Tips for mixing different genres or making BPM jumps?
Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1
    Tech Convert
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Posts
    11

    Default Tips for mixing different genres or making BPM jumps?

    I was wondering if anyone could give me thoughts/suggestions on how to approach two things. One, mixing sets consisting of different types of music. I'm having pretty good luck mixing house tracks together, but it seems to sound a lot messier if I try to go from house to dubstep or some other genre. Eventually I'd like to include some rock/alternative tracks if possible (I realize this may sound like madness/blasphemy).

    On that last point, some other genres feature much lower BPM. Any tips on how to transition between tracks where there is a gaping void in the BPM? Or is the answer just don't do it?

  2. #2
    Tech Guru Gryz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    690

    Default

    I will start by saying that dubstep is damn hard to mix. That is just my opinion. Maybe I just suck at it, but there is way too much going on most of the time for it to sound clean. I would also like some tips haha

    Of course you can jump BPM. You can do the overlydone spinback, echo-freeze effect, dying tape player (no idea what that's really called) and tons more. You can even just slam the CF - especially if it's just vocals on the incoming track.
    My favorite though is the echo-freeze.

    There will be tons of other recommendations though
    CDJ400s, Ecler Nuo, XD 53
    KRK RP8sFG


  3. #3
    Tech Convert
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Posts
    11

    Default

    Glad to hear the dubstep issues aren't just me!

    Forgive my ignorance, but can you explain the echo-freeze? is it a specific filter/combination of filters? Any chance you could link me to an example?

  4. #4
    Tech Mentor
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    201

    Default

    after a transition into a build up, loop a melody, 8 to 16 bars, Filter into a 8,4,2,1, 1/2, 1/4, snap back into a 4 bar loop and insert new track. add a slicer or beatmasher into your loop and transition out. It's most complicated yet most awesome sounding transition method. I use this method to do live remix with hot cue juggles.

  5. #5
    Tech Wizard DJMeloD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Chicago, Illinois
    Posts
    91

    Default

    ^that works. Or a more simple way to do it would be to listen to where the snares are in the track. The snare in a dub step track is similar to the 4 on the floor in a regular house track. You can't match up the beats necessarily because there is no set pattern in a dub step track. But no matter where the crazy beat goes, theres always going to be the snare in a regular pattern. Obviously you need to figure out your phrasing, but matching the snares is a good place to start. There are plenty of videos on youtube too that provide good tips!
    DJ Setup: Serato DJ/(2) Vestax V7/Ecler Nuo 2.0// Production Setup: Logic Pro 9/M-Audio i-Control/M-Audio Keystation Mini 32/NI Audio 2 DJ/13" 2.3GHz MBP 500GB HD OSX Lion/AIAIAI TMA-1/Roland TR-707//

  6. #6
    Tech Guru Gryz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    690

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bjshively View Post
    Glad to hear the dubstep issues aren't just me!

    Forgive my ignorance, but can you explain the echo-freeze? is it a specific filter/combination of filters? Any chance you could link me to an example?
    Yeah it's a combination of effects that was put into some mappings for the midi fighter. Pretty easy to manipulate even without the mapping. There is a video of it actually in one of my threads if you search my name. I would but I'm on my phone.
    CDJ400s, Ecler Nuo, XD 53
    KRK RP8sFG


  7. #7
    Tech Wizard
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Saipan
    Posts
    77

    Default

    When I'm playing house and dubstep, which I like to mix together, I've been running at about 130-135ish bpm so that there is a hope that each style of music isn't stretched to far one way or the other.
    There was a DJ that I really admired in the 90's named Three that frequently put breakbeat and house tracks together. When done right it has this nice staggered sound on the kick drums, which he pulled off frequently, when done wrong it is a train wreck.
    Something that I've been playing with to switch styles and tempo is setting a cue point to use as a stab, then bang it in on the beat of the playing track and attempt to either follow a build up or create one and just slam it over.
    I've also been fond of trying to find a soft spot to loop in the incoming track with out a beat and attempt to blend that to the track that is playing then make the switch during the breakdown.
    Granted I still suck at the attempts most of the time, it is a ton of fun to play with and think about.

  8. #8
    Tech Guru sobi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    1,130

    Default

    Try finding songs that will do the transitions for you.

  9. #9
    Tech Guru lethal_pizzle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Maida Vegas, London
    Posts
    2,815

    Default

    plenty of previous
    [ame="http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&biw=1201&bih=699&q=+site:djtechtools. com+mixing+tempo+changes"]site:djtechtools.com mixing tempo changes - Google Search[/ame]
    DJTT Nu Disco Mix Train Vol 1
    beats and balearic bobs in north-west london
    iTunes podcast
    soundcloud

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •