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From:
Kevin Ryan @
To:
Date:
Sun, 10 Dec 2000 21:00:28 -0000
Subject:
Re: [idm] HP Lab's automatic DJ
Msg-Id:
<F27782BEsbYYN3kzLwG00013db9@hotmail.com>
Mbox:
idm.0012.gz
<<The real benefit, of course, would be for CD mixers. It has the potential to take some of the drudgery out of mixing and instead give the DJ more time to do more interesting things.>> <snip> Right. On the subject of matching beats, IM unqualified O: I might be alone here, but I don't mind if DJs use auto beatmatching. I mean, usually when you see a DJ you take it for granted that they're not going to trainwreck mixes. What's interesting is their track selection, how they line up tracks, and how they tweak (sorry) the mix. That's where the real personality of the mix resides (as opposed to the rote mindless act of matching tempi). Anyone can beatmatch, even a machine. So I wouldn't care if a DJ removed the pointless burden of beatmatching in order to focus on the more artistic and skillful parts of the mix (that machines can't handle), namely aligning tracks and mixing per se. ((That article discussed software controlling mixing levels, but it couldn't really line up tracks right unless the tracks followed textbook 32-32-32-32 with standard intro and outro 4/floor sections every single time or the user told it exactly where tracks should be introduced or cut. I admit I don't really get how the software could work; it would be a totally lame mix either way. But forget it.)) The best techno DJs I've trainspotted just sort of throw down a record and just slide it to the right speed without a second thought and then focus their attention on working the mixer and selecting tracks (including coordinating where tracks start and stop). The beatmatching is just an afterthought nobody really cares about except in the uncommon event that they fuck up the mix. (And if DJs are intentionally mismatching beats, that's cool too. But the vast majority of DJs are just shooting for a tight mix. [Hip hop being one big exception.]) And as far as producing mixtapes in a studio setting, which that article seemed to be about, I'm concerned about the product more than the process. If it sounds good, I don't care what they did in the studio to make it sound good. And who cares if jocks use CDs? (Well, I won't go there.) Just some thoughts. ps. I attached a photo of me with my record collection to this email. Check it out! np: Astral Projection _Another World_ _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org