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Do DJs overuse effects and looping?

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  • November 5, 2012 at 7:11 pm #31400
    Lukynumba7
    Member

    I use Traktor’s multiple effects for build ups but I almost never use them in the middle of a melody. For example, I use ramp delay, formant filter, and iceverb to create a really cool delay reverb sound to help build up a track. The only time I use effects in the middle of a melody is when I am actively trying to mix a song up, and I do so with various filters and beatmasher. However, I don’t do it in EVERY SINGLE SONG! Have that song you mash-up be the high point, otherwise it just seems annoying and repetitive and can really just ruin a mix. As for looping, I do it only when necessary, like if there is a 64 count intro with a 32 count outro of a song, I will loop the 32 to make it 64 to match up.

    When I do use effects on a track I rarely have the Wet/Dry turned all the way to wet, because I like to have some of the original song with with effects. The bottom line, effects should enhance the song not change it. If you change a song, its more like a remix than a mix and it should be done in a studio or a DAW. If you are going to live remix, do it sparingly.

    November 5, 2012 at 7:24 pm #31401
    Maximlee
    Blocked

    Lukynumba7, post: 31556, member: 1744 wrote: effects should enhance the song not change it.

    This sums it up in a nutshell….althou within music there is no rules… if plastering ure mix with effects and looping everything is ure thing then so be it…. i mean every dj is different… richie hawtin for example never plays the same set twice even if he play the exact same tunes in the same order and hes one of the best djs there is

    November 5, 2012 at 7:35 pm #31402
    Lukynumba7
    Member

    Maximlee, post: 31557, member: 2165 wrote: This sums it up in a nutshell….althou within music there is no rules… if plastering ure mix with effects and looping everything is ure thing then so be it…. i mean every dj is different… richie hawtin for example never plays the same set twice even if he play the exact same tunes in the same order and hes one of the best djs there is

    Then again, Richie Hawtin isn’t a standard DJ. Once you get to the point where you have mastered DJing in a sense, then you can go off and do what he does. The use of effects effectively comes with experience and he has it. The run of the mill DJ isn’t simply going to have to experience that he does and if they attempt to do what he does, they will probably end up sounding horrible.

    November 5, 2012 at 7:55 pm #31403
    Maximlee
    Blocked

    Lukynumba7, post: 31558, member: 1744 wrote: Then again, Richie Hawtin isn’t a standard DJ. Once you get to the point where you have mastered DJing in a sense, then you can go off and do what he does. The use of effects effectively comes with experience and he has it. The run of the mill DJ isn’t simply going to have to experience that he does and if they attempt to do what he does, they will probably end up sounding horrible.

    yeah i agree richie is just from another planet….lol yeah get the basic right first then start experimenting… as richie says the sync button is only cheating if you dont use the time it saves to do something else… get deck C n D going with samples.

    could listen to this man all day…. [media=youtube]J1H9W_iLff0[/media]

    November 5, 2012 at 8:21 pm #31405
    DJ RITM
    Participant

    Totally agree with Terry_42 and luckynumba7, could not have said better. Me personally i don’t use effects too much, but i do tend to loop alot but this is cause i mix Hip hop and clean breaks are few and far between. Just depends on the genre i suppose. One thing i do hear alot of overuse is the flanger…please stop with the flange, in these things less is better

    November 5, 2012 at 10:01 pm #31412
    B-H-Y
    Member

    Hi Luckynumba7, I was interested to read how you’re using your effects. It seems you’re using them creatively and constructively. That’s the difference between you and the DJs I’m talking about. You know how, and when, to use effects. You’e not overusing them and using them in a way that enhances the music. Used sparingly and subtlety, then they’re a hugely effective part of a DJ’s armoury.

    Maximlee you’re right too. If using over-using effects and looping is what a DJ wants to do, that’s their choice. It just means they’ll neither get the bookings other DJs get, not enjoy longevity. I mean you might book them once, but wouldn’t rebook them.

    The difference between DJs on this forum and the DJs that made me start this thread, is that the DJs that caned effects and loops, hadn’t even mastered the basics. They were like kids in a sweet shop, playing with their effects, but didn’t understand what they were doing.

    As for Richie Hawtin, he’s one of the best DJs around. As you say, he’ll never play the same set twice. Even if you gave him the same tracks, he’d play them in a totally different. The same could be said of James Zabiela, whose taking technology and DJ-ing to another level. For anyone that’s interested, he’s made a documentary for the BBC about technology and DJ-ing. If anyone is interested, I’ll post the link.

    November 5, 2012 at 10:05 pm #31413
    B-H-Y
    Member

    Hi DJ RITM, I can see why you use looping if you’re spinning hip hop. As you say, finding a clean break isn’t easy. Looping and effects is very much genre dependent. As D-Jam says, effects and trance don’t go together. You’re right about the flanger, it’s hugely overused.

    November 5, 2012 at 10:48 pm #31417
    Maximlee
    Blocked

    B-H-Y, post: 31568, member: 4231 wrote: Hi Luckynumba7, I was interested to read how you’re using your effects. It seems you’re using them creatively and constructively. That’s the difference between you and the DJs I’m talking about. You know how, and when, to use effects. You’e not overusing them and using them in a way that enhances the music. Used sparingly and subtlety, then they’re a hugely effective part of a DJ’s armoury.

    Maximlee you’re right too. If using over-using effects and looping is what a DJ wants to do, that’s their choice. It just means they’ll neither get the bookings other DJs get, not enjoy longevity. I mean you might book them once, but wouldn’t rebook them.

    The difference between DJs on this forum and the DJs that made me start this thread, is that the DJs that caned effects and loops, hadn’t even mastered the basics. They were like kids in a sweet shop, playing with their effects, but didn’t understand what they were doing.

    As for Richie Hawtin, he’s one of the best DJs around. As you say, he’ll never play the same set twice. Even if you gave him the same tracks, he’d play them in a totally different. The same could be said of James Zabiela, whose taking technology and DJ-ing to another level. For anyone that’s interested, he’s made a documentary for the BBC about technology and DJ-ing. If anyone is interested, I’ll post the link.

    cool interview, its unbelievable how inside the equipment he is….. for me zabeila is very hit and miss… he gets carryied away sometimes and there is no flow to his sets. On a good day thou hes up there with the best. james zabiela – live on renainance is an epic mix

    November 6, 2012 at 1:26 pm #31445
    B-H-Y
    Member

    Hi Miximlee, After I posted my comment last night, I saw two videos of James Zabiela. One he was amazing and the other he seemed to lose his way slightly. On his day though, he’s up there with the best. As for the Renaissance series, they’ve outlasted many of the other mix series. I remember the early days of Renaissance, and 2012 marks its 20th anniversary since it was founded.

    November 10, 2012 at 4:34 pm #31681
    DJ Menno
    Participant

    Much said already, I would just add this : a very important thing about mixing is when you end the song and when you throw the next one.

    A good mix needs breaks, melodic lines without bass, double drumming (throw the first beat on the upbeat of the playing song). The songs themselves and the way you blend them can already add a lot to your mixing.

    When using effects, I generally use echo for beautifull female voices, a little dose of flanger just before throwing a beat everybody knows and is expecting, and loops to get out of a song when I see no exit door 🙂

    November 11, 2012 at 2:53 pm #31702
    Maximlee
    Blocked

    DJ Menno, post: 31837, member: 3768 wrote: Much said already, I would just add this : a very important thing about mixing is when you end the song and when you throw the next one.

    A good mix needs breaks, melodic lines without bass, double drumming (throw the first beat on the upbeat of the playing song). The songs themselves and the way you blend them can already add a lot to your mixing.

    When using effects, I generally use echo for beautifull female voices, a little dose of flanger just before throwing a beat everybody knows and is expecting, and loops to get out of a song when I see no exit door 🙂

    althou very true…alot of what you have said is the basics of djing…. if you simply just mix intro to outro you are not going to keep the energy in the mix. Personal i think you may get off with a flanger in trance but thats about it… very overused effect. Just from your writing i imagine you have a pioneer mixer….lol

    Loops are a vital place of modern djing… you can use elements of a tune that ure going to take in… as added rthymn.. for example a perc loop and eqd it so it fits in mix then then you mix the next tune in the listener has already got that sound in there heads for a few minutes so makes ure mix sound alot better.

    On a good day sasha can have four tracks playing… now if mixing techno its alot easier to do this.. but he mixs melodic layers which is simply of the hook… it takes a complete understanding of harmonics and keys.

    now with digital djing… you gotta be doing something else with the free time available to you with the use of the sync button… be that adding layers… dropping samples..extending mixes with loops.. loop juggling… or maybe getting some visuals on the go… and on that note if you do, dont have it running from same computer.

    Happy Mixing.

    November 11, 2012 at 3:03 pm #31703
    DJ Menno
    Participant

    Maximlee, post: 31858, member: 2165 wrote: althou very true…alot of what you have said is the basics of djing…. if you simply just mix intro to outro you are not going to keep the energy in the mix. Personal i think you may get off with a flanger in trance but thats about it… very overused effect. Just from your writing i imagine you have a pioneer mixer….lol

    Loops are a vital place of modern djing… you can use elements of a tune that ure going to take in… as added rthymn.. for example a perc loop and eqd it so it fits in mix then then you mix the next tune in the listener has already got that sound in there heads for a few minutes so makes ure mix sound alot better.

    On a good day sasha can have four tracks playing… now if mixing techno its alot easier to do this.. but he mixs melodic layers which is simply of the hook… it takes a complete understanding of harmonics and keys.

    now with digital djing… you gotta be doing something else with the free time available to you with the use of the sync button… be that adding layers… dropping samples..extending mixes with loops.. loop juggling… or maybe getting some visuals on the go… and on that note if you do, dont have it running from same computer.

    Happy Mixing.

    It’s true I could get much more creative, haven’t yet got the confidence to try to many tricks in public, but with experience I tend to try more and more of them 🙂

    got a kontrol s4, and I love that thing ^^

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