Sep. 09, 2009 - Issue #725: Sex in the City 2009

Digital Mixing

Mixmaster Sandor: Turns out digital mixing is good for novices and pros alike

Back in June, I wrote a column that questioned how much skill—or, dare I use the word, musicianship—was needed to mix music using electronic gadgets. I discussed the Pacemaker, a mixer that allows the user to upload MP3s and mix them together seamlessly.

The people who represent Tonium, the company that makes the Pacemaker, saw the column and offered to send me out a loaner, so I could spend a few weeks playing with the device. I want to make that clear right up front.

So, what did I think of the machine?

First off, the thing is tiny, maybe about twice the size of an iPod. You can hold it one hand and manipulate the controls with the other. It has a round interface that you control with a finger, to do everything from cueing up a song to playing with tempos.

It's actually a very easy device to pick up and play. Sure, there are some advanced things you can do with it, but if you just want to load up some MP3s and mix them, it's a breeze to figure it out, especially if you've used an iPod or any other kind of digital music player.

Basically, you play one song, and cue up the other. The device will scan the songs and let you know the BPM. A click of a button, and the machine will actually match the beats, and you can simply rotate the wheel to slow or speed up a song after you've made a switch. And, of course, you can cue up one MP3 while the other is playing, no different than having a mixer and headphones between the decks.

But, simply using a thumb trigger and the wheel, you can clip out a section of a song and loop it. You can even play it backwards.

Really, with the BPM information and the automatic beat matching, a total novice could, after less than a few minutes of practise, put together a credible mix, without awkward breaks or interruptions.

The Pacemaker software can also be plugged into your computer, where you can do some more elaborate mixing, and create Podcasts.

Now, there's no arguing that the Pacemaker is an extraordinary machine. But, I found it a lot more fun to use by ignoring some of the features. Beat matching is nice, but I think that a good dance mix should be like a good mixtape; songs should flow into each other based on mood and feel, not because the math works out. Really, putting together songs with varying BPMs isn't that big of a deal. And, if the tracks are close, listeners or dancers aren't going to notice.

For me, the real nifty thing about a Pacemaker is that it allows the user to manipulate a digital music file as if it was on vinyl. It can be cued to a certain spot, sped up, slowed down, chopped up. The rest of the stuff is gravy.

So, maybe I was a bit harsh back in June when I questioned the integrity of those who use digital mixing devices. I think I've seen enough of the Pacemaker to understand that it won't take the artistry away from the DJ, as long as the DJ doesn't get too obsessed with numbers. The key with the Pacemaker is to treat it as a tool, not a machine that will do everything for you. V

Steven Sandor is a former editor-in-chief of Vue Weekly, now an editor and author living in Toronto.

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