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So many bad DJ's..
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karmakanik
IsraTrance Junior Member
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658
Posted : Jun 13, 2005 21:44
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IMHO, these are the following criteria that make a good dj, in descending order of relative importance:
1) track selection - a subjective category to be sure, buy i think it is still the most important criterion. i would rather listen to a dj with great trax who fades in every mix, than a dj with mediocre/boring/played out trax who beat matches each mix perfectly.
2) mixing skills - a wide category that encompasses beat matching, eq's, phrasing (not "phasing", i.e. what point in the song the mix begins/ends), etc.
IMO, i think most full on trax lend themselves to shorter mixes, since they build up rather quickly, and you need room for the sounds to breathe.
i think a lot of dj's make the mistake of starting their mixes too soon, muddling up the climax on the first track that is playing, rather than waiting for it to wind down and start the mix for the next track. or even worse IMO (and i've seen/heard this *many* times, even from big name djs) the dj will mix the beat for the cued song over the beatless breakdown of the previous song, not even letting the climax fully hit! I really hate that. it is possible to play the intro from the cued song over the climax from the previous song, but this is tricky and often sounds worse than the alternative.
progressive i find lends itself better to longer mixes (1-2 minutes, or even longer), since the build ups are more subtle and frequently more drawn out.
3) ability to "read" the crowd. this one is tricky, because many djs only play one or two predominant styles, which may or may not lend themselves to the timeslot and/or venue they are playing.
however, a good dj needs to have a degree of flexibility in order to keep the crowd and the vibe flowing.
i would also include in this category, playing the right trax at the right time. e.g. playing your hardest fastest trax at 10:00pm is probably not the right idea. overlaps a bit with the first category.
4) "storytelling" ability. a good set should be like a good story, it should have an intro/exposition, a build up, a climax, and a denoument/outro. too often, bad dj's will just "bang it out" playing the many songs in the same style the whole way through. the dancefloor needs some variety!
  PSI - the Philadelphia Shamanista Initiative |
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Cosmos Mariner
Started Topics :
5
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132
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 08:01
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On 2005-06-13 21:38, clown wrote:
As long as your names not Goa gill, you should be fine.. LOL.. (just jokings because Gill's names comes up alot in threads like this.. no harm intended)
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personally, i like the way he plays. so much more interesting.
we listen to crazy psychedelic music! why should it always be smooth transition?
sometimes: fadeout, slam in! ... and boom you're down another path 
sound is vibration |
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kilokif
IsraTrance Junior Member
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14
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125
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 09:30
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100% agree with you clown...but today it's more frienDs that are booked than good djs..and that's really sad.. |
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EYB
Noized
Started Topics :
111
Posts :
2849
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 13:53
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Quote:
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On 2005-06-14 08:01, Cosmos Mariner wrote:
Quote:
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On 2005-06-13 21:38, clown wrote:
As long as your names not Goa gill, you should be fine.. LOL.. (just jokings because Gill's names comes up alot in threads like this.. no harm intended)
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personally, i like the way he plays. so much more interesting.
we listen to crazy psychedelic music! why should it always be smooth transition?
sometimes: fadeout, slam in! ... and boom you're down another path
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100% Thats the reason why he is my fav. dj.
Twizted Muzik needs Twizted Djz.
Peace 
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Krell
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
33
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Posted : Jun 14, 2005 13:54
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@Cosmos Mariner
Quote Cosmos Mariner
"personally, i like the way he plays. so much more interesting. "
Goa Gil isnt the only artist DJing dark psy in the world.
Quote Cosmos Mariner
"we listen to crazy psychedelic music! why should it always be smooth transition? "
Because it sounds better. Dont delude yourself, even though you perceive the music as crazy and psychedelic, its still very much order and not chaos you are listening to.
This is definately true for Goa Gils trackselection (there are tracks who are very much more chaotic than what he spins), and those often have nothing to do with "psytrance" at ALL. Its more electronica
Quote Cosmos Mariner
"sometimes: fadeout, slam in! ... and boom you're down another path "
If it works if works - If it works for you, then fine If it works for the majority of the people at the party, then fine (as long as beatmatching or any other style of mixing wouldnt work better).
Its about the best possible presentation of the tracks and the flow.
No one can state as a fact that it is beatmatching, however, most tend to agree that it is, but only if its done right.
Best Wishes
Krell
Label DJ>
www.jesterrecords.ca |
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Code Red
Started Topics :
1
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101
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 16:02
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The main problem is TOO MANY dj's me thinks... |
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EYB
Noized
Started Topics :
111
Posts :
2849
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 16:06
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Too much beatmatching is crap, coz it destroys the tracks.
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Krell
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
33
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1114
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 17:10
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Krell
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
1114
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 17:14
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@Code Red
Quote Code Red " The main problem is TOO MANY dj's me thinks..."
I dont think so - Many years back, where there were less djs, probably due to less copying, the djing standard was by no means higher than it is now.
Actually, at least here, the Djing standard has become better and better during the last 10 years.
The more djs, the more to choose from and the more competition in between djs for the availabe gigs...
Actually, everybody can be a dj - If anyone wants to call themself that, then fine. The same can be said for artists....
The more DJs, the more better djs. However, you will also have to spend more time looking for them.
Again, thats up to the organizer - So, the more devoted an organizer is, the better djs they will be able to feature at their parties.
*smiles*
Krell
Label DJ>
www.jesterrecords.ca |
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EYB
Noized
Started Topics :
111
Posts :
2849
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 17:24
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Quote:
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On 2005-06-14 17:10, Krell wrote:
@Eyb
Too much of anything is crap.
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Very true.
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clown
IsraTrance Full Member
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97
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1777
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 17:35
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Krell
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
1114
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 17:49
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@Clown
I can put one together for you and perhaps post it thru yousendit
What style would you like - Progressive, Full on or Chillout?
You can PM me Label DJ>
www.jesterrecords.ca |
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offthenutboom
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
55
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928
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 18:09
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Mixing psy trance is a bitch. You have to have perfect timing and an absolute knowledge of the tracks.
I love Goa Gil, because 1) He is a Holy Man 2) He plays for 24hrs!!!! 3) His track selection is outstanding to say the least 4) His energy is always positive... He provides the full journey from beginning to end + he was one of the ppl who started the whole trance movement... So from me I just have to say: "More power to him to whatever he does and however he does it"
Now about mixing. I have been Djing for 16 years. I trully believe in a 90% beatmatch set with a couple of breaks to reset the dancefloor. A smooth transition offers a sense of continuity and an energy buildup for the next track. Also lately EQing is a must throughout the mix. Production is so tight, that in order to provide a smooth transition you have to be gentle with how you introduce basslines, acid lines etc... It is not what the music can do for U, but what you can do for the music. And that is the key. If not DJing makes no sense.
Now I think some ppl love the music, but lack the syncronization part of beatmatching, or they are lazy to learn and practice. But they are a part of the community and have the desire to play. Also I feel the ppl dancing do not care that much @ times and these "DJs" are empowered. I am not for it. I feel Djing a great set is a technical job... But, I can't just be a party pooper and be pissed when a DJ does not know how to mix. |
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Madpup
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
21
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174
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 20:25
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Quote:
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On 2005-06-14 18:09, offthenutboom wrote:
Mixing psy trance is a bitch. You have to have perfect timing and an absolute knowledge of the tracks.
I love Goa Gil, because 1) He is a Holy Man 2) He plays for 24hrs!!!! 3) His track selection is outstanding to say the least 4) His energy is always positive... He provides the full journey from beginning to end + he was one of the ppl who started the whole trance movement... So from me I just have to say: "More power to him to whatever he does and however he does it"
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Your First point: I dont see how mixing psy is that much harder than other genres.
Your Second point: I know I will probably get death threats for saying this, but I only saw Goa Gil play once. He played dark, pounding tracks for the 9 hours that i was at the party, there was absolutely zero flow, not sure what journey that was. Put on top of that his 5 second mixes, and some really bad, poorly produced tunes (there were some good ones as well, I do admit). I have full respect for him as the founder of the scene, but from what I have seen, I fail to see why he is anything more than a relique in this scene. |
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clown
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
97
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1777
Posted : Jun 14, 2005 21:38
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Quote:
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On 2005-06-14 18:09, offthenutboom wrote:
Mixing psy trance is a bitch. You have to have perfect timing and an absolute knowledge of the tracks.
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I 80% disagree with that statement. Why?? Because most psytrance is all produced with the same formate.. The only bitch is when there are unexpected long breakdown's in the ending minute of the track. Most of the time, with around 2 minutes remaining in the track, you have a little breakdown, and the track starts up again with about 1:45 remaining in the track.. that's when i generally start my beatmix.
the other 20% is for the exceptions, where the artist doesn't put a breakdown that late in the track and puts it with about 3 minutes left in the track or 3 and a half minutes left. In this case, you have to wait and count your 64 bar's and start your cue at the begining of a 64 bar. But yeah, it helps alot if you know when your tracks breakdown to avoid getting caught up in-between mixes..
"VA - REWIRED" OUT NOW !! (techtrance invasion) ---> http://forum.isratrance.com/viewtopic.php/topic/86303/forum/9
http://psy.techno.fm <------- Jester Records's Internet Radio channel
www.jesterrecords.ca |
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