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Q u a r t e r l y - T i p
Crossfader Curve Settings
by Rob WegnerFall 2007
Even though I stopped using the crossfader on a DJ mixer many years ago (i.e., I get a cleaner mix using the upfaders only), I believe a discussion of the various crossfader curve settings will help many DJ's to understand their options with regards to segueing tracks.
Three Types of Curve Settings
On most DJ mixers -- if you examine the area near the crossfader -- you will notice a knob/dial that allows you to calibrate the crossfader curve. While there are generally three types of crossfader curves, most DJ's can either set their crossfader to one of these curves or to some point between two curves.
The Beat Mix Curve
As Figure 1 Shows, the beat mix curve is designed to allow a DJ to gradually increase the volume of one channel -- while simultaneously decreasing the volume of the other channel. This setting is ideal for DJ's that prefer to beat mix tracks -- and is not necessarily a good setting for turntablism/scratching.
The Dipped Curve
As Figure 2 shows, the dipped curve's volume "dips" in the middle. This is done to prevent the combined volume of two channels from muddling the mix and/or to prevent damaging the equipment (i.e., speakers) when the crossfader is in the middle position. This crossfader curve is also ideal for DJ's that beat mix.
The Scratch Curve
The scratch curve is intended for turntablists and/or DJ's that scratch. As Figure 3 shows, the channel volume will increase relatively quick as soon as the DJ slides the crossfader a small amount. This enables the DJ to scratch (i.e., crab) without the need to move the crossfader across the mixer to obtain the desired volume (to achieve the same effect). The scratch curve is not recommended for beat mixing.
Industry News
* An article in LAist entitled "Understanding House Music" does a good job explaining the various facets of house music and its subgenres. The article also features a discussion of the Los Angeles house music scene (or lack thereof). See Understanding House Music
* Deutsche Welle, a leading German news site, has a short video about DJ/turntablism lessons in Germany. See Learn to Scratch at DJ School (in English).
* An article in the New York Times reveals that -- in seeking to augment its Zune music gadget -- Microsoft is inspired by DJ culture in the sense that "a DJ turntable setup sits near flat-screen televisions." See Gates Hints at Strategies to Challenge Apple.
* An article in The Michigan Daily entitled "How to DJ" does a great job explaining the DJ occupation. See How to DJ: Spin City.
AnnouncementTHE TRENTEMØLLER CHRONICLES
Trentemøller Live in Concert
North American Tour Dates
(Release Date: October 1st, 2007)
We are happy and proud to present THE TRENTEMØLLER CHRONICLES. This new double album is not a new studio album, but - as the title indicates - an overview of Trentemøller's impressive body of work. The Trentemøller Chronicles include Anders' personal selection of his best songs and remixes, which have only been available on vinyl or on compilations, as well as some new and exclusive songs. But the fantastic Trentemøller mix on CD1 and the fine selection of remixes on CD2 make this release a great double album in its own right for extraordinary listening pleasure.
Trentemøller and his live partner DJ "Tom" Bertelsen played more than 100 shows over the last one and a half years with their raving and energetic live sets mainly based on Trentemøller's dancefloor singles. But now we are happy to announce a very special tour: "Trentemøller Live in Concert"! For the first Trentemøller and the band will perform the tracks from the album The Last Resort live on stage!
It's almost exactly one year since Anders Trentemøller's debut al bum The Last Resort (on Poker Flat) took the hearts of music lovers worldwide by storm. At that moment in time the Danish producer had built his outstan ding reputation on many huge dancefloor hits such as "Rykketid", "Polar Shift" and "Sunstroke". Seemingly out of the blue The Last Resort left all expectations for an electronic dancefloor album far behind and presented a stunning organic, emotional and beautiful masterpiece of cinematic proportions, earning a wealth of rave re?views and critics' awards, as well as "Album Of The Year" plaudits in many music magazines.
"Trentemøller is not only a dance floor genius, but a musical mas termind in the broader sense. Killer release!" (DJ Times); "Genius and visionary!" (Intro); "This is sultry, sexy music." (Pitchforkmedia.com); "This is a seductive album full of moody and mysterious music." (New York Times).
The second angle on Trentemøller's creativity is the remix work he's done for other artists. It's the "Trentemøller twist" he adds to songs like Röyksopp's "What Else Is There?", Moby's "Go" and many others which have made him one of the most highly sought after remix artists around. Whether on his own tracks or in his remixes Trentemøller loves to create antipodes. The tracks on The Last Resort reveal an organic combination of hand-played instruments and electronica sounds. Every tune is carefully thought out, but the end result seems totally natural. In his dancefloor tracks Trentemøller layers on more and more sounds and instruments which fall perfectly into place in spite of seeming dangerously incompatible at the same time. Trentemøl ler managed to develop his own signature sound and some of the fascination of his music lays within the contrast between large and vast echo chambers and sharp, direct in-your-face sound bites.
As the new songs and remixes Trentemøller has produced follo wing The Last Resort have yet to be released, or, like some of his best tracks and remixes had only been available on vinyl-12", if at all, or were scattered to the four winds, it was high time to appreciate a fantastic producer with this new double album: The Trentemøller Chronicles. This collection contains Trentemøller's best songs and remixes as chosen by Anders himself with the exception, of course, of the songs which already appeared on The Last Resort.
The first CD has been mixed and compiled by Trentemøller, flo wing effortlessly through his own songs (and one remix). New and unreleased songs like "Klodsmajor" and "Blood In The Streets" alongside tracks such as "The Forest", "Kink" and "Gush" which were originally released on Danish labels on vinyl format only have been selected as well as tracks like "Rykketid", "Physical Frac tion" and "Killer Kat", some of Trentemøller's biggest dancefloor hits on Poker Flat Recordings and Audiomatique. Of course, the Trentemøller remixes of the vocal versions of "Moan featuring Ane Trolle" and "Always Something Better featuring Richard Davis" find their rightful place on this selection. Also included is the "Live Ver sion" of "Snowflake" (a track from "The Last Resort") as well as Trentemøller's brand new remix for Klovn's "McKlaren", available here on CD for the first time.
Due to popular demand and as a special bonus the album also includes the radio edit of "Moan" from the stunning video based on the story of the dog Laika and its sad journey into orbit. However, all this attention to detail shouldn't conceal the fact that this is simply a fantastic Trentemøller album, thanks to Anders' edi ting and his beautiful mix on CD1 which is a wonderful journey th rough the soundscapes of a brilliant producer and is sure to please fans of The Last Resort.
The second CD features Trentemøller's best remixes as compiled by Anders and highlights the versatility of this great producer. Star ting with Trentemøller's classic and timeless take on Röyksopp's "What Else Is There?", the remix CD offers blistering and power ful dancefloor cuts such as "Coincidance" (Mathias Schaffhäuser), "Feeling Good" (exclusive Chronicles edit by Trentemøller) (Jokke Ilsøe) and "Flamingo" (Tomboy), milestones like "We Share Our Mother's Health" (The Knife) and freaky slamming Electro-House mixes like "Want 2 / Need 2" (Sharon Philips) and "Konichiwa Bit ches" (Robyn). The stunning heavy rocking bass remix for "Danger Global Warming" is a donation to a project to raise awareness of climate change. By way of contrast, the remix CD also contains the beautifully floating and dubby mix of "You And I" (Filur) and "Les Djinns" (Djuma Soundsystem). Not forgetting, of course, the magic remix of Moby's mega-hit "Go!".
Packed with astounding tracks, this double album offers a fasci nating insight into the musical evolution of one of today's supreme electronic producers. Guided through his impressive body of work by Trentemøller himself, this is a valuable addition to any fan's col lection and a perfect introduction to anyone keen to find out more about the artist and his oeuvre.
"ANDERS TRENTEMOLLER, a Danish producer and D.J. whose sleek, vaguely menacing tracks and remixes have earned him a devoted following in Europe, and a devoted (but much smaller) following in America, too. [The Last Resort] is moody, mysterious music, and like many meticulous dance-music producers from Europe, Mr. Trentemoller finds ways to hint at two very different places at once: a nearly empty bedroom and a not-at-all-empty nightclub."
KELEFA SANNEH (NEW YORK TIMES)
Trentemøller Live in Concert North American Tour Dates
Trentemøller Live in Concert are Henrik Vibskov, Anders Trentemøller and Mikael Simpson. Apart from being exceptionally gifted musicians, Vibskov and Simpson are already very well known artists in their own rights. Henrik Vibskov (drums) is a famous fashion desig¬ner with exhibitions in Paris, London, New York, Tokyo and more, while Mikael Simpson (guitar / bass) is one of the most popular and gold selling danish singer/songwriters.
Elaborate visuals have been done for the entire show by video director Karim Ghahwagi (who already pro vided spectacular visuals for the shows of the Danish band Efterklang) and you can expect a highly entertai ning and capturing multi-sensual live performance of an outstanding album on these select North American dates:
October 03 Vancouver, Canada @ Plaza Club www.plazaclub.net
October 04 San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine www.mezzaninesf.com
October 05 San Diego, CA @ On Broadway www.obec.tv
October 06 Los Angeles, CA @ Avalon Hollywood www.avalonhollywood.com
October 08 Seattle, WA @ Neumos www.neumos.com
October 10 Denver, CO @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom www.cervantesmasterpiece.com
October 11 Quebec, Canada @ Le Cercle
October 12 Toronto, Canada @ The Mod Club www.themodclub.com
October 13 New York, NY @ Rebel NYC www.made-event.com
For additional worldwide tour dates, please go to: www.myspace.com/trentemollerinconcert.
www.audiomatique.com
www.myspace.com/trentemoeller-
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