Point Me In The Right Direction?

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Point Me In The Right Direction? -
1 October 2008, at 04:02
Good day,
I just got my first mixer in the mail today, bought an M-Audio Torq Mixlab on ebay, I know I know, its very basic, but I've never tried DJing before, and have no friends that do it.
But to the point, The program is very easy to use, everything is right in front of me, and I pretty well know how to get around it using the comp and the controller itself...But I have basically no idea what to do with songs, or how to bring in the next track smoothy.
Will this just come with time? or should I get to know my tracks a bit better, like which songs have good breakdowns that would be ideal for this other song to have the drums come in etc etc.
Sorry if this is similar to a repost, im just kinda lost.
Thanks though  :)
# Re: Point Me In The Right Direction? - 1 October 2008, at 07:31
know your tracks... ive never used the mixlab before...  so i dont know a WHOLE lot...

but in time you will start to see your mixing smooth out... just practice practice practice...

starting basic is never a bad thing & it beats spending tons of money on hardware you may not even use or like! lol
R33
TrancePodium Staff
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Posts: 3256
# Re: Point Me In The Right Direction? - 1 October 2008, at 13:18
There are some really great vids on you tube believe it or not.

just search out dj tutorial and you will find a wealth of information that you can see.

Also there are some great resources on the interwebs as well. 

it always starts out rough, but with time and practice you will get better.
DJ Blitzkrieg
1521 forum
Posts: 842
# Re: Point Me In The Right Direction? - 1 October 2008, at 16:40
Youtube and practice

that's all you need lol
# Re: Point Me In The Right Direction? - 2 October 2008, at 00:36
Thanks for the advice, http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=Jaatkw2HnTs
here is the first mix ive ever tried
What do you guys think?
I let Roadkill drag on a bit there when it shouldnt have
R33
TrancePodium Staff
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Posts: 3256
# Re: Point Me In The Right Direction? - 2 October 2008, at 12:47
Ok so.  The beats are together, so you figured out how to get the software to do that bit for ya.  Thats good.  Proble wth that mix is #1 the 2 styles of the tracks are so different it clashes very badly even though the tracks are in beat.
#2, s now you have to lean your beats and tracks and bring them together so it sounds like a continuous track with minimal changes.

Basically you need to count from lets say, a cymbal crash, or synth addition, something major changing in the song.. you get the idea yea? Start counting your beats.  1 for each bass kick.  when you get to 16 or 32, this is when you start the next track from the first downbeat in that song  (the first bass kick).

Now, before mashing the tracks together, count another 32 beats so that you get a change in the track.  at the 32-1 beat transition, bring in the next track.  This will sound like an addition in the song, but your actually adding the new track.

Also, remember to make the tracks similar so it sounds nice and smooth yes?
I would suggest to actually practice this with he same track loaded in each deck.  See how smooth you can make it.
DJRANZ
57 forum
Posts: 3969
# Re: Point Me In The Right Direction? - 2 October 2008, at 16:51
Quote
I've never tried DJing before, and have no friends that do it.


Now You Do! ;)
Now known as Randy Derricott. I may sometimes use the DJ Ranz alias for certain projects though.

www.facebook.com/djranzofficial
www.soundcloud.com/dj-ranz
www.mixcloud.com/djranz
www.twitch.tv/djranz1989
# Re: Point Me In The Right Direction? - 3 October 2008, at 04:48
Who? You!?
Yes I have a friend!
On a second note, I spent some time on this one here, I really don't thin it clashes like the first mix i showed you guys did, but then again maybe im just stunned and deaf to my own faults.
http://www.youtube.com/v/TKb-tKA5eL0
# Re: Point Me In The Right Direction? - 3 October 2008, at 16:19
its not bad, but i would have left the gating from Perfect going a lil (i wouldnt have faded out so quickly)... and when the new kick & percs come in, i would have then mixed out of perfect...

not bad though!!! i enjoyed it and btw whats the 2 track called? :)

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
# Re: Point Me In The Right Direction? - 4 October 2008, at 01:10
thanks man. its called pictures, by stonface & terminal. the dub mix.