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Boring mixing (pg. 2)
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| Beatflux |
| Breakdown after breakdown gets to me. |
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| quote: | Originally posted by nefardec
an example could be where a dj lets a track run on too long again and again, so that there is a noticeable decline in energy between tracks.
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it's this one for me. a good example could be some sasha sets. gu13 and involver come to mind. both have really good tracks but the mixing is just dead boring. :eek:
flame away :cool: |
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| Alex |
| quote: | Originally posted by Stu Cox
Particularly seeing that different people like listening to mixes done in different ways as well... |
Yes, I agree. |
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| dJohn |
| quote: | It's sad that some DJs think there is a formula to this, like a math equation.
DJ'ing is both an art and a science, and the balance between the two is what makes it so interesting and fun. Some focus more on the technical side of things, others on the artistic side, and that's what keeps the DJing thing from becoming "boring".
Those who think they've found a super secret formula for DJing that works with EVERY track need to (imo) re-think the whole thing.
I have DJ friends that think there is a "right and wrong" to every transition, and of course they are right to an extent. If you phrase a mix poorly, or dont beatmatch it or just simply the whole thing up, you've done it WRONG. However, beyond those circumstances, I think there is no real right and wrong way to approach a mix, the rule for me has always been "If it sounds good, it is good", after all, despite all our different tastes in music as DJs we're all in the business of making "sounds" sound good. |
You couldn't be more true. Spontaneity and creativity are just as integral as technicalities and mechanical skills. I'm not going to lie: I would pigeonhole myself into certain genres when making CDs, and to this day, there still isn't a mix that I am completely satisfied with. I would do standard 2:00 minute/1:30/:30 second mixes, while the beatmatching and flow was spot on, there was still something missing. There was no charm and allure to the mix.
One of the most important elements to me when determining which song to mix and how to mix it is the rhythm and beat structure. More than anything else, this is what is most noticeable and dominant.
Thinking outside the box couldn't be more applicable when it comes to DJing. |
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| Beat Blog |
| quote: | Originally posted by idoru
"Boring mixing" to me means just spinning track-to-track. I really don't know how Trance DJs can be entertained for hours on end. Once their track is beatmatched, the waiting game begins. They just stand there and wait for the appropriate transition to begin. That's why I never spun Trance, because it's boring.
I spin what I spin because it's fun. Layering two or three tracks on top of each other, always with the ability to try different cue points. Throw in an EFX and it makes for loads of fun. I'm sorry, but I just cannot do track-to-track and call it good. I don't care if the flow is spot-on and the tracks are great, it's still boring. |
Ok, not saying you're a bad DJ, but that's a big problem I have with a lot of our young local jocks.
Rather than just find good tunes, they seem to think that if they layer two tracks and add an acapella on top it's going to be enjoyable for the crowd, when really they're only satisfying their own boredom in the booth, and indulging their own desires.
I think a decent DJ lets their music do the talking, and doesn't need tons of effects and technical skills, or indeed, much activity in their booth at all to "make" the set, though these elements can certainly be the icing on the cake.
Anthony Pappa - probably the best act I've seen in the past year - hardly used any layering or cutting. A couple of simple and effective CDJ tricks where appropriate, but mostly just top notch track selection and carefully crafted flow.
If I want to see amazing technical skills and real "excitment", I will go and see DJ Shadow, QBert etc, but to dance at a club - I'll take a "boring" DJ any day. |
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| Zild |
| quote: | Originally posted by Beat Blog
Ok, not saying you're a bad DJ, but that's a big problem I have with a lot of our young local jocks.
Rather than just find good tunes, they seem to think that if they layer two tracks and add an acapella on top it's going to be enjoyable for the crowd, when really they're only satisfying their own boredom in the booth, and indulging their own desires.
I think a decent DJ lets their music do the talking, and doesn't need tons of effects and technical skills, or indeed, much activity in their booth at all to "make" the set, though these elements can certainly be the icing on the cake.
Anthony Pappa - probably the best act I've seen in the past year - hardly used any layering or cutting. A couple of simple and effective CDJ tricks where appropriate, but mostly just top notch track selection and carefully crafted flow.
If I want to see amazing technical skills and real "excitment", I will go and see DJ Shadow, QBert etc, but to dance at a club - I'll take a "boring" DJ any day. |
totally agree with this statement. DJ Shadow is the moin |
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| spolitta |
| What a boring thread. |
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| Magadansky |
Different styles need (imo) different kind of mixing. Par example, Goa tracks, most of the times, are played from start to finish and imo its quite good and enjoyable, not boring at all. Ofc you don't dance but you still enjoy the music that is played and when the new beat kicks in, you start to dance again. :)
Well the other styles are quite clear. I never enjoyed those 5 minute "perfect beatmatching" in which you just can't feel that a new track started. I want to hear the new track coming with something new in the set. |
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| Jarvmeister |
| quote: | Originally posted by Beat Blog
I think a decent DJ lets their music do the talking...... |
I've always thought this too. The advent of Ableton is likely to see this kind of consideration amongst DJs decrease.
Some of PvD's older sets were simply track to track, mixed gently and flawlessly. Now they're just a series of loops, effects and fancy transitions. Don't get me wrong, PvD does what he does very well, but I think it's a case of not actually needing to. |
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| idoru |
| quote: | Originally posted by Beat Blog
Ok, not saying you're a bad DJ, but that's a big problem I have with a lot of our young local jocks.
Rather than just find good tunes, they seem to think that if they layer two tracks and add an acapella on top it's going to be enjoyable for the crowd, when really they're only satisfying their own boredom in the booth, and indulging their own desires.
I think a decent DJ lets their music do the talking, and doesn't need tons of effects and technical skills, or indeed, much activity in their booth at all to "make" the set, though these elements can certainly be the icing on the cake.
Anthony Pappa - probably the best act I've seen in the past year - hardly used any layering or cutting. A couple of simple and effective CDJ tricks where appropriate, but mostly just top notch track selection and carefully crafted flow.
If I want to see amazing technical skills and real "excitment", I will go and see DJ Shadow, QBert etc, but to dance at a club - I'll take a "boring" DJ any day. |
And I agree wholeheartedly. I don't constantly layer, layer, layer, layer and layer or effect, effect, effect and effect. I know when it sounds good and I know when to stop. I was just referring to doing something more than "let's play one huge breakdown track, stand there for six minutes, transition to another huge breakdown track, and repeat for eight hours!" |
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| Beatflux |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jarvmeister
I've always thought this too. The advent of Ableton is likely to see this kind of consideration amongst DJs decrease.
Some of PvD's older sets were simply track to track, mixed gently and flawlessly. Now they're just a series of loops, effects and fancy transitions. Don't get me wrong, PvD does what he does very well, but I think it's a case of not actually needing to. |
Most of the time, the bunches of loops and stuff don't sound any better than just plain old songs. I think mixing with Ableton a la track to track is taboo with all of its capabilities, but a lot of times I think that's all that's really needed. Most of the time I think effects are really cheesy. |
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