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Taking notes?
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skream
When any of you guys are making your tracklists, is it uncommon to make notes about what songs mix well, what eq's to fade, how long to make the transition, etc etc?

I just recorded my first demo and i feel like im doing a research paper. Ive ben playing tracks to see what i thought sounded well together, wrote down little notes on how to fade and what not. Now that ive listened to my first demo, its kinda like a rough draft essay. Im about to go back and chasnge a few things here and there. and rearrange some songs and then turn in my final essay heh. etc etc. I think i do it because i have horrible memory for little things. too much weed :(

Am i about to get ridiculed for this? or is that just my style :)

I've only done it this once, usually i just throw vynl on when i feel like i wanna hear it heh. Just wanted to see if anyone else is with me.
DJYaNiK
quote:
Originally posted by skream
Am i about to get ridiculed for this? or is that just my style :)

I've only done it this once, usually i just throw vynl on when i feel like i wanna hear it heh. Just wanted to see if anyone else is with me.


You're not going to get ridiculed. I keep a DJing notebook. It's very useful to keep little bits of info at your reach. You never know when you can use that REALLY awesome transition that you found out about months ago. And it's all in your reach... THE NOTEBOOK! I was thinking of getting a PDA and organizing songs and giving stats on the songs + good transitions + times. Very useful ^^
Scorchio
Well I never actually write down notes about mixing, I listen to the tracks and list them in the order that I think goes well, but when it comes to mixing I like to be random, I dont wanna have an index that says: "Pulser - My Religion into Armin - Blue Fear : Fade 25 precent and slightly reduce hi hats bla bla bla..."

Everytime you will mix it itll sound the same and thats gonna be boring, you must learn to get creative when it comes to mixing, I like best to do it on the spot and change my mixing methods.
Luke Terry
dont take notes, write down tracklists tho sometimes, all i need to know pretty much is in my head and imo its the way it should be, u dont really wanna have to depend on a little pad when you are ed for time and dont know what to do, going with the flow can only be learnt with time and i can only think using a notebook would harm that learning process ;)
skream
scorchio, i agree with ya on that. I've only done it this time cause im trying to record a flawless demo... id rather get it all perfect one time than have to keep re-recording. As for just playing, im all about some randomness. when i have friends that im playing for i usually just say "pick a number" and i play that number heh. sometimes they get creative and pick a color hehe. BUT then sometimes they try to take advantage of my drunken stupors and say "count up 38 then back 19 and then find the first sleeve with more than 4 colors, then ad 12. yeah play that one. no i mean 19."

they never say #1 though.... ******s
conk
when ur recording a promo mix u wanna have it sound as good as possible, so notes help me do that. taking notes isnt at all bad, i just wouldnt do it with playing out because it kinda takes away from your creativity.
IKKI-ZUVK
I use brain .
DJ-Fuq
quote:
Originally posted by IKKI-ZUVK
I use brain .


me use brain too
kr00t0n
When I was still programming, I wanted to make a PDA program that you could enter in your record collection, and edit track settings, so when you bring a track up, you can look at a list of other tracks you have that you found go into it nicely.

You find a sweet transistion in the bedroom one day, add it to the database.
Out mixing you trying to figure out what would go nicel ynext, whip out pda and have a looksee through the related tracks :)

Never got around to doing the program tho, lol
skream
hehe you need to hook me up when you do get around to it

bachatu
For the most part, i dont know how you would write down notes, because when your mixing, the whole point is that you do things instinctively.

Personally, i prefer to do everything on the fly, and just go with my ears... You should know what sounds good and what doesnt. If you are new and having issues having a good idea of what to do or your distracted my multitasking, then just keep practicing. The more you practice at doing things on the fly, the sooner you will adapt and the better you will get at it.
In terms of sequencing a mix together or demo.. you can make tracklisting, but i dont see what the notes will do in terms of mixing ability. Again, you should want to present on your mix what comes from you musically, not on paper.
Scorchio
If you want the set to be perfect the best way is to record it first and then edit it with pro-tools.
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