September Mix: "Eclipse"
Neverrain listeners,
I am pleased to bring you September's mix; "Eclipse", a journey through silky-smooth progressive house and deep melodic trance.
As I was wrapping up this month's mix, I realized that some of you may be interested in my method of mixing for Neverrain, so I thought this month I could tell you a little about how I go about developing my mixes for Neverrain, in case any of you are interested in what goes on behind the scenes.
I typically start each month searching for a variety of records that will achieve the mood or vibe I want to create for the next mix. I will often listen to hundreds of records at my local record store, or at online record stores such as "Hard to Find Records" (www.htfr.com). If I cannot find the track I am searching for on vinyl, I will resort to buying it in digital format from places like "Beatport" (www.beatport.com) and burn the track to CD. It is important to develop personal relationships with the people who work at the record stores you shop at, as they will aid you in getting a hold of rare tracks that you are searching for. I have been spinning for approximately 15 years now, so the people at these stores know what style I am looking for and will typically hold onto records for me that they know I will be interested in spinning.
Once I have a good amount of potential records for the set, I begin narrowing down what I really want in the set. Usually I have around 50-100 records that I need to go through, and eventually narrow them down to 15-20 tracks that I think are worthy of the set.
I then begin planning the order of the set, which is very important. I test the transition-ability of each record from one to the next. Once I figure out the transition order of each track, I am pretty much 90% there. I know all the tracks I want to spin, and I know the order I want to spin them in.
At this point, I hit "record" on the DAT recorder and spin the set. If a transition doesnt go the way I want it to, I start over. Sometimes it will take me a good 5-10 tries to get the set exactly the way I want it to sound.
Once I am happy with the mix, I will feed it into the computer digitally and run it through Sony SoundForge. At this point I am simply looking to eliminate noise, vinyl distortion, etc. I use Sonic Foundry's Noise Reduction plugin to isolate noise and remove it. Once I am happy with the overall sound of the mix, I compress it from .wav to .mp3 at 192 kbps (44,100hz, 16 bit, Stereo) and the mix is done.
For those only interested in the sounds, I apologize for the tangent and without futher ado, I present "Eclipse":
*Tracklisting:
0. Intro - Exerpt from "Runaway" - Neil Kolo Dub Mix
1. Greed, Andre Absolut - "The Other Side"
2. Dominic Plaza, Parham - "Everyday Elevation"
3. Amani, Danny Howells, Teapot - "Breathe" - Desert Dwellers Remix
4. Dominic Plaza, Parham - "Once"
5. Dominic Plaza, Kasey Taylor, Parham - "Trapped" - Parham & Dominic Plaza Mix
6. Zack Marullo - "Snowin"
7. Dominic Plaza, Parham - "Lokotron"
8. Off Mind, Pablo Roma - "Broken Cells" - Off Mind Mix
9. Pablo Roma, Marcelo Vasami - "Pushing Me Away"
10. Inkfish, David West - "Aftermath"
11. Roland Klinkenberg - "Nick of Time"
12. Thomas Penton - "No More" - Thomas Penton Mix
13. Life In Streams - "Brainwash" - Club Mix
14. Bill Hamel - "Into Nothing" - Last Time in 9 Vocal Mix
Comments
Excellent mix there EJ,each month you gives huge ammount of symphony to our ears.
Keep that way man and thanks for the "behind scene" look.
Tom
Posted by: Liquid | September 3, 2006 12:50 AM
Great! Thanks Eric. I'm going to enjoy listening to your new mix on my MP3 player.
Posted by: The HIve Mind | September 3, 2006 05:40 AM
Lovin' this one.. it's up there with the Responder Mix! ;)
Posted by: jer | September 3, 2006 06:11 AM
Hey Eric, since the mixes are reflecting your mood and feelings i hope your girlfriend hasn't left you?!
Gotta go and listen on and on and on...
Thank you for another mix!
Alex
Posted by: Alexander Frings | September 3, 2006 06:36 AM
Great mix!
Posted by: BeatPorter | September 3, 2006 10:18 AM
Once again, great mix Eric !!
Thanks you to share it with all neverrains fans ! :)
Posted by: LaUrEnT | September 3, 2006 10:21 AM
Thanks for sharing how you create your mixes. I've got a friend who once showed me a similar way of mixing. The September mix is a great one, as usual.
-Ethan
Posted by: Ethan | September 3, 2006 05:29 PM
Damn, you just keep getting better Eric. Really gets my blood movin.
Posted by: rhamej | September 4, 2006 09:58 AM
One of your best so far. Just around 46:00 is where it really picks up. Loving it so far!
Posted by: Joe Ridino | September 4, 2006 10:37 AM
-still downloading-
Can't wait till I get home and listen!
Thanks for sharing the procedure about how you pick the tracks for your sets and master them. I was thinking about spinning a short one and release online, and I was worried about the quality. Now I know what to do.
See you around! Thanks again!
Posted by: Ambient Yuki | September 5, 2006 05:17 AM
Hi Eric,
Great set as always, very smooth mixing. I also use beatport but I've found htfr to be always out of stock.
I read in an interview that you use Ableton to write some of your music, I'm curious to know...have you considered going down the same route as Sasha and many others and using it to dj as well? (even if used in conjunction with 1200's and cdj's) What are your thought's on this?
I'm currently using it b/c my decks and records are being shipped back home to oz from London and I think if used correctly it can dramatically enhance the creativity and control over the set.
I also found it interesting about the amount of planning that goes into your sets. Do you take the same approach to your live sets or is this purely because it's a mix that you have a clear vision of where you want it to start and finish as opposed playing to a crowd and making them dance and throw their hands in the air?
Keep up the good work, glisten has been my favourite so far, especially when jet lag slave kicks in right near the end.
Woodsy
Posted by: Woodsy | September 6, 2006 08:32 AM
Eric Jordan keeps the circle of perfection going round -n round. Awesome mix, EJ!!!!
I think that Neverrain.com Champions - Ethan & Laurent, will agree with me when I say that Eclipse takes the mind to a whole new level.
Any chance on digitizing "In through the E tunnel" and posting it here??
Posted by: Jed | September 6, 2006 04:41 PM
Thanks for the behing the scenes info. I gave this link to a friend who will soon start mixing, he found it very helpful. I hven't listend to the mix as of yet, I will when I get in later and post my.
Posted by: Fred | September 9, 2006 12:29 AM
I have just listend to the mix. Absolutely fantastic mix, Eric. It goes from one high to the next taking you through a truely epic journey to a fantastic climax. Brilliant.
Posted by: Fred | September 9, 2006 04:59 AM
As a graphic/web designer, in front of a screen all day I listen to a lot of music. Eric’s mixes inspire creativity and stir up many good memories of my days as a DJ.
Not that I get much attention at all, or really have much to say... but I also posted your site on my blog...
http://sfadams.wordpress.com/2006/08/17/audio-blog-of-djproducer-eric-jordan/keep
keep up the awesome work!
Posted by: Steve | September 18, 2006 01:49 PM
I have been listening to your mixes since the beginning. Shameful enough to say this is my first comment. However, that's probably a good thing as all my comments most likely would be just repetitions of each other (i.e. another great mix!).
Anyways, you (Eric) have always been a major inspiration to me. I hope you continue producing tracks like this. I love taking a walk outside and getting some fresh air while listening to one of your mixes on my iPod. Nature is also a major inspiration in my life and your tracks somehow flow so naturally with Mother Nature. Your tracks are a perfect blend of emotional stimulation and invigoration of inspiring beats.
Keep up the great work!
Posted by: Bradford Kolumbic | September 21, 2006 12:34 PM
I became a fan the moment I saw 2advanced(1). you inspire me into flash & web-design.
Keep up the good work.
DSR
Posted by: David | September 25, 2006 09:05 PM
Yes! Glad to hear more about your mixing process. What tables and decks do you use? More info on your hardware prefs would be great too. I use Roland gear and then mixdown on my Mac, (AAC format is great) using Pro Tools or Logic. What other apps and gear do you use a lot?
SD
Posted by: sd | September 29, 2006 10:35 AM
First of all Eric Thanx to God to let us have You.
Second You was mentioned : " ... I realized that some of you may be interested in my method of mixing for Neverrain ... "
... So would You let me know which equipment do You use, and where can I by That equipment, and is there is some guide how to use it. I know that my question is funny, but I wannt to learn and I know that u can show me tha way, You are the one, sori about my nonenglish, and if You answer me on this one I have many others questions ;)
Best Wishes !
Posted by: Almin | September 30, 2006 09:35 AM
I've been listening to this track everyday and it has grown to be my personal favorite.
I love where it starts from 1:15:14 I can't get enough of that awesome beat and especially the violins I suppose you could say playing in the backdrop of the beat. If you have anymore more like that up your sleeve I'd love to hear it!
Posted by: Romulo Mendivil | October 1, 2006 10:21 PM
simply amazing !
Posted by: squid | November 1, 2006 12:45 PM
Hi all!
You are The Best!!!
G'night
Posted by: Terabanitoss | May 9, 2007 08:14 AM