[909] and again .. mixing & talking tracks

[Simon Kong]

Re: key mixing ..

I think we all know major key changes.   Think of your favorite drops in a
track .. when the sound goes from one note and drops to a lower note or
raises to a higher note.

Key mixing is doing the same between tracks.   So being in control of the
mix and taking it up or down as you want.

Most Dj's have some natural intuition on how to do this.   As in -  it just
feels natural to play "this" track next vs another track.

I think finding the keys of all your tracks and following the rules can be a
little restraining.   I tired it for a while, and apart from the fact I have
never really understood the key systems that well and that I am a little
dyslexic so using a letter combination system just confuses my brain.

So I learned enough about the rules to understand why it works, try and
listen to my tunes (out of in the mix) and learn their sounds/character ..
and then just rely on my gut instinct to select the right tracks by
listening.

Overall,  I just think ahead and think about where I want the mix to take
me.  I do this via a physical body process, generally feeling the groove in
my body and thinking about where my body wants to go - pick it up, take it
down, keep grooving!!    Its not rocket science.


I think if you mix commercially or want to be paid to mix in clubs, then you
should have some understanding of key mixing.  It simply helps to make you
mixes sound right and keep the crowd on the dance floor.   However I think
key mixing can make mixes a little emotionless, because people tend to
follow the rules rather than their feeling.



my thoughts anyway ..



On 21 April 2010 18:25, Bram Hoogeveen <bramhoogeveen at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> rene breitbath is awesome. His album " with a little luck " absolutely blew
> me away when i first heard it. Havent heard much of his newer stuff but will
> have to have a nosey. I wish I had enough musical knowledge to even know how
> to mix in key. Funnily enough I had an epic mix of old faves last week. I
> might do it again and record it post it up for your listening pleasure.
> Mixing is somewhat ropey these days as I dont do it nearly as often as i
> should (once a month if i have the time!!)
>
> --- On *Wed, 21/4/10, Simon Kong <simon.kong at gmail.com>* wrote:
>
>
> From: Simon Kong <simon.kong at gmail.com>
> Subject: [909] and again .. mixing & talking tracks
> To: "NZ Techno List" <909 at psecret.org>
> Date: Wednesday, 21 April, 2010, 8:02
>
> Okay . digging deeper ..
>
> http://www.mixcloud.com/radio909/radio909-real-respect/
>
> Trying to collect some of my old school favourite dance tracks, so
> kicked off this week with a club mix of Mel & Kims "respectable".
>
> Interestingly itunes is the best place for all the old club classic
> stuff, especially some of the more obscure mixes or alternative
> release mixes.  Because itunes have whole catalogues from labels there
> are often the remixes or edits of tracks made for compilations or
> limited release versions.  I have even found some b-side dubs or
> accapella of stuff which would have been on vinyl only back in the
> day.
>
> Still working on my key mixing.   Not really working out the keys of
> tracks anymore.  The software is to inaccurate and it just takes to
> long, plus I just want to trust my ears, not the data.   So really
> just trying to pay attention to selection and mix a harmonic
> progression.  Usually I just do this in my head by humming key changes
> (intervals) and thinking about where the track I am cueing up will
> take the mix - up, down, same, wild !!!
>
> Producers who are eating my head .
>
> Tensnake - for his perfect contemporary renditions of the 80's club
> sound .. perfect
> Rene Breitbarth - for consistently deep and interesting tracks
> Karol XVII & MB Valence - for proper deep chunky house cuts
> Spirit Catcher - for a very identifiable sound which is very very nice
>
> ..
>
> The  techno I am buying is trending on the deeper more edge, because
> deep house really has me hooked again.  But the crossover continues to
> be really nice as there are lots of common sounds, progression styles
> and compositions techniques between the different "genres".
>
> This is certainly a good time to be a DJ I think ..
>
> Anyone else been looking at the new Serato/Rane mixer - the Sixty Eight
>
>
> http://serato.com/scratchlive/rane-sixty-eight
> _______________________________________________
> 909 mailing list
> 909 at psecret.org <http://mc/compose?to=909@psecret.org>
> http://lists.psecret.org/mailman/listinfo/909
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 909 mailing list
> 909 at psecret.org
> http://lists.psecret.org/mailman/listinfo/909
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.psecret.org/pipermail/909/attachments/20100421/fd8aaf55/attachment.html