Mixing in key almost always works, but is not necessary. My basic rule of DJ'ing is all songs can be mixed together but not all sound good. Most DJ rules are general but not ultimate. Sometimes you can mix in key and it won't sound good. Sometimes you can mix out of key and it will sound good. Just practice and enjoy!
I am not against what you just said, but when you match energy and key in the right way it's just another feeling. I don't think it's always possible (especially on vinyl) to do unless you completely prepare your set, which then makes it sound way too sterile and artificial. Personally I like to know couple good combinations and then just go from these and have fun with rest.
What I experienced over the years: Most of the time it doesn't matter in my sets. When I play House music, I mix in key 90% of the time but as you said, in different situations other factors matter more. In weddings for example, track selection plays a way more important role. They don't want to hear secret underground tracks 99% of the time. They want to dance to the same 90s hits which they have heard a 1000 times before. You can still mix in key here, but why bother? I know Dr. Albans It's my life works great with any other Eurodance song and the crowd will dance to it, doesn't matter if it's Mr. Vain, What is Love or Barbie Girl. It just gets boring if it's these same songs for more than 20 minutes, so a break into another genre may lift the energy again. Teenage Dirtbag or Narcotic are great examples where it really doesn't matter. The crowd will sing along and won't care if you moved in the right direction on the camelot wheel
I think it all depends, on a smalltown party mostly only the songs count, mixing and key are secondary, people wanna sing along. I myself do Techno. For my style of djing I love to layer songs (play 2 or 3 at the same time or only parts/loops of them) and I love looooong transitions. I found Harmonic Mixing is my church. I make 2 hour sets just in one key. Even in 3-4 hour sets I use max 3 different keys and ofc they mix harmonically. At the end of the day the only thing that counts is ... did the set sound and feel good and did everyone have a good time.
It's always been a great technique for me and usually produces feedback like "that was such a smooth mix, I felt like I was listening to one gigantic song."
That's basically what I do when I mix. Though I personally see a set as more of a continuous album, since you can have changes in energy and maybe also style. But I always try to mix in key if the feature is available. I don't believe you can on the RX2, but apparently the Numark Mixstream Pro can do it.
Just commenting to boost the algorithm, started watching way back as a kid in 2006 for years up untill a couple years ago when I fell out of djing, delighted to have found it again and my favourite man for tutorials who helped spark my interest as a kid.. Big up ellaskins
Been watching you since i was legally a child, now I'm a bit more grown up and playing out in venues and opening for world known acts. I've come full circle and now I'm back watching your vids. Respect
back in the 80s and 90s we didnt know the key and still smashed the floor with our dubplates. Its true what you say, but i personaly think this applies to those big long mix techniques where the tarcks need to sit together in harmony
Yeah but you probably were mixing in key alot with out realising. You just had a sense of what track went well together and alot of the time they would probably be a similar key.
That's very true. It takes an accomplished DJ to know how to get the right vibes. Often i think they just know which ones go well together and stick with that. I also think a lot of Dj sets are pre prepared for the most part.
I always fall back onto the concept of mixing in key for maintaining or slightly reducing momentum, and well practiced ideas/sequences that carry (as you mentioned) a certain energy, regardless of key. Of course the out of key ideas sound good because they are practised, but melodically/amelodically fit together.
A guy in a bedroom explaining vibration and energy in our universe and how it affects Humans in lay mans terms is a breath of fresh air you are spot on sir! :)
Depends on the tune/genre, trance which is noticeably more melodic and set within a key can sound great mixed in key.. if out of key, even the kick drums sometimes clash. Whereas dnb, house ect I find is a lot easier and less rigid in terms of key.
Wow, I used to watch this guy many years ago and then a month ago I started DJing for personal use on Virtual DJ. I believe mixing in key is best especially if you are a Tech House DJ for continuous mixes. Auto-Mixing with a smooth Cross-fade curve and mixing in key typically results in flawless mixes even on 60 second transitions. Surprisingly the vocals sound good because they don't really overlap.
I’m in two minds about this,, sometimes yes other times no..Sometimes mixing in key for longer periods of times becomes too monotonous and you end up sounding like a cover band and playing a medley,, I have been djaying since 85’ always on vinyl until i took up digital around 6 years ago.. Still think Track selection and reading the crowd is the most important thing to djaying for a crowd as opposed to djaying for other djays.. I was lucky enough to hear Larry Levan play towards the end of his career and I can tell you although his blends weren’t 100%. The music he played was just full of energy..He could make you dance until you passed out..
I am not a DJ but I have been clubbing. I think you are right. I also noticed it is possible to play in key with a room, which is not related to mixing but also helps keeping the energy. A song played in a room with low ceiling may seem to have a crappy bass, but that can sometimes be corrected if played a few BPM higher or lower (if no pitch locking is enabled or when playing with records).
Been mixing in key for about 10 years now. I find it hard to mix out of key tbh mixing in key takes you in a journey. Even with vocal tracks you can get away with much more if it’s harmonically similar. I try and make my mixes a journey and that can be accomplished using the Camelot wheel
Mixing in key is indeed crucial, BUT.... there are exceptions when the law of M.I.K can totally be thrown out the window. Example. Raze Break for love. 5A F minor. Sydney Youngblood. 1B B major. Two tracks, a way apart on the camalot wheel, but mix and sound beautifully...
You here it in dancehall alot where you have the selector playing an aggressive faster tune but the next tune he wants to drop is say more a lovers rock style the dj will toast on the mike and wack some sound effects in before the the next tune. So they do exactly what you said to take your contraction away from the key shift
Modern DJ equipment is awesome. Between beat jumping to just the right transition point, to changing the key of that perfect next track to keep that flow going. Nevermind not having to haul boatloads of vinyl around everywhere you go. LoL. But yeah. Too easy to not mix in key tbh.
It's been weird for me; when I stopped DJ'ing in 2000 I don't ever remember even mentioning the Key of Tracks & the Camelot System is new to me. I DO find it super useful when mixing 4- Track Decks. Camelot Key is a major part of my Set Charting process, but my Charts aren't "Plans" - they're more like "Maps." A Map doesn't commit one to a particular route, but it gives you an idea of where you're going & more importantly how to get there. So Mixing In Key is a way for me to "navigate" my Music Collection.
Hi Ellaskins. Great Video out there! I often come to one unpleasant moment, and that is the Tracklist when i do my Promo Mixes… I try to mix them in Key, but then comes the energy in the game, and there is where all the things start to go crazy. I do sort my music by genre, i do mix in KEY, but somtimes is really hard to do a Harmonic Mix. Cheers, keep up the good work DJ
now i have the tools to do it i try to mix in key but Serato,s key detection is more like a rough guide than the exact spot on thing .Same with bpm detection it even varies between whats on the deck and what is listed below.I can manage without it after all i was djing with just my ears and no software for years but its useful for sets and mixes that flow.One can also use changes in key to dramatic effect but in general i use it to organize my music better so as to avoid major clangers when mixing.
The only downfall with the whole mixing in key thing is you become limited to tracks that can be mixed together. Using master tempo or key shifting destroys the tracks dynamics and ultimately makes the track sound worse. I don't mix in key, not consciously anyways and if I ever decided to do it religiously I would only ever choose tracks that were produced in the key that I needed at the time.
But you will be able to actually really use melodic elements from both tracks together without the risk of being horribly out of tune.. IMO any serious DJ should be able to do it.. Obviously some times when you just use rhytmic elements of one of the tracks in your transition it is not necessary, but can add so much if done right
@@fluim0102 Yeah you can, but only from tracks that were originally produced in a key that fits the scale. This doesn't only count for just the key of the tracks either, it also applies to tracks that have different bpm tempos. My point is, mixing in key can be done with any track but the more you start shifting keys and altering the tempo the more crappy the audio gets.
Do you think Key could possible even be more effective than genre? Meaning. If you stay harmonic. Can that make genre change ups more pallatable? In my experience ive had mixed results.
Another awesome video thank you for the upload. I taught myself this many years ago way back in the early 90s. i blended “Let me show you” by K Klass with “Show me love” by Robin S. They mixed so well that the two tracks became one if that makes sense 😊
When you get good enough the songs that pop in your head will most of the time be in key without intention. Ive watched some of my freinds dj and I know he doesnt know the keys but most of his transitions are in key. There is so much you can do to wash out the harmonics like filter and effects that I stopped paying attention to whether or not I was in key. I recommend learning them tho and not the numbers like 6a 6b. Its easy it goes b,e,a,d,g,c,f
From your videos, I learned a lot about hardware, mixing ... I bought a Mixed IN Key a few years ago. I honestly don't use it at all because it was making my brain water. during Mixing it is important that the Chords work together, otherwise the drama will be. I went back to the pathological decryption of songs. (keyboard) in my opinion the best science Eyes do not see EARS WORKING. Greetings
Hello mate, great video as always. I do mix in key at times, but I tend to listen to the energy in the tunes, to keep the energy alive. I’ve learnt so much from you over the years, thank you
Its worth the bother. If you dont have an emotional or lyrical link between two songs. Then use key to relate the songs. But definitely using more emotional factors between songs first. But Key is absolutely the paramount first alternative to a more complicated mixing philosophy.
With regards to track key, what are your recommendations / thoughts on the issue where you use a track from lets say beatport and it gives a key of A but on loading it in to Rekordbox the analysis gives B and when checking through software "mixed in key" it can be C! Help, what does a DJ take as the correct key for the track. I have read that when putting together a playlist in Rekordbox then use the key that it has analysed for each of the tracks so that they are harmonically in key when mixing.
Mixing in key is brilliant, i was over the moon when i dicovered this, it might have even been you that showed me this back in the day, i sold all my tunes 😕 big mitake and id keyed them all up bit im now starting over with my collection and will be doing the same again. Keep going mate, i love your videos. Everyone should be mixing on key where possible. 🔑
Personally I prefer to mix in key, it just sounds better but it also keeps the energy.. I find changing keys really switches up the energy which is fine if you want to do that and sometimes when the floor isn't moving then it's needed but for the most part in key is best and I mix house
Nice to got here , as a bedrom dj , use myself mixed in key , know what its about as a dj , recently i come across a guy that was producing music for 12 years and we decided to making tracks together , im into trance only since 20 years already and i know what sound r used producing trance etc , all subganres of it , how constructed should be and how important breakdown is but never learned how to learn music production on softwhere … so i got call with m8 that has No experience about dj so i tell him before we gonna start producing trance track i need to show you box of blocks ( sounds that r only in that ganre and. Make it trance ) he did not understand so we starts arguing that in music you can use all sound ( blocks) music has no rulez , in general Yes but im Real old school trance passionat person so i said of you want make a trance that is pure you cant use all sounds cos its not gonna be trancemore , ofc still dont know what im saying but i tell him ok np ill show you on your place , and i told him about that i use mixing in key - he said key ? Whats that ? There is no term in music production , so i said it is i send him a screen shot of it and he asked me whats that , this helps make mix better , easier , and thanks to that you got like shortcut what will match , he did not get that so i send him 2 tracks that if you play them together they will make track like one in harmonony … he said ofc well i dont need that i do everything on ear ( i do it lot of times too but dj experience ) well im taking my dj setup to his studio and check him if he still will be mix or pair track together 😉😁😎
I played and DJ’d in the80s90s. Back then I was ignorant of keys but had a packed dance floor. I had many musician friends who hopped into the club but none mentioned if a mix was in the wrong key. Maybe they were amazed at the seamless mix of two different tracks. However I only later realised after “mixed in key” why then certain tracks that mixed were in better harmony 😜🤪😜 Mixing EDM in key sounds like one long remix Mixing retro in key is pure bliss Again play the right tracks and no one cares about keys 🤪😜😜. Sadly 😭😭😭
Learn your transition tracks, changing from 95 bpm to 128 and viceversa and practice with no samples and not talking. Works like a charm on the long run. And hey is meant to be fun, not so robotic have fun with it
When people talk of mixing in key, a lot of the time they don't know what they're talking about. They don't understand that it doesn't mean mixing 15 A-Minor tracks or a linear progression. It's about creating musicality in mixing with progressions and key changes - the key change can create massive drama. It's a beautiful thing when done right. You have to have the confidence to create a 'groove' just so you can kill it and then start a new, more muscular groove and this is your progression.
IMO James Holden used to be the absolute master of this... Even playing songs in completely different keys than the original and making them sound better
Mixing in key is one of the advanced tools a DJ should use to control the energy and pace of a dancefloor. It helps maintain the vibe, increase tension or relax, depending on the situation. However, the crowd is the number one priority. If as a DJ u know the next tune is what the crowd WANT to hear, even if its not "technically" in key, then don't be afraid to break the rule. Just make sure you mix appropriately: no long overlapping, un-harmonic 2 min blends - it will sound shit. But that breakdown section with just the spoken word phrase might work well... or that section with just the percussion and shakers? That could be useful! Failing that, an echo'd spin back and drop mix into the next tune could be what's needed. Judge the situation. I'd say 90% the time I mix harmonically. But if I'm losing the dancefloor or if the vibe just doesn't feel right. The crowd is the priority and entertaining them is the main purpose. (Long time subscriber, learnt so much from this channel over almost a decade. So glad you are still doing these vids Mr Skins)
I find that a lot of it is hardware these days and how much you experiment with it. ! You will then automatically integrate more and more into the hardware and you can use it. ! You will be looking for as much software as you are building this one. ! The direction will bend and flex against yours. and then everything goes with everything else and the artist is in everything else. !😎💯% Experimental Sounds!
I mix for example a track in A minor to a track in A minor to a track in A major to a track in A major to a track in B minor to a track in B minor and so on. It sounds good to me going from the same key to up a half step. You can check out my Deep House Sessions and My Progressive House Session on my page. Hope you enjoy. Peace.
The musical theory behind this is at least 200 or 300 years old now and it worked the same. The Camelot wheel is just a simplification and a nice way to represent basics of harmony that can be understood with little to no theoretical background. So what happened is that you needed to learn to do it by ear (just like beatmatching with no sync button :p)
@@gracefullygraceful9776 The software is not perfect and the info sometimes might be wrong. If you train your ear enough, you will be better than the software for sure.
Awesome stuff as always @ellaskins My question would be, if you're following the keys (gradually increasing let's say from 1A all the way up to 7A), does it mean the energy would increase too? In other words, are the keys associated with the energy/tempo at all or not really? Would some more mellow tracks usually be around the same key or each song is very different and key & energy wouldn't necessarily correlate? thanks
@@ellaskins Thanks a lot for the videos :) Also a follow up question: If you move up the wheel from 10A - 11A -12A -1A-2A would this also work? and also increase the energy? best regards and thanks! I also really enjoyed a Dino Psaras set where at least for some tracks there were some mixes not in key. But i think he likes to change the vibe also with his mixing :D
@@ellaskins I don't think so. Your answer implies, the way I understand it, that a 9A track has more energy than a 4A track, given the same instrumentation and arrangement. I don't believe that to be true. Though a given song might "feel" better in one key than another, the numbers are not to be associated with energy levels.
I can't say anything that has not already been highlighted in the comments, just know the rules to mixing in key, and when and how you can break/ignore them.
Mixing in key just makes sets sound robotic, so you sound exactly like everyone else who mixes in key (in my opinion). Might as well just be an automated jukebox.
If you cant build a basic major or minor chords on a piano or guitar, then youre stuck using this "numerical method for DJ who cant read music" You really dont need much of a musical aptitude to be a DJ.
Makes your set very monotonous. If you don't have the ear and the skills to mix, blend or switch basslines, you are not as good a DJ as you think. This is is why 90s and 00s DJs are on a higher skill level. We learnt without the advanced technology. We had to use our ears to mix. Had no machines counting beats and retuning your music as you're mixing it.
I don’t agree with this at all. I’ve played clubs and events for the last 25+ years and no one mixed in key using vinyl back in the day and they are some of the most memorable sets. This is a digital age style to potentially increase energy like this guy says but by no means is it needed or essential. Yeah some tracks might hit a sweet spot better harmonically but a dj should know how to blend the tracks to maintain and increase energy. I see your point mate but strongly disagree that it’s something she have to do to make their set sound superb. I have mixed in key occasionally but i don’t go out of my way to do it. I select what I want to go together rather than be pigeon holed into a ‘it not in key’ so I can’t mix that in. It’s also not random selection, sets are carefully constructed and if you know your music you’ll know which way to go to lift the crowd and also to give them a breather and build anticipation again and again. ✌️
a lot of great DJ's like Sasha and so on definitely mixed in key also in their older vinyl sets.. Playing melodic elements from 2 songs in non complementary keys can sound absolutely horrible. Some people just have great ears, so they kind of mix in key by accident... But if you don't know all your tracks from a-z and try out lots of new stuff, it can get ugly
@@fluim0102 I hear you, referring to to oldskool djs and it was the inclusion of midi keyboards in the setup that helped them do it, not always as like you say, some djs just have good ears. Nothing better than adding your own elements to complement tracks. You know your dj’s sir. 👍
Mixing in key almost always works, but is not necessary.
My basic rule of DJ'ing is all songs can be mixed together but not all sound good. Most DJ rules are general but not ultimate. Sometimes you can mix in key and it won't sound good. Sometimes you can mix out of key and it will sound good. Just practice and enjoy!
I am not against what you just said, but when you match energy and key in the right way it's just another feeling. I don't think it's always possible (especially on vinyl) to do unless you completely prepare your set, which then makes it sound way too sterile and artificial.
Personally I like to know couple good combinations and then just go from these and have fun with rest.
What I experienced over the years: Most of the time it doesn't matter in my sets. When I play House music, I mix in key 90% of the time but as you said, in different situations other factors matter more. In weddings for example, track selection plays a way more important role. They don't want to hear secret underground tracks 99% of the time. They want to dance to the same 90s hits which they have heard a 1000 times before. You can still mix in key here, but why bother? I know Dr. Albans It's my life works great with any other Eurodance song and the crowd will dance to it, doesn't matter if it's Mr. Vain, What is Love or Barbie Girl. It just gets boring if it's these same songs for more than 20 minutes, so a break into another genre may lift the energy again. Teenage Dirtbag or Narcotic are great examples where it really doesn't matter. The crowd will sing along and won't care if you moved in the right direction on the camelot wheel
I think it all depends, on a smalltown party mostly only the songs count, mixing and key are secondary, people wanna sing along.
I myself do Techno. For my style of djing I love to layer songs (play 2 or 3 at the same time or only parts/loops of them) and I love looooong transitions. I found Harmonic Mixing is my church.
I make 2 hour sets just in one key. Even in 3-4 hour sets I use max 3 different keys and ofc they mix harmonically.
At the end of the day the only thing that counts is ... did the set sound and feel good and did everyone have a good time.
If you are preparing your mix, you can also change the key of a track before on a DAW so that it is in key 🔑
It's always been a great technique for me and usually produces feedback like "that was such a smooth mix, I felt like I was listening to one gigantic song."
That's basically what I do when I mix. Though I personally see a set as more of a continuous album, since you can have changes in energy and maybe also style. But I always try to mix in key if the feature is available. I don't believe you can on the RX2, but apparently the Numark Mixstream Pro can do it.
Just commenting to boost the algorithm, started watching way back as a kid in 2006 for years up untill a couple years ago when I fell out of djing, delighted to have found it again and my favourite man for tutorials who helped spark my interest as a kid.. Big up ellaskins
Been watching you since i was legally a child, now I'm a bit more grown up and playing out in venues and opening for world known acts. I've come full circle and now I'm back watching your vids. Respect
thank you
As a producer, musician, skilled piano player and former deejay, I couldn’t agree more. Great video, ellaskins.
back in the 80s and 90s we didnt know the key and still smashed the floor with our dubplates. Its true what you say, but i personaly think this applies to those big long mix techniques where the tarcks need to sit together in harmony
Yeah but you probably were mixing in key alot with out realising. You just had a sense of what track went well together and alot of the time they would probably be a similar key.
That's very true.
It takes an accomplished DJ to know how to get the right vibes. Often i think they just know which ones go well together and stick with that.
I also think a lot of Dj sets are pre prepared for the most part.
Well... this guy taught me how to mix. Ellaskins, i'm a DJ because of you. Thanks for every tutorial! Greetings from Poland!!
Thanks for the vid. Only just started mixing in key. Keep the vids coming.
Old School! Use your EARS! That’s how special things happen in mixes !
I always fall back onto the concept of mixing in key for maintaining or slightly reducing momentum, and well practiced ideas/sequences that carry (as you mentioned) a certain energy, regardless of key. Of course the out of key ideas sound good because they are practised, but melodically/amelodically fit together.
A guy in a bedroom explaining vibration and energy in our universe and how it affects Humans in lay mans terms is a breath of fresh air you are spot on sir! :)
For my sets mixing in key is very important. I'm obsessed with ultra clean transitions and builds
I absolutely love mixing on key.
Love the bongo/harmonica example. Perfectly describes how you can build and deflate energy in a space.
Depends on the tune/genre, trance which is noticeably more melodic and set within a key can sound great mixed in key.. if out of key, even the kick drums sometimes clash. Whereas dnb, house ect I find is a lot easier and less rigid in terms of key.
Wow, I used to watch this guy many years ago and then a month ago I started DJing for personal use on Virtual DJ. I believe mixing in key is best especially if you are a Tech House DJ for continuous mixes. Auto-Mixing with a smooth Cross-fade curve and mixing in key typically results in flawless mixes even on 60 second transitions. Surprisingly the vocals sound good because they don't really overlap.
I’m in two minds about this,, sometimes yes other times no..Sometimes mixing in key for longer periods of times becomes too monotonous and you end up sounding like a cover band and playing a medley,, I have been djaying since 85’ always on vinyl until i took up digital around 6 years ago..
Still think Track selection and reading the crowd is the most important thing to djaying for a crowd as opposed to djaying for other djays..
I was lucky enough to hear Larry Levan play towards the end of his career and I can tell you although his blends weren’t 100%. The music he played was just full of energy..He could make you dance until you passed out..
I am not a DJ but I have been clubbing. I think you are right. I also noticed it is possible to play in key with a room, which is not related to mixing but also helps keeping the energy. A song played in a room with low ceiling may seem to have a crappy bass, but that can sometimes be corrected if played a few BPM higher or lower (if no pitch locking is enabled or when playing with records).
Been mixing in key for about 10 years now. I find it hard to mix out of key tbh mixing in key takes you in a journey. Even with vocal tracks you can get away with much more if it’s harmonically similar. I try and make my mixes a journey and that can be accomplished using the Camelot wheel
I've learned a lot from watching you and your videos in passed several years thank you mate
It's a damn shame that the algorithm killed his channel.
I always mix in key, whether the mix is any good is another story!
Mixing in key is indeed crucial, BUT.... there are exceptions when the law of M.I.K can totally be thrown out the window. Example.
Raze Break for love. 5A F minor.
Sydney Youngblood. 1B B major.
Two tracks, a way apart on the camalot wheel, but mix and sound beautifully...
You here it in dancehall alot where you have the selector playing an aggressive faster tune but the next tune he wants to drop is say more a lovers rock style the dj will toast on the mike and wack some sound effects in before the the next tune. So they do exactly what you said to take your contraction away from the key shift
Modern DJ equipment is awesome. Between beat jumping to just the right transition point, to changing the key of that perfect next track to keep that flow going. Nevermind not having to haul boatloads of vinyl around everywhere you go. LoL. But yeah. Too easy to not mix in key tbh.
It's been weird for me; when I stopped DJ'ing in 2000 I don't ever remember even mentioning the Key of Tracks & the Camelot System is new to me.
I DO find it super useful when mixing 4- Track Decks.
Camelot Key is a major part of my Set Charting process, but my Charts aren't "Plans" - they're more like "Maps."
A Map doesn't commit one to a particular route, but it gives you an idea of where you're going & more importantly how to get there.
So Mixing In Key is a way for me to "navigate" my Music Collection.
Hi mate can you do a video on if it's possible to make tracks or remixes on vdj, traktor and a controller? Thanks
Hi Ellaskins. Great Video out there!
I often come to one unpleasant moment, and that is the Tracklist when i do my Promo Mixes… I try to mix them in Key, but then comes the energy in the game, and there is where all the things start to go crazy. I do sort my music by genre, i do mix in KEY, but somtimes is really hard to do a Harmonic Mix. Cheers, keep up the good work DJ
now i have the tools to do it i try to mix in key but Serato,s key detection is more like a rough guide than the exact spot on thing .Same with bpm detection it even varies between whats on the deck and what is listed below.I can manage without it after all i was djing with just my ears and no software for years but its useful for sets and mixes that flow.One can also use changes in key to dramatic effect but in general i use it to organize my music better so as to avoid major clangers when mixing.
The only downfall with the whole mixing in key thing is you become limited to tracks that can be mixed together. Using master tempo or key shifting destroys the tracks dynamics and ultimately makes the track sound worse.
I don't mix in key, not consciously anyways and if I ever decided to do it religiously I would only ever choose tracks that were produced in the key that I needed at the time.
But you will be able to actually really use melodic elements from both tracks together without the risk of being horribly out of tune.. IMO any serious DJ should be able to do it.. Obviously some times when you just use rhytmic elements of one of the tracks in your transition it is not necessary, but can add so much if done right
@@fluim0102 Yeah you can, but only from tracks that were originally produced in a key that fits the scale. This doesn't only count for just the key of the tracks either, it also applies to tracks that have different bpm tempos. My point is, mixing in key can be done with any track but the more you start shifting keys and altering the tempo the more crappy the audio gets.
@@fluim0102 Also, I'm not saying mixing in key is a bad thing, all I am saying is it becomes limited if used in the right way.
Something to think about while DJ'ing. Only works for some genres.
Would you recommend if changing genres or transitioning from big BPM big ranges (either low to high or high to low) to mix in key?
Do you think Key could possible even be more effective than genre? Meaning. If you stay harmonic. Can that make genre change ups more pallatable? In my experience ive had mixed results.
I DJ a lot of 80s pop/rock stuff and also a lot of soul/funk, what's your take on mixing in key outside of electronic music styles?
Fun facts some time i think that two tracks would play well together to then realize that they are indeed in the same key...
Another awesome video thank you for the upload. I taught myself this many years ago way back in the early 90s. i blended “Let me show you” by K Klass with “Show me love” by Robin S. They mixed so well that the two tracks became one if that makes sense 😊
When you get good enough the songs that pop in your head will most of the time be in key without intention. Ive watched some of my freinds dj and I know he doesnt know the keys but most of his transitions are in key. There is so much you can do to wash out the harmonics like filter and effects that I stopped paying attention to whether or not I was in key. I recommend learning them tho and not the numbers like 6a 6b. Its easy it goes b,e,a,d,g,c,f
Happy with your Pioneer XDJ XZ ?
From your videos, I learned a lot about hardware, mixing ... I bought a Mixed IN Key a few years ago. I honestly don't use it at all because it was making my brain water. during Mixing it is important that the Chords work together, otherwise the drama will be. I went back to the pathological decryption of songs. (keyboard) in my opinion the best science Eyes do not see EARS WORKING. Greetings
Hello mate, great video as always. I do mix in key at times, but I tend to listen to the energy in the tunes, to keep the energy alive. I’ve learnt so much from you over the years, thank you
Its worth the bother. If you dont have an emotional or lyrical link between two songs. Then use key to relate the songs. But definitely using more emotional factors between songs first. But Key is absolutely the paramount first alternative to a more complicated mixing philosophy.
What’s your set up mate.. ?
With regards to track key, what are your recommendations / thoughts on the issue where you use a track from lets say beatport and it gives a key of A but on loading it in to Rekordbox the analysis gives B and when checking through software "mixed in key" it can be C! Help, what does a DJ take as the correct key for the track. I have read that when putting together a playlist in Rekordbox then use the key that it has analysed for each of the tracks so that they are harmonically in key when mixing.
Mixing in key is brilliant, i was over the moon when i dicovered this, it might have even been you that showed me this back in the day, i sold all my tunes 😕 big mitake and id keyed them all up bit im now starting over with my collection and will be doing the same again. Keep going mate, i love your videos.
Everyone should be mixing on key where possible. 🔑
No Denon prime 4 ?
Am quite distracted by the fact your shadow is my dog... but this is good, interesting and informative content.
It depends. I always mix EDM in key. I don't bother with some other genres.
Personally I prefer to mix in key, it just sounds better but it also keeps the energy.. I find changing keys really switches up the energy which is fine if you want to do that and sometimes when the floor isn't moving then it's needed but for the most part in key is best and I mix house
how do i know which key my tracks/records are in? playing vinyl only. so far i always build/mix sets by ear.
I'm a old git that mixed with vinyl back then you just had to chance it now I'm doing digital it's much easier to mix in key
I match the next track in the headphones, if it sounds right I go with it. If it doesn't I try something else.
Is that mixing in key?
Nice to got here , as a bedrom dj , use myself mixed in key , know what its about as a dj , recently i come across a guy that was producing music for 12 years and we decided to making tracks together , im into trance only since 20 years already and i know what sound r used producing trance etc , all subganres of it , how constructed should be and how important breakdown is but never learned how to learn music production on softwhere … so i got call with m8 that has No experience about dj so i tell him before we gonna start producing trance track i need to show you box of blocks ( sounds that r only in that ganre and. Make it trance ) he did not understand so we starts arguing that in music you can use all sound ( blocks) music has no rulez , in general Yes but im Real old school trance passionat person so i said of you want make a trance that is pure you cant use all sounds cos its not gonna be trancemore , ofc still dont know what im saying but i tell him ok np ill show you on your place , and i told him about that i use mixing in key - he said key ? Whats that ? There is no term in music production , so i said it is i send him a screen shot of it and he asked me whats that , this helps make mix better , easier , and thanks to that you got like shortcut what will match , he did not get that so i send him 2 tracks that if you play them together they will make track like one in harmonony … he said ofc well i dont need that i do everything on ear ( i do it lot of times too but dj experience ) well im taking my dj setup to his studio and check him if he still will be mix or pair track together 😉😁😎
I played and DJ’d in the80s90s. Back then I was ignorant of keys but had a packed dance floor.
I had many musician friends who hopped into the club but none mentioned if a mix was in the wrong key. Maybe they were amazed at the seamless mix of two different tracks.
However I only later realised after “mixed in key” why then certain tracks that mixed were in better harmony 😜🤪😜
Mixing EDM in key sounds like one long remix
Mixing retro in key is pure bliss
Again play the right tracks and no one cares about keys
🤪😜😜. Sadly 😭😭😭
Learn your transition tracks, changing from 95 bpm to 128 and viceversa and practice with no samples and not talking. Works like a charm on the long run. And hey is meant to be fun, not so robotic have fun with it
When people talk of mixing in key, a lot of the time they don't know what they're talking about.
They don't understand that it doesn't mean mixing 15 A-Minor tracks or a linear progression. It's about creating musicality in mixing with progressions and key changes - the key change can create massive drama. It's a beautiful thing when done right. You have to have the confidence to create a 'groove' just so you can kill it and then start a new, more muscular groove and this is your progression.
IMO James Holden used to be the absolute master of this... Even playing songs in completely different keys than the original and making them sound better
It doesn’t matter but it makes your sets sound cooler…
The camelot wheel is really helpful with mixing in key
Mixing in key is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Where certain pieces will fit together, and others won't.
I can't get my eye off that smudge on the shirt :) nice vid though
Mixing in key is one of the advanced tools a DJ should use to control the energy and pace of a dancefloor. It helps maintain the vibe, increase tension or relax, depending on the situation.
However, the crowd is the number one priority.
If as a DJ u know the next tune is what the crowd WANT to hear, even if its not "technically" in key, then don't be afraid to break the rule.
Just make sure you mix appropriately: no long overlapping, un-harmonic 2 min blends - it will sound shit.
But that breakdown section with just the spoken word phrase might work well... or that section with just the percussion and shakers? That could be useful!
Failing that, an echo'd spin back and drop mix into the next tune could be what's needed.
Judge the situation.
I'd say 90% the time I mix harmonically.
But if I'm losing the dancefloor or if the vibe just doesn't feel right. The crowd is the priority and entertaining them is the main purpose.
(Long time subscriber, learnt so much from this channel over almost a decade. So glad you are still doing these vids Mr Skins)
show us some examples of screwing it up
I find that a lot of it is hardware these days and how much you experiment with it. ! You will then automatically integrate more and more into the hardware and you can use it. ! You will be looking for as much software as you are building this one. ! The direction will bend and flex against yours. and then everything goes with everything else and the artist is in everything else. !😎💯% Experimental Sounds!
I rarely bother anymore.
hard to to when your vinyl only selector...when i used to play digitals i always mixed in key
some vinyl DJ's put stickers on their vinyl, colour coded to specific keys
@@fluim0102 thanks, good tip, 7 colors it is...should be enough i think
should have shown or demonstrate mixing in key
I mix for example a track in A minor to a track in A minor to a track in A major to a track in A major to a track in B minor to a track in B minor and so on. It sounds good to me going from the same key to up a half step. You can check out my Deep House Sessions and My Progressive House Session on my page. Hope you enjoy. Peace.
It doesn't matter that much if ure ears are working and have decent mixing skills.
So what happened 30 years ago when the audio mixing chain was analogue?
The musical theory behind this is at least 200 or 300 years old now and it worked the same. The Camelot wheel is just a simplification and a nice way to represent basics of harmony that can be understood with little to no theoretical background. So what happened is that you needed to learn to do it by ear (just like beatmatching with no sync button :p)
@@thesupervisordj if the transitions sounds perfect by ear but the Key info differs.... Does the accuracy of the ear wins?
@@gracefullygraceful9776 The software is not perfect and the info sometimes might be wrong. If you train your ear enough, you will be better than the software for sure.
Awesome stuff as always @ellaskins
My question would be, if you're following the keys (gradually increasing let's say from 1A all the way up to 7A), does it mean the energy would increase too? In other words, are the keys associated with the energy/tempo at all or not really? Would some more mellow tracks usually be around the same key or each song is very different and key & energy wouldn't necessarily correlate? thanks
Yes the energy would increase but very slowly
@@ellaskins Thanks a lot for the videos :)
Also a follow up question: If you move up the wheel from 10A - 11A -12A -1A-2A would this also work? and also increase the energy? best regards and thanks!
I also really enjoyed a Dino Psaras set where at least for some tracks there were some mixes not in key. But i think he likes to change the vibe also with his mixing :D
@@ellaskins I don't think so. Your answer implies, the way I understand it, that a 9A track has more energy than a 4A track, given the same instrumentation and arrangement. I don't believe that to be true. Though a given song might "feel" better in one key than another, the numbers are not to be associated with energy levels.
6:28… demonstrate… 6:45… 😆
I can't say anything that has not already been highlighted in the comments, just know the rules to mixing in key, and when and how you can break/ignore them.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Compose Me syncy me sinky
Mix harmonically with vinyl having 2.5K+ records? That's a challenge.
For me the key is to know the music, your song is your key
Mixing in key is a tool not a rule, key mixing is very cool... BUT this only applies to digital and not strict vinylist ;)_~
this is pure nonsense
@@fluim0102 is it lol
DJing for 25+y. Never minded the key. Rhythms generally don't clash. Melodies do... avoid melodies. Do some cutting.
100% mix in key every time for my house sets, smooth transitions all the way
Mixing in key just makes sets sound robotic, so you sound exactly like everyone else who mixes in key (in my opinion).
Might as well just be an automated jukebox.
this is complete nonsense
@@fluim0102 in your opinion maybe.
42 years of DJ-ing gives me my opinion.
When mixing In key all the time te set becomes boring it starts to sound all the same
no.. mixing in key doesn't mean your whole set has to be in the same key... so much ignorance here
If you cant build a basic major or minor chords on a piano or guitar, then youre stuck using this "numerical method for DJ who cant read music" You really dont need much of a musical aptitude to be a DJ.
Makes your set very monotonous. If you don't have the ear and the skills to mix, blend or switch basslines, you are not as good a DJ as you think. This is is why 90s and 00s DJs are on a higher skill level. We learnt without the advanced technology. We had to use our ears to mix. Had no machines counting beats and retuning your music as you're mixing it.
I don’t agree with this at all. I’ve played clubs and events for the last 25+ years and no one mixed in key using vinyl back in the day and they are some of the most memorable sets. This is a digital age style to potentially increase energy like this guy says but by no means is it needed or essential. Yeah some tracks might hit a sweet spot better harmonically but a dj should know how to blend the tracks to maintain and increase energy.
I see your point mate but strongly disagree that it’s something she have to do to make their set sound superb.
I have mixed in key occasionally but i don’t go out of my way to do it. I select what I want to go together rather than be pigeon holed into a ‘it not in key’ so I can’t mix that in. It’s also not random selection, sets are carefully constructed and if you know your music you’ll know which way to go to lift the crowd and also to give them a breather and build anticipation again and again. ✌️
a lot of great DJ's like Sasha and so on definitely mixed in key also in their older vinyl sets.. Playing melodic elements from 2 songs in non complementary keys can sound absolutely horrible. Some people just have great ears, so they kind of mix in key by accident... But if you don't know all your tracks from a-z and try out lots of new stuff, it can get ugly
@@fluim0102 I hear you, referring to to oldskool djs and it was the inclusion of midi keyboards in the setup that helped them do it, not always as like you say, some djs just have good ears. Nothing better than adding your own elements to complement tracks. You know your dj’s sir. 👍
WHY DO I KEEP CLICKING ON YOUR VIDEOS AAAHHHH!! 😫 Maybe because just to hear the car crash explanations about Djing. 👎