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Computer Live Mixing?
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| DJ_Skaya |
I searched for other threads relating to this discussion, so if I missed it earlier, it's not my fault.
Anyways, this post was inspired by the latest addition to the Live sets, the Ronski Speed Live mix. I'm pretty sure it was mixed with computers, and to me that really took away from the set. The tunes were absolutely amazing, but the computer mixing made it feel so inhuman and monotonous. It just didn't flow, and I felt that if the set had been mixed on turntables, it would have been a lot better. I feel the same way about the Nu-NRG livesets, to a lesser extent. Yes, it's obvious that the beats are perfectly mixed on computers, but at least they time the mixing so it's not so choppy.
The other half of this discussion lies in my belief that the DJ is what makes the tunes special, and not the other way around, and this Ronski Speed set is a prime example. The songs themselves were incredible, but think of how much better this set would have sounded, say, if you're favorite DJ, Armin, PvD, Tiesto, Whoever, had been mixing these tunes on tables. What makes a dj great and an essential part of the dance scene is that instead of just playing great tunes (Which anyone can do), they blend a lot of wonderful music into a cohesive whole, mixing the songs together in a way that makes all their positive qualities even stronger and more danceable. I never get this feeling when I hear Live computer mixes. I don't if that's just because I'm not used to the way they sounds or what, but for me, nothing beats live turntable mixing (Even with a couple CD's thrown in).
Does anyone else out there feel the same way as me, or am I just weird? |
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| arj1o1 |
| if you have a song not on viynl or cd-r play it with computer, if you want to make a live show with live 'making' of the song use computer but don't use a computer for mixing everyone could do that with the right software |
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| dbb |
| quote: | Originally posted by arj1o1
if you have a song not on viynl or cd-r play it with computer, if you want to make a live show with live 'making' of the song use computer but don't use a computer for mixing everyone could do that with the right software |
I just showed my little sister how she just "nudges" the record forth and back in order to get the beats aligned. She managed this pretty well with two standard trance vinyls. Just start the first vinyl, and move the crossfader over for lets say 10 seconds. Does this mean that everyone can mix with vinyl?
Are you retarded or something? Anyways, I feel sorry for you.
Ta-ta |
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| Arbiter |
| I just don't really see any effect on performance quality (especially live). But you're entitled to your opinion. |
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| liquidxxd |
| quote: | Originally posted by dbb
I just showed my little sister how she just "nudges" the record forth and back in order to get the beats aligned. She managed this pretty well with two standard trance vinyls. Just start the first vinyl, and move the crossfader over for lets say 10 seconds. Does this mean that everyone can mix with vinyl?
Are you retarded or something? Anyways, I feel sorry for you.
Ta-ta |
he is not the retarded one,, you are, he is saying, if you dont have cdjs and want to play a certain tune, use a computer djing program so you can match the beats and then mix it in, its not hard to do |
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| Tsunami One |
| I can understand for a mix cd and for LIVE sets but i dont think theres any skill in using say a program like traktor live. |
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| MaxC |
| I don't understand why the output of a computer mix would necessarily be any different if they were mixing it on decks. The DJ still gets to decide when and where the next song fades in, what EQ settings to use, etc. I guess you can argue that it takes less skill to mix with a comp but artistically I don't see how there is any difference in what you hear. |
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| DJ_Skaya |
To me it's just not the same. Every mix I've heard Done COMPLETELY on computer just doesn't have the same energy. I also feel like the DJ isn't as in touch with the music, and doesn't have the manual control. There's something extra there on the turntable mixes, the little nuances the DJ adds with the volume controls, faders, or whatever, that are lost with mixing live on the computer. This is why I've always believed that the human DJ will never be replaced by Mix CD's, or just machines cranking out the tunes. Even just the slight errors in beatmatching with live mixing makes the set sound better to me. It's like hearing a musician at a recital. Even if they don't miss a note, there are still tiny errors. To me mixing on computers is like the musician taking one of his CD's and playing it, instead of performing the piece itself. I know there is a little skill involved, but not nearly the amount required with the turntables, or even CD's.
Mixing the set on computer IMO really brings more validity to the statements of people who don't understand the art of DJing when they say "They aren't performing, they are just playing music". I know that's not entirely true, but it is more so true when it's just hte computer that does 70% of the work for you. |
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| arj1o1 |
| it's just.. i don't see it as mixing if you use a computer, you have to mix with feeling and your feeling to rythm, and if you use acomputer and i mena d by using a computer a program which give u the bpm and he lamost mixes for you i don';t take a dj serious |
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| mr. poopyhead |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ_Skaya
To me mixing on computers is like the musician taking one of his CD's and playing it, instead of performing the piece itself. I know there is a little skill involved, but not nearly the amount required with the turntables, or even CD's.
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to me, mixing on computers is like doing art on computers. does a piece of art made on a computer have any less artistic value than one done with oil paints?? you could argue that computers make the work easier (which they do, in my opinion) but in the end, its really the skills and mind of the artist that make the work what it is, not the medium that it is made with. it is the djs skill and knowledge of music that makes a mix what it is, not the method that it is mixed (cd/pc/vinyl).
the real skill in mixing isn't how you work the turntables, knobs and buttons. that can all be learned through years of practice. the real skill in mixing is the way you put the 2 songs together. that comes from having a creative mind. all djs can attain the same skill in the technical aspects of mixing. its the creative aspects that set djs apart. the creative element is something that just can't be taught. mixing on a computer doesn't take any of that creativity away. mixing on a computer only simplifies the mechanical elements of mixing, but not the creative elements. so i think mixing on pc is just as valid as any other method. |
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| benfica88 |
| quote: | Originally posted by mr. poopyhead
to me, mixing on computers is like doing art on computers. does a piece of art made on a computer have any less artistic value than one done with oil paints?? you could argue that computers make the work easier (which they do, in my opinion) but in the end, its really the skills and mind of the artist that make the work what it is, not the medium that it is made with. it is the djs skill and knowledge of music that makes a mix what it is, not the method that it is mixed (cd/pc/vinyl).
the real skill in mixing isn't how you work the turntables, knobs and buttons. that can all be learned through years of practice. the real skill in mixing is the way you put the 2 songs together. that comes from having a creative mind. all djs can attain the same skill in the technical aspects of mixing. its the creative aspects that set djs apart. the creative element is something that just can't be taught. mixing on a computer doesn't take any of that creativity away. mixing on a computer only simplifies the mechanical elements of mixing, but not the creative elements. so i think mixing on pc is just as valid as any other method. |
I agree. Just because you are using a pc, doesn't mean it's mixing "by itself", that is unless your using atomix and have all the auto features on. But someitmes I'll mix on a pc, disable all the features, use my ears, and its really not quite that different. Sometimes with the PC you only have those features that you don't have with vynil. The only thing I really hate is using the knobs and sliders with a mouse, but if you have an external mixer that can be eliminated. IMO, it's really only time before PC's and CD's replase Vynil, hate to admit it but it's ture. Everything evolves. Production was the same way. You used to have all this Hardware to produce, now there are programs with as much potential and sometimes more to produce. Right now, to me, the superior DJ might be the one that can combine all of the methods and not just steer towards one way. |
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| siman79 |
i really can't imagine John Digweed sitting on a desk using the mouse of his PC (w/ Athlon or AMD cpu???) and mixing while we r dancing like lunatics! i dont know, he'd look like he's playing solitaire! jesus guys, i dont think that mixing on turntables or even with cd players is the same with mixing on computer. i know, the selection of the tracks is what that does matter but how can u be a dj if you dont know how to use the pitch control or the EQ?
computer software makes the work so much easy and i believe that a dj cant give to people his own stigma, his personal style u know. |
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