dickie100
Hi guys, can you tell me the best way of mixing the mainstream Pop & R&B correctly? I do it, and some of the times I cock it all up, which makes me stamp my foot. Lol. The only way I can seem to do it is right at the end of the song when it nearly finishes. The constant noise and activity in the songs are really distracting and some of the times I usually mix vocals rather than music from the incoming track.
How many of you use timecode for this? Because I think MIDI is more practical for this genre.
How many of you use timecode for this? Because I think MIDI is more practical for this genre.
Posted Sun 11 Dec 11 @ 7:31 am
groovindj
The thing to realise is that you can't mix (as in a running beat mix) everything.
Back in the 50s and 60s, some songs only lasted 90 seconds or two minutes!
As you gain experience you'll learn that there are many ways of getting from one track to the next - beat mixing is just one way.
For example, my gig last night ran from 8:30pm to 2am and I could count the number of running beat mixes I did on one hand.
One of the easiest transitions is to simply chop straight from one song to the next. You can have the songs set to the same BPM, but it's not essential. As long as the timing of the chop is correct, people will just carry on dancing.
Another way is to just stop the outgoing track - using a 'brake' effect - then slam in the next track at the correct timing.
Back in the 50s and 60s, some songs only lasted 90 seconds or two minutes!
As you gain experience you'll learn that there are many ways of getting from one track to the next - beat mixing is just one way.
For example, my gig last night ran from 8:30pm to 2am and I could count the number of running beat mixes I did on one hand.
One of the easiest transitions is to simply chop straight from one song to the next. You can have the songs set to the same BPM, but it's not essential. As long as the timing of the chop is correct, people will just carry on dancing.
Another way is to just stop the outgoing track - using a 'brake' effect - then slam in the next track at the correct timing.
Posted Sun 11 Dec 11 @ 7:55 am
dickie100
Thank you for your feedback.
I know this is probably a dumb question but... Would you say using MIDI instead of TIMECODE makes you less skillful, or more practical? It's just I can mix with timecode but it just seems more hassle for the mainstream music of Pop etc. Like for example, sometimes I feel the need to use the loop in order to correct the timing of vocals at the start of the songs, but at the same time it feels like I'm being lazy because I SUCK! at what I do. Lmao. Let me know what you think... It's just the way I picture it, because half of the time I think to myself "Well most DJ's use Pioneer CD players anyway"
Just saying. =)
I know this is probably a dumb question but... Would you say using MIDI instead of TIMECODE makes you less skillful, or more practical? It's just I can mix with timecode but it just seems more hassle for the mainstream music of Pop etc. Like for example, sometimes I feel the need to use the loop in order to correct the timing of vocals at the start of the songs, but at the same time it feels like I'm being lazy because I SUCK! at what I do. Lmao. Let me know what you think... It's just the way I picture it, because half of the time I think to myself "Well most DJ's use Pioneer CD players anyway"
Just saying. =)
Posted Sun 11 Dec 11 @ 9:17 am
groovindj
"Most DJs use Pioneer CD players"...
Where did you get that one from? LOL
It might be a bit more accurate if you inserted the words "in clubs" between "DJs" and "use".
Yes, there are a lot of Pioneer CD players in clubs. But there are a LOT of DJs that don't play in clubs, and there are also lots of club DJs who use computers.
I think it would be pretty accurate to say that in 2011 (almost 2012) the popularity chart of playback kit for DJs would be:
1) Computer/digital media player
2) CD
3) Vinyl
Where did you get that one from? LOL
It might be a bit more accurate if you inserted the words "in clubs" between "DJs" and "use".
Yes, there are a lot of Pioneer CD players in clubs. But there are a LOT of DJs that don't play in clubs, and there are also lots of club DJs who use computers.
I think it would be pretty accurate to say that in 2011 (almost 2012) the popularity chart of playback kit for DJs would be:
1) Computer/digital media player
2) CD
3) Vinyl
Posted Sun 11 Dec 11 @ 10:08 am
andytaylor125
Hi again,
sounds to me like you need to adjust your expectations of what's achievable with pop and r'n'b, if you've got two songs and one has no outro and the other has no intro then you're not going to be able to beat mix them without some serious extra work.
Maybe you could try subscribing to one of those record pools that give you extended mixes of songs? The one I use is smashvidz - it does only videos but obviously you can just play the audio. It gives you the radio edit of a song, but with a longer intro and outro. Here are some mixes I did- the better mixes of one night at a bar I play at. Nearly all of the songs I played were the "extended mix" or a full remix.
http://soundcloud.com/djtaylortaylor/taylor-taylor-plays-the-hits
http://soundcloud.com/djtaylortaylor/early-doors-dance-mix
Hopefully they sound smooth and professional, but they're not any kind of crazy creative remix style...
sounds to me like you need to adjust your expectations of what's achievable with pop and r'n'b, if you've got two songs and one has no outro and the other has no intro then you're not going to be able to beat mix them without some serious extra work.
Maybe you could try subscribing to one of those record pools that give you extended mixes of songs? The one I use is smashvidz - it does only videos but obviously you can just play the audio. It gives you the radio edit of a song, but with a longer intro and outro. Here are some mixes I did- the better mixes of one night at a bar I play at. Nearly all of the songs I played were the "extended mix" or a full remix.
http://soundcloud.com/djtaylortaylor/taylor-taylor-plays-the-hits
http://soundcloud.com/djtaylortaylor/early-doors-dance-mix
Hopefully they sound smooth and professional, but they're not any kind of crazy creative remix style...
Posted Sun 11 Dec 11 @ 10:50 am
joflo
Like your first mix! Good Mixing!
Posted Sun 11 Dec 11 @ 1:09 pm
coach k
learn how to count the bars! R&B, works very simple, 8 bars, 16 bars, 32 bars! intro, beat, hook, vocal, hook, vocal, hook, beat, outro! Mainly in that format, but not always the case. Just master your timing of the count with like a toe tap and you'll stay on beat all the time and don't be afraid to do a quick transition, but make sure it sounds clean and not like a record skipping. Your cue points can help you do that very well.
Posted Mon 19 Dec 11 @ 10:29 am
the SOUND INSURGENT
^ I support this message ^
You can apply that to most music in general.
You can apply that to most music in general.
Posted Mon 19 Dec 11 @ 11:03 am
joflo
Had that same problem while doing my personal Best of 2011-Mix. 'Cause i did'nt wanted to make a 2h+ Mix out of it, i needed to shorten the songs (its still 1h long) and so there where the intros or/and outros missing and mostly only Vocals Vocals Vocals. So how to transition?
Guess, the most u will Cut, Brake/Backspin, start one song into the end of another........................
Think, i did it quiet well (mixed live, although i had to work over 2-3 parts again in studio)
Who wants to listen:
http://www.mixcloud.com/joflo/best-of-2011/
Enjoy
Guess, the most u will Cut, Brake/Backspin, start one song into the end of another........................
Think, i did it quiet well (mixed live, although i had to work over 2-3 parts again in studio)
Who wants to listen:
http://www.mixcloud.com/joflo/best-of-2011/
Enjoy
Posted Mon 19 Dec 11 @ 3:34 pm