Should a mix CD build up to a peak?

[TomD]

i'm trying to get a mix cd together (finally after pissing about with my decks for two years i'd like something to show for it) and i was just wondering what people thought about this. if you're doing a mix cd, should it build throughout the cd to a peak at the end? or should it be even all the way through, or a trough in the middle... what do you reckon?

[Ian Cashman]

id say depends what style your playing. i play trance so i just try and be musical about the first hour, then build up to some big tunes at the end. i feel really constricted doing 80min sets tho. its hard to get the balance of a warm up beginning to a full on athem session in just 80 mins.

 

i like a 2hr slot...! then u get the best of everything!

[Chris Hutchinson]

no progression = stale and boring

 

If your gonna do a cd, make it go somewhere rather then just flatlining itself.... building a mix keeps people interested and entertained, if it doesnt go anywhere, you may as well listen to 1st tune and bin the cd.....

[Ian Cashman]

'making a mix cd is like making love to a beautiful woman!'

 

 

pmsl

[Claire DC]

what, it all ends up in a sticky mess?

[Ian Cashman]

Claire DC said:

what, it all ends up in a sticky mess?

 

you obviously aint heard my cds darlin'!!! lol

[TomD]

cheers dudes

 

it's gonna be kind of a techno/electro mix; i want to build it up from the start to almost a more "uplifting" end (although i hate to use that word), just wanted to make sure that the general consensus is that people prefer it that way and that i wasn't just on my own in thinking that.

[Claire DC]

modular1 said:

Claire DC said:

what, it all ends up in a sticky mess?

 

you obviously aint heard my cds darlin'!!! lol

 

But sex ends up in a sticky mess!!

[Ian Cashman]

TomD said:

cheers dudes

 

"uplifting" (although i hate to use that word

 

snob....lol

[Claire DC]

he isnt, he just has his finger up his arse, hence uplifting, he'd rather use a "different" word

[TomD]

"uplifting": it does sum up what it sounds like but it's so [censored] overused, i can't stand it.

 

"euphoric" is another word i really try and avoid also.

 

 

DC> your finger's next.

[Ian Cashman]

hehe

 

uplifting euphoric techno anyone?

 

does sound a bit silly doesnt it!! lol

[Claire DC]

TomD said:

DC> your finger's next.

 

Cant wait

[Mr_Happy]

TomD said:

cheers dudes

 

it's gonna be kind of a techno/electro mix; i want to build it up from the start to almost a more "uplifting" end (although i hate to use that word), just wanted to make sure that the general consensus is that people prefer it that way and that i wasn't just on my own in thinking that.

 

techno cds imo work best starting ambiant and finishing hard. techno is more about creating a set that could be considerd 1 long tune rather than hard house/trance thats more about playing big numbers.

 

 

my cds usually go in waves tho - it will be really dark and ambiant 4 a few mins and progresivly get harder and harder then its will go ambiant again (but as all the tunes r driving and still hard with long intermixes it does seem to flow)

[TomD]

Mr_Happy said:

techno cds imo work best starting ambiant and finishing hard.

 

yep think that's what i'm going to aim for - it's not going to be a fierce hard techno set, more house/techno/electro crossover style but yes the track i'd like to start off with is obviously less hard than the one to finish.

 

defo agreed about your techno DJ set comment btw - that's what does, and always will, keep techno sets different from other genres, i reckon. it should be totally seamless and the EQs should be used to full effect to put your own stamp on a tune. although i'm not intending to do that in this mix because it's more song-based, the tunes just have techy influences.