What is Pivot Mixing?
Pivot Mixing is a DJ technique to mix different BPMs.
Pivot Mixing builds on a technique historically known as 'metric modulation', 'tempo modulation', or 'polyrhythmic mixing'. Tempo modulation in electronic dance music has been, until now, typically performed with BPMs in simple 2:3 or 3:4 ratios. Pivot Mixing expands tempo modulation to a vast spectrum of ratios, such as 5:6, 7:8, 11:12, and beyond. The Portal Apps make it easy to explore temporality as a new dimension.
Pivot Mixing emphasises what is unchanging (the pivot), rather than what is changing (the tempo, meter, or polyrhythms). Continuity and repetition are crucial in electronic dance music.
Pivot Mixing was created by Dr. Nicolas Bougaïeff through independent artistic research and a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship.
What is a Pivot Track?
A Pivot Track is a very simple 4/4 track, specially designed for Pivot Mixing. Pivot Tracks are composed mostly with simple quarter-note patterns, although some exceptions are possible. The simple rhythmic patterns in Pivot Tracks become polyrhythms when you mix in tracks from your collection at different BPMs. Pivot Tracks can be produced with any type of sounds, be they instrumental or vocal, percussive, melodic, harmonic, or atonal.
Is Pivot Mixing the same as polymeter/polyrhythm?
Polyrhythms are a ubiquitous component of the technique. The patterns in Pivot Tracks are perceived as different rhythmic values when mixed with tracks at different BPMs. The pivot rhythmic values create different polyrhythms at each BPM.
What is the BPM of a Pivot Track?
The BPM of a Pivot Track is the tempo of the pivot itself, not of the tracks you're mixing. When you mix pivots and tracks at different BPMs, you create polyrhythms. Each Pivot BPM unlocks a specific set of tempo transitions. For example, a Pivot Track at 56 BPM lets you transition between 140 and 168, or between 112 and 126, among others. The Portal Apps show you which Pivot BPMs connect which tempos. The Portal Finder lets you choose the BPMs of your two tracks and gives you Pivot BPM options.
Why is a Pivot Track necessary?
Two tracks at different BPMs normally sound like a very complex polytemporal texture unsuitable for maintaining a groove. Two tracks at BPMs related by a ratio of natural numbers share a special property: both can accommodate an identical absolute duration that is interpreted as a different musical duration.
For example, at 140 BPM a musical duration of 5/16 corresponds to an absolute duration of 535 milliseconds (ms). At 168 BPM, a musical duration of 6/16 also corresponds to an absolute duration of 535 ms. This duration, 535 ms, is a pivot duration.
A Pivot Track introduces musical material composed of pivot durations. A pivot track fits into the rhythmic grid at two or more BPMs. Mixing in a pivot track creates a sense of continuity across BPMs.
I have a Pivot Track. Which BPMs can I mix?
Check out the Portal Chart, the far-left column of Pivot BPMs tells you which track BPMs can be mixed. For example, a Pivot Track at 64 BPM can be used to mix tracks at 96, 112, 128, 144, 160, and 176 BPM.
How do I read the Portal Chart?
The chart shows the versatility of each Pivot BPM. Ionic Pivot 09, for example, is at 112 BPM and lets you pivot from 140 to 168 BPM. Load Ionic Pivot 09 on one deck and, on another deck, load any other track at either 140 or 168 BPM. Start both decks at the same time. Listen how the pivot and the track interact.
Pivot Tracks work at many BPMs. A row in the chart tells you all the BPMs that work with a Pivot Track. Ionic Pivot 09, for example, can be used to mix any track at 84, 112, 140, or 168 BPM.
How do I know when to mix BPMs?
Pivot Tracks are produced as repeating loops of four pulses. A loop within a Pivot Track is a clear musical structure that tells you when to mix BPMs. Mix in a track with a new BPM at the beginning of a pivot loop.
Do I need special equipment to perform Pivot Mixing?
Pivot Mixing can be performed with standard DJ equipment. We recommend platforms that support flexible beatgrids, such as rekordbox and Traktor Pro 4.
How can I use Hot Cues?
Pivot Tracks are produced as a loop of four pulses repeated many times. You can take advantage of this musical structure with DJ software that supports flexible beatgrids, such as rekordbox and Traktor Pro 4.
Create a new Beat Marker and Hot Cue at the beginning of a loop within a Pivot Track. Set the BPM of this Beat Marker to any valid Track BPM for this Pivot BPM. For example, if you have a Pivot Track at 64 BPM, you can set Beat Markers at 96, 112, 128, 144, 160, and 176 BPM.
Consult the Pivot Chart to find Track BPMs associated with Pivot BPMs.