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mixing styles and modrn psy
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Basilisk
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
168
Posts :
2984
Posted : Oct 2, 2003 22:22
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Naturally I am a long-standing vinyl fanatic, having been a part of the movement for many years now... however, I am not an extremist. I have tried CDs, and even now hope to pick up a pair of decks - something simple, like the CDJ-100s. I feel it is absurd to criticize the quality of a DJ based on the medium they use - what matters most is what comes out of those speakers. It just so happens that a lot of the CD-DJs I've heard over the years have sub-par mixing/track selection skills so for the longest time I figured that you couldn't possibly do as good a job on CD decks as you can with traditional vinyl. Well, I figure I'm wrong about that now, especially after having tried the CDJ-1000s. Those are a dream!
To address the original question - mixing any style of new psytrance is like a walk in the park compared to the classic styles. The music of today is often as busy as it was in '95, but with better production and a more linear style of composition most songs are far easier to mix. However, some tracks are partially suffering from the mix-by-numbers nature of commercial trance (i.e. start basic, add elements, then get into the real music - not a very artistic way to compose songs, but much more DJ-friendly) which is unfortunate. I resolved to learn the art of mixing classic Goa trance a few years back when it became apparent that no DJ in my city would be caught dead playing it, cuz a) it ain't cool, and b) it's hard, man! I didn't even start with techno or any other style - just bought a bunch of classic Goa and got right down to business. It was a painstaking process but I've got it under control nowadays. The main problem I still have no way to deal with is songs that simply don't sound right together - this can happen quite unexpectedly as two tracks fuse on the decks, and it sounds just awful. Getting an ear for the distinct styles of kick is also a process that takes a while... even if they're in the right key, an Astral Projection track will probably not sound good with a Syb Unity Nettwerk song for example - the production style is too different for the beats to even match. A proper Goa DJ has to learn the elements of his or her music obsessively to truly excel at mixing the style. Contrasting this - a modern psytrance DJ only has to have a rough idea of whether a pair of songs will flow before deciding on attempting a mix.
Now, I don't really say this to put down all DJs who spin the new style. I'll say its way easier than playing with the classic sound but let's not get confused in thinking that it requires little to no effort. Learning the craft is still quite an investment of time and mental energy... and you can't really even speak of that magic stuff that seperates mere DJs from the more respectable trailblazers or deck-wizards. It isn't found in the finger-tips or in the cranium noodle... and then there's that whole issue of 'stage presence' - an essential component of any good performance artist. And, more times than not it would seem, the analytical types best suited to thoroughly exploring the technical aspects of the record craft tend to lack the charisma that would otherwise make them truly great. Well essentially, there's a lot more to a DJ than what music they play and what medium they play it on - so don't forget that! 
Peace.
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duodenumz
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
15
Posts :
116
Posted : Oct 3, 2003 00:05
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"I'll say its way easier than playing with the classic sound but let's not get confused in thinking that it requires little to no effort"
here's the thing... if it's much easier to mix (and i agree with you), then shouldn't the DJs be expected to up their game behind the decks? like mix longer/drop more rapidly/cut tracks together/etc.
i know that once i cracked beatmatching in techno, it became easy to play 20+ tracks per hour, without butchering them. but most of the modern psy mixes i find still don't include many tracks.
even just layering the treble from another tune for a couple minutes can add a lot to a set. the majority of the crowd may not know what you're doing, but they can feel the intensity increase.
in my area, psy parties are more about e than acid now, so i think the scene could benefit from DJs that mix the music in a more active manner. |
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time traveller
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
47
Posts :
110
Posted : Oct 9, 2003 03:11
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Quote:
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On 2003-09-27 02:33, DiMiTry wrote:
I used to think that CD mixing was cheating before I actually started to spin CDs. Neither one is much easier than the other. BPM counters don't really do anything to help the DJ - they confuse, if anything, since the actual bpm is never precisely on the number. Besides, there are Bpm counters on a lot of mixers as well. And yes, vinyl is easier to manipulate - it makes DJing simpler, not harder.
If vinyl was easier to transport and store, I would use it 100%. Oh, and maybe then psy-trance would get pressed, too. As it is now, you simply cannot be a serious psy DJ and not spin CDs.
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I'm sorry the reason why so many labels release on cd is because of costs ....there cheaper to make and distribute etc ....more to the point the sound from cd's is crap far to quiet and it really showed as i was given a mix soley done by cd dexs .
and i pisses me off when im tryin to obtain material .....which many is on cd which aint no good to me and im a serious psy trance dj ! |
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Mike A
Subra
Started Topics :
185
Posts :
3954
Posted : Oct 9, 2003 03:23
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Quote:
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On 2003-10-09 03:11, time traveller wrote:
more to the point the sound from cd's is crap far to quiet and it really showed as i was given a mix soley done by cd dexs .
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Nope.
CD's sound better than vinyls.
Maybe vinyls have those analog "warmth" & crackles to them, but to me it's just noise.
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Chi
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
26
Posts :
312
Posted : Oct 9, 2003 12:43
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Quote:
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On 2003-10-09 03:23, Mike A wrote:
Quote:
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On 2003-10-09 03:11, time traveller wrote:
more to the point the sound from cd's is crap far to quiet and it really showed as i was given a mix soley done by cd dexs .
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Nope.
CD's sound better than vinyls.
Maybe vinyls have those analog "warmth" & crackles to them, but to me it's just noise.
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I would say that cd sounds crisper, but vinyl sounds a lot more organic... |
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DJ Hoffman
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
23
Posts :
104
Posted : Oct 10, 2003 07:05
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i think this forum meant to be for posting our opinions of the best djs 
the best djs ive seen are:
1. bansi
2. dimitri nakov
3. talamasca
their dj sets are absolutly killer !!  |
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technoid
Started Topics :
6
Posts :
230
Posted : Oct 10, 2003 07:21
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If you get the absolute top equipment for playback, I mean I'm talking about ceramic turntables, the best styli etc. and mint condition vinyl then the sound reproduction from Vinyl is far superior. The digital sound on CD is so compressed. With vinyl you get the full frequency range.
There are people who will swear different, but most audiophiles I know will swear by vinyl.
I think someone on this board even has a signature: "The digital waveform is nothing but an imperfect copy of the analogue". Or something like that.
 "One nation under a groove". |
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