Whats the down fall of my mixes? I've been recording for almost a year now and my music still isn't sounding appealing. I'm I lacking some basic information? Music theory is my guess. |
Jolynn Schroyer
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by nubz69
I just took a listen to a track or two on your soundcloud.
How much compression are you using? The second I started "Engage the phones" I could hear that it sounded squashed. I can look at your tracks and see they have almost 0 dynamics left. Is this because you are adding compression to your recordings or are the songs all super compressed? BTW I am talking about acoustic compression not digital compression.
Refresh yourself on the basics. The basics are music theory, chord/note progression, song phrasing. I'm not hearing a problem here but everyone benefits from brushing up on the basics now and then.
Don't know music theory. Don't use compression. Don't know phrasing.
Originally Posted by Jester
Ok here's is a practise for you:
Get the first tune going (give it some space!)
Cue up the second tune, but with the bass at zero (7 oclock)
Start the second tune, bring the volume up (slowly!) to around 50% (and don't you even LOOK at that crossfader)
Once you can hear the second tune coming in, keep raising the volume smoothly and bring the highs down on the first track to around 9-10 oclock
You can drop the mids on the first track back to around 10-11 oclock as well but thats optional.
Once both tracks are running together, go make a cuppa tea for two minutes
Ok, last step, the bass mix ....
bring the bass on the second track up to the "sweet spot" i.e where you can just hear it starting to kick in, and smothly bring it up to 100% while smoothly bringing it down on the first track.
get bitches.
Ean Golden Rule: don't run two tracks together both at full eq.
Have fun
Sweet i'll try that.
Originally Posted by mdcdesign
To be fair, there's a massive amount of sarcastic bastards on here - including myself - who mostly seem to just talk about how great Chroma Caps and VCI-400s are all the time.
Still, the guy isn't a troll, he just doesn't understand what DJing ACTUALLY is.
This is true. I let one song play for awhile while transition to the next with no effects. No knobs turning. This might not be for me, I might just stick with school instead of trying to find a hobby on the side to kill time. |
Doreen Schurle
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by dripstep
Now, i LOVE this community
because of the help people give, and despite you not listening to what we say, im going to be helpful. Heres some videos that would help anyone wanting to dj out.
To be fair, there's a massive amount of sarcastic bastards on here - including myself - who mostly seem to just talk about how great Chroma Caps and VCI-400s are all the time.
Still, the guy isn't a troll, he just doesn't understand what DJing ACTUALLY is. |
Joetta Zhuk
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by ooASHoo
eqing is ajusting the high,mid and low knobs to boost the track its only really needed if your system is poor or the tracks you mix with are of a poor kbps, i dont mean turning them all the way either just whats needed to please the ear. it all comes with time and practice. ive never used traktor pro so i cant help with that but youtube can lol what i mean by playing track with a more drum is if you can learn how to beat match drums you will be able to beat match anything, i recommend trying that first
That is a load of bollox. EQing is one of the most essential parts of DJing. Transitions sound so much better if the EQing is done properly. To give you an example:
Ellaskins has done tons of tutorials of a wide variety of DJ skills. I found them very useful when I started out. I am not the only one, since his channel has 50 million plus views. |
Doreen Schurle
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by Jester
get bitches.
+1 |
Romelia Stankard
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by mdcdesign
Nothing tbh; Moon Walk and Delighted are both pretty decent old school Trance tracks by the sounds of it; the only thing you're really "missing" is a defined structure and a melody, the overall sound is pretty solid and reminiscent of Cosmic Gate / Lange / York etc. You just need to find a decent female vocalist and you've got a shot at a club anthem.
I believe you and a lot of people are confused- pretty sure none of those are original productions/tracks and are 'mixes' of a couple tracks.
It's confusing since they are short and titled like songs but I'm pretty sure they aren't productions. |
Suzanna Krieger
17.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by hola amigos
See I need to learn phrasing and eq'ing. What is eq'ing? Lowering the lo's mid's and hi's? I just leave my mid's lo's hi's in standard position, i dont turn those knobs.
Psychedelic trance seems easier then other genres in my opinion. I like house music also but prefer psychedelic trance over all.
I have traktor pro 2 which is the program I use. It's a great program I just need to know more.
Good examples in your mixes on your sound cloud, you can set the energy like you say. I need to learn that skill.
eqing is ajusting the high,mid and low knobs to boost the track its only really needed if your system is poor or the tracks you mix with are of a poor kbps, i dont mean turning them all the way either just whats needed to please the ear. it all comes with time and practice. ive never used traktor pro so i cant help with that but youtube can lol what i mean by playing track with a more drum is if you can learn how to beat match drums you will be able to beat match anything, i recommend trying that first |
Jolynn Schroyer
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by Jester
check your thread in the mixes section for some feedback from me.
keep things simple. forget about the effects for the time being. concentrate on the basics of transitions, phrasing, levels and eqing. effects are "icing on the cake" but if your mixing smells like a turd the effects wont help polish it, so to speak
See I need to learn phrasing and eq'ing. What is eq'ing? Lowering the lo's mid's and hi's? I just leave my mid's lo's hi's in standard position, i dont turn those knobs.
Originally Posted by ooASHoo
youve picked a hard genre to start with theres a lot going on in the track along, so FX are good to learn but dont get hung up on it. the mixing of one track in to another seamlessly is the most important thing to grasp first, try to find something with a more pronounced so you can beat match better the once youve got that you will find the tracks blend alot better and you can start building the energy of you set with the tracks alone thats when you really want to start messing with FX to enhance the sounds. https://soundcloud.com/dj-ash-18 these are just mixes i done for friends but you ca get a idea of how i build the energy in my sets n
Psychedelic trance seems easier then other genres in my opinion. I like house music also but prefer psychedelic trance over all.
Originally Posted by ooASHoo
plus these mixes are on my laptop ive spent over 10 years playing vinyl and cdjs i use my laptop as a playground for mixing. if you dont have a program to play stuff on your computer go to virtual djs website and you can download a free home version which is very good for something thats free
I have traktor pro 2 which is the program I use. It's a great program I just need to know more.
Good examples in your mixes on your sound cloud, you can set the energy like you say. I need to learn that skill. |
Jerica Salava
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by mdcdesign
It certainly was an interesting way of plugging your stuff: "I'm shit, have a listen and tell my WHY I'm shit", when you're not shit. Clever
^ +1 |
Jolynn Schroyer
16.02.2013 | Trying those eq tricks out. Video is helpful, thanks for posting it.
Elaskins videos are helpful but I feel it's still above my head, more then I know. I watch them and don't know how to interpret them into my sets. Especially his phrasing ones. |
Jolynn Schroyer
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by nubz69
I just took a listen to a track or two on your soundcloud.
How much compression are you using? The second I started "Engage the phones" I could hear that it sounded squashed. I can look at your tracks and see they have almost 0 dynamics left. Is this because you are adding compression to your recordings or are the songs all super compressed? BTW I am talking about acoustic compression not digital compression.
Refresh yourself on the basics. The basics are music theory, chord/note progression, song phrasing. I'm not hearing a problem here but everyone benefits from brushing up on the basics now and then.
Don't know music theory. Don't use compression. Don't know phrasing.
Originally Posted by Jester
Ok here's is a practise for you:
Get the first tune going (give it some space!)
Cue up the second tune, but with the bass at zero (7 oclock)
Start the second tune, bring the volume up (slowly!) to around 50% (and don't you even LOOK at that crossfader)
Once you can hear the second tune coming in, keep raising the volume smoothly and bring the highs down on the first track to around 9-10 oclock
You can drop the mids on the first track back to around 10-11 oclock as well but thats optional.
Once both tracks are running together, go make a cuppa tea for two minutes
Ok, last step, the bass mix ....
bring the bass on the second track up to the "sweet spot" i.e where you can just hear it starting to kick in, and smothly bring it up to 100% while smoothly bringing it down on the first track.
get bitches.
Ean Golden Rule: don't run two tracks together both at full eq.
Have fun
Sweet i'll try that.
Originally Posted by mdcdesign
To be fair, there's a massive amount of sarcastic bastards on here - including myself - who mostly seem to just talk about how great Chroma Caps and VCI-400s are all the time.
Still, the guy isn't a troll, he just doesn't understand what DJing ACTUALLY is.
This is true. I let one song play for awhile while transition to the next with no effects. No knobs turning. This might not be for me, I might just stick with school instead of trying to find a hobby on the side to kill time. |
Doreen Schurle
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by dripstep
Now, i LOVE this community
because of the help people give, and despite you not listening to what we say, im going to be helpful. Heres some videos that would help anyone wanting to dj out.
To be fair, there's a massive amount of sarcastic bastards on here - including myself - who mostly seem to just talk about how great Chroma Caps and VCI-400s are all the time.
Still, the guy isn't a troll, he just doesn't understand what DJing ACTUALLY is. |
Yong Aptekar
16.02.2013 | squidot, i dont alwas agree with you, but i do this time. Senior amigos, instead of asking the same questions over and over again, go and watch ALL of ellaskins how to dj videos, then practice what he teaches you. Then watch more videos, and practice more.
Now, i LOVE this community
because of the help people give, and despite you not listening to what we say, im going to be helpful. Heres some videos that would help anyone wanting to dj out.
some other stuff
Music might not be for you though dude. If you just cant seem to get the hang of all of this, maybe try math, or science, or sports. Good luck though bro, now time to practice until your fingers bleed. No 10 minute practice sessions. I reccomend spending at LEAST an hour a day EVERY day for you. One day it just might click. |
Delena Katherman
16.02.2013 | I've never once accused anyone of being a troll, because you never know. But the OP; he has to be a troll, right? He's been making and posting mixes for over a year, but somehow we just taught him what a dry/wet knob does and what EQ'ing is? And, his "productions" are mixes of multiple songs (produced by other people) that he's given a misleading original title to. He asks the same questions all the time, and well meaning people spend time trying to encourage him. I hope I'm wrong, but is anyone else not buying this? |
Cole Maroto
16.02.2013 | you guys keep falling for it. i never say this to people, but you should consider quitting, or at the very least stop posting here. you've been doing this for a year and you still have no clue on how to do the most basic of transitions despite asking the same question every week where people give you proper steps. then you don't follow any of those steps and put up confusing posts that make people believe you are a producer.
i've got a tip. READ the advice people have constantly given you on your other 5 posts about this. then read the advice again. then practice the basics. then practice ad nauseum. then read the advice again. then practice some more until it works or you decide to quit pursuing this hobby. it's like you make these posts over and over then expect for an experienced dj to give you the magic midi button that makes all your mixes blend perfectly while adorning bitches' faces with glitter.
yes, i'm sick and cranky. i'll give myself a warning a see myself out... |
Latoria Kavulich
16.02.2013 | Nice video Hermes. The EQ knobs aren't there for decoration folks. Use them. |
Joetta Zhuk
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by ooASHoo
eqing is ajusting the high,mid and low knobs to boost the track its only really needed if your system is poor or the tracks you mix with are of a poor kbps, i dont mean turning them all the way either just whats needed to please the ear. it all comes with time and practice. ive never used traktor pro so i cant help with that but youtube can lol what i mean by playing track with a more drum is if you can learn how to beat match drums you will be able to beat match anything, i recommend trying that first
That is a load of bollox. EQing is one of the most essential parts of DJing. Transitions sound so much better if the EQing is done properly. To give you an example:
Ellaskins has done tons of tutorials of a wide variety of DJ skills. I found them very useful when I started out. I am not the only one, since his channel has 50 million plus views. |
Doreen Schurle
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by Jester
get bitches.
+1 |
Latoria Kavulich
16.02.2013 | Ok here's is a practise for you:
Get the first tune going (give it some space!)
Cue up the second tune, but with the bass at zero (7 oclock)
Start the second tune, bring the volume up (slowly!) to around 50% (and don't you even LOOK at that crossfader)
Once you can hear the second tune coming in, keep raising the volume smoothly and bring the highs down on the first track to around 9-10 oclock
You can drop the mids on the first track back to around 10-11 oclock as well but thats optional.
Once both tracks are running together, go make a cuppa tea for two minutes
Ok, last step, the bass mix ....
bring the bass on the second track up to the "sweet spot" i.e where you can just hear it starting to kick in, and smothly bring it up to 100% while smoothly bringing it down on the first track.
get bitches.
Ean Golden Rule: don't run two tracks together both at full eq.
Have fun |
Romelia Stankard
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by mdcdesign
Nothing tbh; Moon Walk and Delighted are both pretty decent old school Trance tracks by the sounds of it; the only thing you're really "missing" is a defined structure and a melody, the overall sound is pretty solid and reminiscent of Cosmic Gate / Lange / York etc. You just need to find a decent female vocalist and you've got a shot at a club anthem.
I believe you and a lot of people are confused- pretty sure none of those are original productions/tracks and are 'mixes' of a couple tracks.
It's confusing since they are short and titled like songs but I'm pretty sure they aren't productions. |
Audria Pechman
16.02.2013 | I just took a listen to a track or two on your soundcloud.
How much compression are you using? The second I started "Engage the phones" I could hear that it sounded squashed. I can look at your tracks and see they have almost 0 dynamics left. Is this because you are adding compression to your recordings or are the songs all super compressed? BTW I am talking about acoustic compression not digital compression.
Refresh yourself on the basics. The basics are music theory, chord/note progression, song phrasing. I'm not hearing a problem here but everyone benefits from brushing up on the basics now and then. |
Daniele Gladys
16.02.2013 | http://blackoctopus-sound.com/produc...iren-by-veela/
awsome singer! and a great vocal pack |
Suzanna Krieger
17.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by hola amigos
See I need to learn phrasing and eq'ing. What is eq'ing? Lowering the lo's mid's and hi's? I just leave my mid's lo's hi's in standard position, i dont turn those knobs.
Psychedelic trance seems easier then other genres in my opinion. I like house music also but prefer psychedelic trance over all.
I have traktor pro 2 which is the program I use. It's a great program I just need to know more.
Good examples in your mixes on your sound cloud, you can set the energy like you say. I need to learn that skill.
eqing is ajusting the high,mid and low knobs to boost the track its only really needed if your system is poor or the tracks you mix with are of a poor kbps, i dont mean turning them all the way either just whats needed to please the ear. it all comes with time and practice. ive never used traktor pro so i cant help with that but youtube can lol what i mean by playing track with a more drum is if you can learn how to beat match drums you will be able to beat match anything, i recommend trying that first |
Jolynn Schroyer
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by Jester
check your thread in the mixes section for some feedback from me.
keep things simple. forget about the effects for the time being. concentrate on the basics of transitions, phrasing, levels and eqing. effects are "icing on the cake" but if your mixing smells like a turd the effects wont help polish it, so to speak
See I need to learn phrasing and eq'ing. What is eq'ing? Lowering the lo's mid's and hi's? I just leave my mid's lo's hi's in standard position, i dont turn those knobs.
Originally Posted by ooASHoo
youve picked a hard genre to start with theres a lot going on in the track along, so FX are good to learn but dont get hung up on it. the mixing of one track in to another seamlessly is the most important thing to grasp first, try to find something with a more pronounced so you can beat match better the once youve got that you will find the tracks blend alot better and you can start building the energy of you set with the tracks alone thats when you really want to start messing with FX to enhance the sounds. https://soundcloud.com/dj-ash-18 these are just mixes i done for friends but you ca get a idea of how i build the energy in my sets n
Psychedelic trance seems easier then other genres in my opinion. I like house music also but prefer psychedelic trance over all.
Originally Posted by ooASHoo
plus these mixes are on my laptop ive spent over 10 years playing vinyl and cdjs i use my laptop as a playground for mixing. if you dont have a program to play stuff on your computer go to virtual djs website and you can download a free home version which is very good for something thats free
I have traktor pro 2 which is the program I use. It's a great program I just need to know more.
Good examples in your mixes on your sound cloud, you can set the energy like you say. I need to learn that skill. |
Jerica Salava
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by mdcdesign
It certainly was an interesting way of plugging your stuff: "I'm shit, have a listen and tell my WHY I'm shit", when you're not shit. Clever
^ +1 |
Suzanna Krieger
16.02.2013 | plus these mixes are on my laptop ive spent over 10 years playing vinyl and cdjs i use my laptop as a playground for mixing. if you dont have a program to play stuff on your computer go to virtual djs website and you can download a free home version which is very good for something thats free |
Suzanna Krieger
16.02.2013 | youve picked a hard genre to start with theres a lot going on in the track along, so FX are good to learn but dont get hung up on it. the mixing of one track in to another seamlessly is the most important thing to grasp first, try to find something with a more pronounced so you can beat match better the once youve got that you will find the tracks blend alot better and you can start building the energy of you set with the tracks alone thats when you really want to start messing with FX to enhance the sounds. https://soundcloud.com/dj-ash-18 these are just mixes i done for friends but you ca get a idea of how i build the energy in my sets n |
Latoria Kavulich
16.02.2013 | check your thread in the mixes section for some feedback from me.
keep things simple. forget about the effects for the time being. concentrate on the basics of transitions, phrasing, levels and eqing. effects are "icing on the cake" but if your mixing smells like a turd the effects wont help polish it, so to speak |
Jolynn Schroyer
16.02.2013 | True so far i'm just turning knobs like a champ. |
Pam Stolley
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by mdcdesign
It certainly was an interesting way of plugging your stuff: "I'm shit, have a listen and tell my WHY I'm shit", when you're not shit. Clever
|
Matt Kane
16.02.2013 | you shouldn |
Jolynn Schroyer
16.02.2013 | lol good thing i don't have book face then. |
Doreen Schurle
16.02.2013 |
Originally Posted by hola amigos
wow i'm a noob.
If this was Facebook, I'd give you a "Like". |
Jolynn Schroyer
16.02.2013 | wow i'm a noob. dry/wet button pretty much activates the effects. I usually turn on effects and turn knob and nothing changes so I was complaining calling those effects lame. But really I never turned on the dry/wet button to activate them. Now I can be creative with it. |
Jolynn Schroyer
16.02.2013 | yeah I hardly ever touch the dry/wet knob or the effects knobs. I don't even know what the function of them do. Let me go experiment and try to find out. |
Doreen Schurle
16.02.2013 | Zzzurp, PolarWind and Granuphase are my go-to effects atm, in conjunction with Gater. I use the on/off triggers rhythmically to create build-ups and wind-downs; you have to basically ride the Dry/Wet knob so it doesn't get to be "too much" though. |
Jolynn Schroyer
16.02.2013 | I don't know many people who use FX in psy trance. Just do great transitions. What Fx you believeing? I'll go do it now. I'm just taking a break. I've been on this computer since 9am and it's 1:08 am lol. Got ear burn from these damn head phones. lol |
Doreen Schurle
16.02.2013 | FX dude. When I'm doing a set I spend half the track mashing buttons like a maniac. The best results I've had are when I'm working with another DJ; he mixes the tracks in and I play around with them. Flux mode and Macro FX are brilliant for that sort of thing. |
Jolynn Schroyer
16.02.2013 | I believe I have a lot to improve, when I'm not touching knobs and staring at the computer screen waiting for something amazing to happen. When mixing psychedelic trance, I literally drop the volume slide the fader over and thats it. There is already so many effects going on in the mix I don't find a point into throwing in a delay or a reverb or even lofi. So I catch myself just staring at the controller like hmmm there's gotta be more to this piece of plastic then what i'm doing lol. I can't go to a house party plug in my computer then let my computer be a ipod in front of a crowd. I can't just stand around, I need some knobs moving, something to improve my sets. I just can't figure out what i'm looking for yet. Time will tell, I just want to speed up this learning process. Graghhh |
Doreen Schurle
16.02.2013 | It certainly was an interesting way of plugging your stuff: "I'm shit, have a listen and tell my WHY I'm shit", when you're not shit. Clever |
Jolynn Schroyer
16.02.2013 | I know I like to hear feedback from more experienced dj's though. So I can try new techniques out. But I'll go back to practicing, just got my mixer and head phones so it's been consistent for two days now. |
