I was just wondering how often you all attempt to beat match your songs i know most of you are mobile djs which does not call for this skill as much as a club jock would.

When im out on the road i tend to mainly mix all my house and rnb and i sometimes beat mix a few 70s and 80s it really depends on if the crowd are the sort that want me to speak a lot or not!

Im mobile, but used to be club too, til I saw the light....(it was probably a par64)

I beat mix everything I can...which might only be 60% of the music. Other mix-tricks might have to be employed, such as the st..st..st..stutter in mix, or the slow pitch up/down to the other tune...

If all else fails...Tune A nearing its end....."Taxi for Mr Smith" ....Tune B starts...

hmmmm....never performed in front of a crowd yet......so i can't particapate in the poll

I only beat mix the House, Garage, old skool and D+B. As you can see, I only do it for the younger crowd who appreciate it-lol. Other than that, I use the fader's to just play each tune in.


Ah, who ever made the cue mix on a mixer, is a god!!!!!!!!

If it's mixable - then mix it...Mt philosophy is that if you show you can mix then the crowd interprit this is a skill and not some guy who just stands up there flinging tunes on without a thought.
I've just got a pioneer cmx-3000 and I'm getting into the old "loop" mixing, this is a real aid to my mixing. Mixing in a loop and then when you're ready releasing it to play the rest of the track. Sounds good.

My two penneth

Naughtydog

QUOTE (Dj SBD @ Jul 23 2003, 11:12 AM)

I only beat mix the House, Garage, old skool and D+B. As you can see, I only do it for the younger crowd who appreciate it-lol. Other than that, I use the fader's to just play each tune in. Ah, who ever made the cue mix on a mixer, is a god!!!!!!!!

excuse me mixing was not discovered a few years ago,

it was first introduced to this country in the 70's after a few DJ's went to New York to see Larry Levan mixing,

just think how easy it must have been back then,
not all tunes had approxamatly the same bpm,
or recorded in the same key,
oh yes & they did not have nice little mixing breaks at the beginning & end.

vary speed turntables were in their infancy, no monitors

shall i go on

Dusters under the turntables to slow them down, or a thumb, no vari-speed decks when I was a lad. The young of today have it made for them

...and what about the fact that the drum machine had not yet been invented! meaning the bpm on every song constantly fluctuated, making a long running mix a helluva lot harder than with 2 modern house records for example...One other thing that really helped your mixing was when the belt would suddenly come off of the old belt-drive turntables

We do have it so much easyer nowadays but with the advances in technology we can add so much more to you sets than before which are calling for the development of new skills. but i do have to take my hat off to the original djs who created and discovered the art of djing i love so much today!!

QUOTE

hmmmm....never performed in front of a crowd yet

Unlike ADS Avatar!!!

some of the older DJ's who I used to love watching & Hearing mixing

Froggy
Mr Flip
Colin Hudd
Roger Johnson

now guys can you think of any more

I think its better to entertain a crowd with your personality, rather than whether you can beat mix at 140bpm and scratch using both feet with your hands tied behind you back and yodeling!

Most 60 year old grannies (Part of you mobile audience) are more intent on mithering you for a quickstep than giving a rats todger about whether you can mix or not .

Being a D.J is not about YOU, or whether you are little more than a sideshow at the PLASA!

yes but chris surely as a DJ you need to offer as much as you can,

I can beat mix with the best of them, and also use personality as well.

in todays market place you are better to be "as well as" rather that "either or"

QUOTE

yes but chris surely as a DJ you need to offer as much as you can

Hmm not really. I don't see the demand, and if I ever did then i'd just take out a pioneer twin cd and press a button. Okay it takes away the "skill" but as long as the crowd gets the beats matched who cares whether it's man or machine.

D.J's (in the mobile sense) were never meant to be focal attractions, we are not like bands who want thousands of adoring fans sat in rows watching us on stage. If as a D.J ,this sounds like you, then maybe you have forgotton why you got into the business in the first place.

Yes, I currently also work a nightclub - a place where the owner is a D.J of 32 years, and highly critical and yes that fact gets on my , however he choose me because I'm not afraid to go out with the mic and involve the audience - the "bedroom Mixers" he had on before didn't get 1/4 capacity - now between the owner and myself working alternate weeks we get capacity crowds every week. And requests like "Its my m8's birthday can you go and take the P*SS" are now the norm - this is interaction with your audience and not the voiceless D.J and his jukebox impersonation!.

Chris,

if it works for you then more power to your elbow mate,

but just because I can mix does not mean that I don't use a microphone (I have worked as a compere for many years in theatres, comedy clubs, and entertainment agency showcases) also because I am more than happy to use a mic, does that mean that I should not mix.

i believe talk when necesary and mix when necesary

QUOTE

the bpm on every song constantly fluctuated, making a long running mix a helluva lot harder

Well, dont use Bush hifi turntables!!!

QUOTE

Most 60 year old grannies (Part of you mobile audience) are more intent on mithering you for a quickstep than giving a rats todger about whether you can mix or not

Well if you have lots of gigs full of 60 year old grannies, then fair enough, but how many of the rest of the audience wanna hear quicksteps? Unless you're doing the old folks home dinner n dance the most you're likely to play is 1 or 2 quicksteps!

QUOTE

Hmm not really. I don't see the demand, and if I ever did then i'd just take out a pioneer twin cd and press a button. Okay it takes away the "skill" but as long as the crowd gets the beats matched who cares whether it's man or machine.

At first I thought you were joking here, but it seems that you are actually being serious! None of these twin CD players etc can mix 2 tunes properly, all they do is match the beats, they don't match bars, or time the intro of the track playing to finish just as the vocal on the track being mixed in starts etc or loop a few beats to create an interesting mix. I personally think all of the CD, MP3 players etc that claim they can mix automatically are a waste of time.

What needs to be remembered as well is that while some of the crowd plainly won't give a to$$ whether the tracks are mixed in or not, there are also a few in the crowd who will, and then there are others who don't wanna hear the dj come out with all the corny crap. It's possible to please 2 out of 3 by for example, looping an intro, mixing that into the track playing, mix the first track out, which leaves you with a beat playing but no vocals which keeps people on the floor, but also gives you an opportunity to use the mic, and to then end the loop for the vocal to come in right as you finish speaking.

QUOTE

however he choose me because I'm not afraid to go out with the mic and involve the audience - the "bedroom Mixers" he had on before didn't get 1/4 capacity

There's a world of difference between a bedroom mixer and an experienced skilled DJ who can mix well and can also use the mic and knows when to mix and when to chat.

QUOTE

I can beat mix with the best of them, and also use personality as well. in todays market place you are better to be "as well as" rather than "either or"

Without a doubt; but I've often found that the DJ's who criticise mixing the most are the ones who can't mix

It will be interesting on this thread whether any of the regular contributors apart from myself and Ian will actually dare to dis-agree with Chris?
By that I don't mean that anyone should dis-respect Chris or anyone else for that matter, but there are far too many yes-men on here. Now on this particular thread it is quite obvious that there are a few DJ's who definitely have a different viewpoint to Chris but will they actually disagree...hmm, interesting

QUOTE

It will be interesting on this thread whether any of the regular contributors apart from myself and Ian will actually dare to dis-agree with Chris?

Eskie I seriously think that you need to take a few days away from this forum, and put to bed these "issues" that you seem to have with me - whatever your personal opinions of me or any other members have no place on this forum. Neither do dented egos or prima donnas. After all the purpose of this forum was not intended to increase my social circle.

There are 100's of other threads where other people disagree with each others and my point of view - yet I don't see anybody else making an issue out of it. So let's keep the petty comments out of it shall we?.

Agreeing to disagree is all part of the learning curve, if you can't accept that then it's time to move on, I hope you don't, but if you do then I thank you for your time on here and wish you all the best. Either way, post's like the one above invite trouble and that won't happen on here.

QUOTE

This is a discussion forum where everybody is entitled to post their own opinions and express their point of view. This often means that very shortly you will find a post made by another member with an opinion which differs from your own. Occasionally these discussions may become heated. However, please avoid the use of making personal comments, insulting or flaming the other party. The moderators reserve the right to edit / delete any post or close a thread.

Eskie

Most 'mobile' discos etc are weddings and parties, at a wedding you have every age range, the older people like to listen to the Nolans etc, the youngers one S Club 7 etc and the other, ranging from 18 to 65 want a good time, dancing to records they normally wouldn't dance to, with people they would normally dance with, parents, older friends that wouldn't normally go out together. In my experience they want a good time, which includes the 'DJ' entertaining them, talking to them etc, not a beat mixing DJ, OK some weddings may want that but only for a small set.

There are two types of DJ, Club and mobile but within the mobile section there are another two types, mobile DJ and entertainer, and most of the time I have to be the entertainer not the DJ. The mobile circuit is at the other end of the spectr um to club and it is very difficult to mix the two (no pun). If you are happier mixing then club work is more up your street, I prefer to do the mobile work, sometimes referred to as 'that was, this is...' DJ because I know my style works as I am very busy, much in the same way as you are good at mixing so you do that, and do it well, but don't force opinions or think one is better than the other just because you don't like it or do it.

I don't talk down to you because I drive a top of the range Merc and you only have a E Class, a Merc is a Merc in the same way as a Ford is a Ford, a DJ is a DJ, just different types of the same thing.The job is hard enough without making it any harder mate.

BTW I do disagree with Chris, have you seen some of his ties ?

some fairly predictible replies...

QUOTE

but don't force opinions or think one is better than the other just because you don't like it or do it.

ADS; Please re-read my post. Now highlight the part where I have said that mixing is better than purely using the mic?
You won't be able to cos I never said or suggested that?

QUOTE

In my experience they want a good time, which includes the 'DJ' entertaining them, talking to them etc, not a beat mixing DJ, OK some weddings may want that but only for a small set.

You've told me not to force my opinions on others (which I didn't do anyway!) but your first paragraph does precisely that!
I'l just reiterate that I never said that a dj who purely uses the mic is better or worse than a dj who chooses to mix. I did though say that some are adaptable and choose to do both.
For many years I worked in clubs but I started doing mobiles, so have ample experience in both styles.

QUOTE

There are 100's of other threads where other people disagree with each others and my point of view - yet I don't see you making an issue out of it. So let's keep the petty comments out of it shall we?.

There are indeed many threads where people are disagreeing with each other, but most of the regulars on here tend to very often go along with your viewpoint. Obviously from the above comments you don't agree with this, however from private emails I've received I know I'm not the only one to have this viewpoint and I'm not referring to either Ian or Paula.
Rather than a petty comment I was more looking to shake a few people up, and get them to come out of their cosy little shells and say what they actually feel, but it would seem that's not advisable?

QUOTE

whatever your personal opinions of me or any other members have no place on this forum.Neither do dented egos or prima donnas

I rather think that you're deluding yourself, there's no dented ego here, and anyone who knows me knows that I'm certainly no prima donna.

QUOTE

Agreeing to disagree is all part of the learning curve, if you can't accept that then it's time to move on

I completely agree that we have to agree to disagree
so what's the problem? it seems that because I've suggested that people can disagree with you it's rankled you, or maybe it's cos I've suggested that there are a lot yes-men? I can understand why you can't see that, and I'm fully expecting those very people to rush to your defence and slaughter me; the prospect terrifies me

QUOTE

Either way, post's like the one above invite trouble and that won't happen on here.

? how's that?, considering that I said

QUOTE

By that I don't mean that anyone should dis-respect Chris or anyone else for that matter

I won't be moving on from here unless of course I'm pushed, but I was under the impression that we had free speech in this country. In the above post I haven't actually slandered anybody in particular, I've simply disagreed with your post and used constructive arguments to put forward my point of view. I guess the reason for your indignation is the

QUOTE

I've often found that the DJ's who criticise mixing the most are the ones who can't mix  :rolleyes:

comment. Just a little leg-pulling, hardly a crime, surely?

QUOTE

The job is hard enough without making it any harder mate

I personally love it and don't think of it as hard at all. Mining, road-sweeping, firemen... they're hard jobs. I've always considered myself extrememly lucky to get paid for doing something that I love.

I think that the reason most people agree with what Chris says is because he knows what he's talking about. I certainly find his posts well researched and informative.

For the record Chris and I did have a difference of opinion but it was sorted out by PM rather than have a public slanging match. It's long been put to bed but I bring it up purely to show that we are not all 'Yes' men.

I like to read different opinions but not when they get too personal.

PaulS

QUOTE

I think that the reason most people agree with what Chris says is because he knows what he's talking about. I certainly find his posts well researched and informative.

Yep, I agree (not because i'm a "yes" man) but I look up to all of you. You all have your own ways of doing things, and your own personalities. Because of this, it is making a mountain out of a mole hill. I know we all enjoy a laugh, but this is silly, I mean this started off as a topic on beat mixing, now it's turned into a war.

As I see this topic, their is a lot of "miss reading" fueling people's thougts, people jumping to extreme. All this could be sorted in a few unknown PM's between you, not in the forum. i personally like the atmosphere of this forum and would like to keep it that way, like I'm sure so are you lot.

QUOTE

I completely agree that we have to agree to disagree   so what's the problem? it seems that because I've suggested that people can disagree with you it's rankled you, or maybe it's cos I've suggested that there are a lot yes-men?

Yes, but we keep all our thought's to ourselves, fair enough some people may be screared of chris, but we dont want to upset anyone, as if we did this forum will be shut down, like the rest.

Consider me as Jerry Springer-lol, and this is my final word-lol

erm i don't know where to start really! as i don't want to flare up a argument but i do feel a little sorry for eskie coz it did seem that he was only voicing his opinion which seems to be backed up in the above poll in which up to this point 7 out of 11 people voted

QUOTE

Quite often i like to mix all styles!

. i personally got into djing via the mobile route and could not mix at all at first i only ever used cd players with no speed change on slowly i got in to mixing but hardly ever really needed it to be succesful, i just needed to play the correct songs and be good on the mic. but as i have developed as a dj i have landed more and more fun bar and club gigs now i dj 4 nights a week for the portsmouth student union this is a 2500 capacity club and the punters expect me to be able to do everything be funny on the mic play cheese and then to play the best rnb and house and they expect me to mix the songs perfect. its this ability to be able to be versitile that landed me this residancey and now fill the whole 2500 nearlly every night.

and i must say ians coment is so true as times are changing!

QUOTE

i believe talk when necesary and mix when necesary

Gary was a mod on old board that i was allso a member of and the board got shut down coz of constaint arguing and boasting so i do understand chris caution with disscusions like this getting out of hand!

If we were all the same the world would be a very dull place

QUOTE

Gary was a mod on old board that i was allso a member of and the board got shut down coz of constaint arguing and boasting so i do understand chris caution with disscusions like this getting out of hand!

Which is exactly why this thread is now being closed

QUOTE

it was sorted out by PM rather than have a public slanging match.

Which is the way in which we handle any personal disputes from now on