Beat mixing questions!

[Ed]

1) When you beat mix, do more experienced DJ's pick which 4 beats the come in on? I remember Jonno saying ages ago that on a certain mix he knew he had about 8 seconds to cue his tune up and drop it in at exactly the right moment. When you prepare a set, do you make a mental note of this?


2) I'm gettign half decent and working out which one is running faster than the other. When you first started out did you used to make a note of how much faster one record was than another, so you could mix it easier in a set? I'm guessing you don't need to do this later on as you can just do it by ear?

Man I'm so addicted, guess what I am doing when I get in from work


Any other tips gratefully recieved.

 

[nowthen]

I'm no pro but...half the battle is knowing your tunes, where the breaks are, and where best to mix in an out of, etc.

Bit like passing your driving test...just after passing, you might be starting to drive alright round where you live....but drive somewhere unfamiliar...an you'll prob be driving like a twat!

I've never made notes meself, but just do whatever you find best for yaself.

Its just pure practise mate.

 

[LeedsDJ]

To comment on your first point, IMO the trick is to know your records inside and out. Understand the structure of each and every tune. For example, if you know that there is an 8 bar break with just beats in the middle of the record, that would be an ideal point to drop in the bassline or strings or vox etc from the incoming record, and your should know your records well enough so that you start the incoming tune at the right point for when this break occurs and the bassline starts. For me its all about timing and knowing when elements of records come in and drop out etc. I think of you rehearse your mixes to much it sounds very clinical, try to improvise as much as you can. Knowing your tunes will help with this.

 

[LeedsDJ]

I'm no pro but...half the battle is knowing your tunes, where the breaks are, and where best to mix in an out of, etc.

Just beat me to it

 

[fred_funk]

When you are on the decks then I would recommend experimenting whilst doing playing about. Re-use the same two tunes over and over again till you think you have got things spot on. Not only is that a good way to get a good mix, it is also a very good way to get to know these songs inside out (which has already been recommended as a sensible thing to do).

I have often spent hours on just one mix, basically working my way through the tunes trying to find the best mix. This has often been re-trying a mix and starting the mix 8 beats later and if that doesn't sound right, then 16 beats later, etc. When doing a set, I will often have everything written down - explaining the mix, but i'm quite sad. :$

That said, it really depends on what you are after. You can sweat blood over getting together a fantastic set that has been planned down to the last beat, however, it can sometimes feel a bit too mechanical and planned. There are arguments on either side for planned sets versus freestyle.

I guarantee that loads of the big name DJs have got half-planned sets where they will have mixes that they know and love and can drop in and fall back on from time to time.

 

[fishnchips]

I guarantee that loads of the big name DJs have got half-planned sets where they will have mixes that they know and love and can drop in and fall back on from time to time.

Some of the best I have seen already have their records in the order they will be playing them in their bag. The mixes may not be planned but the programming is laid out. I have started doing this for my sets and it makes a HUGE difference. It really frees up a lot of time that you would normally use to search for the next record and allows you to really focus on the mixing. I don't always stick exactly to the order I have them set in, but I use it as a rough guidline.

I know this was a thread on beat mixing and this has more to do with programming but it seemed relevant.

 

[Mojo]

A little trick is when mixing tunes that r new, look at the vinyl for dark bits onnit, they`re the quiet parts to the song, usualy 16-32 bars and give ample room to mix in.

 

[fred_funk]

Some of the best I have seen already have their records in the order they will be playing them in their bag. The mixes may not be planned but the programming is laid out. I have started doing this for my sets and it makes a HUGE difference. It really frees up a lot of time that you would normally use to search for the next record and allows you to really focus on the mixing. I don't always stick exactly to the order I have them set in, but I use it as a rough guidline.

I know this was a thread on beat mixing and this has more to do with programming but it seemed relevant.

I have not really played out much asides from a few parties here and there, but I would have little mini-sets usually bundled together in the box and would go a bit freestyle - there would maybe be a three or four song set then three or four songs completely freestyle, then back into a few known mixes. I found that easy to do - as that is what I have got a tendency to do if I am on the decks at home for an extended period.

Rough guidelines are good I reckon.

 

[Ed]

Thanks for all the advice. I know a mate who used to DJ and he used to plan his sat as you said, pretty much had the records in order, having already practiced the set a couple of times during the week. There was a bit of room for improvisation, but he'd already planned the set in his head in terms of the build and the parts he thought the crowd would go for.

All I need now is practice!!

 

[woody]

ive not had me decks too long either and the most helpful bits of advice that i've received are,

a) recording yourself so u can listen back afterwards and spot mistakes, more chance of learning from it and remembering to do it right next time

b) if you're unsure of where to put the tune in, after the second chorus (of your usual house type tune) is a fairly good bet, because its a common place for the break to be (i presume )

and the stuff ive learnt meself,

try to run the mix in ya headphones for a while and see if its in time, as opposed to one ear phones other monitor speaker.. sometimes a mix i was sure was spot on using one ear phones/speaker would be out, but if i check it in me phones and it needs adjustin, its normally bang on.

and if i'm strugglin for a tune to put in next i try and do something with a totally different sound so it has less chance of clashing. theres nowt worse than 2 opposing pianos clashin imo

hope that makes sense lol

i also have me tunes in slow medium and fast sections as opposed to a-z / label / genre as it helps when picking the next tune, and knowing it wont need to be pitched up to plus 8 million to go

 

[nowthen]

try to run the mix in ya headphones for a while and see if its in time, as opposed to one ear phones other monitor speaker.. sometimes a mix i was sure was spot on using one ear phones/speaker would be out, but if i check it in me phones and it needs adjustin, its normally bang on.

and if i'm strugglin for a tune to put in next i try and do something with a totally different sound so it has less chance of clashing. theres nowt worse than 2 opposing pianos clashin imo

Defo agree with them 2, do both meself.

 

[Ed]

Cheers Woody, that's really useful.

Iwas going to do a post on 'how do you organise your records'. I've got a big mix of stuff from 8o's disco, hardcore, house, funky house, so its a bit difficult to know where to start!

 

[easty]

i also have me tunes in slow medium and fast sections as opposed to a-z / label / genre as it helps when picking the next tune, and knowing it wont need to be pitched up to plus 8 million to go

Good idea that fella, might have to bear that in mind although all my tunes will only go into a fast section

If I might add a bit of advice, untill your comfortable with your decks and records then there is not really much point beat mixing. You need to be able to slow down and speed up ya tunes and feel comfortable with your hand on the record. I know it sounds like nothing but I am showing a new member on here how to mix and at the minute he has no idea how to let a record go, where to put his hands etc. he will learn as he is enthusiastic but untill he is comfortable with his hands were gonna leave the beat mixing.

Another thing is try and watch as many different dj's as possible and try and pick up things. I still do it to this day, i was watching how tag does it last week to see if I could pick anything new up.

good luck fella