How long should a good mix be in your opinion?

BananaClips · Post by **BananaClips** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 9:49 am

Some people complain about mixes being too short, and that when you just start getting into them, they already end.

Other people say that mixes that are too long seem overwhelming to them, and are a waste of good music and good mixing, as you hardly listen till the end anyway.

So, assuming a mix is really good and doesn't bore you a bit, how long should it be in your opinion?

Edit: I'd also like to hear some of your opinions here.

Thanks a lot.

nakedlunch · Post by **nakedlunch** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 9:57 am

60mins , because I record all my mixes on cassette and transfer them to my PC , I would say 90mins but I don't have an 90min cassette tapes.

Twitch_Belfast · Post by **Twitch_Belfast** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:20 am

60-90 mins i think

it isnt too often you have time to actually listen to a long mix so its probably a bit of a waste

Sufferhead · Post by **Sufferhead** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:33 am

Depends on who's mixing, really - different DJs are better at different lengths. I generally prefer 2 hour mixes, but a lot of DJs don't do so well in such a long format - probably because in the club they're used to 60/90 minute sets. So, erm, a good mix is as long as it needs to be.

BananaClips · Post by **BananaClips** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:23 am

nakedlunch wrote:60mins , because I record all my mixes on cassette and transfer them to my PC , I would say 90mins but I don't have an 90min cassette tapes.

do you do this for sound reasons?

edit: and this means you only do one-takes right?
do you put the whole mix on one side of a tape, because i'm used to seeing 2x45 = 90 min tapes.

BananaClips · Post by **BananaClips** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:29 am

Sufferhead wrote:Depends on who's mixing, really - different DJs are better at different lengths. I generally prefer 2 hour mixes, but a lot of DJs don't do so well in such a long format - probably because in the club they're used to 60/90 minute sets. So, erm, a good mix is as long as it needs to be.

so you are saying that, in case a dj is able to pull a good 2 hour mix, you prefer a mix to be that long?

webstep · Post by **webstep** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:35 am

I think the length of a mix is probably the least important factor for me, focus is on vibe/selection, mixing

nakedlunch · Post by **nakedlunch** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:57 am

BananaClips wrote:
nakedlunch wrote:60mins , because I record all my mixes on cassette and transfer them to my PC , I would say 90mins but I don't have an 90min cassette tapes.
do you do this for sound reasons?

edit: and this means you only do one-takes right?
do you put the whole mix on one side of a tape, because i'm used to seeing 2x45 = 90 min tapes.

Kinda for sound , it sounds a lot thicker , but mainly because it the way I have always done it , and for some reason my PC wont detect my am when I try record into it.
All done in one take and the 4 second gap when the tape switches sides it cut and joined on soundforge , sometimes I get static feedback

like in this mix @35.53

https://soundcloud.com/nakedlunch/nakedlunch-dec-2012

cloquet · Post by **cloquet** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 3:01 pm

30 - 40 mins. start to lose interest with longer mixes.

ezza · Post by **ezza** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 3:50 pm

nakedlunch wrote: https://soundcloud.com/nakedlunch/nakedlunch-dec-2012

Man that mix is nice

didn't think anyone else liked that sacrifice tune

On topic. I tend to like mixes around an hour, just because i very rarely sit there and listen for any longer.

Liam92 · Post by **Liam92** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 5:38 pm

Sufferhead wrote:a good mix is as long as it needs to be.

BananaClips · Post by **BananaClips** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 7:20 pm

nakedlunch wrote:
BananaClips wrote:
nakedlunch wrote: like in this mix @35.53

https://soundcloud.com/nakedlunch/nakedlunch-dec-2012

the static is not too bad, though i haven't heard this on headphones yet.

very nice mix.

Func · Post by **Func** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:30 pm

Usually 40-75 mins

incnic · Post by **incnic** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:06 pm

less than 20 is wack
esp when its like 3 tracks end to end
i make all mine 60 mins cos i get tired of liustening afrter that

icecoldchrissy · Post by **icecoldchrissy** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:10 am

nakedlunch wrote:
like in this mix @35.53

I love this. Yeah sticking to the tape cassette method is tried and true and ingrained in our cultural mental time frame. You know?

Like a 30 minute comedy routine is a lot like a 30 minute sitcom.

How long is the perfect song? Well fuck, IDK, but if you stick within the 12" format, you'll at least going to get somewhere.

You know what I'm saying.

I'm not drunk.

incnic · Post by **incnic** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:49 am

are you drunk?
interesting regarding the cassette - never could have told
i like the 45min time now you mention it

all future mixes to be auto cut off at 45.00

sigbowls · Post by **sigbowls** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:59 am

80 min if its not all the same bpm

110 - 135 is house?

rev · Post by **rev** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 8:23 am

I have recorded almost all of mine to just under the 80 min. mark, since when I decided to put a lot of work into my mixtape thingy (around 2004), burned cd's was the main distribution format, and I figured that 80 min. would also work for digital listeners. I still do the 80 min. mixes for people having to burn cd's with mixes to their car-stereo - I have gotten a lot of positive feedback about that during the years... Might have to change that at some point though.

Here is how my mixtape discography looked last year:

Shum · Post by **Shum** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:10 am

cloquet wrote:30 - 40 mins. start to lose interest with longer mixes.

damn.

longer the better imo. i guess a culture has developed around CD length (60-80 minute) mixes, almost like a standard.

ultraspatial · Post by **ultraspatial** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 1:12 am

Liam92 wrote:
Sufferhead wrote:a good mix is as long as it needs to be.

In a club setting, this. I don't get big ass line-ups when you get like 6 good djs crammed to do like 1 hr sets.
If you're talking about podcasts or whatever, then cd length.