Today I want to talk a little about intro / mixing bars.
Something that a think is lacking a bit today but was done really well in the past, especially in old Makina / Rave.
If you think of tracks like Monstersound, Rave In The Jungle, Voules Vouz, Printer etc, as soon as you hear them mixing in, even if you only hear 1 or 2 seconds or one of the fills, you instantly know what tune is coming.
The reason for that is the sounds are so unique and that combination of sounds is only used in that track so it’s very easily identifiable.
I think these days we’re a lot lazier, me included, and we tend to just slap on an old rap loop over a basic kick and bass and call it a day. Not only is that really boring but as a listener you have no idea what tune it is as the same rap loops, and similar kicks and bass are used in hundreds of tracks.
This is a call to think outside the box and see what you can do to separate your intros from every other track.
Get creative with unique fx and synths sounds, interesting percussion, maybe even record your own vocal loops / fills and manipulate them with effects & processing.
Also your mixing bars should be fun for the DJ and give them opportunities to get creative with the cuts and fills. You can’t do much as a DJ if it’s just a constant rap loop with flat kick and bass.
What are your favourite classic tracks to mix? Drop some links below for inspiration 