mixing drum and bass advice please

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
1

mixing drum and bass advice please

How do you guys have the cross fader curve set up for mixing drum and bass? (i’m using Traktor and a VCI-100)

I’ve really got into DnB recently but i’m used to mixing prog house. I don’t think i’ve used the cross fader since my first mix (in about 1997!)

I’m really sucking atm so any other advice would be cool

thanks in advance

Amadan

2

When I did mix dnb the fader was usually never used either, but if I did use it I’d only keep it on the really sharp curve so I can do quick cuts.

Also, listen for the snare, its basically the genre’s metronome.

3

i keep the curve sharp.
mix intros and breakdowns and cut on the drop.
make sure you know howlong the breakdown of song A is and the intro of song B is, thatway you can time the drops to happen at the same time (utilize both of their build ups) and then cut A out on the drop

you dont always need to cut, a fade before the drop works better sometimes too

4

thanks for the help guys :slight_smile:

5

PS remember to EQ for the the Drums & the BASS. :slight_smile:

6

depends.

if you mix intros/ breakdowns the EQ isnt a problem, usually

but if you mix the middle parts and stuff then ya, EQ a lot

7

You are absolutely correct. Glad you posted as I was just being cheeky and wasn’t giving “real” mixing advice.

8

I tend to keep my crossfader at a moderate curve, I use the volume faders more than the crossfader and do a lot of EQing to blend the songs.

Getting two basslines to work together is a dangerous business… all too easily turns into mud, but when it works it’s awesome.

9

chase an status- streetlife

twords the end of the song i loop 8 beats (at 87 bpm) as the intro to the next song is coming in, then i slowly lower mid and high

that bassline is great

10

I agree with all the comments about EQing here. Bass does tend to get muddy if you dont pretty much kill it outright. I tend to dampen the highs of the incoming track a bit too.

Also, use loops on those breakdowns. They can save your ass on a long blend or buildup to the next drop when your too busy eqing, etc. I tend to store it in a hotcue so i know exactly where it is.

The freeze delay effect can be used to fade out of a song pretty nicely too, especially if you catch it on some vocals.

As for the crossfader . . . . never use it.

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I think the crossfader is a personal preference. With it you can have a high degree of control over abrupt things like beatcutting (see LTJ Bukem, Dara) Personally I have always used it and the eq to mix, but I’ve seen other people use the volume faders to mix drum and bass as well.

13

I’m a volume fader guy, rarely touch the crossfader when mixing dnb.