Smooth Mixing or fiddling?

[Stella Boy]

I personally LOVE smooth mixing. I really love doing seemless mixing in the comfort of my own studio. But go out and play and it just doesnt seem to wash.

IMO - It's probably because you are well known for what you do behind the decks.
If a club full of people saw and heard you molding a seamless set then,maybe, they might not be into it as much because they expected the usual mark but would appreciate the different approach.

Always follow what you feel and with you stressing LOVE I take it you're feeling smooth mixes right now.

[MARKEG]

thanks mate, that really made me think!! :)

but this topic isn t about me, it's about dj style and i have to say, JUST LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS HERE!!!!

I mean REALLY!!!

Just look. I don't think we've ever had so much difference on here! (ahhem well perhaps we have hahahha)

WOW.

you know what's so great about techno???? and mixing??? and dj's??

IS DIFFERENCE!!!

oh sod it, i've been drinking. hahah.

loving the posts ppl! BOA crew rocks!

[Ritzi Lee]

do a bit of both, and also do some short, sweet mixes to keep the tunes rolling and keep it varied. the most interesting DJs, IMO, are the ones who do it all.

Are you sure we arn't related?? :lol:



Anyway to take it a step higher.
It depends on the sounds / beats itself what you want to do as DJ.
If you have a break, and want to mix in another tune, you have different possibilities.
It's all about what you want. Create a wave up or down, or create a sudden climax, to make the crowd scream.


This question you can also apply how to decide to mix in the sounds in your own productions. Smooth or throw / cut in some elements. Does it feel right at that moment?

[Mindful]

Two comments made by a couple of the guys on here ring true with me and they are

For me a good should dj bring all techniques into play *at the right moment*

(alltho I thought all of what The Divide said is great)

if you where playing to a room of djs i reckon smooth blending is the one but to a crowd of munted ravers its got to be mash it up !!!

As mr Divide pionts out rather well a good dj should use all the techniques he has at the right time

And as Dr Mucky beats says if theres a room full of Djs/producers smooth mixing and presenting the music in a way thats more importent than whoever is playing is the way too be but to a dancfloor of people... they just want to see you rocking out and putting some energy into what you are doing.

AANNYYYYWAY......personaly I like smooth mixing,a good understanding of EQ,levels,Vibe and energy.
This is how I get the most enjoyment from mixing records and find it the only way that I can get "in the zone"and hypnotised by what im doing.
plus I find it better for creating a groove and atmosphere.
But back to what Divide was saying theres a time that pulling out your sharpest hatchet and carving a bit of blood and guts out of the sound is the right thing to do.
You just gotta feel the right time to do so.

Thats what I feel anyway.

[Mindful]

Also Ritzis comments above my last post are great

[Jay Pace]

Depends on the tracks, depends on the beats, depends on the crowd.

Some tracks just beg to be played with. Others demand respect and need to remain unsullied. All a question of context, and reading a crowd right. Build 'em up, knock 'em down.

[robin m]

It's been said already but for a DJ to really hold attention they've got to do both - concentrating too much on long smooth mixes runs the risk of losing some of the crowd and having people drift off but too much chopping (especially when it's done badly - nothing more guaranteed to spoil a stomp than a DJ chopping the music every 8 bars and missing the first beat when they drop it back in again) can just get irritating and spoil the flow.

The music being mixed matters a huge amount too - it's all about finding the style and approach that best complements the records you want to play and not overdoing any one aspect of it.

[gumpy green]

its about it all.

mixin, cuttin, skraching, tricks, smooth mixes, dropping vocals, sometimes quick mixes in and out, sometimes smooth long mixes throwng in cuts that are fast and accurate but last maybe 2 seconds. using fx or whatever toys to enhance it.

djing is djing.....not mixin.

[SlavikSvensk]

do a bit of both, and also do some short, sweet mixes to keep the tunes rolling and keep it varied. the most interesting DJs, IMO, are the ones who do it all.

Are you sure we arn't related?? :lol:

we might be...i've always felt eerily at home in amsterdam...like i belong there ;) and i believe we are both orlando voorn fans :clap:

[S/E]

Whenever I've played in front of crowds, I would always do a bit of both. Sometimes really smooth and other times more hectic mixes. It all really depends on the crowd and the tracks that you are mixing, IMHO.

Like many others have said, a good DJ should be able to do both and still rock a crowd.

[djshiva]

why not both? :)

variety is the spice of life, so they say.

i love long, smooth mixes, but i get bored easily, so some variations help. a bit of cutting, some double up tricks, some fx fun...it all has it's place.

what i absolutely abhor is sloppy tricks tho. if yer gonna do doubles, get it on beat. if yer gonna cut it up, at least make sure the record you're cutting with flows...or it sounds crap.
if you want to use fx, use them sparingly or subtly.

just my three cents...