quote:

Originally posted by Amduscias Fixed

It had to start somewhere, its probably a good thing I didn't come into this deathtrap alone.

Last edited by Soul Foods on Mar-16-2010 at 02:54

OK, finally listened to this and I have some comments for you. I know from experience that you're after a detailed review so here it goes

Sign and Drive => You Break Me
You started this one very well, with the cowbell on "You Break Me" coming in at just the right time. But halfway through, it sounded off because you completely killed the bass on both tracks for way too long. It interrupts the natural flow of the music, kinda like a huge sign that says "I'M MIXING OUT NOW!".

You Break Me => Birds & Souls
This one was odd and sounded very forced and dragged out. I don't think the problem lied too much with your technique but more with the fact that the tracks don't go well together. The cowbell on "You Break Me" is way too prominent and clashes with the vocals coming in from "Birds & Souls". There was a technical issue here, however. You killed the bass on both tracks again and made the whole thing sound "flat". My advice here is that you start the incoming track with the bass completely killed. Then gradually lower the bass on the outgoing track, while doing the opposite to the bass from the incoming track. The result is much smoother.

Birds & Souls => Kill Me (Crushed Soul Mix)
Besides the fact that you started mixing in too late, this one was fucking awesome. You let the loop play out way too much, and it kinda kills the flow a bit. However, when you brought in "Kill Me", it was perfectly timed and the vocals from both tracks complemented each other fantastically. I love it when this happens, because it's sort of like making a new track out of two. It sounds like a "duet" of sorts, lol. It's also the first time I feel you've made a progression in the flow of the mix.

Kill Me (Crushed Soul Mix) => Rollers
You did the same thing with the bass here than with the first two transitions, but the end result here was much smoother. Another thing I'm noticing at this point is that you've kept the general flow of the set a bit flat, as opposed to progressing a little bit with each new track. I thought you were going to start kicking things into gear with "Kill Me" but "Rollers" kinda slowed things down again. This is not a bad thing on longer sets, but on one hour sets it feels a bit dragged. Please note that it's entirely personal preference though.

Rollers => Ass Tosser
Same thing with the bass here, although you did it for a much shorter time.

Ass Tosser => Make Me
This transition was pulled off really well mate. Although you did the thing with the bass again, this time it worked in giving it much needed space to the bassline from "Make Me". This is the second time that a transition feels like a real progression. The drumwork on this track is pretty awesome, too. Good choice.

Make Me => Something In The Way (Droog Remix)
This one kinda killed the energy that "Make Me" had going because "Something In The Way" is a much darker and moodier track. It contrasts too much. Again, the thing with the bass interrupted the natural flow of the music. I don't blame you though, "Something In The Way" is one of my favorite tracks of this year and I'm going to put it in my upcoming 2 hour mix but it's a really hard track to fit in properly.

Something In The Way (Droog Remix) => You've Got Me
Another transition that was pulled off well initially, but had the issue with the bass being killed. I have to say, I like the way it sounds slowed down like that. Sounds somewhat sexier and dirtier and I'm thinking it would sound pretty good looped over another track. However, at this point in the mix it's too slow. The energy that it has is awesome. One of my favorite tracks of the year as well.

You've Got Me => Tuesday
Same thing with the bass being killed completely. I think you timed it a bit late too. If that bassline had kicked in right around the time the vocal from "You've Got Me" dies, it would have been pretty dope.

So, to wrap up...Things to improve are your EQing, the programming of your mixes (it would be much better if you started mixing in earlier in order to maintain the natural flow of the music), and the overall programming of your sets. Make them gradually pick up and build up in energy. Also, if you time your mixes properly you'll find that it's almost unnecessary to use the crossfader, and the track can be brought out almost entirely with the EQs. Your track selection is quite good, you have good taste and I see a lot of potential for your future mixes. I'm really looking forward to where you go from here.

___________________

My Set Archive - MY BLOG

Ralph, just come over to my house and learn cds.

It ain't harrrrd.

quote:

Originally posted by woscar OK, finally listened to this and I have some comments for you. I know from experience that you're after a detailed review so here it goes Sign and Drive => You Break Me You started this one very well, with the cowbell on "You Break Me" coming in at just the right time. But halfway through, it sounded off because you completely killed the bass on both tracks for way too long. It interrupts the natural flow of the music, kinda like a huge sign that says "I'M MIXING OUT NOW!". You Break Me => Birds & Souls This one was odd and sounded very forced and dragged out. I don't think the problem lied too much with your technique but more with the fact that the tracks don't go well together. The cowbell on "You Break Me" is way too prominent and clashes with the vocals coming in from "Birds & Souls". There was a technical issue here, however. You killed the bass on both tracks again and made the whole thing sound "flat". My advice here is that you start the incoming track with the bass completely killed. Then gradually lower the bass on the outgoing track, while doing the opposite to the bass from the incoming track. The result is much smoother. Birds & Souls => Kill Me (Crushed Soul Mix) Besides the fact that you started mixing in too late, this one was fucking awesome. You let the loop play out way too much, and it kinda kills the flow a bit. However, when you brought in "Kill Me", it was perfectly timed and the vocals from both tracks complemented each other fantastically. I love it when this happens, because it's sort of like making a new track out of two. It sounds like a "duet" of sorts, lol. It's also the first time I feel you've made a progression in the flow of the mix. Kill Me (Crushed Soul Mix) => Rollers You did the same thing with the bass here than with the first two transitions, but the end result here was much smoother. Another thing I'm noticing at this point is that you've kept the general flow of the set a bit flat, as opposed to progressing a little bit with each new track. I thought you were going to start kicking things into gear with "Kill Me" but "Rollers" kinda slowed things down again. This is not a bad thing on longer sets, but on one hour sets it feels a bit dragged. Please note that it's entirely personal preference though. Rollers => Ass Tosser Same thing with the bass here, although you did it for a much shorter time. Ass Tosser => Make Me This transition was pulled off really well mate. Although you did the thing with the bass again, this time it worked in giving it much needed space to the bassline from "Make Me". This is the second time that a transition feels like a real progression. The drumwork on this track is pretty awesome, too. Good choice. Make Me => Something In The Way (Droog Remix) This one kinda killed the energy that "Make Me" had going because "Something In The Way" is a much darker and moodier track. It contrasts too much. Again, the thing with the bass interrupted the natural flow of the music. I don't blame you though, "Something In The Way" is one of my favorite tracks of this year and I'm going to put it in my upcoming 2 hour mix but it's a really hard track to fit in properly. Something In The Way (Droog Remix) => You've Got Me Another transition that was pulled off well initially, but had the issue with the bass being killed. I have to say, I like the way it sounds slowed down like that. Sounds somewhat sexier and dirtier and I'm thinking it would sound pretty good looped over another track. However, at this point in the mix it's too slow. The energy that it has is awesome. One of my favorite tracks of the year as well. You've Got Me => Tuesday Same thing with the bass being killed completely. I think you timed it a bit late too. If that bassline had kicked in right around the time the vocal from "You've Got Me" dies, it would have been pretty dope. So, to wrap up...Things to improve are your EQing, the programming of your mixes (it would be much better if you started mixing in earlier in order to maintain the natural flow of the music), and the overall programming of your sets. Make them gradually pick up and build up in energy. Also, if you time your mixes properly you'll find that it's almost unnecessary to use the crossfader, and the track can be brought out almost entirely with the EQs. Your track selection is quite good, you have good taste and I see a lot of potential for your future mixes. I'm really looking forward to where you go from here.

Thanks alot for the input. The reason the bass sounds like it does it probably due to the fact that I just did this one on my laptop with no equipment. I know my next one will sound ALOT better.

quote:

Originally posted by Ted Promo Ralph, just come over to my house and learn cds. It ain't harrrrd.

Tomorrow? After matthew dear? Lets make it a date.

I'll be pulling an all-nighter if I go to Matthew Dear since I have work at 5am the next day. The weekend after that though I'm jiiiive. Still debating on going to Matthew Dear.

quote:

Originally posted by Ted Promo I'll be pulling an all-nighter if I go to Matthew Dear since I have work at 5am the next day. The weekend after that though I'm jiiiive. Still debating on going to Matthew Dear.

You better go.

___________________

OMG OMG A NEW MIX

I probably will and just suffer the next day. :/

I'm young, but a sapling, I CAN DO THIS.

quote:

Originally posted by Soul Foods Thanks alot for the input. The reason the bass sounds like it does it probably due to the fact that I just did this one on my laptop with no equipment. I know my next one will sound ALOT better.

Oh, I see. If you're really into DJing I think you should look into getting some sort of midi controller. It's really hard to control two things at once with just a mouse and a keyboard. It's incredible how that simple addition ups your game.

I hope you didn't think I was bashing you or anything. Just giving you the same type of advice that helped me improve when I first started.

And Adam, stop looking like a gay and go!

___________________

My Set Archive - MY BLOG

quote:

Originally posted by woscar Oh, I see. If you're really into DJing I think you should look into getting some sort of midi controller. It's really hard to control two things at once with just a mouse and a keyboard. It's incredible how that simple addition ups your game. I hope you didn't think I was bashing you or anything. Just giving you the same type of advice that helped me improve when I first started. And Adam, stop looking like a gay and go!

I have 2 technics and a xone 22 right now. I just dont have any monitors/speakers, so I leave all of my gear at a friends house. Its a bad situation. Thanks for the advice though. I'll take all of that into consideration when I start working on this months. Its kinda like I knew this one was kind of fucked, but I put it out anyways because I wanted SOMETHING out. I wont make that mistake again.

Last edited by Soul Foods on Apr-19-2010 at 14:08

quote:

Originally posted by Ted Promo I probably will and just suffer the next day. :/ I'm young, but a sapling, I CAN DO THIS.

You Best Be!