Throwing 130ish BPM into a mix...

[dan_thompson07]

I've started buying a few slower tempo tracks (i.e. deadboy - if u want me, redlight - stupid) and I'm just wondering how everyone goes about fitting these into a 140bpm/dubstep mix? I'm not looking for obvious answers like "pitch it up" I'm curious as to what peoples methods of getting different tempo tracks to fit without killing the flow/energy of the mix are.

[alphacat]

It's about fuckin' time people started breaking the shackles of 140! I'm all about 120 - 130 these days in my productions.

Sometimes a tune is just heavy [sonically] despite its bpm. There are plenty of heavy numbers at 140, so if you can find a two tunes at the respective start and end BPMs you're talking about (140 sliding into 130 in this case) that match each other in "weight," then it's pretty easy to drop the slower track at any one of the usual drop points in the first track: give the 2nd slower tune a tiny bit more volume to make up for the perceived loss of energy. Using the EQ can help this transition even more by switching emphasis to a different frequency range too... you might have to practice that one a little first though.

Other ideas:

~ Drag the 140 record slowly to a stop and then come back with the slower tune (again, see the volume thing. You can also slowly fade out the low end w/ the EQ on the 140 tune so when the 130 drops it feels heavier)... alternately, speed the 140 plate up to 260 BPM, use the EQ bass fade-out mentioned above, then cut it quick and drop the 130 for emphasis.

~ Use a "bridge" or transition tune, maybe in another genre even, that can help take you into that slower place. Old booty bass, ghettotech, shit like that can work well here.

~ Write or have a producer friend custom write a song that changes BPM for you.

[WatchYourStep]

See, this is what I have yet to really figure out. When I'm mixing in ableton, I'm as nimble as a fox - I can be EQing and moving the master tempo at the same time, meaning tempo-wise, I can go pretty much anywhere. On CDJs, your only option is to do one of the following:

1- Bring both tracks up to 140bpm, mix them, kill the first, then gradually bring the second down to 130bpm as it's playing (kind of sloppy for your listening audience)
2- Wait until a section w/ no drums in your 140 song, then cut-crossfade into the second track at its native tempo
3- Develop a near super-human ability to move the tempo sliders for each turntable at precisely different rates, keeping both tracks playing in sync w/ each other

[AxeD]

Make a build-up (to a 130 bpm drop) with Reason, Ableton or whatever. Make sure it's automated right though.
Don't really have an expierence using what I just mentioned while mixing but I'm sure it's doable.

[Pistonsbeneath]

just have a 130bpm section..

if on vinyl do what i do...make lists of tracks within certain tempo brackets...

theres loads at 130ish tempo...distance 'feel me' and the appleblim & komonazmuk rmx of bonobo spring to mind

i quite like dubstep at 150 as well if done right...not so much of it yet

[gwa]

if you can key lock the tune (serato/traktor/cdjs) then it doesn't really matter but as for mixing vinyl (a pioneer djm800 can adjust the key afaik) then it's a case of what sounds good (imo)

oneman and ben UFO are pretty spot on when it comes to switching up genres, have a listen to sone of their mixes

[WatchYourStep]

Doctoring your tunes b4hand works too, but takes forever. Plus you can never do it 'in the moment' when creativity strikes.

[dan_thompson07]

Some good suggestions here but I use vinyl so I'm tied down to the +8 and -8 pitch range of the 1200s. The most obvious solution seems to be mixing at a break, or non-percussive part of the outgoing track. The problem then is timing the drop of the different tempo track but I suppose that's just down to experimenting and seeing what works...

I might have to look into some tracks around the 135 mark and try easing the tempo down gradually over a couple of tunes.

[ed teach]

If you're on turntables you'll just have to practice. You'll learn to mix by getting to know your music and vice versa.

Non sempre Vivace, il mio amico.

[dubaholix]

I might have to look into some tracks around the 135 mark and try easing the tempo down gradually over a couple of tunes.

This is what i do, can work really well when mixed in key, but i do have key lock on my decks so makes it alot easier.

[dubloke]

I mix anything from 125 - 140, best thing to do is try and work down the pitch in a couple of tunes. if your on dubstep and want to get to house throw in some 2 step/ garage and it normally sounds fine. obviously this is a generalisation so really you've got to experiment. there are some tunes that sound quite good (or at least not terrible) when you jack the picth right up. Fly Bi - Kai & sparks, Seasons - lil silva are two ive found

[herbalicious]

I've seen Shortsuff (1st that springs to mind) and others (using CDJs) pitching everything up. In the dance you (a punter) don't really notice when things are pitched up too much until they're pitched down [edit: pitched back down again].

I'm not a DJ, but I say be bold. Throw in tunes where you can. If they're big tracks, they'll get the people dancing.