How to make a mixtape?

Hello boyz

How can I make a good mixtape? You make a mixtape with a computerprogram or am I wrong? I always have worked a bit with audacity, is that a good program or have you other suggestions?

Greetz
GIGI-man

Traktor is a good program I've heard.

http://www.native-instruments.com/newreleases/#/en/products/dj/traktor-pro/

But I'm no Dj, so you don't have to believe me..

I sometimes use ableton when im to lazy =p
But mostly i just mix it with my turntables and cd players untill i think it sounds good enough

I'm a recreative dj and I use Ableton all the time. I think it rox ^^

Thank you guys, I will try the suggestions you gave. Ableton is not so difficult to use I gues? Because traktor looks very difficult...

I would suggest Virtual DJ
I used it for a while when I was starting deejaying
and it's in my opinion the easiest program to start with

hope this helps!

greetz,
short circuit

i would also recommend abelton but you might want to use Reason as well which provides a virtual rack of hardware synths, samplers, signal processors, sequencers and mixers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reason_(software)

Captain 1Ferdi wrote:i would also recommend abelton but you might want to use Reason as well which provides a virtual rack of hardware synths, samplers, signal processors, sequencers and mixers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reason_(software)

Reason is more for creating sounds, mixing doesnt work very well with it =p
If you r a starter, i'd suggest these: virtual DJ (atomix, bpm studio,...), Ableton, traktor, ...
I also started with virtual dj and a midicontroller, but it's rather boring after a while =p

creating stuff makes the difference

GIGI-man wrote:Thank you guys, I will try the suggestions you gave. Ableton is not so difficult to use I gues? Because traktor looks very difficult...

Yes well, if you think Traktor looks difficult.. I wouldn't start downloading Ableton.. I agree that Virtual DJ is a nice way to start..

Greets!

link your mixer to your pc, record with audacity or so

Yeah, I also started with virtual dj
then i Bought 2 pioneers and now i record with audacity.
It has some more "errors" but it's cooler to do

If you think ableton is too complicated then I'd suggest trying MixMeister. It's very, very easy to use but you can still do some pretty good things with it. I made 2 mixtapes with it before switching to ableton.

jowa wrote:If you think ableton is too complicated then I'd suggest trying MixMeister. It's very, very easy to use but you can still do some pretty good things with it. I made 2 mixtapes with it before switching to ableton.

ah yes forgot to mention mixmeister!
great program =)

It all depends on what youre mixing also. Some programs are quicker and have less latency than others. Traktor is good, has great effects, but i find it more for slow mixing using levels not crossfader as much like for techno (it also depends on what version of cue and what youre using it with). Cue is really quick and adjustable, especially if you have a controller. i like to use cue for fast 133bpm electro . Traktor and Serato are good if you have decks with external mixers (but there you have to buy hardware) and I believe the NI card is better sound quality and cheaper.

When im not on serato I personally like using cue. its quick simple, and you can do alot of tricks with it. and most of these programs have recorders so you can record while you mix. Not sure about traktor, but cue even splits the tracks according to crossfades.

very nice mixtape you put on the forum sybrfuck!!
so, how did you make it XD

==> what gear?
==> how did you make all those loops? live? premade?
===>did you record that in one time?
===> would you be able to do this live on a party with just cdj's and a mixer?

Thanks lurtz

Well Ive been working on these tracks for over a month now playing them live and testing them. When Ii feel that the tracks have the energy thatt I use Ii record a set.
Its all about repetition and letting come to you naturally. This was actually the 3 version. the first two had a sever drop in energy over 30 minutes into it and I had to replace tracks and re do it a few times until I got the final version. Im a perfectionist so if I hear something is off ill re-do it all over. i dont care if its 45 minutes into it.
For this i used Numark Cue with a midi controller because I wanted a little more control of the process. Cue uses an internal recorder that I like to use because it creates a good fader-tracklisting. That that the program makes note of the tracks when the fader switches completely.
All the loops are live and i usually use serato with cdjs when I play and I do these loops live when I play. Its just a bit trickier when you do them in serato. Its all about playing the song over and over and hearing and knowing where a loop would sound good to drop the next beat in.

Whe it comes down to it you have to do this everyday and know your tracks. Alot of the tracks I had probably heard once or twice like the mikix track and the hostage track.

Im glad you enjoyed it
stay tuned for my podcast on Lifted Radio!
Ill provide more info when I get it!