November CD Mix Club

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

Excellent! I will try to schedule a long drive on my own to take advantage of it

It's in the post, so you'll have it in a few days if all goes well. Hope you enjoy it! Make sure you play it LOUD with lots of BASS for the full effect though, especially CD1.

It's been great fun to do a full technomix for a change, and it kind of rekindled my love for the genre. I always liked techno when clubbing, but hardly ever played it myself. That might just change though

[acidbearboy]

I used to live with a couple of guys who formed a booty/ghetto tech DJ tag team - they had some awesome stuff.

In fact they still have a mix up - I recommend you check it out!

http://www.non-stop-djs.com/mixes.htm

The text description sounded cool, but the music sounds like everything was on 45 instead of 33.

[Guest]

The text description sounded cool, but the music sounds like everything was on 45 instead of 33.

A lot of it would have been pitched up +8, so yeah pretty much.

[acidbearboy]

I don't mind fast music like that but it really irritates me when music is pitched up so far that you notice it sounds 'squeeky'.

[ZOK]

I don't know, anyone who goes near +8 on a turntable wants their fingers breaking, in my opinion. Or a haircut and a stint in National Service, at the very least. It were all fields etc.

[Wiper]

Thanks Wiper, if you could screenshot them that would be amazing! I'd like to try and use burrrn to re-do David's cd.

Gawd, I completely forgot about this! My only excuse is that we got connected to the internet at home, unexpectedly a week early, and in my excitement I forgot to do this for you!

Probably too late now [and you've probably worked it out already], but a couple of screenies of the relevant settings:

A brief explanation of other settings:

Setting ReplayGain to "Album Adjustment" rather than "Track Adjustment" is designed so that you never need change the volume for different discs, levelling the entire CD so that no tracks go beyond a certain level (e.g. it analyses all the tracks, works out the 'average' loudness for the album then lowers/raises every track by the same amount). This enables you to copy different albums and have them all come out at roughly the same loudness.

What we've selected, "Track Adjustment", analyses each track seperately, works out the average loundess for the track, and adjusts each track seperately so that they differ only slightly in average loudness.

The bit we're "ignoring" is the Cue sheet editor, which is handy for more complicated editing, but not hugely user friendly. If you're ever interested, you could do worse than nosing around the HydrogenAudio forums for more info on this sort of malarky.

Also, we generally want to close the CD - just to improve compatibility with older CD players

A brief explanation of other settings:

Additional Gain is simply used if you want to make your CD's louder. Generally a bad idea unless your really think you need louder CD's (e.g. because you have /very/ quiet speakers/headphones), as it generally degrades the sound quality of the tracks.

Not 100% on the Hard Limiter, but I believe it simply caps all tracks at a certain level, actually cutting sound out beyond a certain level. Presumably only useful if you're worried that you have very weak speakers/are planning to record from the output sound, and don't want to distort the recording by having tracks too loud to correctly take in. Again, not something you should activate.

Dithering adds noise to a track in order to hide the distortion that always occurs, and is almost always a good idea to use. Noise shaping essentially tries to improve the 'sound' of each track through a variety of fun algorithms added to the standard dithering process, and often does so succesfully (different tracks can benefit from different levels). Overly doing it can degrade the quality of the tracks, however (moving them further from their 'pure' sound), and if the tracks are edited at a later date this can really show up badly. Generally worth trying if you're just planning to listen to the music, however, and I generally make use of it here.

And, er, that's about it, I think! Hope that was helpful, to somebody at least!

[Pekoe]

On a personal update I'm juggling work and a serious family problem at the moment, so I may run late this month as I'm struggling to find much 'me' time. So Exidor apologies if I don't get chance to do your mix CD until probably late in the month. I've received my mix cd but it may be a few days before I get chance to listen/ feedback. Sorry if I run late on it....

[MW_Jimmy]

On a personal update I'm juggling work and a serious family problem at the moment, so I may run late this month as I'm struggling to find much 'me' time. So Exidor apologies if I don't get chance to do your mix CD until probably late in the month. I've received my mix cd but it may be a few days before I get chance to listen/ feedback. Sorry if I run late on it....

No probs dude.

I think I've done mine now and should be in the post tommorow tonymg.

[Mr Do 71]

Will post mine tomorrow, after a quick edit of the last track.

[Exidor]

On a personal update I'm juggling work and a serious family problem at the moment, so I may run late this month as I'm struggling to find much 'me' time. So Exidor apologies if I don't get chance to do your mix CD until probably late in the month. I've received my mix cd but it may be a few days before I get chance to listen/ feedback. Sorry if I run late on it....

No worries, mate. I probably won't be finished doing mine for another few days and my only excuse is that I've been milking Dead Rising for achievements.

[Goldbricker]

Vimster yours is done and ready but I'm going to have a little trouble getting it posted.

[acidbearboy]

Any feedback for me yet goldbricker?

[McNeillR]

Got mine from Para-tothe-digm today just as I was leaving- which CD do I listen to first? The vitriolic sounding one? I predict some Costello/Smiths.

I've my tracklisting sorted but won't have time to force them to make the 2/3 second love to each other before the weekend

[Guest]

Napole0n your CDs arrived at the weekend but I haven't had a chance to listen to them yet. In other words I keep forgetting to bring them to work. I will do that tomorrow!

My CD is not yet compiled but I know pretty much what's going on it. Should be done by the weekend all going well.

[Mr Do 71]

Mine is now on it's way to the lucky recipient

[Vimster]

Vimster yours is done and ready but I'm going to have a little trouble getting it posted.

Well hopefully it'll be here by the end of the month .

[Goldbricker]

Well hopefully it'll be here by the end of the month .

It should be posted today so it'll be with you soon.

ABB feedback is coming soon.

[ZOK]

A load of really useful stuff!

Thanks so much for that Wiper, I'd never have figured that lot out on my own. I'll have a play around with the settings you suggested and see how I get on!

David Heath, I sent a new cd off on Sunday, so unfortunately the levels haven't been sorted out, but let me know if it gets through to you ok.

[Belbo]

David Heath, I sent a new cd off on Sunday, so unfortunately the levels haven't been sorted out, but let me know if it gets through to you ok.

I'm listening to it right now.

: )

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

Napole0n your CDs arrived at the weekend but I haven't had a chance to listen to them yet. In other words I keep forgetting to bring them to work. I will do that tomorrow!

I don't care when you listen to them, just make sure you can play it LOUD and with loads of BASS!

I hope you enjoy them.

[citation deducer]

Nap, my CD is posting tomorrow.

[tonymg]

I received yours today MW_Jimmy, I'll post some feedback over the weekend.

[Vimster]

Goldbricker, got your CD this morning. Haven't had a chance to give it a really good listen but will do so tomorrow. First track is super-lush though.

[Goldbricker]

Glad to hear you got it. I listened to it myself today and I totally fucked the mix out from the first track so apologies for that the rest of it seems to hang together just about though.

Let me know when you want a tracklist.

[Belbo]

Feedback for Zok (and I really appreciate the effort you had to make in sending it out twice).

And props for the badge.

Track 01 - Fantastic opener. Starts out very spaced-out and chilled with an almost Egyptian feel to it, then launches it an energetic 6-minute epic.

Track 02 - Nice beat on this track but overall I dunno if it really went anywhere. Not too much of a problem as I don't think it tries to be anything other than a nice background thumper, but sounded a little bit bland compared to that opener.

Track 03 - This came on LOUD. Now I know what you mean when you say you couldn't get the volumes all nicely sync'ed up. Still, it had a nice bass line and some pretty mental synth noises all over the place, and the change between the snare and the hi-hat's all the time are really nice. Some excellent drum noises on this one.

Track 04 - Who is this? Don't recognise them but it sounds like I should do. Judging by the production and the shout-outs this is a DJ Premier beat? Not Gang Starr though. Would be interested in knowing who this is and where it is from. Is it new? Actually listening again it kinda reminds me of 'Militia'. It isn't Freddie Foxxx is it?

Track 05 - Again, no idea who this is but I'd like to know. Some very nice production here, but the vocals are a bit too 'deep' in the music - they need to be on the top a little bit more I think. At one point I swear I can hear Sticky Fingaz or something over the top. Track was messing with me.

Track 06 - This is very relaxing. Not sure who it is but it seems alright. Probably not something I'd listen to myself that often, but there is a place in my collection every now and then for chilled-hop female relaxation styled shit.

Track 07 - As soon as this started the first second reminded me of the music when entering a shop in Zelda on the N64. Bent videogame connection aside, the track was alright but a little bit bland overall. I think it reminded me of those crap TV programmes like into the sun or some shit and the lyrics made me think of it even more. Sorry, but I had Fiona Bruce's face pictured for the whole thing, and that's not nice.

Track 08 - This is dope. Very quiet (don't worry, I can Gain it myself later) but excellent. This can definitely go straight into my smooth grooves jazz and blues folder and not sound out-of-place. Would love to know who this is. I'm absolutely shit at recognising artists from this genre.

Track 09, 10 - Again, all very cool jazzy stuff here. I could listen to stuff like this all day.

Track 11 - This is a little different to anything else so far I've heard. It follows on nicely from the last few tracks, but it sounds a bit more '60's and has a fantastic flute thing going on in the background which just pushes its way through every now and then. Great stuff.

Track 12 - I was very excited about this when I first heard it. Even though it's only two minutes it is a fantastic little piece of music. The little bells and blings all over the place sound great and the bass line and drums just work all so well together. Who is it?

Track 13 - Heh. Nice remix of a track I can't remember the name of (ashamedly - is it Steppin' Out by someone I can't remember the name of). Anyway it's great. It is a remix, right? Or have I just totally forgotten how the song goes. It has been a few years! I better shut up before I embarrass myself further.

Track 14, 15 - A couple of really nice tracks here. 14 in particular is very nice.

Track 16 - Hmmm. Sounds like Chuck D a little bit at the start. Is it? Actually I have a feeling I own this track somewhere. It's probably in the middle of a CD I haven't listened to for ages. I'm fairly sure I have it. I'm going to kick myself when you reveal this one.

Track 17 - This was another nice relaxing one. Sounded a bit weird after the insane energy of the previous track, but good all the same.

Track 18 - LOZL. First it sounded like a xmas song, then it went to a tribal kinda sound with an African (?) singer. The female vocalist (the second one) really made the track in my opinion. This was a nice little track and I'd be very interested to know where it came from. Has LOADS of stuff going on as well. The strings were quite nice too. Good way to end the CD overall.

: )

So yeah, thanks again dude. A nice selection of music covering quite a few genres in total.

And thanks again for sending it out twice.

TRACKLIST PLS

[ZOK]

Great! I'm glad that you seemed to like most of it, although I had a suspicion that you would. Tracklist ahoy!

1) Ever So Lonely (Hindi Version) - Monsoon featuring Sheila Chandra Yep, epic is the word for this. It's mid-eighties, and hasn't aged a day I think. Couple of bits of triv for you - Sheila Chandra was the first Asian artist ever to appear on TOTP, and she was 16 when this single came out.

2) Echo By Midnight - Daniel Wang I kind of agree with you on this, not usually my sort of thing but I was digging it on the day I put the cd together!

3) The Bronx Network - Gosub Yep - LOUD! This is from a selection of stuff that was put out on forumite Gique's label. The album 'Data Mining In Anthilia' is worth checking out if you liked this one.

4) Mic & Gun - Freddie Foxxx Well spotted! I pinched this out of one of the hip hop recco threads, so can't tell you a great deal about it. Except that it ROCKS!

5) Cold Gettin' Dumb - Just Ice Now this I can tell you something about. Premium hip hop from the year of Our Lord 1986. Curtis Mantronik's best production outing ever. Just Ice's best tune ever. Easily one of my favourite hip hop tunes ever.

6) I Got You - Platinum Pied Pipers feat Tiombe Lockheart I don't know much about this really. A mate of mine got it on a free compilation that came with some undies she bought. I do seem to like most things that I come across by PPP though.

7) Into The Sun - Sean Lennon Oh man, I love this. Everything else he's done is crappy, but this is just !

You Ain't Livin' Til You're Lovin' - Smokey Robinson One of Smokey's best, for me. I can't understand why it came out so quiet, it's a belter.

9) The Caves Of Altamira - Steely Dan Now I'm bonkers about Steely Dan, and I can't get enough of this sort of West Coast lounge jazz pop. A recent discovery in the itunes vaults.

10) High Spirits - Albert Mayer This is from an album called 'Music For Dancefloors: The Cream Of The Bosworth Library Sessions'. I posted about it in the Soul thread, and it's really worth tracking down. Chock full of great stuff, all done as licenseable music for tv and film.

11) Living In The Past - Jethro Tull Heh, glad you liked this one, as I think it's a ripper! Jethro Tull!

12) Modern Times - Midas Touch Another cool little noodle from the above 'Music For Dancefloors' album.

13) Steppin' Out - Joe Jackson Bang on the money with the title, but it's not a remix, this is the original, which goes to show I think how ahead of the game JJ was when he recorded this. It's from 1982 for fuck's sake! Have a suitably cheesy video on the house.

14) September Song - Cal Tjader The master of the jazz xylophone. From the album 'Latin Kick'.

15) Day Dreaming - Aretha Franklin Easily my favourite AF tune. Sweet, sweet, sweet soul.

16) Return Of The Crooklyn Dodgers - Crooklyn Dodgers Chuck D! You will be kicking yourself David - first on the mike here is Chubb Rock! I'm guessing it was a Freudian slip! Also O.C. and Jeru feature, from the film Clockers - but you knew that!

17) Star Of A Story - George Benson George just can't get enough love from me - he's a god, pure and simple. I got free tickets to go and see him at the Albert Hall (I think) in the summer, it was just amazing. I got to go backstage too - and who should I see ligging it up? None other than Faith Brown

18) Kuch Kuch Hota Hai - Udit Narayan & Alka Yagnik I'm so glad you liked this! It's a duet from the 1998 Bollywood film of the same name, it roughly translates as 'Something Happens'. It was a massive hit Asia wide, so much so that a lot of people are a bit embarrassed to admit to liking it! If you liked that, check out my Bollywood music thread, there might be some other stuff you like too - particularly 'Kehna Hi Kya' by Chitra, at a guess.

[Guitar Heroine]

Im sorry I havent sent mine out yet, I will do it thias w/e

Mine is now on it's way to the lucky recipient

Mr Do - Im so sorry...I toyed with not opening the card, I spoke to my colleagues and asked their advice and I just couldnt stop myself.

THANK YOU!!!!

Also mega cheers for the lanyards, Im wearing one today I havent listened to the cd yet thopugh, my ears are still bleeding from seeing Muse.

xxx

[Mr Do 71]

Im sorry I havent sent mine out yet, I will do it thias w/e

Mr Do - Im so sorry...I toyed with not opening the card, I spoke to my colleagues and asked their advice and I just couldnt stop myself.

THANK YOU!!!!

Also mega cheers for the lanyards, Im wearing one today I havent listened to the cd yet thopugh, my ears are still bleeding from seeing Muse.

xxx

Heh, no worries. I'll post up the tracklisting upon your request.

[Paradigm]

Got mine from Para-tothe-digm today just as I was leaving- which CD do I listen to first? The vitriolic sounding one? I predict some Costello/Smiths.

Hahaha. Only one Costello song and no Smiths!

Listen to whatever you want, mate. Or mix both CDs up on your PC so it plays a track from either, ending in the feelgood last track on the Love CD! S'all good.

Thought that if I was going to do CD Mix Club I might as well make it pretty personal and give you some emotion. And that kinda thing. So yeah! Enjoy, mate.

[holly]

Paradigm, yours is going in the post tomorrow, so hopefully you'll get it Monday or Tuesday. Not totally sure you're going to like it, it's a bit banging for the first half...