Monthly Archives: November 2012

Random Blurbs

The Studio/Radio Station Picture Story

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In the late hours of Thursday night, a radio show takes place in the not-so-busy radio station of 89.5 WSKB: a nice little radio station that many radio personalities on campus like to call home. Not only is it a great place to talk about the different things happening during the day, it is also an opportunity to play some great electronic music.

While the bass is pumping and music fills the room, we contemplate what else we could throw into the mix: perhaps an uplifting trance song? Or a really hard complextro beat to get our blood flowing. It all depends on our mood and what we really want to hear.

The mixer, while looking like an intimidating table of buttons and knobs, is an essential tool in helping our songs (and voices) be heard. Without this essential piece of equipment, there would be no point in doing a show because we wouldn’t be able to control what we want to do in terms of sound.

When we’ve had our share of music and laughs, my co-host and I try and talk about different events that happened during the day, whether locally or around the world.

Last, and most importantly, I perform a mix of songs that I have put together to engage my listeners and portray to them what I consider to be the best electronic songs of the week. This is the highlight of my radio show because it allows me to express myself with all the music that I can indulge myself in. Radio shows, in my own opinion, are one of the most exciting things that anybody could do, and while it can be tough learning all the equipment that goes along with radio, it is simple and fun once you really get into it.

Cheers!

Production Techniques, Random Blurbs

The Pros and (Mostly) Cons of Mixing on Headphones

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Headphones have taken on a large role in our society today, ranging from huge, bulky headphones to ear buds that can be hidden from sight. While headphones are great for listening to music, they are not the best option for mixing or mastering your tracks.

One reason why headphones are not the best option is because they can cause a wide range of problems while listening to your mix, including ear fatigue and not being able to listen to your mix for long periods. Also, the majority of your audience will listen on speakers instead of headphones.

While mixing on headphones can be acceptable in certain situations, it is best to listen to your mix in a wide variety of environments. Listen to your mix on studio speakers, laptop speakers, even your car speakers. You could even try listening on bad speakers just to get a reference.

Headphones also tend to give the false impression that your mix is better than it really is. Good headphones give the impression that the bass and higher frequencies are more clear and crisp than they are on normal studio speakers.

You may have noticed this dilemma (as I have many times) when listening to your mix in the car. It sounded great on your headphones, but after playing it on speakers, it sounded absolutely terrible! This is because our ears don’t take into account the atmosphere of the natural outside environment when we have headphones since the sound from headphones reaches our eardrums much sooner than with speakers.

When your mix is played from speakers, though, we hear what the sound is like after it has bounced off walls and been absorbed or reflected by the floor or curtains (or whatever else is in your room). While you can hear certain imperfections such as clicks, pops, and improper panning in your mix, it is generally recommended that you create your final mix on speakers.

If you absolutely have to mix on headphones, such as, you are working at night, then you obviously have to mix on headphones. If you are going to mix on headphones for certain reasons, you might as well have some information on what headphones to get for mixing. It is also recommended that you get headphones with replaceable parts so you don’t have to buy a completely new set each time you break something.

Hope this helps you on your mixing adventures!

Reblogged

Run To My Rescue – Shogun ft Emma Lock (Original Mix)

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Brad Bator:

Absolutely love this song. Shogun is perhaps one of the best producers in the trance scene today. Looking forward to new releases by him.

Originally posted on Trance Lyrics:

LYRICS:

Maybe I could just choose to ignore this
Let it fade like water through the sand
Maybe I cold just leave this behind me
Some things you’ll never understand
Cause this is such a fine line
A fine line to cross

And this is not a question
Whether you will or you won’t
You either have it or you don’t

Our love’s a stone throw away
We get so near
But we’re still so far away
Concealed behind all our floored disguises

We’re even here at the turn of the tide
Words escape
Like ocean ray of lights
They say you hear it before you see it coming
But you got to see it to believe it with your eyes

Baby are we dreaming?
Through this sky free falling

I’ll never stop loving you
Run to my rescue

I’ll never stop loving you
Run to my rescue

Our love’s…

View original 66 more words

History of EDM

The Structure, Elements, and Origins of Trance Music

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Trance music is a type of dance/electronic music that started in the early 1990’s in Germany. It is usually between 110 and 150 beats per minute (BPM’s) and is characterized by a four-on-the-floor beat with synths and hi-hats between the beats. It is also known for its huge breakdown sections where the main melody is left standing alone as the rhythm section drops out, lasting between a few seconds and a few minutes. It is also characterized by arpeggios, usually done in a minor key.

There is almost always a “hook” or main melody that is played throughout the song, consisting of small riffs or long, 32 measure hooks that are repeated and elaborated. Trance songs also have instruments that drop in and out every 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 measures. The intros and outros of trance songs consist of mainly percussion and minimal moving notes in order to allow easy mixing by DJs in their sets. A great example of how to create progressive trance is by watching videos of others making trance music. 

Trance is very controversial on its origins. Most believe that Klaus Schulze was the originator of trance. You can hear a very basic version of trance in many of his songs. Other artists such as Jean Michel Jarre and his album Oxygene helped to start the trance revolution and paved the way towards a new style of music. His flowing melodies and use of rhythm and ambient sounds are still very prominent in today’s style of trance music.

Musicians such as Armin van Buuren and Tiesto helped to transform trance into the modern sound that we hear today. Artists started putting kicks and different driving rhythms to create danceable beats. Ibiza was and still is one of the most popular trance destinations because of its vacation-like lifestyle. Many clubs and venues play nightly on this island off Spain’s coast.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qux7pa0spEM/UCp29rtkooI/AAAAAAAADmM/wlRDFzqoBsw/s1600/ibiza3_full.jpg

Trance has changed into many different genres including classical trance, progressive trance, acid trance, uplifting trance, hard trance, euro-trance, tech-trance, vocal trance, dream trance, and Balearic trance.  These are only a few of the hundreds of sub-genres of trance. My personal favorites are progressive and uplifting trance, which encompass huge breakdowns and lots of ethereal strings and piano.

In my opinion, uplifting and progressive are the two most pure forms of trance to this day.

Cheers!