The real key is the ability to beatmatch faster. This is not always easy for some people (especially me, but I'm getting better!)
The easiest way I've found to have tighter mixes is to vary when you mix in/out of tracks and how you mix in/out (ie: cuts, rapid bass switches, fades)
Sometimes just having the empty beats is a good variation, especially if you want to take the set in a different direction.
One method I have liked is to start the incoming track on the first beat of the record timed with the first beat after a breakdown of the playing track. Then you have time to make sure that the incoming track is on beat so you can bring it in as soon as the playing tracks energy slows (or sometimes at the second/third minibreak) which often is a nice effect.
I hate it when people try to tell you that you shouldn't mix in or out of breaks or breakdowns. You just can't do it all/most of the time. The times that you decide to do it usually has awesome results and can really make for an unexpected chang of pace.
Just my two cents
Nov-30-2006 01:07
Allayla
tech tribal sound
Registered: Mar 2005
Location: AZ
Indeed.
Nov-30-2006 06:03
veezee
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Vancouver, BC
counting bars, writing on labels, drawing graphs, and bringing big yellow crayons to gigs are not going to help you. learning your records and learning to use your ear will.
Jay
Dec-01-2006 05:49
CiTrus
Junior tranceaddict
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Singapore
Thanks for all your input guys. Gotta work hard on my practice mixes.
1Q. how would you guys prevent the "bass cancellation" effect but without the obvious bass change?
tried various ways of transition but it seems the best way is to whack the outgoing's bass low while tuning the incoming's up, but this way that i tried has a very obvious bass tune change.
Dec-01-2006 15:35
Zild
Ten City
Registered: Jun 2004
Location: San Antonio, US : TXTA #156
quote:
Originally posted by CiTrus
Thanks for all your input guys. Gotta work hard on my practice mixes.
1Q. how would you guys prevent the "bass cancellation" effect but without the obvious bass change?
tried various ways of transition but it seems the best way is to whack the outgoing's bass low while tuning the incoming's up, but this way that i tried has a very obvious bass tune change.
You just need to get your tracks to lay over each other a bit tighter. Try not to make drastic changes in the EQ like totally cutting one out and slamming the other one up at the same time (of course this is a good effect to use every once and awhile) but most of the time you shouldn't even have to cut the bass very much. Just work those faders to keep your gain structure tight.
___________________
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Originally posted by Zild
You just need to get your tracks to lay over each other a bit tighter. Try not to make drastic changes in the EQ like totally cutting one out and slamming the other one up at the same time (of course this is a good effect to use every once and awhile) but most of the time you shouldn't even have to cut the bass very much. Just work those faders to keep your gain structure tight.
Exactly. The faders and not playing with the eq too much will help lots!
Dec-01-2006 17:46
Mr.Mystery
Static Guru
Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Vantaa
quote:
Originally posted by nerdgrl416
Exactly. The faders and not playing with the eq too much will help lots!
i can see not playing with the faders too much when you FIRST start mixing. i think it's more important to get the basics of beatmatching/phrasematching first and THEN fucking with the EQ once you get that down. otherwise the beginning dj might confuse him/herself.
Dec-01-2006 19:23
veezee
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Vancouver, BC
quote:
Originally posted by CiTrus
Thanks for all your input guys. Gotta work hard on my practice mixes.
1Q. how would you guys prevent the "bass cancellation" effect but without the obvious bass change?
tried various ways of transition but it seems the best way is to whack the outgoing's bass low while tuning the incoming's up, but this way that i tried has a very obvious bass tune change.
i find if the beats are cancelling each other, those tracks are not good to play together.
