Opinions on FX?

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Opinions on FX?
Posted on: 18.06.2013 by Waldo Lessing
On popular songs i believe they're good because it shows you're doing something but not after that. What do you believe?
Dannie Dimora
19.06.2013

I believe in this video you will find ALL your answers.
Hanna Ridenbaugh
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by balakoth
I can't tell if you are trolling or not. What purpose do you serve as a DJ playing 12 tracks. Thats one CD of fully played songs. Im with MDC on this one. Proper cue point usage, and mixing technique, you can provide the full energy and essence, plus build up and drops if you want within 2 to 3 minutes, using the other part of the song to seamlessly transition.

There is no way Id ask you to come play at my club again if thats what you provided my patrons for an hour. Of course the UK and US are different. Its hard enough to not find an open format bottle service club now a days anyways.
Just because i mix differently to you, I'm in the wrong? I use loops and efx sparingly to. But hey why should I justify myself. If we all mixed the same, then what?
Federico Vilas
19.06.2013		I have 90,000 tracks, that would take all year... i'm trying to get my main DJ library down to 5-10k tracks and just keep the rest on backup drive
Federico Vilas
19.06.2013		I don't analyze all my tracks, just the ones I need for the gig...basically I make playlist for gigs, then analyze the playlist...

I build my playlist through itunes so i can backup on my ipad and iphone too
Antonetta Wikel
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by jhoward06
The what and the who? ;_;
Really? You can't make the connection?
Shawn Vanhaitsma
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by zimfella
I am lucky to get 12 tracks in an hour. But that's me, track selection first.
I can't tell if you are trolling or not. What purpose do you serve as a DJ playing 12 tracks. Thats one CD of fully played songs. Im with MDC on this one. Proper cue point usage, and mixing technique, you can provide the full energy and essence, plus build up and drops if you want within 2 to 3 minutes, using the other part of the song to seamlessly transition.

There is no way Id ask you to come play at my club again if thats what you provided my patrons for an hour. Of course the UK and US are different. Its hard enough to not find an open format bottle service club now a days anyways.
Maranda Cowels
19.06.2013		Ok, looks like a pretty bloody battlefield right now, so I'll not throw my 2 penneth in on FX.
However, what does everybody believe of filters?
Me, I love 'em... Although restraint and restriction are key I believe.
Over to you.
Cora Younginer
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by SirReal
Effects can be a really amazing addition when used sparingly and tastefully. Don't ever egg the pudding and don't over salt the soup.
The what and the who? ;_;
Doreen Schurle
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by kooper1980
The answer to your question is a responding NO! I've downloaded and listened and this fancy new way of DJing is just mixing tunes in VERY early. I'm not saying its bad. But it's certainly not the DJing revolution he makes out. It's simple A -> B mixing only you start mixing after about a minute of the tune.
Agreed; that's exactly what I was trying to do with that particular mix, as it's my demo for "normal" DJ gigs. I barely touched effects for that mix, aside from a bit of echo freeze. If I'm booked to do a performance set, I use FAR more effects. Last Wednesday I did a 3 hour set with another guy; he handled transitions and song selection while I handled the effects for 3-4 tracks, then we swapped, back and forth throughout the evening . Was probably the most fun I've had in a LONG while.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about cutting up and ruining vocals with beatmasher, delays and flangers, etc; instead, typically one track that's playing will have more of a "focus" to it - melody, vocals, a build up, etc. In that case, the effects usually get applied to the OTHER deck, just for the purposes of filling in the background and thickening out the mix.

For example, I do a live remix of Apollo and Get Lucky; when I first started doing that particular mix, I began as just layering a 4 bar loop of the kick of Apollo underneath Get Lucky to give it a more "housey" feel, then the next time I played out I added cuepoint jumps to introduce the melody from Apollo, then the build up/breaks, and now I add beatmashers and gaters to the drums... Get Lucky, on the other hand, doesn't get touched aside from a little filter tweaking and EQing.

tl;dr: the key to using effects properly is to apply them to background track, not the "featured" one.
nayit ruiz jaramillo
19.06.2013		I like FX . Especially ones in Sci-Fi movies and stuff like Stars Trek and that one with the man in the black breathy helmet.


...and when things explode, like in that one movie..... with the man and theres some cars.
Antonetta Wikel
19.06.2013		Effects can be a really amazing addition when used sparingly and tastefully. Don't ever egg the pudding and don't over salt the soup.
Hanna Ridenbaugh
19.06.2013		I tried the remix decks with minimal techno samples, it was fun to add different efx combos to them, but alas much more practice would be needed to even consider doing a live set. Even Hawtin abd dubfire don't use loads of efx.
Qiana Castellucci
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by mdcdesign
Considering this is DJTechTools, whose core business revolves around digital DJing, and most of their products include FX-heavy mappings, you might want to look around for an alternative community if you dislike FX so much.
DJ*TECH*Tools, not DJFXTools. just because the tools are there, you dont need to use them all (or at all if it doesn't suit your style/genre or occasion).

My car will do the best part of 180mph, but I don't drive at that speed everywhere as it would make me a complete tool. The analogy stands.
Kristofer Krauel
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by DjLiquitATL
A-B mixing is the first step to be a decent DJ outside song selection...next I would say EQ's, transitions, then the "spice" of creativity. It could be FX, It could be scratching... just make sure you don't just play the radio song without some type of flava
Oh mate you are looking at an 'A->B' mixer right here. I'm in total agreement!
Kristofer Krauel
19.06.2013		I just want to clarify that I am in no way knocking MDC's mix tape.
Federico Vilas
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by kooper1980
The answer to your question is a responding NO! I've downloaded and listened and this fancy new way of DJing is just mixing tunes in VERY early. I'm not saying its bad. But it's certainly not the DJing revolution he makes out. It's simple A -> B mixing only you start mixing after about a minute of the tune.
A-B mixing is the first step to be a decent DJ outside song selection...next I would say EQ's, transitions, then the "spice" of creativity. It could be FX, It could be scratching... just make sure you don't just play the radio song without some type of flava
Kristofer Krauel
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by zimfella
Mdc, I'm gonna have a listen to your latest mix, do you use lots of efx in it? I'm yet to see anyone other than Ean use loads of them effectively. I'm intrigued.
The answer to your question is a responding NO! I've downloaded and listened and this fancy new way of DJing is just mixing tunes in VERY early. I'm not saying its bad. But it's certainly not the DJing revolution he makes out. It's simple A -> B mixing only you start mixing after about a minute of the tune.
Kellie Myrum
19.06.2013		Try dropping an effects to an isolated frequency band
Hanna Ridenbaugh
19.06.2013		I am lucky to get 12 tracks in an hour. But that's me, track selection first.
Federico Vilas
19.06.2013		I never and I mean NEVER use FX... I mess with my eqs more... only fx I use is reverse grain for censoring out curse words when needed... other then that hell to tha NAH

I do mess around with them when I practice just for fun but never use fx for a gig
Alphonso Deitchman
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by mdcdesign
Haha. Not quite, but any less than 30 and you are, in fact, lazy.
At 29.79 tracks per hour, does that make you lazy too?
Hanna Ridenbaugh
19.06.2013		Mdc, I'm gonna have a listen to your latest mix, do you use lots of efx in it? I'm yet to see anyone other than Ean use loads of them effectively. I'm intrigued.
Doreen Schurle
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by iambiggles
Why don't you PM him them - sounds like you deserve each other.
Considering this is DJTechTools, whose core business revolves around digital DJing, and most of their products include FX-heavy mappings, you might want to look around for an alternative community if you dislike FX so much.
Qiana Castellucci
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by mdcdesign
If you say so.

OP came in here with a legitimate question, and everyone jumped all over him straight away. If I were you guys, I'd be the ones who were embarrassed tbh.
Why don't you PM him them - sounds like you deserve each other.
Doreen Schurle
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by iambiggles
Really, just stop typing. You embarrass yourself with every word.
If you say so.

OP came in here with a legitimate question, and everyone jumped all over him straight away. If I were you guys, I'd be the ones who were embarrassed tbh.
Qiana Castellucci
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by mdcdesign
It depends on the genre you're playing. And if you're just playing the tracks from start to finish, then why not just use iTunes instead of all our fancy gear? :P
Really, just stop typing. You embarrass yourself with every word.
Kristofer Krauel
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by iambiggles
Shhhh..... let people have their fun with the "wall of sound" method of "mixing". You know - 3-4 tracks, mashing FX and beatpoints until it becomes a wall of noise!

I mean, what do the producers of the original tracks know about song structure and sound eh?
Oops. Silly me.
Doreen Schurle
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by iambiggles
Shhhh..... let people have their fun with the "wall of sound" method of "mixing". You know - 3-4 tracks, mashing FX and beatpoints until it becomes a wall of noise!

I mean, what do the producers of the original tracks know about song structure and sound eh?
It depends on the genre you're playing. And if you're just playing the tracks from start to finish, then why not just use iTunes instead of all our fancy gear? :P
Qiana Castellucci
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by kooper1980
please don't spread this shit like its some kind of DJ rule! Absolutely nothing lazy about playing less than 30 tracks.
Shhhh..... let people have their fun with the "wall of sound" method of "mixing". You know - 3-4 tracks, mashing FX and beatpoints until it becomes a wall of noise!

I mean, what do the producers of the original tracks know about song structure and sound eh?
Kristofer Krauel
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by mdcdesign
Haha. Not quite, but any less than 30 and you are, in fact, lazy.
please don't spread this shit like its some kind of DJ rule! Absolutely nothing lazy about playing less than 30 tracks.
Doreen Schurle
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by iambiggles
And of course, don't forget to NEVER let ANY track play for more than 30 seconds. Also you should always have at least 3 tracks playing at a time, along with the samples and FX. If you're not getting through 120+ tracks per hour then you're just not trying and frankly are a caveman DJ.
Haha. Not quite, but any less than 30 and you are, in fact, lazy.
Qiana Castellucci
19.06.2013		And of course, don't forget to NEVER let ANY track play for more than 30 seconds. Also you should always have at least 3 tracks playing at a time, along with the samples and FX. If you're not getting through 120+ tracks per hour then you're just not trying and frankly are a caveman DJ.
Oretha Afful
19.06.2013		Do TONS of rewinds. like every 16 beats. Especially if you're playing minimal techno.
Elvis Woodis
19.06.2013		I enjoy layering when playing techno, adding a slighty bit of reverb and delay now and again, but as Zimfella says, a track has been worked hard on by the producer - don't ruin it.
Hanna Ridenbaugh
19.06.2013		Don't forget "damn where'd you find that son" sample to!

Seriously though, use efx sparingly. A track is auditioned 100's of times before a finished version to make it the best it can be. Over use of efx ruins it.
Doreen Schurle
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by de4thbyc4ke
On popular songs i believe they're good because it shows you're doing something but not after that. What do you believe?
Please ignore all the sarcasm above. There's quite a few people out there in the industry who are terrified of FX because it means they can't just beatmatch the end of one track into the start of another then browse Facebook for 4 minutes.
Trula Willadsen
19.06.2013		You mean you guys don't just put on a podcast and fistpump all evening long while pretending to be turning knobs? Wow...
Brunilda Kora
19.06.2013
Originally Posted by Yul
And please don't experiment with your own combination of fx
QFT.

Originality is to be avoided at all costs. Punters only like to hear what they already know.
Kecia Wnukowski
19.06.2013		Best thread of the week.

Don't forget to overuse the instant gratification mapping, always. Beatmashing a song to death is great. And please don't experiment with your own combination of fx and you certainly don't want to be subtle so the more destructive the fx, the better.
Remember, all about djing is about fx and how to use them, I know, I've seen all those videos on youtube (and I made some).


Did someone mentioned air horns yet?
Yong Aptekar
19.06.2013		Oh and if you can find a sample along the lines of "drop the bass" or "DJ!" Use them several times per track. You don't want the audience to believe you are just playing other peoples music.

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