Learning the hard way:

[nfotxn]

Here's some guidelines I've established for myself about mixing records:

1. Know your songs. You gotta memorize them like the 9-page concerto you're playing for that audition. You gotta know where the verses, choruses, recaps etc are so you know to expect while you mix.
2. Keep a consistent number of bpm. It takes some crazy skills to get Drum&Bass to records sync up with House without screwing up the pitches too much.
3. The bass drum is really important, don't drop it unless you really feel you need to (for instance in a breakdown).
4. Breakdowns are a good thing. There's lots of downtempo material out there. Give people time to breathe before barraging them with another beat-fest
5. IDM records are REALLY hard to mix because they can be arhythmic by nature. BUT it can be done with some careful planning and track selection.
6. House music is easy. No really, it's really easy to mix and it comes with all sorts of variations like electro, jazz, latin, eastern/indian etc ad infinitum. If it were a flavour it'd be the chocolate of dance music.
   
   Mmmmm, chocolate. Everyone loves chocolate, except that person who's bound to comment telling me why they're a freak and they don't like chocolate. Freak.
7. A bass cutoff (not EQ, that's different) is indispensible to prevent trainwrecks.
8. Just like any other form of music the best tool for creating it is your ears and mind.
9. Never keep the mix in the red. It may be exciting to crank it but upon a second listening it will sound like CRAP with a total loss of definition.
10. Despite what detractors may claim mixing records is performance music. I've played classical for nearly half my life and have played with professionals. I'm qualified to comment on this.
    
    How good you are depends completely on how hard you work.

Comments

[basskitkays.livejournal.com]

How good you are depends completely on how hard you work.


and how long since you have beatmixed anything...

[theotherqpc.livejournal.com]

IDM records are REALLY hard to mix because they can be arhythmic by nature.

CAN be?! dear god, more often than not! :p
...if anyone is ever able to mix *anything* into L.A.S.I.K., i'll be impressed...

lalalala....Ensemble is yummy

[teljanin.livejournal.com]

I've been mixing for a couple years, but I'm really lazy and everytime I become decent I get really busy in something else. I just don't have the cash to buy records as often as I would like. Maybe someday..... *I say that all the time* Mixing is the one thing that I like a lot but I never ever do. I can surpass my expectations in my studies by miles but still fall horribly short when it comes to commiting myself to mixing. Mixing is probably one of my favorite parts of listening to electronic music. If you can't mix records together than I don't want a 'mix' cd.
:)