quote:

Originally posted by dJohn And techno DJ's, while they are very crafted, have it easier to mix than trance DJ's simply based on the fact of track structure: techno is very layered and repetitive(not saying it's not cool!) so it's easier to phrase match and layer out the mix...with trance(especially epic i.e melodic or whatever) the track structure is structured in a particular way, and to even make it more complicated, most trance structures are very different. But who cares. As long as we love the music we listen to, and as long as the music we listen to we love, it's all good.

I don't DJ (except messing aorund on PCDJ Red), however I'm not so sure about this.

A lot of techno tunes have so many phrases that are the same that if you are not keeping count you will lose count. This is a benefit I think many take for granted in trance, that you know at the end of every 16/32 or even 64 beats there will be a swish or a hi-hat comes in and you can use that as a marker.

Also, the buildups in trance are predictable, wheras in techno they are deliberately unpredictable. When I saw Picotto there were many times I anticipated the big Bang and it came too soon, or a beat after I expected. Imagine trying to mix tracks if you don't know when the next phrase starts? I guess you either have to really know the tracks you're playing or you have to have a quick reaction on the deck you're cueing and quickly bring it up to speed. nonetheless, it's a luxury trance DJs have that techno DJs don't.

Also, because techno is almost purely about the beats, you really have to get it right. Sometimes in trance you can simple merge together the breakdown of two tracks, making for a fairly easy transition. With techno it must be crisp and right on the beat every time. That said, I think the fatter beats in techno might allow more lee-way in beatmatching than the sharp beats you get in some trance tracks, but don't quote me on that.

Lastly, I can't think of a single trance tune (except some breakbeat tracks) where it does not adhere to the common principles of music, with accurate bars/phrases etc. With techno, it's like the rules are removed, sometimes instead of 64 beats a buildup from nowhere comes in on 52 beats or whatever, and it's sudden and unexpected, and the buildup isn't 4 beats of 8 beats long, sometimes it's something awkward like 7 beats.

If you give me a little time, I'll try and find some examples, although I think verminator or USSR junkie could name some off the top of their heads as they seem to be the main techno heads around here.

To conclude, I think trance has a more 'uniform' nature, and sticks to the rules more.

Last edited by evil_bastard on Jun-08-2002 at 17:42