I don’t really know much about the process of remixing a song but I can imagine it is a process that is like editing a video – layering tracks, adding beats, etc. They are clearly not doing that kind of editing live so they are basically playing something that’s already had some amount of that already done.
So what are they doing live besides maybe mixing between songs?
I just don’t understand what all the knob fiddling is about.
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Steps of being a DJ
1. Selecting good music – the DJ builds up a catalog of tracks they like, usually in a particular genre, and picks a track to suit the mood of the audience and that compliments the other tracks their playing
2. Beat matching – the DJ matches up the tempos of the tracks (their often recorded at slightly different tempos) and does fine tuning to keep them in sync (assuming they’re using vinyl records, which will have slight imperfections in their timing). Additionally, the DJ will sync the tracks by their song structure. Most dance tracks will only have major changes every 8 or 16 measures and you want those changes to happen together on both tracks.
3. EQ levelling – two tracks are louder than one, so DJ has to adjust the volume of the tracks being played to make sure the volume stays consistent. This can be expanded to adjusting the EQ of the tracks seperately. For example, playing the bass of both tracks together will sound awful, so they cut the bass of the incoming track until a transition point where they can cut the bass of the outgoing track. Playing with EQ mid-track can also be done for dramatic effect.
4. Scratching or beat juggling – the DJ can quickly transition back and forth between two tracks to mix together different elements of each track, for example a vocal snippet from one track and a beat from the other. Scratching does this mixing while the record is being spun by the DJ.
5. Effects, samples, and drum machines – a good mixer includes a variety of effects ,such as reverb or an echo, to add layers to the tracks being played. Samplers or drum machines allow a DJ to add short repeating elements into the mix and allow for live improvisation.
Ritchie Hawtin is a great example of a highly technical DJ. Because his genre is Techno, the mixing favours a more in-your-face, aggressive approach that’s easier to appreciate what he’s doing behind the decks. The challenge with his sets is telling the difference between what’s a track and what’s live from a drum machine.
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