Creating a mix can be daunting! Especially if it’s your first time or you do not have a well defined audience. Here are some tips that have been proven over the years to make mixes last the test of time.
1. Pick Your Vibe 🎶
Think about the mood you want to create. Is it something chill for late nights or high-energy for the club? A really good idea for starting Dj’s trying to get gigs is to record a set for early evening, or the time you are hoping to play. Defining your vibe will help you choose the right tracks and keep a flow.
Never underestimate the power of a raw live recording.
2. Curate Those Tracks 🔥
It’s all about the story you want to tell. Choose tracks that fit together naturally and create a smooth journey. Don’t just throw in hits—pick tracks that surprise and keep listeners hooked.
3. Practice Your Flow 🌀
Get comfortable with your transitions! Smooth mixing is the key to a pro mixtape. Spend time testing how each track flows into the next.
4. Quality Matters 🎚️
High-quality audio files (320kbps or WAV) make a big difference. Recording straight from your mixer or using a decent interface can make your mix sound way better than recording on your phone or laptop mic.
If recording live, we recommend the Zoom HS4. We have them and other interfaces for sale here under “recording devices” or just click here
5. Add Your Flavor 🎛️
Make it yours. Choose a good title, find a photo that speaks to you and your vibe. Coming up with a catchy description for streaming sites and social medias may help, other times minimal vibes can speak volumes.
6. Record in a Chill Spot 🏠
Choose a quiet space with no distractions, where you can have time to record more thank 1 take if required. If things aren’t working, sometimes small adjustments in track selection go a long way.
7. Polish It Up 🌟
Once you’re done, give it a final listen on different speakers to make sure it sounds good everywhere. If you need to, use some simple software (like Audacity or Ableton) to smooth out transitions or volume issues.
Some people like to record to tape, re-master, or boost volume with subtle EQ etc. Only rule is that there are no rules, but less processing is generally a good idea here. That being said, most professionally released (available for purchase) mixes have been professionally mastered for punch and clarity. If it sounds good, it probably sounds good.
8. Share with Friends First 🎧
Before going live, get some feedback. Playing for friends is the best way, recording a mix in front of friends or live at a party generally works great whilst also giving you easy options to share the recording afterwards.
9. Hype It Up on Social 💥
Once it’s polished and ready to go, get it out there!
Soundcloud and mixcloud are great for building audiences, but never underestimate email lists, cd’s and playing on radio. Whichever way you go, stay consistent and your listeners should increase over time.