quote:

Originally posted by mentalbarter I was bored at work (a regular occurrence), and it got me to thinking. Has the way DJs mix records together changed over the years since trance and any other dance music you care to include was first pioneered, perhaps with the advent of new technologies etc. Clearly there is variation between the styles of different DJs so maybe this question is impossible to answer, but perhaps there are general trends that have evolved over the years, such as average track length played, the way the records are brought in, more advanced mixing stuff that i know little about, etc. For instance, maybe there is a notable difference between the structure of a PvD set from 1996 and 2004. Or perhaps any differences are simply an adaptation to the way the structure of records might have changed over the years. Anyway, back to work

well, to answer your question, it depends on the style of music played

i have a sasha set from the hacienda from 1990, and its all rave classics, with no mixing almost, with loads of accapellas/mc-ing

then listen to nick warren sets circa 95-96 - he still plays rave-style tunes, but with some mixing (albeit its nick warren and his mixing is always a bit dodgy)

then came the prog movement, loads of seamless, long transitions, especially the likes of sasha and digweed

now with the likes of ableton and final scratch,mixing is getting quick again, short snappy transitions - remember sasha at fabric

i think it really does have to do with the DJ and their style. Because i dont think a DJ will incorporate a new style/technique if it doesnt fit their "sound".

With that said, most djs have stayed pretty true to their own style and techniques, but new DJs ahve started to incorporate the new technology.

Take djs who went from vinyl to cd decks, now they are able to mix in loops and take samples right on the spot, so you get some really interestind transitions. they still go from track to track, but you can hear some of the previous track lingering because they took a small sample, looped it, and faded it out.

and now that you have people DJing on their laptops, BT, Sasha, PVD, Richie Hatwin(i think), they are able to really take different parts of song, and make them fit, rather than the whole song them selves.

so to answer, yes mixing techniques have chagned becaued new technology has allowed them to be creative and varied.