Harmonic mixing
Harmonic mixing or key mixing is a DJ's continuous mix between two pre-recorded tracks that are most often either in the same key, or their keys are relative or in a subdominant or dominant relationship with one another.
The primary goal of harmonic mixing is to create a smooth transition between songs. Songs in the same key do not generate a dissonant tone when mixed together. This technique enables DJs to create a harmonious and consonant mashup with any music genre.
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[edit] Traditional methods
A commonly-known method of using harmonic mixing is to detect the root key of every music file in the DJ collection by using a piano. The root key that fits the track perfectly may be used to create harmonic mash-ups with other tracks in the same key. The root key is also considered compatible with the subdominant, dominant and relative major/minor keys.[1]
A more advanced harmonic mixing theory has been proposed which accounts for the various modes as well (aeolian, ionian, lydian, mixolydian, dorian and phrygian).[2] It is shown that these alternate modes can be seen as variations of the traditional major and minor keys, and that they can be translated to traditional keys via the Circle of Fifths.
Which notes are in the scale is much more important than which is the tonic, so these can be converted to one mode, such as minor. For example F lydian and B locrian contain the same notes as A minor, so these should be compatible, and slightly less with D minor and E minor.
[edit] Recent developments
In 2006 and 2007, harmonic mixing has attracted substantial media attention.[3] Pioneer Pro DJ, the manufacturer of DJ products have released DJM-800, an audio mixing console capable of correcting the key of the track while it is being played.[4] Allen & Heath has teamed up with Mixed In Key to release music software that analyzes MP3 and WAV files and determines the musical key of every file.[5] MixShare frequently updates a freeware utility called Rapid Evolution which can also detect the musical key, in addition to the BPM, of audio files.[6] MixMeister has continued to offer "harmonic mixing" features in their DJ software. Traktor DJ Studio software from Native Instruments, Serato Scratch Live, and Torq from M-Audio have a "Key" display in their interfaces, as well as a key column in the library browser to allow for easy sorting of songs by key as does Virtual DJ from Atomix as of version 5.0.
There have been only been three software key detection accuracy comparisons to date, one initiated by Camelot,[7] another by DJTechTools.com.[8] The latter featured MixMeister, Rapid Evolution, Mixed In Key, and BeaTunes. A more recent comparison with commercial dance music was done by DJ House Container.[9] This comparison included Mixed In Key version 4 and 5 and the new Rapid Evolution version 3 Beta 58.
DJing for Dummies book, published in the US on January 29, 2007, and in the UK on December 1, 2006, includes a chapter dedicated to harmonic mixing called "Building a Foolproof Set."[10]
2008 - 9 Inch Remix Service has developed its own variation to the cycle of fifths system named the Cycle of Fifths Harmonic Mixing Block. Initially derived from the 16th century notation used by musicians, DJ SARGE X is credited with its adaptation to suit a new age DJ needs.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ "Harmonic Mixing Overview". Camelot Sound. 2007-01-01. http://www.harmonic-mixing.com/overview/overview.mv. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
- ^ "Harmonic Mixing Wiki". Mixshare. 2007-01-01. http://www.mixshare.com/wiki/doku.php?id=harmonic_mixing. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
- ^ "Mixed In Key magazine articles". Mixed In Key. 2007-09-13. http://www.mixedinkey.com/InTheNews.aspx. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
- ^ "DJM-800 Mixer with Key Adjust function". Pioneer UK. 2006-01-19. http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/content/press/news/djm800.html. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
- ^ "Allen & Heath press release". Community.MixedInKey.com. 2006-12-22. http://community.mixedinkey.com/Topic.aspx?ID=1629. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
- ^ "MixShare Change Log". MixShare.com. 2007-09-15. http://www.mixshare.com/wiki/doku.php?id=change_log. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
- ^ "Key Detection Software Comparison". MixingOnBeat. 2006-04-26. http://www.mixingonbeat.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2268. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
- ^ "Key Analysis Software Smackdown". DJTechTools. 2009-09-02. http://www.djtechtools.com/2009/11/02/key-analysis-software-smackdown/. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
- ^ "Harmonic Mixing Software Test". DJ House Container. 2011-11-08. http://www.housecontainer.nl/blog/about-me/194-harmonic-mixing-software-test.html. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
- ^ "DJing for Dummies, Table of Contents". Wiley. 2007-01-01. Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. http://web.archive.org/web/20071213000947/http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470032758,descCd-tableOfContents.html. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
