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Questions on Advanced Mixing Techniques
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| Eugene |
I want to ask you a few questions about advancing mixing.
Suppose you've beatmatched two songs, and you use a crossfader. Oftentimes, *just* using the crossfader is not what you want. For example, if you have different basslines they may clash; also, you may want to "place" the beginning drums of the second track, for instance, on the ending synths of the first one. That way, you will maintain the general drums-and-synth patternt throughout, without fading the synths. But if you just use the crossfader, the synths *will* fade.
So my question is about making the mix truly seamless - for instance, when the drums of one track are ending, you bring in those of the second track without compromising the sound of the first one.
How can achieve that? On a related note, can I use the GAIN control to increase the volume of the first track as I crossfade AWAY FROM it, in order to maintain the first track as I introduce, say, the drums of the second one? That way I'll be able to "place" one area of the song onto the other song. In general, what is GAIN used for, anyway? Thanks. |
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| boy_luke_y2k |
Your answer is eq.
For Example; you just change it so that when you are mixing 2 songs only 1 bass plays at a time. |
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| DJTJ |
This is all done using the equalizer controls.
Here is a very basic mix using the eq's:
Cut out the bass of the incoming track by turning the Low or Bass knob anti-clockwise.
Begin to fade in the new track by moving the crossfader towards the middle.
When the crossfader gets to the middle, begin to swap the basslines over. By that I mean turn down the bass of the outgoing track and turn up the bass of the new one.
When this is done, complete the mix by pushing the crossfader all the way over.
Like I said, this is a very basic method. You can do it in all sorts of ways; you can turn down the highs to cut out hi-hats etc, you can try just cutting in the highs and fading the rest through, you can just leave it plain and make the mix without any eq'ing. Experiment and make up your own methods. |
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| Lexicon |
First and foremost, know your records well. Well enough to know when to bring in the next track making sound smooth (and seamless) without any clashing of keys, or any sort of clashing for that matter.
Try using the channel faders instead of crossfaders.
IMO, it gives a more control and also a smoother mix.(Debatable)
A bunch of tricks can be done to make a mix seamless. (mixing using eqs, or just plain bringing track using faders, etc, whichever that works better for that particular mix.)
However, not all the time a seamless mix is a good mix.
Too seamless, it can be boring, abrupt(but smooth) transitions can sound exciting.
Hence, experimentation is the key. |
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| Eugene |
Thanks for your tips, guys.
You still haven't told me what GAIN is used for ;) |
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| DJTJ |
| Different vinyls are recorded at different volumes, the same as CDs or cassettes. The gain control is used to either increase the volume of the channel or decrease it, so you get a constant volume throughout the set. |
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| Eugene |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJTJ
Different vinyls are recorded at different volumes, the same as CDs or cassettes. The gain control is used to either increase the volume of the channel or decrease it, so you get a constant volume throughout the set. |
Well, that's what the standard volume controls are used for.
That's why I'm confused. |
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| DJTJ |
| quote: | Originally posted by Eugene
Well, that's what the standard volume controls are used for. |
No, this isn't generally the case. Next time you're out clubbing or somewhere where there's a DJ, have a look at the mixer if you can. You'll find that the line volume controls are always on full. This is the generally accepted practice. The exception is if, like me, you actually use the line volume faders to mix with rather than the crossfader. In which case, the track you're cueing up will not be on full but the other one will. |
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| Eugene |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJTJ
No, this isn't generally the case. Next time you're out clubbing or somewhere where there's a DJ, have a look at the mixer if you can. You'll find that the line volume controls are always on full. This is the generally accepted practice. The exception is if, like me, you actually use the line volume faders to mix with rather than the crossfader. In which case, the track you're cueing up will not be on full but the other one will. |
Strange...
So the std. volume is always on full, and the gain makes it EVEN LOUDER?
Very strange indeed. |
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| Lexicon |
Gain controls (sometimes known as Trim) are used to control the EQs volume output with the help of the LEDs display, most of time maintaining in the recomended range of maximum of +1db to avoid clippings and minimum of -2db to avoid sounding too soft/ muffled.
I tend to keep it at 0db both master and individual channels.
Every record has different recorded volumes so by using gain controls you can level out the overall volume output by adjusting the gains accordingly.
If not, your mixes will sound crap with some tracks louder/softer than others. |
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| CaBaL |
For the best mixes, ud on't leave the low tones, of the two channels your mixing, open at the same time! You wil have to find the perfect balance! So, when u mix in a new track, u don't turn the low tone of the other channel off!!!! U should do this gradually!! And never turn them entirely off, because the track you ar mixing out will deform to much!!
Experiment a bit with this! You should know that the tones are different with each track, so don't do the same thing all the time!!
GREETZzz... |
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| oDrori |
About the gain of a channel supposedly being useless near it's main volume slide::
The idea is to get the volume balance so that when they are both on full, they will have the same volume. then you can properly use the volume slides.
I personaly hate the crossfader, although I haven't fully understood it's uses- I prefer using only the volume slides.
+++! The slides aren't very balanced between their higher and lowere cases, I mean that if U mix in a track that is at overall volume the same as the track that's mixed out, you won't hear anything but a BIT of Hi's until it passes the 8/10 mark. |
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