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Good tips for mixing Chill out and Dub
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clovisfilho
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Nov 7, 2006 09:53
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I am just a beginner and I have been focusing on the chill out and dub style of music, just a preference when I think about myself playing in a party or for friends.
My technics are really low, just started one month ago when I got two denon ds-1000 and a mixer stanton smx-401. Anyways, if someone can drop me a few lines about tips to make a good work while mixing this kind of music I would really appreciate.
I read the whole other topic about mixing under music creation stuff but would like to hear something more specific for this kind of music.
Also, if someone could suggest me a good way to record my sets that would be great, I can upload later asking you guys to give me some opinion.
Thanks a lot in advance everyone
Peace
  Smile with your soul! |
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John
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Nov 7, 2006 14:18
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Not really on the technical side of mixing, but on broader issues...
I suppose the key advice - like any sort of music really – is get to know your tunes and practice a lot to work out what goes with what. There are different opinions on beat mixing – some favour it to keep a smooth flow, the other view is that a chill out set has a natural ebb and flow – so it doesn’t really matter too much.
Dub is another matter – traditionally it was played on one turn table with an echo box and mike to cover up the changing of the record. Things have moved on a bit since then – but if you are actually playing dub (as opposed to psy dub), then an echo box might be a good investment – though many mixers have this built in now.
Try and build up your own style – there are lots of people playing the same few new psy chill releases – but also don’t get too worried about playing a tune because it too “obvious”. It may be to the other handful of chillout DJs in the room – but not to everyone else – and if it’s the right tune at the right time – go for it. Never forget people are there for a Friday/Saturday night out – not to spot how obscure your tunes are…
And finally – have fun - you’ll never earn much money playing chill out – you’ll be lucky to cover your expenses and get a beer – but its worth it when people are enjoying the tunes you’ve picked out in the lovely environment that most chill out areas provide.
(I would, of course, never recommend winging it by mixing the last swooshy minute of one tune into the first swooshy intro of another, hoping for the best and keeping your wits about you in case anything discordant goes on...)
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KakoOlalaJwal
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Nov 7, 2006 15:45
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Gunter
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Nov 7, 2006 17:57
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I found out, that it is perfect for me to have let`s say a list of 4-track-rows (=4 tracks that fit good in a row).
If you pre-plan to much, you erase all of your freedom of telling a story n if u have it a bit pre-planned u can create quiet a good story that can go in different directions, depends on the atmosphere that fits to the event and the time. You are also not bound to anything, if u preplan this way, because you don`t have to follow anything. for me it`s good, if inspiration does not come immediately to have such preplanned track orders in my back hand n from there I deffenitly get new inspiration
Honestly I must admit that going away from the intro-outro mixing is qiet hard with chill-out, because it`s so different n a lot of tunes are also relatively short-timed, compared to dance music tunes.
I mostly mix intro/outro, but try to avoid times without beats (between the tracks). That works okay with me. |
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clovisfilho
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Nov 7, 2006 20:47
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Thanks a lot everyone!
I am sorry if I sound stupid now...by intro/outro you mean the beg/end of a track ?
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clovisfilho
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Nov 7, 2006 20:54
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Tahnks a lot John and Gunter! You guys said pretty much all what I was looking for.
I will kep the hard work on practicing and will upload some set soon, if you guys have a chance I would appreciate your opinion later.
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Gunter
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Nov 7, 2006 23:00
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Hey clovisfilho,
intro/outro-mixing means that you wait til a track goes towards it`s end (mostly beats stop a bit before the end and there is a beatless outro) and you overlayer the outro of the last track with the intro of the next track ... this is simple but could work okay, if you have a good track selection.
But I would also recommend to not only do this, be creative, try what fits, learn your tracks, that`s the basic ... if you know your tracks and if you have a slight idea of which works with which your way of mixing will evolve itself ... don`t follow any rules ... do it your way ... start with outro/intro n go on from there
PS: I got another idea. If you have problems with remembering what a certain track is like do short notes of associations to this tracks in your CD-Case, that can help a lot |
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clovisfilho
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Nov 7, 2006 23:16
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Thanks a lot one more time!
I will have to buy you a beer
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Rui Ferreira
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Nov 7, 2006 23:17
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hello clovisfilho,
Most of the things have been said by John and Gunter, but i would like to add that you must pay attention to the equalisation when you are mixing, cause the flow it's also conditionated by good sound and picks of equalisation. I would recomend you to mix at zero db on your mixing desk (wich is by the way the same i use at home, and love it ) and, if necessary, raise the amplifier volume for best environment results...
looking forward to listen to your mixes mate
Cheers |
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damon
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Posted : Nov 8, 2006 00:03
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furthur
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Nov 8, 2006 08:20
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Quote:
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On 2006-11-07 23:00, Gunter wrote:
PS: I got another idea. If you have problems with remembering what a certain track is like do short notes of associations to this tracks in your CD-Case, that can help a lot
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not only that, but i suggest writing in your case what the intro and the outro of the song sounds like
also, i've always planned to do this, but never got around to it, could be cool to build a database for yourself of tracks that mix well into a track, e.g. 5 or so, and then you still have a shitload of freedom (if your set is 15 tracks long, that means 5^15 possible sets) and the flow will not be ruined.
however, it might be less fun for you when you are playing (which is possibly the reason i never got around to this categorizing)
i do not suggest beatmatching at first
get an idea of ow to get the flow going, and down the road, you can fool around with beatmatching
i, personally, do not find it essential, but it will add that little extra when it works well
basically, at first, if you do find that your set is very heavy on beats, and you want to avoid beatless periods, before putting a track on, listen to its end (this is essential to me personally in fact)
Load Universe into Cannon. Aim at Brain. Fire.
www.ganesha.ca |
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Gunter
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Posted : Nov 8, 2006 15:48
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Quote:
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On 2006-11-07 23:16, clovisfilho wrote:
Thanks a lot one more time!
I will have to buy you a beer
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I will remember you on this 
I`m looking forward to hear your mixes, that might be even better then a beer |
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Justin Chaos
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Posted : Nov 8, 2006 17:37
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clovisfilho
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Nov 8, 2006 20:09
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Thanks a lot Justin, I just read the whole topic.
Really interesting and a lot of good feedback.
Thanks once again for showing the link. |
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MercuryFall
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Nov 8, 2006 22:07
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Everything is pretty much summed up now, I can add that I love to take some notes on the tracks I have in my CD case so I know what fits. Not like furtur suggests ( that would be too much work and much less fun anyway ), but more like 'dub', 'soundscape', 'loungy', 'straight kick', and other indications like 'indian vocals', 'flute', 'acoustic gtr', ya know, stuff like that, it helps me a big deal to keep the flow going |
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