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There’s something special about being able to mix Italo Disco on vinyl. The sound is warm, the rhythm slightly off at times, and the emotion is real. It’s the kind of music that fits different energy levels and occasions. Therefore, it can be useful to learn how to mix Italo Disco on vinyl properly.
Italo Disco was born in early-80s Italy, but its reach went far beyond that. From Germany to Japan, it became the sound of nightlife before house music took over. Artists like Koto, Gary Low, Savage, and Gazebo created tracks that still sound unique today; a strange mix of futuristic and nostalgic. In this article, I will guide you through the essentials of how to mix Italo Disco successfully, by understanding the genre, which records are great to start practicing with, and what you need.
Understanding the Italo Disco Sound
If you’re used to playing house or any other modern genre, the first thing you’ll notice is that Italo doesn’t always behave perfectly. The drums can drift a bit, the arrangements are unpredictable, and the intros might not always be built for DJs. That’s part of the charm. The sound is usually built around a solid kick, a bright snare, and a strong melodic hook. But most importantly, Italo Disco is defined by its futuristic/robotic synth sound that is supported by cheesy lyrics that sound like they were written by someone who does not speak English. Make sure that the sounds of the songs you play do not conflict too much, and choose intros and outros when mixing. This way, you avoid the lyrics and synths disturbing each other.
Most tracks sit between 110 and 120 BPM, which gives you some space to breathe when mixing. But the BPM can differ quite a lot between tracks. Take, for example Only You by Savage, the BPM of that track is around 100. You need to pitch this up quite a lot to be able to mix it with most Italo Disco songs, which can sound off. Lastly, energy levels can differ vastly between Italo Disco tracks. Take, for example Visitors by Koto and Dolce Vita by Ryan Paris. Dolce Vita has a higher BPM than Visitors, but Visitors feels a lot energetic.
Choosing the Right Records
You don’t need a huge collection to start, just a few well-chosen records that capture the range of the sound. Some good starting points:
- Koto – “Visitors” – big, spacey synth lines and tight rhythm.
- Gazebo – “I Like Chopin” – slower, more emotional, great for easy transitions.
- Gary Low – “You Are a Danger” – punchy, clean production, easy to mix.
- Ryan Paris – “Dolce Vita” – a classic feel-good anthem, timeless energy.
Most of these came out on labels like ZYX, Baby Records, or Discomagic, and they’re still relatively easy to find as reissues. Focus on a few that have long intros and outros. Once you know them well, mixing becomes instinctive.
Setting Up Your Gear
Finding out what gear you are going to play your music can be quite a journey. It’s important to think about your desires and what your playing style will be. Regardless of playing style or desire, you need two direct-drive turntables, a solid two-channel mixer, and cartridges that track well, and you can get started.
Make sure your setup is properly balanced: tonearms balanced, anti-skate dialed in, and pitch faders smooth. You’ll feel the difference when beat-matching.
Recording Your Progress
First and foremost, the most important thing to do at the beginning of your journey is to just start mixing and practicing. Once you’ve got a few transitions you’re happy with, it is beneficial to record your mixes. The reason is that a transition sounds very different through your headphones while mixing, versus what a crowd would hear if you were playing live. So you might think that you nailed a transition, but in reality, the balance could be incorrect.
Don’t overthink it. Practicing is far more important. But, listening back helps you hear how your set actually flows.
Finding Your Own Style
Italo Disco is a diverse genre, with different sub-genres that could be blended with it. HI-NRG, for example, is a genre that was born from Italo Disco and is the faster version that originated in the United States. Understand what you like and what you don’t like. Make sure to buy a lot of vinyl from that genre!
Final Thoughts
To mix Italo Disco on vinyl is the perfect combination and a match made in heaven. It combines the analog feel with the nostalgic sound that is Italo Disco. Once you get comfortable with the flow, the imperfections, and that unmistakable synth energy, every mix becomes a little time machine back to a great age of dance music. So dust off those sleeves, drop the needle, and let the Italo magic do the rest.
