Mixing in Key

[stjohn]

a few have my mates who play kinda deeper, minimal techno (sorry for using that word) have started getting the key of tunes and keeping track of them. so for every 3% change on the pitch slider constitutes a semitone change. then they got a list of aesthically 'nice' note changes from some forum or other and play tracks in a certain order.

they are adiment that this can help with mixing tracks, but im a bit dubious of it to say the least. from what i can gather, its more to do with making them as Djs, feel a bit more 'intellectual' as performers

my argument to them was, you mix records that go well together anyway, or should, so in that sense you utilise some level of internal harmony.... instead of going by a set of rules.

and even if you accepted this as a good process, why if you are on a key of 'C' should your next track be in 'G' and not B flat or something.

could this be restricitve or a good idea?

[tonyc2002]

loads of dj's mix harmonically but i dont see any thing wrong with it. infact to be honest i think its quite clever.

[theledge]

would defo be restrictive if it got followed too far. I reckon in most cases your ear should tell you if two tracks sound good together. too many rules mean less happy accidents

could be useful to help you organize your tracks though, depends how seriously it's taken i suppose. i've never done it but different strokes and all that

i dont think 3% on the slider would give a semitone either ??

[MARK ANXIOUS]

i mix in key, i have done for many years. it takes alot of preperation (you must pitch every single record you get) and it truly develops 'perfect pitch' (which is a real skill - just do a google search for this on the internet and you'll see what i mean). this way of working has taught me alot i didn't know before i started it and has made me know for sure that mixes are going to go together (as well as homing my production skills on the old eq hehe). my whole record box is arranged in key. its damn hard work to do it each week, but to me - it's worth it.

that's for melody based music. but with drum based techno, this is such a hard thing to do. the problem is with drum based music, you can't find a pitch for it. it's really, really hard.

for those that want to learn how to mix, i would suggest not depending on this technique for sucess. but for those who want to go forward - please, please try it. it's alot of work, but defo do.

[Aratron]

i mix in key, i have done for many years. it takes alot of preperation (you must pitch every single record you get) and it truly develops 'perfect pitch' (which is a real skill - just do a google search for this on the internet and you'll see what i mean). this way of working has taught me alot i didn't know before i started it and has made me know for sure that mixes are going to go together (as well as homing my production skills on the old eq hehe). my whole record box is arranged in key. its damn hard work to do it each week, but to me - it's worth it.

that's for melody based music. but with drum based techno, this is such a hard thing to do. the problem is with drum based music, you can't find a pitch for it. it's really, really hard.

for those that want to learn how to mix, i would suggest not depending on this technique for sucess. but for those who want to go forward - please, please try it. it's alot of work, but defo do.

i think most acid techno is in the key of C. but thats all i know

[Buttman]

A dj who mixes off-key is not really a dj.

[Siege]

I mix in key also but only with the melodic stuff...doesnt really matter with drumtracks etc.. Tracks not all following the same key sound good at times , like interchanging basslines in a mix etc..
I suppose listing everythings key for reference would be helpful if all you played was house,trance etc but to be honest if you cant tell that somethings out of key and have to resort to ckecking notes,your probably tone deaf.

[loopdon]

didn't worry about this to much for a long time or did it unconsciously.

but now this can really piss me right off. i truly can't believe some many 'big-name'-djs seemingly don't give a **** about this. how tone-def can one be after 20 years of dj-ing solid i wonder at times???

i hear loads of stuff crashing now that i have become more aware. harmonic mixing all the way!

[TechMouse]

"In-key" is quite vague.

You can be properly in key (as in the same exact key) but then there's complementary keys (different keys which work together)...

Music Theory is absolutely insane.

Ultimately though, your ears are the best measure.

(Like the Ed Byrne joke... "What the feck do I need bathroom scales for? I've got a mirror...")

[BloodStar]

I am mainly mixing by ear. I think it is just up to your personal feelings for the music if you can mix in key just by ears.
Yes, it is pretty good to know a bit of theory, but I wouldn't go too deeep into it and would just stick with what record sounds good with other record. Works well for me...

[dirty_bass]

well, it`ll never fully be in key, because as your pitches will never be exact for each tune etc.
But I`m just being pedantic.

For techno I think mixing OUT of key is more appropriate.
Or mixing within more interesting scales than the chromatic.
When sounds grate against each other it is interesting and creates lovely physical reactions.

It`s ok for your girly trancey heads, all this in key stuff, but for techno, bah humbug.

[JimmySomerville]

I'm thinking on buying this...

http://xone.mixedinkey.com/Homepage.aspx

Allen & heath recently bought up the rights for it...

I'm thinking it will help me a fair bit in using ableton giving an indication of what will work well toghether.

[Siege]

The pioneer djm800 has sound "colour" feature on every track for harmonic mixing.Tune your tracks in key even when there not originally.....id go for this over the allen & heath if thats what your after...allen & heath probably pips it for sound quality but the pioneer has heaps more features.

[Siege]

Just looked at the link and realised its software..thought it was a mixer theyd brought out.

[TechMouse]

I'm thinking on buying this...

http://xone.mixedinkey.com/Homepage.aspx

Allen & heath recently bought up the rights for it...

I'm thinking it will help me a fair bit in using ableton giving an indication of what will work well toghether.

My understanding was you can pitchshift stuff in Ableton anyway.

Mixing in key should be child's play.

[JimmySomerville]

The pioneer djm800 has sound "colour" feature on every track for harmonic mixing.Tune your tracks in key even when there not originally.....id go for this over the allen & heath if thats what your after...allen & heath probably pips it for sound quality but the pioneer has heaps more features.

The allen&Heath thing is just a program which will key all of the music on your pc, basically letting you know what key all of your tracks are in. You will then easily be able to tell what will go.

It's only £30 compared to buying £1000 djm 800 mixer!

[RDR]

A dj who mixes off-key is not really a dj.

Bugger..

I'd better stop trying to mix freeform jazz then innit...

[RDR]

well, it`ll never fully be in key, because as your pitches will never be exact for each tune etc.
But I`m just being pedantic.

For techno I think mixing OUT of key is more appropriate.
Or mixing within more interesting scales than the chromatic.
When sounds grate against each other it is interesting and creates lovely physical reactions.

It`s ok for your girly trancey heads, all this in key stuff, but for techno, bah humbug.

Couldnt agree more. And besides, music that sticks rigidly to a key leads to a certain kind of boredom... (This doesnt mean im anygood at it in my own production BTW.. im still learning..)

And as EVER IMO

[Siege]

The allen&Heath thing is just a program which will key all of the music on your pc, basically letting you know what key all of your tracks are in. You will then easily be able to tell what will go.

It's only £30 compared to buying £1000 djm 800 mixer!

yeah mate...just realised

[stjohn]

For techno I think mixing OUT of key is more appropriate.
Or mixing within more interesting scales than the chromatic.
When sounds grate against each other it is interesting and creates lovely physical reactions.

It`s ok for your girly trancey heads, all this in key stuff, but for techno, bah humbug.

this was my argument.... what constitutes dissonance? and why cant it be dissonant in the weird and warped sense.... but yes they are playing trancey minimal stuff.

if it sounds good go for it......thats what i say...

all this organisation kills any spontanaeity...i like to bring a bag of my fav tunes, and not really have any idea what way im going to play them....