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HML
11-26-2003, 01:54 AM
I have two questions regarding beatmatching, blending and mixing:

1) Are the above words synonymous and therefore interchangeable? Or does each term have a separate and distinct meaning?

2) As I am attempting to learn the fine art of deejaying, I find myself listening to mixshows in a more analytical manner. I'm paying closer attention to tempos, different types of energy songs may have, proper blending of two vocals, etc. I've been noticing that, and this may be just me, (feel free to criticize constructively) the most well executed blends seem to occur when the deejay overlays the 32-count phrases of the incoming and outgoing records... As opposed to just randomly matching any pair of eight counts, where the mixes were good, but nowhere near as tight as when the 32 counts were meshed with eachother... I found that, even with my limited musical background,it was relatively easy to identify that rather pronounced one count, in the beginning of the phrase. I would then count the beats up to thirty two and without fail, right after the thirty second beat, the strong beat would occur and there'd be some change in the music, another instrument coming in, lyrics starting, background vocals, a chorus, etc... I know this may be second nature, and therefore simplistic, to some of you, but please remember, I'm just learning and figuring this stuff out, with no real guidance... Anyway, to my untrained ear, the blend just seemed dead-on when it was done in this manner. My question is, am I on the right track here? It seems logical that I should focus on learning to match the 32 counts... But, is this always possible? And if not are there ways around it in order to still keep the mix on point?

Peace & Thanks in advance,
HML

PS - Please explain this to me like I'm a two-year-old... http://deephousepage.com/smilies/gaga.gif ;)

Querck
11-26-2003, 02:55 AM
The 32 beat mixing is definitely the foundation of tight mixing, in my opinion. However, this doesn't mean that you shouldn't vary your technique. Sometimes, I will blend on the 8 and even the 4, and depending on what records you're playing, different effects might be produced.

When you're really feeling it while dj'ing, you don't really count the beats, you just do what feels right, and most times the "32" will happen naturally.

HML
11-26-2003, 01:44 PM
Originally posted by dannyboy:
The 32 beat mixing is definitely the foundation of tight mixing, in my opinion. However, this doesn't mean that you shouldn't vary your technique. Sometimes, I will blend on the 8 and even the 4, and depending on what records you're playing, different effects might be produced.

When you're really feeling it while dj'ing, you don't really count the beats, you just do what feels right, and most times the "32" will happen naturally. dannyboy, thanks very much for sharing your opinion and expertise. I truly appreciate any and all info... graemlins/respekt.gif

DJ George Bates
11-27-2003, 03:42 PM
I agree with Dannyboy...

mix according to how you feel and it will always work out....

the key to learning is to keep doing it everyday...even if it only an hour per day, keep doing it..that's how you work out the kinks !