Mixing into the next tune

[mad scientist]

Once you have two beats matched up, which method is more effective to make a smooth transition? The crossfader or the vertical fader?

[mesh]

good question, most dNb DJs I know use the crossfader for a number of reasons. I seen house DJs (Derrick Carter) play killer sets with the volume faders though

[mad scientist]

soemtimes when I hear the beatmatching in my headphones it sounds perfect but when I play it back live it sounds like garbage. What am I doing wrong.

[mesh]

is that related to your fader question ...?

How far away is your monitor from your ears ? sometimes there can be a small delay but it shouldnt be that much ...
its best to have your 'phones set on your head so you can listen to the monitor with one ear and the 'phones with your other ear. Leave them like that as you move the faders to keep track of the sound.
Its hard to lock a tune down so well that you don't need to tweak it at all in the mix ...

:beers:

[Ab0|2Ti0N]

Once you have two beats matched up, which method is more effective to make a smooth transition? The crossfader or the vertical fader?

I usually use my volume faders when mixin'. I just keep the crossfader directly in the center. I like to do a lot of teasin' and what not and it's just more convenient. (y)

[Indi]

i had to use my upfaders to mix as my crossfader was bleeding like a bitch, now i wouldn't mix any other way, upfaders for mixing and crossfader for scratching, simple.

[zeeky deek]

work the same way, upfaders give me more control for some reason

[moriaty]

thing is tho, that with xfader youre using only one hand to switch chanells, whereas with upfaders you need both. less time for eq's..

[DJ Lordward]

word Gordo! i use crossfader cos u can swicth between tunes & do lil fader tricks when mixing. i only use up faders if the crossfaders leaking.

[djcixelsyd]

It depends on what you're trying to do.

Ideally:

Upfaders for blending.....cross for banging in tunes... if I want to do a pretty quick mix, or throw two heavy tunes togther I'll use the cross...if I want to do a nice long one then its all about the lines (upfader)

[sparkyc10]

i prefer me upfaders personally. there are definitly advantagers of usin xfader but its just my preference

[Bad Ace]

i use the crossfader ;) but i duno what it does haha!:p

[Andydextruss]

I use the upfaders coz my crossfaders fucked, but I use the gain controls to swap them over, I find it so much smoother as my upfaders come in suddenly. I'll turn the gain down, bring the upfader right up and lower the gain of the track playing, then slowly move the gains in opposite directions till they have swapped over.

I would probably use the crossfader though, if it worked.

[Innovatee]

soemtimes when I hear the beatmatching in my headphones it sounds perfect but when I play it back live it sounds like garbage. What am I doing wrong.

The problem is the pitch is incorrect. By the time you you brought it in, it's gone out of synch.

[moriaty]

basicly, what i find pretty reliable is:
up fader for when one tune is palyin, and xfader in the middle
and when on the mix, xfader to do fancy shit.
tricky bit is to remember whats open and whatc not...many times i have thought no ones hearing said record spinning badly while i was queing it in mah headphones.....and then i notice people looking at me....
:oops:

:alf:

[Serum]

I use a combination of both

When I'm playing out and have to use those god awful allen & heath crossfaders it's strictly volume faders

[mesh]

basicly, what i find pretty reliable is:
up fader for when one tune is palyin, and xfader in the middle
and when on the mix, xfader to do fancy shit.
tricky bit is to remember whats open and whatc not...many times i have thought no ones hearing said record spinning badly while i was queing it in mah headphones.....and then i notice people looking at me....
:oops:

:alf:

yeah, also the problem with fucking with your gains too much in the mix; I reckon you should set them before even beat-matching, then use upfaders for tweaking.
But I must say more people use upfaders for blending than I thought, maybe I should give it a crack. (Y)

[moriaty]

yeah, also the problem with fucking with your gains too much in the mix; I reckon you should set them before even beat-matching, then use upfaders for tweaking.

em, id say its the other way around man.
You use the gain to tweak the volume with, and upfader is just on, off.
But ofcourse, thats my way, you do it like that, ..blah blha blah, PLUR, give us a hug .
:D

[mesh]

fair enough, I check my levels and set the gain to that before I beat-match.
I find messing with the gain whilst in the mix on a bigger system can cause too much irregularity in volume, whereas if its already set you can slide the upfaders and know that when you slam them up to max it won't be too loud.
Also, listen to the volume creep up when peeps get exxcited and fuck with gains too much in the mix.

but yeah, like y'know ...
:zest: :afro:

[Indi]

fair enough, I check my levels and set the gain to that before I beat-match.
I find messing with the gain whilst in the mix on a bigger system can cause too much irregularity in volume, whereas if its already set you can slide the upfaders and know that when you slam them up to max it won't be too loud.
Also, listen to the volume creep up when peeps get exxcited and fuck with gains too much in the mix.

but yeah, like y'know ...
:zest: :afro:

agreed, its a lot more subtle than slamming both upfaders up and tweaking with the gains, i very rarely touch the gains in a mix

[Innovatee]

The upfaders come in very quietly, then all of a sudden at the max, well that's what it seemed like last time I used them.

Do you tend to put the second tune up, then the first tune down. Or do slide the first tune down as you bring in the second tune?

[Kobie]

Do you tend to put the second tune up, then the first tune down. Or do slide the first tune down as you bring in the second tune?
It all depends on the tunes.,.. just remember to listen to what sounds good.
sometimes i'll have the xfader in the middle with both upfaders max... and just play with the eq and mix the tunes in with the eq

also remember when ur xfader is on one deck to lower the upfader of the other deck incase u knock the xfader... a millisecond of silence is better than a millisecond of some bangin shiz comin thru

good luck http://www.dnbforum.com/images/smilies/devil_slayer.gif

[Trax]

It is mostly preference and what your used to. I usually prefer the upfaders, they cut in more gradually, and when chopping around I still perfer there upers, as you have far more control, as you can play far more tricks usuing both hands at once. The crossfader is more usefull for scratching of course

[Bijou]

I use the upfaders coz my crossfaders fucked, but I use the gain controls to swap them over, I find it so much smoother as my upfaders come in suddenly. I'll turn the gain down, bring the upfader right up and lower the gain of the track playing, then slowly move the gains in opposite directions till they have swapped over.

I would probably use the crossfader though, if it worked.

How badly do you need a new mixer dude... (:

[Charver]

I've only been learning to mix for about three weeks, but I use the xfader.

Basically, I'm using my mini-hifi as an amp and if I use the upfaders to mix I have to turn the master volume right up and I'm worried about blowing something. However, I want to learn both ways.
I need a decent mixer and amp first.

I know alot of top DnB Dj's use the upfaders.

I'm pretty sure that LTJ Bukem users the upfaders to mix and the xfader to cut/tease because I saw him do it on D&B arena TV.

[Dustek]

yeah, also the problem with fucking with your gains too much in the mix; I reckon you should set them before even beat-matching, then use upfaders for tweaking.
But I must say more people use upfaders for blending than I thought, maybe I should give it a crack. (Y)

I mostly play with two guys who use the gains for mixing. They do fine but it really pisses me off when we swap and I'm like WTF, why can't I hear anything and I see the gain turned down and the channels up (traincrashed a couple of times because of that)... They don't use the upfaders or crossfaders, which for me is just plain weird... I can understand switching over on the EQs which I often do...

Hmm.

[greg j]

It's easier to mix smoothly with the volume faders, you'll have more control .... but most dnb doesn't require smooth mixing like house does, so unless you're playing liquid funk you might want to stick with the fader, since you'll have an easier time cutting your tunes up.

[Dustek]

unless you're playing liquid funk

That's easy - outro fade into intro.

Actually I EQ a lot of stuff, stompers notwithstanding - swap basslines between anthemns...

[rmt]

one of the problems i get is that i hire out kit, and sometimes do sets - i leave my crossfader on my mixers in the center and use the volume controls. Then the people that mix usually crossfade it, so i was teasin a tune, s'all good in the headphones, and then realised it wasn't comin through the speakers, missed it, and had to try again! oh the effort.

[checkmabadself]

With regards to cross fader or Up faders: - Do what ever you feel comfortable with,

With regards to the mixing not sounding right when you hear it out of the headphones - you could try and get it in the mix, take itn back and mix it again listen so you have basically double checked it is definatley in the mix- this may help you to hear whehter the tune is actually in the mix or not first time - If that makes sense??

:pat:

[$marty]

i love me digital crossfader. that sh!t is the mutts

[nickdawg]

Might be beating a dead horse here but..

It's most effective to mix with what you are comfortable with. When I was learning how to dj when all I was able to do was beatmatch and knew nothing about how to properly adjust EQ levels, I solely relied on the crossfader. As I got better though and started concentrating more on EQ's, I started preferring the upfaders because I felt I had a little more control over the amount at which both tracks were playing through the use of two sliders instead of one.

With me personally, I never use the crossfader to mix anymore...I have a triple channel mixer with two turntables and a CD deck, and there are some occasions where I might have 3 tracks playing simultanesouly (usually one of them an acapella), so I need 3 upfaders to control the sound. My crossfader is adjustible, and I have the curves set to scratch mode and use the fader just for cutting now (I'm still novice scratcher but getting better).

But as you're learning the ropes of spinning I would stick with the crossfader at first....then when you master beatmatching and are comfortable with adjusting EQ's, then start learning how to use the upfaders.

[Critical]

i generally use the upfaders when doing a smooth progressive type mix.
and cross fader for satbbing beats in and out,
and of course for scratching.