Is "simple" mixing bad?

[photojojo]

My sets sound usually pretty simple. Doesn't mean they are though.

[Lineypirate]

i think that's a great mixtape mate, for me its all about the song selection, build it up, drop it down, rinse - repeat, good work.

Much agreed! Most of my mix tapes are "simple" transitions. Mostly because when I learn't to mix, that's about all you could do with two tables and some Trance music!

I'm always asking myself if I could inject some more effects / controllerist magic into my sets, but at the end of the day, if your playing in a club environment, most of the punters just want to get drunk and have a dance, and won't be interested if your beatmashing hot cues. Just that the music's banging!

[racoon]

i also like mixing which is not so much "cock in face" like when you can get lost into the music without getting my attention drawed away from the dj's ego

and a dj which don't need five EFX on top of each other to mask his trainwreck is nothing bad ^^

[MaxOne]

FX... Just cause you can it doesn't mean you should

[haze324]

I'll take a listen to this when I get off work. I'm in Miami also, and the majority of sets I hear in clubs are simple mixes, because that's what people want to dance to....and really that's what the promoters want. A packed club with people dancing, not an over the top effects show. However, you can still keep it interesting by keeping a loop going on on the outgoing tracks, or like you said the occasional delay - freeze, or the loops being cut down. I some times will start the vocals of the incoming track on a 4 to 8 bar loop of the outgoing track and then cut them down as the vocals build up to create a bigger build up.....the crowd can't tell if that's a loop or a build up. I think if do things like that sparringly it stands out much more......but for 75% of my sets, just transitions in phrase and keep them dancing.

[lethal_pizzle]

My opinion is that mixing is a means to an end. The end is preserving the flow of the mix. This means a lot of 'subtractive' mixing (EQ, Filter, Echo Freeze) and not a lot of 'additive' mixing (rolls, beatslicer). You just need to file the edges off the tunes to make 'em fit. Maybe a snatch of vocal or a percussion loop (if they're complimentary).

[elio_xh]

Since starting to DJ, I've noticed that I appreciate simple mixes a lot more than sets filled with FX. I used to think it was the coolest thing when a DJ did it, but being on the other side of the decks now I can see through it all. Just recently heard a mix where the DJ brought every song in by scratching it in, used an airhorn every minute of every track, and transitioned using spinbacks. It was honestly the most frustrating thing. For me, simple is the best, shows that you don't need to hide behind bad effects when transitioning, and it will be much more respected among other DJs.

[Nicadraus]

As many have mentioned, clean and straight forward mixing is most preferred. Especially with house.

[Sublim&All]

Apart from the rest here I actually do like to hear some tricking around in a set. As basically any ape can make a decent recording these days, this is a way for me to hear if a DJ is truly talented or not.
But still, track selection is way more important.

[3IJ]

smooth and seamless blends of well-picked tunes FTW.