Producing a Demo/Mixtape

[Nostrills]

Hey guys,
Just put a few of these together, just trying to work out what the best approach to take. I started out just recording straight of the decks with mixed results. I got into the virtual dj program and have been using that a little bit, pulling out some reasonable mixes. What do you guys use, i know most people out there use ableton to produce these mixes. I have had a fiddle with it but cant quite get my head around it. Anyone know of some good tutorial videos or pages for this? I'm just finishing up a tape today, ill post a link for u all to critique for me.

[rowdworx]

i record mine live straignt from the mixer. The same as I would play in a club. There's no point making a demo on ableton cos i'f you get a set you won't be able to mix.

Keep it real.

[richcur]

Wow, who would have expected another thread created based on previous threads of the same topic! Try these Nostrills:

http://www.inthemix.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=205741

http://www.inthemix.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=206195

http://www.inthemix.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=205166

[Bekay]

if it's a demo to get gigs do it live.

[Funkedub]

if you bought Ableton .. you'd have the manual ... read it

[DJ Fusion]

Making a decent demo is nothing to sneeze at, you need to make sure you pick good tunes, don't blow the mixes and make sure to write your phone number on it so the promoter nose how to contact you.

[Gruso]

...i know most people out there use ableton to produce these mixes.Not really. Most DJs are still using decks. As Bekay said, if you intend to play live on decks then that's how the demo has to be done. If you're not up to it yet and you just want to have some fun with software, that's fine, as long as you don't try to pass it off as anything else (or try to land a gig with it!).

[Random_Kiwi]

^^^ What they said...record out from your mixer, into PC, record in Audacity/soundforge.

Don't fuck round with virtual DJ shit...just mix the bitch!

Keep your track selection as unique as possible. No promoter wants a disc from someone full of TV Rock, Dirty South and Put Your Hands Up For Detroit thrown in for good measure. A demo needs to show you understand flow and mood and variety, as well as actually being able to mix well.

[gamblore]

If your mix is sounding shit when you record it then how is it going to sound in the club? I say practise more, your not ready. When you can record a mix your proud of, then start handing it out.

When you say 'most people out there use Abelton', then I would agree if you were talking profession mix CD's, but demos should be on your decks.

^^^

I would have to disagree about making a mix unique and not put in all the new cheese ball tracks. If your DJing just so you can 'get a gig', then you probably don't care where, then your going to have to play to the crowd.

[Nostrills]

Wow, who would have expected another thread created based on previous threads of the same topic! Try these Nostrills:

http://www.inthemix.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=205741

http://www.inthemix.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=206195

http://www.inthemix.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=205166
Although those threads are quite similar to this one, none of them really answer my questions.

Sounds like its best i stick with the decks for a demo, i have a few recordings worth looking at. Do you normally edit your mixes post recording, to get it to sound better, or just hand the demo over as is? I've been getting into many mixes posted on the net for quite a while , Would these generally be done on the decks or use programs?

[Random_Kiwi]

I would have to disagree about making a mix unique and not put in all the new cheese ball tracks. If your DJing just so you can 'get a gig', then you probably don't care where, then your going to have to play to the crowd.

True enough, guess it depends on WHERE you're trying to get the gig at with the mix in question.
Small house bar = cheddar central
Warm up slot at something like a Darkbeat/Sunny party = cheddar free and as freaky and tweeky as possible (with relation to the timeslot you're likely to get)

[Random_Kiwi]

Sounds like its best i stick with the decks for a demo, i have a few recordings worth looking at. Do you normally edit your mixes post recording, to get it to sound better, or just hand the demo over as is? I've been getting into many mixes posted on the net for quite a while , Would these generally be done on the decks or use programs?

Anyones own promo mix who isn't a big name DJ would be recorded from the mixer...and famous DJs sets from Mixing Bowl etc would be the same. Unless they are a DJ who plays live using Ableton.

I'd tend to Normalise it, and put a fade in and fade out on the first and last tracks, but really, that's it. Oh, and chopping it up into tracks is good...1 65min+ long track sucks!

Your demo needs to represent how good you are and what you play. Gluing it all together in Ableton when you actually can't mix that well is a complete cop out (sorry, but it is) You need to practice more until you're happy with a full mix to give out.

Some demo's I've done have taken me about 5 times to get it right between rearranging the order, dropping track X for track Y, rearrange again, record, but not be happy with the mixing etc etc.

[Bracko]

What do you guys use, i know most people out there use ableton to produce these mixes.

this is news to me :lol:


"I'm not good enough to play a set using turntables, so I'll just sequence it to get sets then work the rest out later" :stroke:

i generally use the equipment i intend to play in clubs with.

[DJ D one]

Hey guys,
Just put a few of these together, just trying to work out what the best approach to take. I started out just recording straight of the decks with mixed results. I got into the virtual dj program and have been using that a little bit, pulling out some reasonable mixes. What do you guys use, i know most people out there use ableton to produce these mixes. I have had a fiddle with it but cant quite get my head around it. Anyone know of some good tutorial videos or pages for this? I'm just finishing up a tape today, ill post a link for u all to critique for me.

lol...this reminds me of padded bras...surely looks awsome but then pretty disapointing if you have a look at what's inside...for some other it would be damn right false advertising...

D1

[saad]

i use ableton for my mixes...and got my first gigs from ableton mixes...


But the reason was cos i dont have CD players, and most of my tunes were downloaded, and not on vinyl, so coult really have that many recent songs on it

[Gruso]

i use ableton for my mixes...and got my first gigs from ableton mixes...


But the reason was cos i dont have CD players, and most of my tunes were downloaded, and not on vinyl, so coult really have that many recent songs on itIt's ok to cheat if you've got the skills to back it up! I suppose if I were rushed to make a demo I wouldn't feel too bad about using Ableton. Except that I don't know how to use it.

I don't even have the skills to cheat. :(

[Spectrum]

I don't even have the skills to cheat. :(

:lol:

On another note...

re: http://www.inthemix.com.au/forum/image.php?u=44988&dateline=1190374608

Hey, who's the dude as your avatar? Looks like Chick Corea? :stroke:

[Gruso]

It's Moss from The IT Crowd. :geek:

[Spectrum]

It's Moss from The IT Crowd. :geek:

http://www.digitalinterviews.com/digitalinterviews/images/views/corea_lg.jpg
"Chick Corea"

http://www.sitcom.co.uk/it_crowd/images/char_moss2.jpg
"Moss"

Separated at birth?