Mixing Techniques...

[jonnyspeed]

Does anybody have any top mixing tips or know any good sites or books with intermediate and advanced mixing techniques.

I really like How to DJ: The Art and Science of Playing Records but it is very light on technique - it just says the basics then recommends you practice. But I guess it would be nice to get some hints and tips.

Go on, one tip or website each and I bet we'd all learn loeads :)

[jonnyspeed]

Starter for 10... http://www.recess.co.uk

[jock]

How to DJ Properly by Bill Brewster

I got given it a few months after i started and it certainly helped a lot, got everything in there.

[jonnyspeed]

as I said, apart from that book :)

[dirty_bass]

Well, apart from perfecting beatmatching without touching the platter, I would say, if you do have to for whatever reason, allways make you tune coming in run too slow, as twisting the spindle can be a lot more subtle than dragging on the side of the platter, in terms of how it effects the sound.

[killarava2day]

Well, apart from perfecting beatmatching without touching the platter.

...that's certainly not as easy as it sounds. Can take months you to perfect that skill. Once you do though, it makes the rest of you time alot easier, quick edits, tricks become a piece of cake really.

[Orange]

practice. know yourself, then you'll know your craft.

[MARKEG]

can we pop this in dj central? ok, i'll move it :)

[Voorheez]

Well, apart from perfecting beatmatching without touching the platter.

...that's certainly not as easy as it sounds. Can take months you to perfect that skill. Once you do though, it makes the rest of you time alot easier, quick edits, tricks become a piece of cake really.

It's definitely worth it. Pitch sliding is the most advanced form of mixing, it's more subtle and gives you far more control. I recommend learning it to anyone.

[killarava2day]

^ I think that both styles have their place. Although I reckon that with the subtle control with pitch as you mention, you can have alot of fun just jogging the mix, bringing one bass line forward, then moving it back and bringing the other track forward. Might not be right in your face but it can just change the whole feel of mix on the floor though...it's even better you can actually pull off a whole string of mixes like that for the entire set.

[mitzi]

using the pitch is definatly the best way to start of, people say its to hard to do from the start but to the majority so is touching the platter.
using the pitch will definatly speed up your dj skills as so many people i know have been djing for years and still touch the platter and personnaly i dont like the sound!!!!!!!

[Voorheez]

personnaly i dont like the sound!!!!!!!

I agree :clap: It's much less audible using pitch sliding

[DJ RE:HAB]

^ I think that both styles have their place. Although I reckon that with the subtle control with pitch as you mention, you can have alot of fun just jogging the mix, bringing one bass line forward, then moving it back and bringing the other track forward. Might not be right in your face but it can just change the whole feel of mix on the floor though...it's even better you can actually pull off a whole string of mixes like that for the entire set.

can anyone explain that properly to me? ;)

[k1ck3r]

forget about reading!

how can u read, and mixing .. it's stupid

everything comes from your soul, mind and hands

keep practise! ! !

that's all .. maybe one u'll become good dj, it's up to you!

[dj sophan]

hi k1ck3r i love your answear very much .

try listen to the good djs mixing hear how they're chancing the styler or pitch or technics and keep practise

i personer mixe the most 50 % of the trak if it is a good trak it can be 90% or i play 2 trak at the sametime and like plyaing A than pause . swich to B than pause B back to A i like to chance the trak very fast i don't want poeper know what trak i'm playing
i dj hard techno
sorry for my english

[mitzi]

can anyone explain that properly to me? ;)[/quote]

Basically mate hes talking about getting beats matched using just the pitch slider, instead of touching the platter. this way you can get your beats matched in about 10 secs!
hes also talking about holding the beats down whilst drasticaly moving the pitch slider making a ****ed up mix, that can, when done properly, sounds sweet!!!!

[Jutt]

I dunno with the decks I have Gemini XL 500's I have a pitch bend on the decks but I find the drag too heavy. so ive gotta be careful when im in the mix :lol:

[Voorheez]

No, it's not using the pitch bend button m8, it's using the actual slider

[techno_smack]

Since reading this i have been tryin to make a real effort to mix without touching the platter, and just using the pitch. I do agree that it is sometimes far more subtle than jogging a record back and forth, and it does sound good when u sway the tune ur mixing forward and back a bit.
Normally i do just use my hands to mix, and i make a conscious effort when bumping the record back or forward to do it at a time when it wont be so obvious, in between beats or sounds or whatever, and alot of the time its very hard to notice.

But would u say that we should all be striving to mix by pitch sliding alone?

[Voorheez]

But would u say that we should all be striving to mix by pitch sliding alone?

No, not really. Each to their own - you might find it easier a different way, so many people have different things they do whilst mixing i.e some hold the spindle, some touch the platter to slow while others touch the record etc.

But I definitely recommend giving it a go to see how you get on, and persevere because it does take a while to learn.