Harmonic Mixing

[Julian Del Agranda]

When mixing you just try to beatmatch. But you can also try to match the harmonics. That's called "Harmonic Mixing".

Each track is written in a certain musical "key". Some of those keys sound well with each other, while others don't. Learning which keys are suitable isn't very handy. So that is where the "camelot wheel" comes into play. It gives all musical keys a 'code', which makes it easier to see which tracks can be mixed harmonically. The codes with a B are major keys. The ones with A are minor keys.

How it works
You can mix your track with another track with the same code. Or go up a number, or down. You can also switch letter. So for example, when you play Rank 1 - Airwave (which is in D-minor, code 7A), you can mix in a track with 7A, 7B, 6A, 8A.

Adjusting the BPM and its effect on the key
With 'Master tempo' on, the key will always be the same. But if you turn that off, the key will shift. When it's off, you can change the pitch to around 2% without noticeably changing the key of the track. This means without 'Master tempo', don't change the track more than 2-3 BPM's, because the key of the track will change too much.

Shifting the key on purpose
If you speed up a track around 6% you have changed the key of the track by 1 semitone. This means around 8 BPM. For example, when playing Ernesto vs Bastian - Thrill in its original speed (130 BPM), the key of the track is 7A (D-minor). Speed the track up to 138 BPM, and the key of the track changed by 1 semitone (from D-minor, to D-Sharp-minor). The code of the track is now 2A.

So you can use this trick to your advantage. If you are playing uplifting trance a la 138 BPM, and the track is in code 2A, then you can mix Thrill with that just perfectly.

Which key is my track?
You can try to keys of your music manually, by playing notes on a (online) piano for example. Bbut it will take you quite some time. There is also special software called "MixedInKey", which does this for you, but its quite expensive, and not 100% accurate either. Beatport also shows keys, and also that isn't 100% accurate. I personally do it manually for all tracks I want to play.

 

[Archon]

Great thread! Defo gonna use this when I (and if) I make another mix.

 

[Recharge]

There is also something called advanced harmonic mixing. It's still debated how useful it is.

Basic rule is if you are mixing out of key (not the -+ 1/2/6 which is harmonic mixing) keep it short and sweat and if it's in key or a key that matches you can do longer transitions.

Best results are when you use the +- 1 2 or 6 rule of harmonic mixing, and sometimes the advanced it's just not working. But a lot of people swear on it.

Forgot to mention when +-1/2/6 is just for minor keys, on major to ensure it's harmonic you can just do major to minor in same key or vice versa. So if you have major key involved only (1B to 1A or vice versa). I break the major to minor rule with shorter transitions and sometimes I just ignore it.

Also latest version of mixed in key is the best software atm with 90+ something percent accuracy which is unbeatable unless you are a music protégé or genius. I had the pleasure of short exchanges with Yakov who is creator and CEO. He follows a lot of dj groups forums and works with lot of djs and producers to constantly improve his work. Accuracy from version v9 to v10 jumped from about 75% to 90+ according to a lot of djs and producers that tested it. No other website or software comes even close to those figures.

 

[IXM]

It's hard

 

[Jetflag]

lets see some scratching on that ^

 

[MarnixMulder]

When mixing you just try to beatmatch. But you can also try to match the harmonics. That's called "Harmonic Mixing".

Each track is written in a certain musical "key". Some of those keys sound well with each other, while others don't. Learning which keys are suitable isn't very handy. So that is where the "camelot wheel" comes into play. It gives all musical keys a 'code', which makes it easier to see which tracks can be mixed harmonically. The codes with a B are major keys. The ones with A are minor keys.

View attachment 3

How it works
You can mix your track with another track with the same code. Or go up a number, or down. You can also switch letter. So for example, when you play Rank 1 - Airwave (which is in D-minor, code 7A), you can mix in a track with 7A, 7B, 6A, 8A.

Adjusting the BPM and its effect on the key
With 'Master tempo' on, the key will always be the same. But if you turn that off, the key will shift. When it's off, you can change the pitch to around 2% without noticeably changing the key of the track. This means without 'Master tempo', don't change the track more than 2-3 BPM's, because the key of the track will change too much.

Shifting the key on purpose
If you speed up a track around 6% you have changed the key of the track by 1 semitone. This means around 8 BPM. For example, when playing Ernesto vs Bastian - Thrill in its original speed (130 BPM), the key of the track is 7A (D-minor). Speed the track up to 138 BPM, and the key of the track changed by 1 semitone (from D-minor, to D-Sharp-minor). The code of the track is now 2A.

So you can use this trick to your advantage. If you are playing uplifting trance a la 138 BPM, and the track is in code 2A, then you can mix Thrill with that just perfectly.

Which key is my track?
You can try to keys of your music manually, by playing notes on a (online) piano for example. Bbut it will take you quite some time. There is also special software called "MixedInKey", which does this for you, but its quite expensive, and not 100% accurate either. Beatport also shows keys, and also that isn't 100% accurate. I personally do it manually for all tracks I want to play.

Since I've discovered Mixed in Key about 10 years ago I use it for every mix. Both vinyl and digital, I exported my MiK database to excel and plan every mix I do, takes a lot of time, but every minute is worth the listening pleasure