

May you bear many prosperous sons and daughters.

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Mix archive | Melbourne club guide

Rapid Evolution music database software has some info on harmonic mixing here:
[[ LINK REMOVED ]]

quote:

Originally posted by b1_ Rapid Evolution music database software has some info on harmonic mixing here: [[ LINK REMOVED ]]

Awesome!

Thanks, that's really helpful too.

These two bits ring really true for me, this is what I was trying to say before:

Most DJs have developed an ear for music, and when listening to a song or mix that is off-key, a mental alarm is triggered and it will sound noticably sour or unpleasant.

Many advanced DJs already mix harmonically by a hit or miss method, although they may not know it. They already spend extra time to test potential mixes, and only use those which pass. By applying harmonic music theory and intelligently selecting songs, a DJ can eliminate countless hours of wasted test mixing.

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Mix archive | Melbourne club guide

I'm surprised, this is a hell of a lot easier than I thought it would be.

Even though I have no musical background, I've been told in the past by producers and DJs alike that I have a good ear.

I'm finding it quite easy to pick the root note at the very least, and without too much hassle I should be able to pick up chords in the next week or so. Thanks for the help all.

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Mix archive | Melbourne club guide

Try Rapid Evolution. Free program, and it will detect the keys of all your songs, then all you have to do is double click on the song you're playing and all the songs that could be harmonically mixed with it light up in green. Great tool.

But I'm not one to like having my play list being slavishly dictated by keys. The better DJ you are and the more skills you acquire the more free you will be to mix any two songs together, enabling you to direct your party exactly where you want it to go at all times .