Mix Swap HQ

Want to do a mix swap? Here's how

How to do it

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Making your mix

These aren't hard rules, just tips to maximize the music sharing potential. Some of these might not work for themed swaps, so use discretion as necessary. This is about fun, so don't stress over adhereing to any guidelines.

Emphasize music that's harder to come by
This can be indie/underground artists, artists who aren't known in your country, music that isn't on streaming platforms, one-off cover performances, or tracks that are buried deep in albums. Anything that someone isn't likely to come across on the radio or on Spotify. Feel free to include your own music!

Limit one song per artist
When the goal is to expose yourself to a wide variety of music, including several songs by the same artist will get in the way. Also, it'd be unfair to smaller artists to give out a good chunk of their discography if they need the streams/downloads.

Know your audience
If you're taking some mixes to a MCR fan meetup, it probably won't benefit anyone to include MCR songs in your mix. And do you really think the other participants haven't heard that Panic! At the Disco song? Let's think this through.

Decorating your mix

Only decorate the top of the disc
Information is read from the bottom of the CD, so marking this side can prevent playback.

Use soft-tipped pens
Water-based, felt-tip markers should be safe for writing or drawing on CDs. Sharpies have gotten a bad reputation in some circles, but this appears to be based on speculation more than reality, and they should work just fine. DO NOT use pencils or ballpoint pens as these will damage your CDs.

Avoid adhesives
Sometimes the adhesives on stickers or labels can damage the CD, but the bigger danger is if they start peeling. If they're stuck on well enough, a peeling sticker could take off the CD's protective layers or even the data layer itself.

Keep it light
Decor like stickers or too thick a layer of pigment could unbalance a CD, which can make it break while spinning. This can damage the playback device too, so you may want to test your decorated discs before giving them out!

Some decorating tips

These aren't necessary, just helpful

Use printable CDs
Printable CD-Rs typically have an unmarked white label side, so they are easier to draw on. These are also a good option if you're unable to write on your CDs and have access to a printer that can print on CDs.

Write the tracklist on the CD
You could write or print the tracklist on paper, but in case it gets lost or separated from the CD, writing them on the disc ensures that the information stays with the music.

Include a way to contact you!
If you get a song that you really like, but the artist proves difficult to search for, it'd be nice to have someone you can ask for help! Or maybe someone you gave a mix to will want to let you know how much they enjoyed it. Put your username or e-mail on your mix!

Although these mixes are meant to have a handmade DIY feel, drawing on CDs or cassette labels isn't feasible for everyone. In these cases, there are CD printers and CD drives that can burn designs onto the tops of CDs, or you can just print out a tracklist on paper. This project is first and foremost about sharing music and building community, everything else is just a fun bonus.

Other considerations

Transporting and storing your mixes

While cassette tapes come with their own cases, CD-Rs often don't. You may be able to find a secondhand travel CD holder or dust off an old one you had in storage,