Disco Mixin'

['Magic' Juan]

Just a general query ... if you are playing a House track and want to go into a Disco track, which one would you manipulate in order to try and keep them "on beat"? Would it be the new record coming in (i.e, the disco track) or the one you are playing out of? Does the rule change when you are playing a Disco track going into a House track? Any tips would be appreciated.

Some records I found to be a MAJOR pain to blend:

Powerline: Double Journey

Harry Thumann: Underwater

Jackie Moore: This Time, Baby *the blends they used to do here with this track were so smooth, but I just can't get it!!

magic_juan

[GROOVE VICTIM]

It's a rule for me to always ride the pitch control of the more "Beat Driven" record as opposed to a more melodic record. This will reduce the "Drag" effect caused when riding the pitch.

When I'm riding classics over Bonus beats, I always ride the bonus beats.


Peace

[JMJ]

I would manipulate the house track, simply because you know the BPM's aren't going to waver like a disco record.....JMJ

[DLow]

(I'm not sure if this is clear, but....)
I try to know the beat (disco) as much as possible and from there I know if I should fade out on the 4th, 8th, etc. beat, or ride it out as long as I like.

[djezmike]

Yup The House(beat consistent) track. From experience If u "ride" the live drummer track it more than likely cause u to go off beat.

[GROOVE VICTIM]

It's definately a matter of knowing the record but at the same time, you have to make the decision whether to pitch a classic up and down before and after drum rolls, causing the record to drag, and recieving rather brim looks from the crowd, or dragging the record under it that's less melodic and will not be much of a cause of concern to the audience.

[DJJM3.COM]

If you have EQs on all channels, Bass level down on one mixing out. Bass up on one going in....

[DLow]

Originally posted by GROOVE VICTIM:
It's definately a matter of knowing the record but at the same time, you have to make the decision whether to pitch a classic up and down before and after drum rolls, causing the record to drag, and recieving rather brim looks from the crowd, or dragging the record under it that's less melodic and will not be much of a cause of concern to the audience. This is true and I do practice this. But I've been in situations where the disco beat's BPM change is SO dramatic at certain points that it would've definitely benefited me to become more familiar with the record. I think you have to do all of the above.

[Jamie 3:26]

Originally posted by DJJM3:
If you have EQs on all channels, Bass level down on one mixing out. Bass up on one going in.... You can't do that all of the time.That's getting really old in Chicago.

['Magic' Juan]

Thank you all for your replies. Does anyone see anything wrong with a quick in and out type blend? What about "slamming"? I generally love to ride tracks, but with disco and house it's kind of rough. The only disco track I can ride pretty well is Coach-house Rhythm Section "Time Warp." Minimal change, it seems ....

magic_juan

[jimmymack-2000]

Originally posted by JMJ:
I would manipulate the house track, simply because you know the BPM's aren't going to waver like a disco record.....JMJ Funny, I work on the opposite premise: if I adjust the "technology-assisted" track, the "live drums" track will move off that point anyways. As a result, I keep my hand on the pitch for the disco track, constantly correcting it to hit the steady beat of the house track.

[JMJ]

Originally posted by DJJM3:
If you have EQs on all channels, Bass level down on one mixing out. Bass up on one going in.... All this does is make up for lack of blending skills. This isn't a personal critique......JMJ

[GROOVE VICTIM]

Originally posted by Magic Juan:
Thank you all for your replies. Does anyone see anything wrong with a quick in and out type blend? What about "slamming"? I generally love to ride tracks, but with disco and house it's kind of rough. The only disco track I can ride pretty well is Coach-house Rhythm Section "Time Warp." Minimal change, it seems ....

magic_juan If you slam these days, the record you are slamming better be more that just Slammin.

[GROOVE VICTIM]

Originally posted by JMJ:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by DJJM3:
If you have EQs on all channels, Bass level down on one mixing out. Bass up on one going in.... All this does is make up for lack of blending skills. This isn't a personal critique......JMJ </font>[/QUOTE]Not really, I do it all the time, especially when I'm "Key Blending".


Peace

[JMJ]

Originally posted by jimmymack-2000:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by JMJ:
I would manipulate the house track, simply because you know the BPM's aren't going to waver like a disco record.....JMJ Funny, I work on the opposite premise: if I adjust the "technology-assisted" track, the "live drums" track will move off that point anyways. As a result, I keep my hand on the pitch for the disco track, constantly correcting it to hit the steady beat of the house track. </font>[/QUOTE]I've done it both ways, and alot of it depends on the unpredictability of the disco track, and whether it's just a drum intro/ break, or drums, bassline, strings, etc. Anything to avoid the "warped" sound......JMJ

[JMJ]

Originally posted by GROOVE VICTIM:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by JMJ:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by DJJM3:
If you have EQs on all channels, Bass level down on one mixing out. Bass up on one going in.... All this does is make up for lack of blending skills. This isn't a personal critique......JMJ </font>[/QUOTE]Not really, I do it all the time, especially when I'm "Key Blending".


Peace </font>[/QUOTE]OK, but wouldn't that involve riding the mids and highs more than the bass???....JMJ

[ September 30, 2003, 11:31 AM: Message edited by: JMJ ]

[Jamie 3:26]

The only time I find myself doing drop style blends is when I'm riding to get the Sneak in blends going.I have broken myself from the habit of instantly dropping the bass when it's time to blend.Gets pretty predictable and is used to cover up off beat blends.Now I'd rather hear someone working with a blend,than to hear the bass drop out of one cut while another comes in,It's just tired.

[GROOVE VICTIM]

Originally posted by JMJ:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by GROOVE VICTIM:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by JMJ:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by DJJM3:
If you have EQs on all channels, Bass level down on one mixing out. Bass up on one going in.... All this does is make up for lack of blending skills. This isn't a personal critique......JMJ </font>[/QUOTE]Not really, I do it all the time, especially when I'm "Key Blending".


Peace </font>[/QUOTE]OK, but wouldn't that involve riding the mids and highs more than the bass???....JMJ </font>[/QUOTE]When I'm key blending, I usually take out the bass of a vocal or instrument driven track, (flute, sax, trumpet).

[DJJM3.COM]

Originally posted by JMJ:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by DJJM3:
If you have EQs on all channels, Bass level down on one mixing out. Bass up on one going in.... All this does is make up for lack of blending skills. This isn't a personal critique......JMJ </font>[/QUOTE]It's not something to do on a regular basis. I was giving him a alternative....Practice is the best way, but that is a decent crutch until he gets his skills up......

JMJ, I know that was not a critique......That is a fact -

[DJJM3.COM]

Originally posted by JAMIE 3:26:
The only time I find myself doing drop style blends is when I'm riding to get the Sneak in blends going.I have broken myself from the habit of instantly dropping the bass when it's time to blend.Gets pretty predictable and is used to cover up off beat blends.Now I'd rather hear someone working with a blend,than to hear the bass drop out of one cut while another comes in,It's just tired. Actually what I have done is take the bass out BEFORE the blend. When I blend, drop it in.....has a better effect......more energy and more attention to the song coming in.

[Jamie 3:26]

Originally posted by DJJM3:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by JAMIE 3:26:
The only time I find myself doing drop style blends is when I'm riding to get the Sneak in blends going.I have broken myself from the habit of instantly dropping the bass when it's time to blend.Gets pretty predictable and is used to cover up off beat blends.Now I'd rather hear someone working with a blend,than to hear the bass drop out of one cut while another comes in,It's just tired. Actually what I have done is take the bass out BEFORE the blend. When I blend, drop it in.....has a better effect......more energy and more attention to the song coming in. </font>[/QUOTE]It's the same thing man....that's the tired part.It ain't uthin new.No matter how you switch it,it's the same damn thing...and it's tired.

[DJ Keith Porter]

Originally posted by Magic Juan:
Just a general query ... if you are playing a House track and want to go into a Disco track, which one would you manipulate in order to try and keep them "on beat"? Would it be the new record coming in (i.e, the disco track) or the one you are playing out of? Does the rule change when you are playing a Disco track going into a House track? Any tips would be appreciated.

Some records I found to be a MAJOR pain to blend:

Powerline: Double Journey

Harry Thumann: Underwater

Jackie Moore: This Time, Baby *the blends they used to do here with this track were so smooth, but I just can't get it!!

magic_juan To me it doesn't matter as long as you know your tracks..

I ride blends on both house or disco.
normally I would grab the disco cut and ride it out which is the most precise why of a sucessful tight mix.

Again, at this point in my career it really doesn't matter if you know your tracks!

Ohh yeah, and for you slammers... You need to slam on the breaks.. end of story....

Dam I am giving away my secreates..LOL
My 2cents. graemlins/acclaim.gif

[DJJM3.COM]

Originally posted by JAMIE 3:26:
It's the same thing man....that's the tired part.It ain't uthin new.No matter how you switch it,it's the same damn thing...and it's tired. I understand your point.....and its a good one...
The important thing is crowd reaction. If they dont walk off the floor then its not tired. Dancers have no problem stopping dancing when they think something is tired.

[Terry James]

Originally posted by jimmymack-2000:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by JMJ:
I would manipulate the house track, simply because you know the BPM's aren't going to waver like a disco record.....JMJ Funny, I work on the opposite premise: if I adjust the "technology-assisted" track, the "live drums" track will move off that point anyways. As a result, I keep my hand on the pitch for the disco track, constantly correcting it to hit the steady beat of the house track. </font>[/QUOTE]I was thinking the same thing...

[AK]

Originally posted by JMJ:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by DJJM3:
If you have EQs on all channels, Bass level down on one mixing out. Bass up on one going in.... All this does is make up for lack of blending skills. This isn't a personal critique......JMJ </font>[/QUOTE]Agree with you and Jamie. It has its time and place, but in general I think it's a crutch for many DJs.

[Hippie]

I think all this blending is OK but a dancer enjoys him or herself no matter whether its slammed or mixed. It's much easier to blend the modern stuff but I try not to blend classics longer than 2 or 4 bars. Sure you have to know your records inside out but I think the program is the most important. You can blend all you want but if the program is off it doesn't matter. I think that's the biggest problem with younger jocks trying to mix classics. They don't have there programming together. A jock that plays every week for the same audience builds his program. He knows what records get his audience off. But Dj's that mix once every couple of months are coming in cold. But one thing that is true about classics is that a slammed record usually raises the energy on the floor more than a mix. A blend will also do it but it better be magnificant. Where as if your bang is tight you are going to get a scream from the crowd. Peace, children

[jpsf]

i'll take a quick mix over a labored noisy one any day. if it's disco or a real drummer i try to drop it when it makes sense...according to the momentum and the change ups in the songs. sometimes i just slam it if the track has a nice intro.

[YUJI-SAN]

Originally posted by Magic Juan:
Just a general query ... if you are playing a House track and want to go into a Disco track, which one would you manipulate in order to try and keep them "on beat"? Would it be the new record coming in (i.e, the disco track) or the one you are playing out of? Does the rule change when you are playing a Disco track going into a House track? Any tips would be appreciated.

Some records I found to be a MAJOR pain to blend:

Powerline: Double Journey

Harry Thumann: Underwater

Jackie Moore: This Time, Baby *the blends they used to do here with this track were so smooth, but I just can't get it!!

magic_juan Listen to my mix how I blended Teena Marie with Theo Parrish :D

[AK]

Originally posted by Hippie:
I think all this blending is OK but a dancer enjoys him or herself no matter whether its slammed or mixed. It's much easier to blend the modern stuff but I try not to blend classics longer than 2 or 4 bars. Sure you have to know your records inside out but I think the program is the most important. You can blend all you want but if the program is off it doesn't matter. I think that's the biggest problem with younger jocks trying to mix classics. They don't have there programming together. A jock that plays every week for the same audience builds his program. He knows what records get his audience off. But Dj's that mix once every couple of months are coming in cold. But one thing that is true about classics is that a slammed record usually raises the energy on the floor more than a mix. A blend will also do it but it better be magnificant. Where as if your bang is tight you are going to get a scream from the crowd. Peace, children Spoken like a true vet. Nothing more distracting to dancers than someone struggling to hold a blend that should never have been tried.

[saadir7]

Originally posted by JMJ:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by DJJM3:
If you have EQs on all channels, Bass level down on one mixing out. Bass up on one going in.... All this does is make up for lack of blending skills. This isn't a personal critique......JMJ </font>[/QUOTE]Well 3 cheers for us rank amateurs!
I'm droppin bass all over the place,
doin it a lot and
enjoy doin it ya heard!

[Jamie 3:26]

Originally posted by saadir7:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by JMJ:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by DJJM3:
If you have EQs on all channels, Bass level down on one mixing out. Bass up on one going in.... All this does is make up for lack of blending skills. This isn't a personal critique......JMJ </font>[/QUOTE]Well 3 cheers for us rank amateurs!
I'm droppin bass all over the place,
doin it a lot and
enjoy doin it ya heard! </font>[/QUOTE]Now we ain't saying don't beat a song.The point is in Chicago,it's a known trend and an old one to drop the bass right at the blending point.Some cats drop all of the highs out too and blend that way.Like I said,it's kinda old here.That's just my opinion.

[JMJ]

Originally posted by saadir7:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by JMJ:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by DJJM3:
If you have EQs on all channels, Bass level down on one mixing out. Bass up on one going in.... All this does is make up for lack of blending skills. This isn't a personal critique......JMJ </font>[/QUOTE]Well 3 cheers for us rank amateurs!
I'm droppin bass all over the place,
doin it a lot and
enjoy doin it ya heard! </font>[/QUOTE]Do what you gotta do......JMJ

[Tee Mallory]

Originally posted by Hippie:
I think all this blending is OK but a dancer enjoys him or herself no matter whether its slammed or mixed. It's much easier to blend the modern stuff but I try not to blend classics longer than 2 or 4 bars. Sure you have to know your records inside out but I think the program is the most important. You can blend all you want but if the program is off it doesn't matter. I think that's the biggest problem with younger jocks trying to mix classics. They don't have there programming together. A jock that plays every week for the same audience builds his program. He knows what records get his audience off. But Dj's that mix once every couple of months are coming in cold. But one thing that is true about classics is that a slammed record usually raises the energy on the floor more than a mix. A blend will also do it but it better be magnificant. Where as if your bang is tight you are going to get a scream from the crowd. Peace, children I'm in agreement with this statement Hippie. Excellent food for thought for djs at every level.

hail.gif

Peace

TM

[Jolyon]

What Hippy said. In my experience, people just want to dance...the only people checking out your super long blends are fellow DJs (who are often not dancing anyway!)...the dancefloor likes quick chops, quick blends a lot...that's not to say longer blends of classics won't work of course.

As I think Bill Brewster said...why do you think the dancefloor always cheers when you make a mistake? People like it a bit rough and ready sometimes (but not trainwrecks all night!)

['Magic' Juan]

Excellent replies. Thank you, all, for your input.

magic_juan hail.gif

[djyoavb]

Originally posted by Hippie:
I think all this blending is OK but a dancer enjoys him or herself no matter whether its slammed or mixed. It's much easier to blend the modern stuff but I try not to blend classics longer than 2 or 4 bars. Sure you have to know your records inside out but I think the program is the most important. You can blend all you want but if the program is off it doesn't matter. I think that's the biggest problem with younger jocks trying to mix classics. They don't have there programming together. A jock that plays every week for the same audience builds his program. He knows what records get his audience off. But Dj's that mix once every couple of months are coming in cold. But one thing that is true about classics is that a slammed record usually raises the energy on the floor more than a mix. A blend will also do it but it better be magnificant. Where as if your bang is tight you are going to get a scream from the crowd. Peace, children word graemlins/thumbsup.gif

[suenomartino]

Originally posted by saadir7:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by JMJ:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by DJJM3:
If you have EQs on all channels, Bass level down on one mixing out. Bass up on one going in.... All this does is make up for lack of blending skills. This isn't a personal critique......JMJ </font>[/QUOTE]Well 3 cheers for us rank amateurs!
I'm droppin bass all over the place,
doin it a lot and
enjoy doin it ya heard! </font>[/QUOTE]Haha!

graemlins/respekt.gif