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Sujet: Lacking Creativity in my House Set

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So here's the deal: Lately I feel like my mixing has plateaued. I mix predominately house or trance (or anything between 125 and 135 BPMs). I spend a lot of time new mixes and trying new effects, but majority of the time it doesn't sound good or doesn't add to the mix at all.

I am not completely amateur, I do beat match, phase match, and key match. However I feel that my mixing in the end is based entirely around just trying to mix songs with a similar key until I find something that sounds really good. When I hear other house Djs I feel like their mixes carry so much more energy and depth. It's really frustrating trying to take my mixing to the next level, when I feel like right now I am just rolling a bunch of songs I like onto each other.

Does anyone have advice for taking my mixing to the next level, or at least some tips to use effects in a more productive way? Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
Posté Sun 26 Jan 14 @ 6:49 pm
Examples would be useful.

An example of a mix you've done that you think could be improved, and an example of a mix you've heard which you consider to be "the next level".

This should really be continued in the music discussion area, where you can post links.
 
abluem97 wrote :
When I hear other house Djs I feel like their mixes carry so much more energy and depth.


Hard to say much when not hearing your mixes, but energy is one of the more difficult things to manage. Some hints:

- Mixed in Key is able to scan for 'energy levels' I find this a very useful hint when picking tracks on the fly.
- Pre-selecting your tracks might seem to be 'cheating' but in general it will allow you to think (and learn) more about the energy flow of your mix
- Instead of mixing in compatible key, introduce a track going a full key up. Do keep in mind that the track that you were playing should at the point of the mix only contain drums since any melodic parts will sound horrible together. Doing this will create a boost in energy.
 
Or just do it the good "old" way...

Hide keys, hide BPM's e.t.c. and play whatevers "sounds" good on your ears... We mix MUSIC, not numbers... It seems that you try to get to technical and you miss the real point: The fun a music mix can have!
 
Seach DJ EZ on You Tube. Probably the most creative house DJ in the world.
 
PhantomDeejay wrote :
Or just do it the good "old" way...

Hide keys, hide BPM's e.t.c. and play whatevers "sounds" good on your ears... We mix MUSIC, not numbers... It seems that you try to get to technical and you miss the real point: The fun a music mix can have!


This has worked for me, since I played at the Last Supper. We need to get out of the way, and remember to keep it simple. I work four nights a week, three in one club. I buy an ungodly amount of new music and videos everyday, which keeps my sets fresh. I can play anything and everything, which also helps. I could not play house music, or hip hop all night. I would be bored to tears.
 
abluem97 wrote :


I feel that my mixing in the end is based entirely around just trying to mix songs with a similar key

When I hear other house Djs I feel like their mixes carry so much more energy and depth.

.


Try get hold of good remixes, mashups, and have a bit of "surprise" and creativity element in your sets, if you feel its getting too "predictable"..

Since you are technically good (it seems) and go by keys (happy to hear), the key mixing itself can be taken to another level by using modulation mixing, not just mixing in key but doing "sub harmonic" mixing.. A modulation mix is harmonic, but less "plain", often called dynamic harmony ...

And doing off harmonic (strictly) but with harmonic feel can give your mix a less plain/dull kind of feel.. and give energy boost to the floor.
Using modulation mixing, gets you out of that harmonic "loop" many djs gets stuck in.. where it just sounds a tiny bit "too same" whole nite.

Personally i often go +2 steps on the key code chart to "lift" or give energy boost. Some go +7 steps ... but its very likely to clash.
And +3 & +4 is also used a lot.

Always do check in your headphones first if it clashes or not.. if it sounds nice or sour.

And with modulation into the harmonic equation you realize quickly that harmonic mixing is wider than just same keys.
A song will be harmonically compatible if it is in:
- The same key (Tonic)
- A Relative Major/Minor key
- A Sub-Dominant key (Perfect 4th)
- A Dominant key (Perfect 5th)

Most using key mixing only use one type of harmonic mixing... the same key (tonal)
 


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