Hi all, this is the 7th part of Turntablist Techniques Article sets. This one is about beat mixing, so this is useful for every dj in every genre(s). Enjoy:)
While scratching may be the flashiest skill, the art of beat mixing can immeasurably improve your turntablist technique. Mastering the beat-mixing basics will help you understand song structure while also improving your timing and rhythm — two important ingredients of a successful scratch performance.
WHAT IS BEAT MIXING?
Beat mixing, also known as blending or performing a running mix, is the technique of transitioning from one song to another with no noticeable gap in the audio signal. You achieve this transition by matching the tempo of the incoming record with that of the current record, then playing the songs simultaneously as you fade the new song up and the old song out. Think of it as a segue.
BEATS PER MINUTE
Understanding the concept of bpm (beats per minute) is essential to successful beat mixing. DJs describe and classify a song's tempo by calculating its bpm, just as most people would classify a song more generally as fast, medium, or slow.
To better understand tempo or bpm, tap your foot in time to a song and count the number of taps your foot makes in a 60-second period. The resulting number is the song's bpm. To calculate a song's bpm faster, try counting the beats that play in 15 seconds and then multiply the resulting number by four. You don't need a precise number, just a ballpark figure so you know whether you can potentially match the beats of two songs.
For example, hip-hop tracks typically range between 85 and 120 bpm, while most house-based dance music clocks in between 110 and 140 bpm. Trying to beat mix a 90 bpm hip-hop track with a 125 bpm house track will not work very well because both tracks will require a wild adjustment in pitch that takes the songs beyond a tempo range that is acceptable.
LEARNING TO LISTEN
Once you know the tempo of your song, you can synchronize it with another record. First, listen to its basic structure. Songs are usually composed of multiple bars, each containing four beats, and typically group the bars in fours.
To practice, find two tracks that are similar (but not identical) in tempo and place them on your turntables. Start playing one of the songs and listen closely to its structure. Pay attention to the repetitive elements and start counting them. Look for a cycle of beats and bars; a single beat is usually composed of a snare or a kick. A four-on-the-floor “kick, snare, kick, snare” pattern is an example of a simple four-beat bar. Next, stop the first record and listen just as closely to the second one, trying to catch the pattern that makes up this song.
IN THE MIX
Your goal is to synchronize both records so you can release the kick drum of the second record at exactly the same time as the kick drum of the record you're already playing. With practice, you will figure out precisely when to release the second record so it starts playing in sync with the first.
To begin your beat mix, pause the second record at the start of one of the logical groups of bars and cue it up as if you were going to scratch the opening kick drum. Begin playing the first record again and listen for the starting kick drum of a bar. With the mixer's fader closed and the headphones on cue, perform a rhythmic baby scratch of the second record in time with each beat on the first record. When you hear the start of the next bar on the first record, open the fader and release the second record, giving it a push to get it up to speed quickly.
PITCH ADJUSTMENTS
What happened? Even if you released both records in perfect sync with each other, they probably drifted out of sync relatively quickly. This is where pitch control comes into play.
Manipulating the turntable's pitch control adjusts the record's tempo. Most DJ turntables come with a pitch control in one of two configurations: analog, featuring a sliding fader-style control, or digital, which is usually more precise and features a numeric readout of the current setting.
Listen to the records carefully to determine which one is slower. Quickly making this determination takes a bit of practice but gets easier with time. Adjust the incoming record's pitch fader in small increments (no more than 1 percent at a time is a good rule of thumb), and pay attention to the effect of the adjustment.
You also need to push or drag the incoming record to rerelease it at the correct moment and hear whether your pitch adjustment is having the desired effect. As you correct the pitch, the two records should stay in sync for a longer period of time. If they continue to drift apart, adjust the pitch control until the records closely match and can play together for quite a few bars without drifting. Fade out the first record and continue playing the second one. You have just beat mixed your first pair of records!
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Although beat mixing may not be as technically impressive as busting a two-click Flare Laser Orbit combination, it is not an easy skill to master.
To practice, buy two copies of the same record. Since they are identical and have the same bpm, you can concentrate on locking down your release timing without worrying about pitch adjustments. Play the first record, then scratch in the kick drum of the second one and release it on the beat of the same kick drum in the first record. If you time it correctly, the two records should be in perfect sync.
Still train wrecking? Tune in next month to learn even more techniques that will improve your mixing skills. We will also explore some interesting beat-mixing effects to incorporate into your scratch sets. Remember that practice makes perfect, and you will be well on your way to mastering the art of beat mixing.
Tips and Tricks - Turntablist Techniques Part 7
Wednesday, 29 July 2009Posted by WIN at 09:50
Labels: Beat Mixing, Tips and Tricks, Turntablist
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