Mixing Skills Of The Past

[Vinyl Deficit]

Listening to older mixes from some of the big names, I notice the blends aren't as tight.

Was there not as much emphasis put on blending back in the early 90's and before.

['Magic' Juan]

Listening to older mixes from some of the big names, I notice the blends aren't as tight.

Was there not as much emphasis put on blending back in the early 90's and before.


This was before all the fancy programs where you could "clean up" your finished mixes. Nothing but 2 turntables, a mixer, and your skills. Plus, depending on the genre, many records were not as "dj friendly" as they are now.

[KBig]

Listening to older mixes from some of the big names, I notice the blends aren't as tight.

Was there not as much emphasis put on blending back in the early 90's and before.


who?


cuz Tony Humphries, LLV, Hippie Torales, Tee Scott, and KNucks are seamlesss when it comes to mixing.


Tony's blends are legendary!!!

[TAC]

who?


cuz Tony Humphries, LLV, Hippie Torales, Tee Scott, and KNucks are seamlesss when it comes to mixing.


Tony's blends are legendary!!!

Yea so legendary that you fall asleep!!

[djLesCole]

Do yourself a favor and listen to some old Merlin Bobb mixes.

[djLesCole]

Yea so legendary that you fall asleep!!

You're buggin'.

[KBig]

Do yourself a favor and listen to some old Merlin Bobb mixes.


thanku !!! omg Merlin was FLAWLESS

[KBig]

Yea so legendary that you fall asleep!!


Your TACy azz fell asleep.... LOL


:tongueout: hater! :rofl:

[Vinyl Deficit]

This was before all the fancy programs where you could "clean up" your finished mixes. Nothing but 2 turntables, a mixer, and your skills. Plus, depending on the genre, many records were not as "dj friendly" as they are now.

This was one of my theories.

[Vinyl Deficit]

Perhaps I should have added "some of" in the original post?

[TAC]

You're buggin'.

Yea, man, I know you Jersey cats don't wanna here that, but yer gotta be forwarding thinking to understand just what that entails.

[Reggie McKeever]

Listening to older mixes from some of the big names, I notice the blends aren't as tight.

Was there not as much emphasis put on blending back in the early 90's and before.


Listen to some of the WBMX mixes of the '80's and you'll hear that a lot of emphasis was put on blending.

Also, I'm not sure what you heard in particular, but a lot of music in the past had live drummers. When the break comes, the drummer gets happy and the beats change. Not like the stuff now where you can lock the cuts together. We also didn't have per channel eq's to flip the baselines. Lots of new tools around now.

[KBig]

Yea, man, I know you Jersey cats don't wanna here that, but yer gotta be forwarding thinking to understand just what that entails.


Im not from Jerzee and Tony H WAS and IS a blending BEAST. ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

I have had heart palps up in Zanz.

Sam Burns is another blending mofo' him and Mandrill have freaked DC for 20 yrs now!!!


I can't cosign what VD is copping here... some? well of course SOME in every area are gonna be "so so" but overwhelmingly the Legends of House deserve their status!

IMMFO...

[TAC]

Im not from Jerzee and Tony H WAS and IS a blending BEAST. ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

I have had heart palps up in Zanz.

Sam Burns is another blending mofo' him and Mandrill have freaked DC for 20 yrs now!!!


I can't cosign what VD is copping here... some? well of course SOME in every area are gonna be "so so" but overwhelmingly the Legends of House deserve their status!

IMMFO...

Not saying that he's not a beast at blending... you're missing the point....

[DUBFLY]

Do yourself a favor and listen to some old Merlin Bobb mixes.

lets not forget John Robinson !!!

[KBig]

Not saying that he's not a beast at blending... you're missing the point....


and He can PLAY... Tony is FARRRRR from boring....



Wayne Davis (from here) was the barometer for almost erry dj here in bmore... BECUZ he was a blending muthaphucca! His Blending was PHENOM as well as programming...
I dun lost my mind many nites listening to Wayne.

on 3 turntables FREAKIN IT!

[KBig]

lets not forget John Robinson !!!


Paul Trouble Anderson too.

[Vinyl Deficit]

I also said not as tight. I very rarely hear mixes from the pros skip a beat these days. The blends are usually long and tight. I'm sure it's like others here have said, it's the technology. EQ's, isolators, and BPM counters help a lot.

Mostly just making conversation anyways. I have absolutely nothing to do here at work :biggrin:

[djLesCole]

lets not forget John Robinson !!!

I remember him being good, but I don't remember him for looonnnng mixes like Tony and Merlin used to do. I used to record Tony's radio show every weekend and then take it to Movin' records. I'd ask Joe Smith, "What's this song?" and on plenty of occassions I was told it was actually 2 different songs playing. Skillz!!!

[The Real Dragonfly Jones]

Yea so legendary that you fall asleep!!

Those are fighting words :dueling:

So Tony wasn't your cup of tea, huh? Or are you saying that blending skills aren't as important to you.

[djLesCole]

I also said not as tight. I very rarely hear mixes from the pros skip a beat these days. The blends are usually long and tight. I'm sure it's like others here have said, it's the technology. EQ's, isolators, and BPM counters help a lot.

Mostly just making conversation anyways. I have absolutely nothing to do here at work :biggrin:


I can honestly say I don't use any software or BPM counters to help me. Either you can mix two records or you can't, that's my philosophy.

[KBig]

I also said not as tight. I very rarely hear mixes from the pros skip a beat these days. The blends are usually long and tight. I'm sure it's like others here have said, it's the technology. EQ's, isolators, and BPM counters help a lot.

Mostly just making conversation anyways. I have absolutely nothing to do here at work :biggrin:


its good convo VD.


Actually I JUST had a convo with a friend about today "to be legends" and who they remind us of...for example

Tony Humphries was noted for freaking Vocal and long blends and who comes to mind (of today) IAN FRIDAY... He is alike a Tony Humphries incarnate...

we went down the list

LLV- noted for the production and blends- insert DJ here who is teh LLC incarnate.


very interesting who we plugged in the "incarnate roles".

[travy]

on the live mixes i'm sure it sounded tight in the club but the tapes are always unforgiving. the radio and studio mixes are usually pretty tight...

[Gojay]

I remember him being good, but I don't remember him for looonnnng mixes like Tony and Merlin used to do. I used to record Tony's radio show every weekend and then take it to Movin' records. I'd ask Joe Smith, "What's this song?" and on plenty of occassions I was told it was actually 2 different songs playing. Skillz!!!

Me Too!

Go To Rock and Soul (NYC) monday morning after listening to Lil' Louie(freestyle years) and ask "Is there a remix of so and so?"....Reply:"No, That just came out last week".:mad1: Realized that the man can shine a turd like no other!

Peace,
Gojay

[eZy]

i have a friend who used to study Kenny Jammin Jason mixes, he did personal notes on mixes about mixing skills techniques and sheet :biglaugha:

[jojaujae3]

As someone stated earlier, music was different from now. You had a true band and not a drum machine laying down a track. It's much different. Try holding a 16 beat blend with REAL disco compared to a 16 beat blend of underground:scared:

[AK]

As someone stated earlier, music was different from now. You had a true band and not a drum machine laying down a track. It's much different. Try holding a 16 beat blend with REAL disco compared to a 16 beat blend of underground:scared:

Exactly. On old tapes, you will hear many blends from Frankie and Larry, for example, live in their clubs that weren't tight. This is because they put the music and the moment first, and had the guts to play records that were not "DJ/mix friendly." A lot of DJs don't.

And sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but Hot Mix 5 mixes were often (not always) sliced and diced before they hit the airwaves. And much of the music of that era was electronic in nature, which lent itself to true blends. Not to take anything away from the HM 5, who were all excellent blenders.

[eZy]

Exactly. On old tapes, you will hear many blends from Frankie and Larry, for example, live in their clubs that weren't tight. This is because they put the music and the moment first, and had the guts to play records that were not "DJ/mix friendly." A lot of DJs don't.

And sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but Hot Mix 5 mixes were often (not always) sliced and diced before they hit the airwaves. And much of the music of that era was electronic in nature, which lent itself to true blends. Not to take anything away from the HM 5, who were all excellent blenders.

true that.

[Chris Burns]

Exactly. On old tapes, you will hear many blends from Frankie and Larry, for example, live in their clubs that weren't tight. This is because they put the music and the moment first, and had the guts to play records that were not "DJ/mix friendly." A lot of DJs don't.

And sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but Hot Mix 5 mixes were often (not always) sliced and diced before they hit the airwaves. And much of the music of that era was electronic in nature, which lent itself to true blends. Not to take anything away from the HM 5, who were all excellent blenders.

The "looseness" of live club mixing with unquantized "live" records definitely creates a vibe and energy that can be heads above 4x4 seamless mixing. I actually prefer to hear this "rawness," although not to be confused with trainwrecking.

[DJ Alex Voices]

Im not from Jerzee and Tony H WAS and IS a blending BEAST. ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

I have had heart palps up in Zanz.

Sam Burns is another blending mofo' him and Mandrill have freaked DC for 20 yrs now!!!


I can't cosign what VD is copping here... some? well of course SOME in every area are gonna be "so so" but overwhelmingly the Legends of House deserve their status!

IMMFO....

Has anyone got any old mixes of Mandrill ?. Is this the smae Mandrill who did some releases on Nu Groove ?.

Peace Alex.

[Coach Biskit]

I can honestly say I don't use any software or BPM counters to help me. Either you can mix two records or you can't, that's my philosophy.

:acclaim:

[Chris Burns]

.

Has anyone got any old mixes of Mandrill ?. Is this the smae Mandrill who did some releases on Nu Groove ?.

Peace Alex.

Mandrill's Discography

ULTRA NATE - IT'S OVER NOW (Warner Brothers) Edits with Geoffrey C. for Basement Boys Prod., 1989

33a QUEEN - 33a QUEEN E.P. (Nu Groove) Co-Produced with Basement Boys Productions, 1990

DRILL IMPULSE - I WANTCHA b/w SO GOOD (Strictly Rhythm SR 12184) Co-Produced With Richard Payton (Half of 95 North Prod.), 1993

IMPULSE = FEEL THE NEED b/w COME ON, GET UP (Groove on Go-9) Co-Produced with Richard Payton (Half of 95 North Prod.), 1994

DRILL DRUMS - DA MUZIK b/w COME ON DANCE (New York Arcade Arc-104) Produced by Daryll "Mandrill" Harris, 1995

DJ MANDRILL - BODY THRILL b/w FEELIN TOTAL ECSTACY (Drill Impulse Records DI-1001) Produced by Daryll "Mandrill" Harris, 1997

DJ MANDRILL - OUTTA FRANCE (Prance for Me) b/w Doc Tah Phree (Drill Impulse Records DI=1002) Produced by Daryll "Mandrill" Harris, 1999

DJ MANDRILL - NIGHTBEAT AVAILABLE ON "BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON PROJECT EP (Poji Records PJOO7) Produced by Daryll "Mandrill" Harris 2000


and while I may be too young to have experienced Mandrill during his residencies in the 80s and 90s around DC, I am thoroughly impressed and in awe of the experience, knowledge and talent that shines through at his nice Sunday afternoon party at the Fab Lounge.

[Reggie McKeever]

And sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but Hot Mix 5 mixes were often (not always) sliced and diced before they hit the airwaves. And much of the music of that era was electronic in nature, which lent itself to true blends. Not to take anything away from the HM 5, who were all excellent blenders.


No doubt. But I believe respect for the blend drove a lot that editing.

[Milo]

Exactly. On old tapes, you will hear many blends from Frankie and Larry, for example, live in their clubs that weren't tight. This is because they put the music and the moment first, and had the guts to play records that were not "DJ/mix friendly." A lot of DJs don't.

And sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but Hot Mix 5 mixes were often (not always) sliced and diced before they hit the airwaves. And much of the music of that era was electronic in nature, which lent itself to true blends. Not to take anything away from the HM 5, who were all excellent blenders.

I concur most music from the Hot Mix 5 era was DJ friendly. This topic question depends on what city, time periods, and the mixing techniques we are talking about. I can't speak for most early 70's DJ mixing styles here in Chicago/NYC. I'm old but not that old ;-). Before anything let me start by stating.... I am talking about mixing styles, not music presentation, or getting a crowd going..... In the late 70's early 80's in Chicago, there were two types of mixing styles, straight blending, and hot mixing. For those of you that don't know, hot mixing is a combination of a style of turntablism & blending. Many Chicago DJ's started with hot mixing (blending, scratching, slip cueing, phazing, backtracking ect...) with little to no reference to go by beacuse we had to work with what we had. The music played was a mix of both electronic (House, Italo, Electro, Hip Hop) and live instrument tracks (Disco, RnB, Funk). If you were to compare a typical Chicago DJ of the 80's with a Q Bert or a Merlin Bob style of mixer the Chicago DJ can be a little of both. If you ask most Chicago veteran DJ's to get into a DMC type of set or to mix with long blends they probably can. When Chicago radio stations started to air mixes this was a perfect learning tool for most of us. In the 90's long blends were standard at clubs and hot mixing took a back seat to turntablism because of the music styles that changed. Not to sound arrogant or start a NYC/Chi debate, but Chicago DJ's grew to be like the jacks of all trades when it comes to mixing styles. If your are a Chicago DJ you get respect everywhere you spin because of how we mix. DJ's are curious to here us spin because we have a distict mixing sound. We are the Spartans of DJ culture......:acclaim:

[The Real Dragonfly Jones]

Not to sound arrogant or start a NYC/Chi debate, but .... We are the Spartans of DJ culture......:acclaim:

Nope. Doesn't sound arrogant at all. :rolleyes:

[Sean G]

Merlin, Timmy and Tony!!!! :hail:

[Armento]

Mandrill's Discography



DJ MANDRILL - OUTTA FRANCE (Prance for Me) b/w Doc Tah Phree (Drill Impulse Records DI=1002) Produced by Daryll "Mandrill" Harris, 1999

.


I love this record.

[djdub63]

Sam Burns is another blending mofo' him and Mandrill have freaked DC for 20 yrs now!!

Actually bout 30 for each of them ;)

[Adam Cruz]

i have a friend who used to study Kenny Jammin Jason mixes, he did personal notes on mixes about mixing skills techniques and sheet :biglaugha:

WOW THAT'S DEDICATION - not enough of the new jocks are doing that today. The younger they are, the more it seems that they want to get to the top fast and early with no regard for longevity. just my 2 sense

[djdub63]

.

Has anyone got any old mixes of Mandrill ?. Is this the smae Mandrill who did some releases on Nu Groove ?.

Peace Alex.

http://www.djmandrill.com/

Holla at him directly!

[chldfknungrnd764]

i have a friend who used to study Kenny Jammin Jason mixes, he did personal notes on mixes about mixing skills techniques and sheet :biglaugha:

Kenny was tight!

There were so many levels of music that he would put into his mixes, a true mixing legend!
:jackson:
Check out DHP mix #1357!

[Armento]

Kenny was tight!
more lube :listen2:

[chldfknungrnd764]

more lube :listen2:


:tongueout:

[chldfknungrnd764]

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p269/chldfknungrnd764/Music/oldschoolmixtape003.jpg

A nice time to have a tape waiting in the recording mode on a Saturday Night!

[liL Ray]

I remember him being good, but I don't remember him for looonnnng mixes like Tony and Merlin used to do. thank you...

for the record, old Tony was a beast in mixing and selection...Tee Scott was a beast, but not necessarily for his mixing....Merlin Bobb could mix two records together from Exit 4 to Exit 6 on the NJ Turnpike!!!

and KBig, Paul Trouble Anderson for mixing? I'm a fan of his, but surely not for seamless mixing...I love how he drops accapellas...

For the record I was in Baltimore in '91 (when Paradox was looking about opening) and none of them DJs impressed me...NONE!! and I went to all the clubs...all...with an embarassment like Frank Ski on the radio mixing "booty" house, no wonder they had to open Paradox.

[liL Ray]

And sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but Hot Mix 5 mixes were often (not always) sliced and diced before they hit the airwaves. .same here in NYC...ooops, did I just say that???

hahahahaha

[u.d.p.]

thank you...

for the record, old Tony was a beast in mixing and selection...Tee Scott was a beast, but not necessarily for his mixing....Merlin Bobb could mix two records together from Exit 4 to Exit 6 on the NJ Turnpike!!!



Ray you are right on point with this

[AK]

I can honestly say I don't use any software or BPM counters to help me. Either you can mix two records or you can't, that's my philosophy.

Ditto.

[hairyarmbutcher]

You gotta respect the early pioneers of mixing- some of the old tunes are hard to mix, that and such things as echo and time delays in some night club sound systems causes some time drifting. At the end of the day, a DJs tune selection far outweighs any mixing skills I think. That and a crowds party spirit makes a good night.

[free]

thank you...

for the record, old Tony was a beast in mixing and selection...Tee Scott was a beast, but not necessarily for his mixing....Merlin Bobb could mix two records together from Exit 4 to Exit 6 on the NJ Turnpike!!!



Agree. Especially liked that you pointed out "old Tony." An absoluletly amazing mixologist.

And Merlin could mix records so long it actually turned some folks off because with the melody shifts in both records - even though the mix was tight as could be - the mix/blend sometimes clearly sounded uncomplimentary. Still, Merlin Bobb was a brother who I've ALWAYS enjoyed hearing spinning.

[TAD]

it's funny 20 + years ago i used to bug out to tony's mixes. now i find them kinda boring. not all but compared to the timmy & merlin, there's no comparison. 20 years ago i used to get pissed off when timmy & merlin would do long blends & go off key as someone pointed out earlier, now these tapes are on repeat. clearly they stand the test of time. tony was too busy playing every damn record that came out. lol!! sounded good then, not today. no dis to homefries, he's my boy, just my opine.

tee scott, now that's a madman on the tables for sure!!!

[eZy]

was talking with a friend and he mentioned that Merlin used 3 decks also.. did he ? i can't remember gotta check a mix...

[DJ Timmy Richardson]

was talking with a friend and he mentioned that Merlin used 3 decks also.. did he ? i can't remember gotta check a mix...

Merlin did a lot of editing. You can hear his mixes here where he does have 3 things going at same time. But it's hard to know whether he did that on the fly or added the third track after the first run.

My take is that if it's a mix for a tape, cd whatever....however you got the finished product is kool. I don't see anything wrong with editing to make it sound seamless. Where would the Latin Rascals be if they hadn't edited their mixes. Also back in those days everyone did their mixes on reels. So if a mistake happened, you could just stop, edit out the error and continue on.

If you go back to the archives from the beginning you will see that there is creativity in most of the mixes from those pioneers.

[DJ Timmy Richardson]

it's funny 20 + years ago i used to bug out to tony's mixes. now i find them kinda boring. not all but compared to the timmy & merlin, there's no comparison. 20 years ago i used to get pissed off when timmy & merlin would do long blends & go off key as someone pointed out earlier, now these tapes are on repeat. clearly they stand the test of time. tony was too busy playing every damn record that came out. lol!! sounded good then, not today. no dis to homefries, he's my boy, just my opine.

tee scott, now that's a madman on the tables for sure!!!

I agree. My radio was locked on KISS between 8-12 but once 12 came I was locked on BLS. I never knew anything TH played, so it kinda made for a dull show to me. While the cats at BLS gave you a variety from dancehall to R&B ( Soul II Soul) to Garage joints ( Old and new) to classics. I have never heard anyone mix like Merlin did. But for some long blends aren't their cup of tea. For me it was. And I hadn't heard Tony doing that on his show.

[liL Ray]

I think as time went on, and especially with the new breed, their is more emphasis on "the mix", and so even those who use to be criticized for their mixing skills, even though their selections were on point (Timmy Regisford comes to mind), are now paying close attention to the actually mix...

I remember when the djs could rock a party based on pure selection and very minimal mixing skills...Hector "Houuse Nation" Cruz comes to mind...his collection was vast and folks use to look forward to him ending the HOUSE NATION parties with "slamming" one record into the other, and the crowd would go nuts because the selelction was good...of David Mancuso is king in the non mixing arena, but will get a party into pure frenzy based on selection.

great selection + a creative mind + flawless mixing = greatness.

great selection + a creative mind - flawless mixing = greatness also.

great selection + flawless mixing = can be boring.

a creative mind = the key.

For me, I would take the non mixer with the great selection and a creative mind, especially today. Most of these cats are flawless mixers and then wonder why folks are not responding to them...it's because they are boring. I am sure many have sat in front of their computers listening to a mix show and wonder why they are falling asleep at work when the mixing is so good.

that's enough from me...

[DJ Timmy Richardson]

I think as time went on, and especially with the new breed, their is more emphasis on "the mix", and so even those who use to be criticized for their mixing skills, even though their selections were on point (Timmy Regisford comes to mind), are now paying close attention to the actually mix...

I remember when the djs could rock a party based on pure selection and very minimal mixing skills...Hector "Houuse Nation" Cruz comes to mind...his collection was vast and folks use to look forward to him ending the HOUSE NATION parties with "slamming" one record into the other, and the crowd would go nuts because the selelction was good...of David Mancuso is king in the non mixing arena, but will get a party into pure frenzy based on selection.

great selection + a creative mind + flawless mixing = greatness.

great selection + a creative mind - flawless mixing = greatness also.

great selection + flawless mixing = can be boring.

a creative mind = the key.

For me, I would take the non mixer with the great selection and a creative mind, especially today. Most of these cats are flawless mixers and then wonder why folks are not responding to them...it's because they are boring. I am sure many have sat in front of their computers listening to a mix show and wonder why they are falling asleep at work when the mixing is so good.

that's enough from me...


I agree. But there is a big difference between making a mix and playing live for a crowd.

[eZy]

Merlin did a lot of editing. You can hear his mixes here where he does have 3 things going at same time. But it's hard to know whether he did that on the fly or added the third track after the first run.

My take is that if it's a mix for a tape, cd whatever....however you got the finished product is kool. I don't see anything wrong with editing to make it sound seamless. Where would the Latin Rascals be if they hadn't edited their mixes. Also back in those days everyone did their mixes on reels. So if a mistake happened, you could just stop, edit out the error and continue on.

If you go back to the archives from the beginning you will see that there is creativity in most of the mixes from those pioneers.

I see. we used to listen to all this mixes from the early archives and give them notes. :biglaugha: at that time for us when 3 things were riding together we were always amazed and inspired by the mixes... you know, next thing you got everybody trying to run long blends with 3 decks.. that creativity was great to push the limits.

Now it's not that different with editing, it seems just easier. And with creativity also, different limits :wink:

[TAD]

I agree. My radio was locked on KISS between 8-12 but once 12 came I was locked on BLS. I never knew anything TH played, so it kinda made for a dull show to me. While the cats at BLS gave you a variety from dancehall to R&B ( Soul II Soul) to Garage joints ( Old and new) to classics. I have never heard anyone mix like Merlin did. But for some long blends aren't their cup of tea. For me it was. And I hadn't heard Tony doing that on his show.

we would tape but deliberately not listen till we got back on the road after the club. 6-8 hour drive home still semi zooted on tabs & sleep deprivation made for a quicker picker upper especially with some of the serious new joints, both from tony & the bls crew. the novelty wore out quick and in the end bls reigned supreme.