I got myself a mixtrack and traktor, and I’ve been dicking around for the better part of a few months, trying to get a feel for how to put stuff together, but I feel like it just isn’t happening for me.
The only time I do alright is when it’s some of the easier stuff to mix, meaning the electro that I’ve got.
I can’t really seem to find any guides or tutorials catered to such a beginner level.
I think the hardest thing for me right now is knowing which tracks to try and mix together. My shining achievement so far is finding out that the Afrojack remix of Who’s That Chick (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jc4VNlBT1o) and one more time seem to mesh perfectly.
I’d really really appreciate if there was someone who could take ten minutes to to pick out maybe 10 songs, and mix them very simply for me.
My thinking is that if I have some concrete examples I can get a better feel for it.
Start out by finding out the keys to your collection (Mixed in key software, etc.). Should make picking songs a bit easier. As for mixes, You can find a lot of youtube. Check out ellaskins on youtube for tutorials as well. They may not be using the same gear and software as you, but it’s the same concept in the end.
To get a few tips it’s a good idea to listen to mixes from the artists that you like and pick apart how they mixed things together. If you have some with track lists is better cos you can buy them and try and emulate those mixes to gain a better handle on technique. You will find though that most of the best mixes are really the simplest.
I’m teaching my buddy a little about DJing and he has the same issue. He just brings in any track he wants whenever he feels like it and it rarely sounds good. Phrase mixing and mixing in keys that don’t clash are what I would say your “next steps” are. Google away. If you pay attention to those and do basic phrase EQing your mixes will sound good.
If you’re still looking for examples, here is a mix I did that is mostly basic song to song mixing and has the track list in the thread so you can identify transitions: 2011 Promo Mix - #HOUSE #RAGE
The newer mix on my soundcloud has more sampling and other shit.
fair point… i bought beatunes the other month to use to help tidy up my itunes collection and also do key detection. all i’ve used it for is to help tidy up my itunes names/tags so far (which it seems very useful for btw)
not that having the key information isn’t a good thing - but learning to use your ears first as to what sounds good together is a better starting point.
i’m sure it took me a long time before i actually mixed two pieces of vinyl together that actually sounded any good (never mind also being synched lol)
I personally don’t pay attention to key when I mix either. I just make sure the songs I’m mixing don’t clash. Clashing keys is one thing that can make a mix sound bad.
There is nothing Wrong with the mix track, u can still make solid mixes using beat mixing and effects and cue points and loops and jazz.
If u really need some help still, pm me and we could Skype or something.
(which it seems very useful for btw)