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DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:50 pm
by quit
What do you have to do to make a tune 'DJ Friendly?'
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:57 pm
by serox
I am shit at explaining things but here goes
Normally in records used by a DJ to mix, everything is in a 4/4 time sig and everything happens in 4's. So DJ friendly would be keeping to this time sig and having everything working in 4's. This helps the track fit with other tracks and also to make the track predictable so the DJ and the crowd both know when the build/drop etc is coming. Most tracks are made up of loops of 16, 32 and 64. Normally a track has an intro, a drop to the middle and then the end (in basic terms!).
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:04 pm
by quit
Ok, is the track in my sig DJ Friendly?
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:06 pm
by serox
quit wrote:Ok, is the track in my sig DJ Friendly?
Why you asking us?:)
I have just told you some reason's for making something DJ friendly. Does your track follow those guidelines?:) time to start working it out fella!
If you really cannot work it out post a screenshot of the track.
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:07 pm
by gravity
basically you want some kind of time keeping element, be in 4/4, and it has to work in phrases of 8/16 bars.
dj friendly is alright, but dont let it rule you. if you want an ambient intro just have one, if someone wants to play your tune they will just have to skip to some beats to mix it. dj's are too lazy these days.
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:09 pm
by serox
gravity wrote:if someone wants to play your tune they will just have to skip to some beats to mix it. dj's are too lazy these days.
You dont really need a beat if the track is 4/4 and structured like 99% of all modern music.
Keeping the track to a standard strcuture is all you need to think about imo. As long as things drop/break down in the right place what you do inbetween those bars is up to you
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:19 pm
by quit
Well I was told that the track in my sig isnt dj friendly
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:25 pm
by serox
why? did they say?
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:26 pm
by FSTZ
it helps if there are some markers in the intro of the tune so the dj knows what they are mixing in is on beat.
if there is some long ambient pads for an intro and nothing for the dj to track the incoming tune with, I wouldn't call the tune dj friendly
FYI: I cannot listen to the tune in your sig because I am at work
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:28 pm
by Mad_EP
Don't worry about it being DJ-friendly.. if a tune is good enough, DJs will find a way to put it in the mix.
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:24 pm
by jsills
http://www.dubstepforum.com/song-struct ... 0structure
quite the discussion on the topic.
my advice, mind your 16s. if you want to make your intro easier to beatmatch drop in a hihat with a ton of reverb on 1/4 notes, simple but effective.
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:26 pm
by gravity
serox wrote:gravity wrote:if someone wants to play your tune they will just have to skip to some beats to mix it. dj's are too lazy these days.
You dont really need a beat if the track is 4/4 and structured like 99% of all modern music.
i dunno its pretty fucking hard to beatmatch to ambience and pads and shit. you at least need something to keep time with, unless you wanna crossfade in breakdowns.
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:40 pm
by drokkr
serox wrote:I am shit at explaining things but here goes
Normally in records used by a DJ to mix, everything is in a 4/4 time sig and everything happens in 4's. So DJ friendly would be keeping to this time sig and having everything working in 4's. This helps the track fit with other tracks and also to make the track predictable so the DJ and the crowd both know when the build/drop etc is coming. Most tracks are made up of loops of 16, 32 and 64. Normally a track has an intro, a drop to the middle and then the end (in basic terms!).
Pretty much spot on...
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:53 pm
by FSTZ
gravity wrote:i dunno its pretty fucking hard to beatmatch to ambience and pads and shit. you at least need something to keep time with, unless you wanna crossfade in breakdowns.
FSTZ wrote:it helps if there are some markers in the intro of the tune so the dj knows what they are mixing in is on beat.
^^^DJ Friendly intro
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:13 pm
by legend4ry
yeah I mean, if your intro is ambient - at least have a hat or shaker on every 4/8 till the drop so a DJ can see if its in time.
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:21 pm
by FSTZ
it also helps to have a sound with short attack at the 1 marker... but thats not that necessary so long as there are events in the beginning to keep time with
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:03 pm
by tripaddict
Mad EP wrote:Don't worry about it being DJ-friendly.. if a tune is good enough, DJs will find a way to put it in the mix.
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:08 pm
by Blue Patterns
Mad EP wrote:Don't worry about it being DJ-friendly.. if a tune is good enough, DJs will find a way to put it in the mix.
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:14 pm
by FSTZ
all I am saying is that the tune better be some shit hot fire for me to work around a 3 minute ambient intro
otherwise, it won't get played...
ask any working DJ, they'll agree
Re: DJ Friendly?
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:30 pm
by contakt321
FSTZ wrote:all I am saying is that the tune better be some shit hot fire for me to work around a 3 minute ambient intro
otherwise, it won't get played...
ask any working DJ, they'll agree
I agree
In my opinion:
A pretty good song with a DJ friendly intro MIGHT get played
A good song with a DJ friendly intro WILL get played
An amazing song with a DJ friendly intro WILL DEFINITELY get played
A pretty good song with a long ambient intro friendly intro PROBABLY WONT get played
A good song with a long ambient intro friendly intro MIGHT get played
An amazing song with a long ambient intro friendly intro WILL PROBABLY get played
You should do whatever you want, do your thing, however, just be aware of the reality