For all new DJs take note: This is all entirely opinion. It is up to the DJ to manipulate a track or mix as he thinks best at the time. If overusing the filter is to get the crowd moving, then that's up to him. Learn with club experience, not TH-cam clips. Flawless beat matching on cdjs = easy. On vinyl, not so easy. It takes time and practise. A lot of experienced Djs (including myself) don't like flawless matching; a little slip shows the DJ putting the work in. Good luck! Ps. Classic DJ bad habit - standing in a club being over-critical of other DJs.
Word. Took me months to beat match on vinyl now theres a fucking button. Your gonna fuck up. Learn, practice, and have a love for the music.....all of it.
Flawless matching is easier on vinyl, so long as the decks are calibrated and the vinyls aren't warped. (and it isn't hip hop or some other genre where the tempo changes). but yeah, don't stand around criticising people. thats wack.
Whats funny is that I tend to get angry at other djs when they play because of all the shit they are doing and my friends and especially my family don't understand why. And gues who gets yelled at?!
I've seen some DJ's wanting to look busy, but instead of ruining the music just to turn a few knobs, they used the knobs on the two unused deck slots. Most people in the club wouldn't even notice that the knobs doesn't do anything, and nobody has to be annoyed that the sound is ruined.
rossel onsen Well, if you work out in public, and wanna keep your job, in the vast majority of cases you need to look like you're always doing something. That's the main reason why most DJs refuse to sit down as well. If you're done with the prep for the next transition, and you have a minute left over, you can't just stand there like a fool and look at the audience. If you go take a swig of your drink every time that happens, you'd need to take a piss halfway through your set, so that's out of the question. Turning a few knobs that does nothing is better, and most of the time, nobody will spot it.
no, a live performer's job is to entertain a crowd as a live performer, a dj's job is to read the mood of a crowd and use his or her musical knowledge to keep a party going
conclusion on DJing: a DJ is good when you dont even realize he is there, because his tracks flow so nicely as if he just pressed play and everything was mixed before :)
thats probably why going out these days is poop - a dj should let yah know they are there coz they are dropping bad arse tunes that make yah wanna run to and bust some moves on the dance, all the time wanting to the know the name of all the tunes they are dropping....
if you want to get good at something do it everyday. if you want to be good and unpleasant to be around criticize everyone else's work. i would like to mention though that silence within a set can be useful if used properly. my best advice to any dj is to: 1) play regularly 2) record yourself if you can 3)make mistakes and practice how to make those mistakes sound complimentary/intentional to your set(because you will make mistakes live...life is beautiful because it is imperfectly perfect) 4) above all have fun otherwise you will lose your creativity.
A very good tip for any beginners: You really DONT have to mix and blend each tune. If you are running out of time (phrase mixing), then just wait for tune A to end and then drop tune B. Sounds much better than a rushed out mix. Its actually sometimes a viable way to mix even if you would have plenty of time to blend it in slowly.
Ex0rz This is very true and something I had to do at my last school dance. The BPM’s between the slow song and the next was too far apart, and slowing down the last say... 20 bars of the slow song by 20BPM would have totally ruined it to mix into the next song. So, I just let it play out and faded into the next song.
You don't have to have house insurance either, but seems like a damn good idea. Same with mixing. You don't have to blend but you are better if you can blend diff genres and never have an abrupt end or interruption in your mix, fact. If I wanted song A then song B back to back I would just stay home and listen to shuffle on my damn home theater system. I go to hear how good the dj is
Ex0rz If someone used "i didnt want to rush the mix along" when I ask why he waited for one song to end before starting the next I would say ohh bc you dont know how, or you cant 😂😂
Its all about being creative and learning how to mix as many ways possible the error i believe is when people believe that theres only one right way to something. nuff said
truth right here, yall need to stop holding some sort of elitist ideas over djing its like an instrument of its own and like every other instrument legend its about their style not how well they "did it by the book"
I know a big mistake... REDLINING... Never push your mixer into the red. Big nightclubs have external sound engineers, they'll listen to the sound and decide what the sound needs more or less of. If you aren't in a big club but on your own dj'ing a party with your own speakers. Pusing into the red will not make your speakers louder, it'll make it worse. If your sound is not loud enough, turn up your apms or buy better and louder speakers.
An informative video but would add 6: play music you believe in 7: know your tunes inside out and back to front - in the vinyl days no waveforms or countdowns to rely on 8: play for the time of the night your are on 9: read the crowd and be flexible 10: let tunes breathe - (some) producers painstakingly created tracks so don't ruin them with filters and other effects 11: discover your own way to play - only one DJ EZ
In the vinyl days and you know that, you have had needle coming to the end of the track and certain pattern on the wax and usually light to show you drops...
RRSmith107...at the end of the day if u were a DJ back in the day when no CDJs & only vinyl u should very proficient at mixing (maybe scratching); musical knowledge; crowd reading etc...touching knobs for the sake of it & having things like a sync button are laughable...too many egos that just want to boost their own image instead of doing their job which is ENTERTAINING THE CROWD...the industry is fucked in every part of the world but I just keep my opinions to myself and just say “nice set” coz my only obligation is to deliver exactly what promoters ask of me...so it’s no accident I’ve survived since 1988 & seen some music genres come full circle like r&b & hip hop🔊🔊🔊✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻
FINALLY a video that points out the insecurities of a DJ hoping that one day they will look like a musician. Touching knobs to look busy all the time is so true. Imagine a perpetual guitar solo.
Actually, on a big system, I really wouldn't recommend having both tracks all the way up at the same volume, with the bass pots on both more or less all the way up too. That doesn't sound 'powerful', it sounds overpowering, and really boomy. You can get away with that at home. In a club it usually sounds pretty awful. It *can sound pretty raw and grab people's attention if you bring a track in over the one before it and the kick is already stomping along over the previous one, but once you take the previous track out the overall output signal will be too quiet in comparison to your transition, as will the amount of low end coming through the system. Good video though, the rest of the points were good things for new DJs to bear in mind. Nice tracks too :)
One of best DJ'ying tutorial video on TH-cam. All basic information but worth more than paid DJ course videos. I'm DJ'ying from 2004 & know all these mistakes but no one made simple and easy to understand video like this. 👍🍻
Agreed. It's almost as if some DJs don't listen to themselves in the monitors. For a mix to sound balanced you have to remove sound to add sound. It's like live mastering. Dope tracks btw.
everybody talking about either 2 turntables or the new technology, why not embrace both. I have and its been smooth sailing, i totally agree that you don't need to be doing effects all the time. A great DJ moves the crowd by his music and skill and not by the effects he can employ. I have been DJ'ing since i was 8 years old, and now i am in my 40's. I can still move a crowd mixing with 2 turntables are using any Pioneer gear. Its a question of adaptation. Oh and it has nothing to do with the key, genre, bass track like i have been reading, it has to do with skill on how to mix in different keys, genres and bass track. Thats why it's called mixing, if you are going to mix songs with the same basic bass, key and genre, then actually you aint mixing and you need to practice more.
Another common mistake is DJ's failure to see fader settings on the mixer. I always mix with channels set to either side and use the crossfader for cutting/hip hop style mixing. I find a lot of people who play afterwards are perplexed as to why there is no sound coming from their channel without ever looking at which side the crossfader is on and that the channels aren't set to through.
I have to acclimate myself when I go out and remind myself that I'm here to enjoy myself and have a good time because if I go out to a club/lounge/bar in a DJ state of mind, odds are I won't have a good time because I end up subconsciously critiquing, predicting drops & songs ect. #DJproblems
I agree I mean Im not a DJ but I produce edm and such and was thinking of doing djing but I think ill try later on next year if anything its just kinda complicated which is funny cause i had to learn fl studio to make songs but yeah. some people like to do things a little differently depending on what type of song so you really can never say what to do and what not to do cause music is music and preference unless your abusing an eq than thats torture but otherwise its all based on what song it is that you can handle something.
#7 produce some music of your own even if its just a remix of another tune you like. should have 2 or more songs in a set that belong to you otherwise you are just another cherry picker that can easily be replaced.
connor murphy Why am I an idiot? Because I think that if you can do a thing better, you should? You're just a troll. I didn't even insult you, yet you do it to me. Fuck off. I'm muting this post.
great video, nice tips, specially the filter one, lol, see djs at the clubs i play do this all the time, can hear the crowd speaking when they up the filter too high or too low
only time i use heavy filteris if the primary track has a bass cut and i still want reminents of my previous or upcoming track there without the gross sound of a bass knob cut...it make the mix much smoother bc the 2nd song songs much more like part of the song n u keep clubbers guessing not able to tell exactly what ur doing,,, and btw, i dont think any house /techno dj should ever use the flanger except of few song break downs...i dont get it it doesnt sound good or trippy it just makes dj look desperate and bored imo
Song is 'Whitness - Miguel Bastida' if anyone was wondering... every song I've heard you play on this channel so far have been some of my favorites! If you haven't already try listening to Dem Mai Hoes by Will Monotone, always goes off when I play it :)
true. well put together vid, but no real info. I started yesterday (using virtual dj until my budget improves), and even i learned nothing.. I do have a backgound in composing/ performing, so maybe that's why.
Peter Schneider I would say that a lot of new school Dj's never spun on vinyl only on Controllers or CD decks. Half them probably don't know the 8 count or breaks/build ups Flat Beats just what the Software auto beat matches for them, I started on some beater belt drive Numarks with a 2 Channel mixer and later upgraded to 2 sets of 1200s and a dj500 mixers with effects. I used to have to create my own effects until the dj 500 mixer came out or buy dj tools on wax. I would pinch the player spindle to match beats and play with the treble mids and bass to lol times have changed hugely where you just press a button to sync the Bpm and look busy ahhahaha. The knob touching that you see a lot the new school guys do now is what I use to have to do in the late 90s early 2000s. I've see guys now with an iPad deck sync'd up to Spotify with auto mix enabled just sitting there talking the whole time! Like oh brah I DJ I'm cool right! SMH!! Good video tho. There hating cause there getting called out.
In th end it does'nt really matter what you are mixing on and with what equipment. what counts is what comes out of the speakers and being able to give the audience a great hopefully euphoric feeling and makin' em wanna dance! The crowd does'nt give a shit how or what you are using when mixing. They just want to be moved and getting extatic!
as a dj for well over 30 years...this is funny to me.. i have noticed that only EDM dj's do this.. r&b, hip hop dj's dont use alot of effects..we bang out hits..a scratch now and then.. but that's about it.. so hey....not knocking the edm dj's...do your thing....keep your audience dancing...cause to be honest.. the customer paid their hard earned money to come see you perform.. so give them their money's worth!! #djtimdogg
technically 'edm' has been around for the same time as r&b/hiphop, although effects existing on the tables or mixers is more recent hiphop gets problematic for me to mix with such bpm variance (partly due to the different kinds i want to play, not only club bangers)
It's just a different genre and different type of dancing. Also, a lot of the effects on the club standard DJM/Xone mixers sound a lot like the kinda sounds that are gonna be in dance tracks so they fit well.
Wow, so many resources on the technicalities of DJ'ing these days. When I started learning how to DJ, not even that long ago (about 15 years), I had to READ an article about beat matching and then attempt to repeat the instructions. I remember I had two copies of Kelis's new hit, Milkshake, and practiced mixing them seamlessly. Drove my mother crazy listening to the same song over and over. :D Finding a video showing it back then was nearly impossible. Videos like this is what I needed 15 years ago as a kid - would have spared me a lot of hard lessons. Nowadays it's mostly common sense to me. Fine work.
I disagree about loop being the solution for "unfinished mixes", the proper solution is knowing the structure of your songs and dropping the next song at the correct point respecting the structures of both songs
That is easy to say if you are an experienced DJ but let's face it, beginning to moderately experienced DJ's are not going to get it right every time. They will either jump the gun when dropping the next song or will panic and freeze for a moment thus passing the point where they intended to drop in the next track. In those cases, looping the out going beats can cover up your mistake.
The fundamentals on how to DJ; know the equipment, not only your own but the venue's too, keep it simple and pay attention to whats going on with sound both with equipment and how sound behaves in the particular space/room.
I think this video points out very common mistakes that's being overlooked. If you are looking to get flawless sets then this video is a good start and take notes from.
My biggest pet peeves are... 1. Changing tempo while the track is playing. COME ON! I hear this all the time. Speeding up the track from 120-124 BPM slowly over the course of a minute or two, or in a breakdown. I hate this. Really big pet peeve and kills the vibe, typically clears the dancefloor. The only exception to this is when it is an intentional thing like the song itself speeds up, or the song has some repetitive tribal drumming or something where it sounds natural to speed up. Really hate it when it's a minimal techno song or whatever and it starts getting faster for no reason. Ugh. 2. Clipping. So many DJs leave no headroom and are red lining because of not properly gain staging. 3. Too many parts where the drums drop out early in the set. Many DJs will open with a track that has a big breakdown where the drums are removed. Then track #2, same deal, big breakdown with no drums for 16 or 32 bars. Then track 3, same deal. Ugh. I make it a policy to have maybe 1 or 2 breakdowns like that, tops, for the first hour of the DJ set. You can do that more later in the set when people are "in it" but it's really pretentious and unnecessarily attention-grabbing early in the set. Seriously, many of my favorite sets have no breakdowns without drums for the first hour or so. 4. Too many busy tracks or a lot of melodic content early in the set. I really like sets that build over time and start minimal, working their way up to "peak" tracks. 5. Just generally poor sequencing, huge pet peeve of mine, like opening a really killer banger that would get everyone dancing 2 hours into the set. And then after just playing some boring repetitive stuff that would have worked great beforehand. Of course these are just my pet peeves and your mileage may vary. Obviously a lot of people don't find these annoying at all, because they do them all the time! But those are things that really bug me in a DJ set, much more than beat matching being slightly off, or a lot of effects, or a mix out happening too soon. In fact none of the stuff in this video really annoys me at all. But poor sequencing, like starting from a really high energy track and demanding a lot of the audience's attention and then flubbing it with some boring stuff after, that really bugs me.
Can't believe some of the childish comments on here about differences in music opinions or the way you should do things. As someone just starting to mix I found this quite helpful.....cheers
Funny that you mention overuse of FX. I hate hate hate the airhorn! And I heard it being used to death in a reggae mix. It was really starting to get to me! I think that is the easiset one to fall into, as you feel the need, I think to "dress up" your mixes in the beginning, as opposed to mixing two tracks together, beatmatchng, etc. which is harder to do at first. That can apply to music in general. I've played instruments that use sliding "grace notes" and my teacher said overusing them can make the song sound sloppy. I found that it did.
When playing minimal, extremely repetitive styled music, it depends on what the crowd needs to get them more hyped. A lot of the productions are more like tools that actual full songs. FX in those situations are essential.
Not really, he kind of contradicted himself but i'm not sure what part is sarcasm. Playing 30 tracks / tools / locked groves in 1 hour is hardly leaving it to the production. Personally I don't do FX, I DJ normal music but I like listening to set done that way.
I actually get pretty pissed when the DJ mixes out of tracks to fast. It's like "Hey muthafuka! I was just getting into that an you gonna go and change it on me?!?!". I spin a lot of progressive techno. Talk about letting the production do the work. That's why I dig it so much. I mean yea, I do find myself looking for something to do at times, but I usually either dance and interact with the crowd or start looking for the best track mix into next. If you're dig'n the vibe, most likely they are too and vice-versa.
i agree OP... i usually get the inbound track mixed in with little to no bass and then switch up and turn up the bass on the inbound track while turning down the bass on the outbound esp if the transition is really slow...
yeah it totally fucks up the dynamics of the songs and reduces the impact of pretty much every sound maybe it doesnt matter at some psytrance bush rave as much as in a club but yea
6: Playing random tracks without taking into account of factors such as: -genre -key -the sound of a drum kick -rhythm -bassline -overall mood of track, etc. IMHO the perfect DJ mix is about consistency and achieving a flow - a state in which audience notices that tracks are switched, but it's not distracted by that fact. Actually only few DJs can play sets like this. One of exaples of such a "perfect mix" is Eric Prydz's Essential Mix from 2013. Technical masterpiece.
that is completely subjective. there are plenty of dj sets who mix all kinds of genres and even change tempos and it's an amazing experience for everyone involved. there is no perfect dj mix or dj or dj style. not everything is about a single style, monotonous techno or progressive house or trance or whatever with seemless transitions... djing is a lot more than that
juancs, you still have to consider which genre & which track you're changing to, it has to be either a nice compliment or contrast, but it shouldnt be totally random, OP is not saying stay in one style or genre at all
If you're changing up from 2 bpm's (say 126 to a 128) it's never going to come out completely perfect. I give myself an extra 2 minutes to match them up to as close as they can get. The bpm detection is not absolute and can be sporadic so that's when you have to use your own ears. Also a flick of the wrist on the turn table and adjusting the tempo accordingly and going by ear is the way to keep them both synchronized but occasionally one might drag to which you just allign by ear/hands. No matter what, if the 2 tracks differ in bpm then you have to do the 'finger dance's. Also (more rambling), I always cut in the cue'd track with no lo eq and no fading between the two just a quick switch, adds a nice bounce without it sounding like the tracks are abruptly transitioning. cheers!
Going from 126/128 is not hard work at all. Hardly noticeable with just a little adjustment of the pitch. And if done correctly, it would be perfect 👌🏽
Use the high pass filter on build ups with lots of highs. If you're using it during the main part of the track, a short, snappy application works, just apply it to a beat or two. Low pass is good for breaks.
Bad dj habit no 1: Using cheesy pioneer filter/effects. good meant advice: for electronic music i would recommend an analog mixer like the xone 92, it plays low frequencies down to 5Hz, an pioneer reaches only 20Hz which is quite poor for such an expensive mixer. and the overall sound quality of the xone is far superior than the plastic pio
+muckleby you get me wrong guys, its about the fact that an 1000 €+ mixer (pioneer) cant reproduce such low frequencies but an nearly 15 years old cheaper mixer like the xone 92 can and comes with a better sound quality the xone plays the most beautiful basses in his price range and there is a reason why it became Industry standard
Love it. Specially #2. I always say: "If you only can make the track 'interesting' by using (the same) effect over and over again, you should think about deleting that track and search for good ones" (When that gets too much on my nerves, I use the microchronometer on my phone to find out the interval of the same effect. 1min25sec is the avarage on most "hobby DJs").
Excellent and useful video, very clear description and solution to the problem, the thing is... I never got to hear the mistakes... I dont know. may be my laptop speakers are not up to the task...
Good video and points.. All though some are valid and some are subjective points as you stated... Depending on the style of music you're playing. A "professional DJ" should not be making mistakes like this.. Also it is a good idea to USE the pitch sliders? Keeping the same bpm and choosing the same bpm is like using a sync button. Try Hip Hop, R&B or even some 70s disco tracks where the bpm's are all over the place due to oldskool editing.. This will teach you other ways to DJ and produce challenges that will make you a better DJ. DJing: Over 25 years Audio Engineer: 20 years Bottom line is, everyone will make mistakes from time to time, we're not perfect BUT if you're going to preach and teach? You better know at least how to mix with the sliders by ear. A note on trims.. Before the gig starts, pick your loudest track, set the trim to 1 or 2 yellow peaks.. Preferably stay within the greens, Keep your master level about three quarters up, Then when you come across a track that is quieter you have more headroom to balance. The problem is that our ears adjust to the volume and we find ourselves driving the tracks louder and louder from when you first started. EQ: Your balance might be set correctly but a bass change from a song or EQ will change your balance (Peak level). FX: Only should be used to spice things up a little, a touch of it is great to keep things interesting but like all things DJ there is a time in the song or mix to use them, the job of a DJ is to identify when and where to manipulate the track or mix. FX part 2: Don't just use on board effects, you can do live effects by creating dubs.. IE: Having an instrumental on A and an acapella on B, not through the whole song! that wouldn't be an effect.. But teasing within a track is ;) very effective. Your own mix: Create your own version of the songs you're going to "shine on" Don't change the song but give yourself some space by adding loops in the intro, after the first chorus and at the end.. This will allow you to tease. I could go on and on lol.. maybe I should make a video :) Great work! Just don't criticize other DJ's unless you're perfect. No1 is.
That's what it's all about. Forget all the trash talk. If a persons video helped someone improve their skills and get inspired then that's all that matters.
Kobuna I play at clubs my equipment is bought for me. I have a few small controllers at home but I did a gig in New York and they supplied the pioneer CDj for me
Good Video, i have the exact same experience as you do have. i hate these small mistakes but it is true that most people don't really hear such mistakes ;) To my experience, the most important is the track selection, at least for friends party/weddings... For my personal mixes, the most important is the track selection but also the transition quality and the order of track (slow to high energy). the most complicated is the volume perception, there can be so differences depending of the mastering of track that to keep the same perceived volume from start is not always easy.
a wise man once said "my son, if you mix together two shitty tracks - what you will end up having is a seamlessly mixed bigger piece of shit." in that sense i say one bad habit here is the selection. your music has no soul!
Okay for one: The purpose of being a DJ isn't just to play the songs only add a filter to it. If we use effects it's way better because we change the way the song sounds and make it our mix.
My biggest issue is when the DJ plays songs like those. Where NOTHING ever happens. Just some stupid people saying shit that makes no sense to the same old boring ass best for 7 mins.
I used to feel the same way until I met someone really into techno. He described the music as meditative. Its nice to listen to once in a while instead of more fast paced genres like dubstep, trap, etc. where you instantly receive the satisfaction of the beat dropping. I can't describe it as well as he did but I hope you got the point lmao
people complaining about dj's that want to look busy but do nothing... If you really want to see a busy dj go to a DnB rave, then you'll see a busy dj who isn't faking it... All those fake ass house dj's these days.. getting famous beause they know some people in the scene ( or you have to be a producer). No hate on Techno/house/etc.. love the genre but those dj's aren't real anymore...
How can they be bad brother right now in the video i really love how they all sound and it really create a cool dramatic scenario....they all sounds so dope
REAL djs don't need no loops and all the gadgets we just need 2 turntables and a mixer yall done watered down djing so now anybody with no real skills or love for music can be a dj
+smallville smallz At the time when turntables didn't exist but cassettes, people used to said that same stuff "REAL djs do not need turntables and vinyls..." so... Let's enjoy music, however it's made. I always preffer parties where there's no lights so u don't even see the dj :)
Buddy my sets with the newest technology would absolutely destroy your sets with your basic turntables. The creativity i have at my side is next level. You can keep your 2 track basic transitions and go no where with your djing. Let me guess, felt like you were being cheated by new and upcoming DJs with their fancy equipment and small learning curve, so instead of keeping up with the times you stuck with your dated gear and got on the internet and started complaining everywhere because you couldnt get booked any gigs. Grow up.
That's was a very good video sir..this helps me a lot..at times I get to much in a hurry to bring in the other track...your video didn't have much of lyrics..can you do another with more lyrics and show how to blend it in..thanks..going to be trying this now...
🍄 Best way to learn is listen to a lot of pro sets and practice a lot at high volume. Experiment. If you're gonna play in front of people know your tracks. 🍄
The problem with mixers is that the control is not fine enough, it ought to let you limit the knob to 100% travel for only 30-40% action in digital mixers.
Problem #5. Use the lights. Scroll to a loud part of the track. Beat match, then check the lights on the individual channels. They should match. If not. use the trim. Then you can go back to your cue point.
New DJs take note Particularly in edm it’s easy to mix and you often find yourself doing nothing till your next hot cue or mix And instead of ruin your mix with fx cuz you want to look cool I always say if you don’t need to do anything then don’t 😎
My main pet peeve, Dj's leaving the beat of 1 track in when the other drops out for 2 or 4, unless they both drop out and compliment each other. Running out of track can happen a lot, the filter can help and using the EQ more excessively to simulate a pause before a reentry can help too. Disagree with 1st point, that wasn't enough filter, done at the right time, it needs more than that to be most effective.
Thank you so much :) I'm a beginer DJ and this video helped me a lot. I knew the knobs (buttons) on the turntable, but I didn't know this useful informations about that. I'm gonna take your advices and I hope it would save me from the burn out. Thank you :)
While I see your points and Im sure there are so many cases of this happening, Its important not to get into the habit of using terms like "better way" because I can use anything you don't like in ways that you would love... in fact in ways you might even think its remixes... But also I LOVE how you pointed out. "try to look busy"... IF anyone has to fake anything in that way then thats str8 up cheeze... But you can also trick and freak things out like in DJ CRAZEs NEW SLAVES routine he pretends hes warping the bass with his back... So its fake but not cheeze.. I DUNNO PERsonally I love to do things opposite of what a majority might say this is the right way... Or DON'T MIX that with THIS or this way or that way.... BREAK THE RULES!!!!! I THINK YOU grab the knobs like your afraid your gonna break something... that gets on my nerves... grab that shit... like when your hitting it from the back and make orgasms happen.... and MOST IMPORTANTLY every dj and producer artist... ALWAYS THINK FOR YOUR SELF AND EXPERIMENT AND PUSH THE TECHNOLOGY PUSH THE IDEAS AND PUSH EVERYTHING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE! Los ANgeles Techno culture Modularz Recordings USA Provoke thought for a better tomorrow!
All very valuable tips. What's interesting is Tip #5. Pre Digital Mixers have a section marked at ~80%, which on an analog mixer is Unity gain. This section is where after adjusting input gain you get optimum performance in terms of audio quality from the fader. The section has the area +- 5db marked off so that you can give a little extra or less db when needed. This is also true on P.A. mixers. It seems that the digital world just left this behind which is a shame. IMO it's better to manage at the fader level.
@@Reticuli No it does not. It's a matter how to properly manage headroom. If you run your faders at 100% then you have zero headroom for tracks that sound soft or sound loud although their peak amplitudes are indeed the same. Professional sound engineers never run faders at 100%.
Good video. For the last point, I like to properly make sure the master out meter matches my channel levels. Meaning that if I'm at +1 on the only channel up - my master needs to say +1. This way, when I'm mixing two songs, I try to only let my master go up to +2 tops - MAYBE flirting with +3 for a split second. I've noticed a great improvement in my level control when doing this - validated by the removal of big spikes in level on every transition when I playback a recorded set in Audacity.
The most bad dj habits are to agree with video like this, don`t get me wrong i don`t want to disrespect the video and the work behind this video, but how you will play your track(s) (mixing, effects, track choosing e.t.) build you as a dj and person which peoples can recognize, so yes in some situation can be totally wrong to filter to much the song (for example), but if you`re enjoin it and see the crowd is happy that`s enough i think. Maybe this video is more if you`re preparing mix which you will record and give it to some radio, online channel e.t, but not for live performance
These are some good well established methods to make your mixes more consistent. Im am not a fan of too many effects and prefer to make my own for example, id rather instant double or duplicate a track then phase myself because its more natural with that often beat cancel which is much better. I also dont play tracks to the end (well, rarely) and like long planned mixing. On a mix in, i tend to hold my fader at 80% so that i can punch it in on the take over. Too many button clickers and knob turners, guys you dont need to look so busy. A great example is Offaiah at Splash house palm springs, looks totally in control with an excellent set
Nice basic tips, I do wonder how the hell anyone could become a pro dj and make these kinds of mistakes, I was mixing like this when I was 15 on my belt drives :)
"Turning knobs looks cool", yes, if all you can do as a DJ is to turn knobs for fx and loops, indeed, you need to look busy doing that. Take a look on Satori's live sets or Polo & Pan for example, to name just two where working on the mixers is beyound FX and levels.
For all new DJs take note:
This is all entirely opinion. It is up to the DJ to manipulate a track or mix as he thinks best at the time. If overusing the filter is to get the crowd moving, then that's up to him. Learn with club experience, not TH-cam clips. Flawless beat matching on cdjs = easy. On vinyl, not so easy. It takes time and practise. A lot of experienced Djs (including myself) don't like flawless matching; a little slip shows the DJ putting the work in.
Good luck!
Ps. Classic DJ bad habit - standing in a club being over-critical of other DJs.
Word. Took me months to beat match on vinyl now theres a fucking button. Your gonna fuck up. Learn, practice, and have a love for the music.....all of it.
This is the best comment on here lol!
great p.s
word.
that's one reason why i run my own channel - spreading knowledge about vinyl and stuff...
Flawless matching is easier on vinyl, so long as the decks are calibrated and the vinyls aren't warped. (and it isn't hip hop or some other genre where the tempo changes). but yeah, don't stand around criticising people. thats wack.
95% of people at clubs don't know shit about djing and can't tell when a dj messes up unless it's obvious
truth.
only other djs notice most of the flaws
most people are just drunk and want to get laid.
...Including the DJ's :D
Whats funny is that I tend to get angry at other djs when they play because of all the shit they are doing and my friends and especially my family don't understand why. And gues who gets yelled at?!
I will never play for the crowd. House parties for my friends is my goal. Your every movie brings me closer to perfection. Thanks a lot
have you realized your dream yet?
I've seen some DJ's wanting to look busy, but instead of ruining the music just to turn a few knobs, they used the knobs on the two unused deck slots.
Most people in the club wouldn't even notice that the knobs doesn't do anything, and nobody has to be annoyed that the sound is ruined.
still dumb as fuck
rossel onsen Well, if you work out in public, and wanna keep your job, in the vast majority of cases you need to look like you're always doing something.
That's the main reason why most DJs refuse to sit down as well.
If you're done with the prep for the next transition, and you have a minute left over, you can't just stand there like a fool and look at the audience. If you go take a swig of your drink every time that happens, you'd need to take a piss halfway through your set, so that's out of the question.
Turning a few knobs that does nothing is better, and most of the time, nobody will spot it.
its not like its a show, a dj's job is to play music...
rossel onsen A DJ's job is to entertain the crowd as a live performer.
no, a live performer's job is to entertain a crowd as a live performer, a dj's job is to read the mood of a crowd and use his or her musical knowledge to keep a party going
conclusion on DJing: a DJ is good when you dont even realize he is there, because his tracks flow so nicely as if he just pressed play and everything was mixed before :)
Oh you mean like all the big EDM djs do? Playing premixed shit and act busy...
So just play a premixed set, touch those knobs for no reason and shout in the mic. Right?
Exactly!!! The DJ should deliver MUSIC and make it flow.
thats probably why going out these days is poop - a dj should let yah know they are there coz they are dropping bad arse tunes that make yah wanna run to and bust some moves on the dance, all the time wanting to the know the name of all the tunes they are dropping....
@@webbstar303 thank the dj for we drink our jukebox quarters
if you want to get good at something do it everyday. if you want to be good and unpleasant to be around criticize everyone else's work. i would like to mention though that silence within a set can be useful if used properly.
my best advice to any dj is to:
1) play regularly
2) record yourself if you can
3)make mistakes and practice how to make those mistakes sound complimentary/intentional to your set(because you will make mistakes live...life is beautiful because it is imperfectly perfect)
4) above all have fun otherwise you will lose your creativity.
A very good tip for any beginners: You really DONT have to mix and blend each tune. If you are running out of time (phrase mixing), then just wait for tune A to end and then drop tune B. Sounds much better than a rushed out mix. Its actually sometimes a viable way to mix even if you would have plenty of time to blend it in slowly.
Ex0rz This is very true and something I had to do at my last school dance. The BPM’s between the slow song and the next was too far apart, and slowing down the last say... 20 bars of the slow song by 20BPM would have totally ruined it to mix into the next song. So, I just let it play out and faded into the next song.
#newbiesgonnanewb
You don't have to have house insurance either, but seems like a damn good idea. Same with mixing. You don't have to blend but you are better if you can blend diff genres and never have an abrupt end or interruption in your mix, fact. If I wanted song A then song B back to back I would just stay home and listen to shuffle on my damn home theater system. I go to hear how good the dj is
Ex0rz If someone used "i didnt want to rush the mix along" when I ask why he waited for one song to end before starting the next I would say ohh bc you dont know how, or you cant 😂😂
lmao this is terrible advice
Its all about being creative and learning how to mix as many ways possible
the error i believe is when people believe that theres only one right way to something.
nuff said
truth right here, yall need to stop holding some sort of elitist ideas over djing its like an instrument of its own and like every other instrument legend its about their style not how well they "did it by the book"
What I always say. The mix is the one which is required to get the effect you want. Doesn't matter how you achieved it as long as it sounds good
I know a big mistake... REDLINING... Never push your mixer into the red. Big nightclubs have external sound engineers, they'll listen to the sound and decide what the sound needs more or less of. If you aren't in a big club but on your own dj'ing a party with your own speakers. Pusing into the red will not make your speakers louder, it'll make it worse. If your sound is not loud enough, turn up your apms or buy better and louder speakers.
+BartKrap that's a really good advice for beginner dj's. I kept my sb2 in the red for some time before I knew this
cheers for the heads up man
DestinationMan I know it's called clipping but redlining is a more well known term.
Also; Red is for whores!! XD
Engineers and producers also use the term. IDK how you've never heard "redlining..."
DestinationMan dude we get it youre a producer
An informative video but would add
6: play music you believe in
7: know your tunes inside out and back to front - in the vinyl days no waveforms or countdowns to rely on
8: play for the time of the night your are on
9: read the crowd and be flexible
10: let tunes breathe - (some) producers painstakingly created tracks so don't ruin them with filters and other effects
11: discover your own way to play - only one DJ EZ
In the vinyl days and you know that, you have had needle coming to the end of the track and certain pattern on the wax and usually light to show you drops...
RRSmith107...at the end of the day if u were a DJ back in the day when no CDJs & only vinyl u should very proficient at mixing (maybe scratching); musical knowledge; crowd reading etc...touching knobs for the sake of it & having things like a sync button are laughable...too many egos that just want to boost their own image instead of doing their job which is ENTERTAINING THE CROWD...the industry is fucked in every part of the world but I just keep my opinions to myself and just say “nice set” coz my only obligation is to deliver exactly what promoters ask of me...so it’s no accident I’ve survived since 1988 & seen some music genres come full circle like r&b & hip hop🔊🔊🔊✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻
@@victoryroad5264 Funny, your own ego looks big.
Song name:s
miguel bastia -whitness
miguel bastida - moudness
miguel bastida & gene farris - chicago ( riva starr edit)
Hero
Hod bless you👌🏼
*G
Thank you 🙏🏻
Song names:
SHIT
SHIT
SHIT
SHIT
FINALLY a video that points out the insecurities of a DJ hoping that one day they will look like a musician. Touching knobs to look busy all the time is so true. Imagine a perpetual guitar solo.
Actually, on a big system, I really wouldn't recommend having both tracks all the way up at the same volume, with the bass pots on both more or less all the way up too. That doesn't sound 'powerful', it sounds overpowering, and really boomy. You can get away with that at home. In a club it usually sounds pretty awful. It *can sound pretty raw and grab people's attention if you bring a track in over the one before it and the kick is already stomping along over the previous one, but once you take the previous track out the overall output signal will be too quiet in comparison to your transition, as will the amount of low end coming through the system. Good video though, the rest of the points were good things for new DJs to bear in mind. Nice tracks too :)
Thanks for this pointer on leveling and mixing in 🙏
That's why we 'bass swap' ;-)
@@markalexwhite Yes, obviously. My comment was referring to the fact that both bass pots were at 12 o'clock and hadn't been swapped at all.
One of best DJ'ying tutorial video on TH-cam. All basic information but worth more than paid DJ course videos. I'm DJ'ying from 2004 & know all these mistakes but no one made simple and easy to understand video like this. 👍🍻
Agreed. It's almost as if some DJs don't listen to themselves in the monitors. For a mix to sound balanced you have to remove sound to add sound. It's like live mastering. Dope tracks btw.
everybody talking about either 2 turntables or the new technology, why not embrace both. I have and its been smooth sailing, i totally agree that you don't need to be doing effects all the time. A great DJ moves the crowd by his music and skill and not by the effects he can employ. I have been DJ'ing since i was 8 years old, and now i am in my 40's. I can still move a crowd mixing with 2 turntables are using any Pioneer gear. Its a question of adaptation. Oh and it has nothing to do with the key, genre, bass track like i have been reading, it has to do with skill on how to mix in different keys, genres and bass track. Thats why it's called mixing, if you are going to mix songs with the same basic bass, key and genre, then actually you aint mixing and you need to practice more.
Well said sir
not only does this guy teach me a lot but he also provides me with some tunes!
Another common mistake is DJ's failure to see fader settings on the mixer. I always mix with channels set to either side and use the crossfader for cutting/hip hop style mixing. I find a lot of people who play afterwards are perplexed as to why there is no sound coming from their channel without ever looking at which side the crossfader is on and that the channels aren't set to through.
I have to acclimate myself when I go out and remind myself that I'm here to enjoy myself and have a good time because if I go out to a club/lounge/bar in a DJ state of mind, odds are I won't have a good time because I end up subconsciously critiquing, predicting drops & songs ect. #DJproblems
#6: don't tell other djs what to do, some are producers and do it their way
I agree I mean Im not a DJ but I produce edm and such and was thinking of doing djing but I think ill try later on next year if anything its just kinda complicated which is funny cause i had to learn fl studio to make songs but yeah. some people like to do things a little differently depending on what type of song so you really can never say what to do and what not to do cause music is music and preference unless your abusing an eq than thats torture but otherwise its all based on what song it is that you can handle something.
#7 produce some music of your own even if its just a remix of another tune you like. should have 2 or more songs in a set that belong to you otherwise you are just another cherry picker that can easily be replaced.
Yeah I mean why give advice that can help djs get way better with their stuff?
Fuck that.
Aftermath Music hmmmmmm i never knew you were such an idiot.
connor murphy Why am I an idiot?
Because I think that if you can do a thing better, you should?
You're just a troll. I didn't even insult you, yet you do it to me.
Fuck off. I'm muting this post.
Thanks for the tips! love the 4-beat loop part, could come in handy!
great video, nice tips, specially the filter one, lol, see djs at the clubs i play do this all the time, can hear the crowd speaking when they up the filter too high or too low
agreed
Exactly - I think if you can hear the crowd chatter too much, you've gone too far!
only time i use heavy filteris if the primary track has a bass cut and i still want reminents of my previous or upcoming track there without the gross sound of a bass knob cut...it make the mix much smoother bc the 2nd song songs much more like part of the song n u keep clubbers guessing not able to tell exactly what ur doing,,,
and btw, i dont think any house /techno dj should ever use the flanger except of few song break downs...i dont get it it doesnt sound good or trippy it just makes dj look desperate and bored imo
Song is 'Whitness - Miguel Bastida' if anyone was wondering... every song I've heard you play on this channel so far have been some of my favorites! If you haven't already try listening to Dem Mai Hoes by Will Monotone, always goes off when I play it :)
3:52 back in the day we used to call that "GETTING BURNED" when you miss your blend cue point.
New DJ just starting to do open decks on CDJ's (Controller DJ) this was incredibly helpful.. I appreciate it
why is everyone hating? I like the video
because 90% of the video is opinion, and obvious stuff even non-DJs could figure out
true. well put together vid, but no real info. I started yesterday (using virtual dj until my budget improves), and even i learned nothing.. I do have a backgound in composing/ performing, so maybe that's why.
MJ Tech source Well, even if it's obvious, someone needs to say it.
Peter Schneider I would say that a lot of new school Dj's never spun on vinyl only on Controllers or CD decks. Half them probably don't know the 8 count or breaks/build ups Flat Beats just what the Software auto beat matches for them, I started on some beater belt drive Numarks with a 2 Channel mixer and later upgraded to 2 sets of 1200s and a dj500 mixers with effects. I used to have to create my own effects until the dj 500 mixer came out or buy dj tools on wax. I would pinch the player spindle to match beats and play with the treble mids and bass to lol times have changed hugely where you just press a button to sync the Bpm and look busy ahhahaha. The knob touching that you see a lot the new school guys do now is what I use to have to do in the late 90s early 2000s. I've see guys now with an iPad deck sync'd up to Spotify with auto mix enabled just sitting there talking the whole time! Like oh brah I DJ I'm cool right! SMH!! Good video tho. There hating cause there getting called out.
Michael Rosenburg true dat! they wouldnt know how difficult it is to mix urban stuff.
good tips! DJs need this. These are the little things you don't learn or even think about until like year 3-5
respect to all turntable analog DJs! NO sound waves or loops to save your ass :-) you gotta know your tunes
In th end it does'nt really matter what you are mixing on and with what equipment. what counts is what comes out of the speakers and being able to give the audience a great hopefully euphoric feeling and makin' em wanna dance! The crowd does'nt give a shit how or what you are using when mixing. They just want to be moved and getting extatic!
as a dj for well over 30 years...this is funny to me.. i have noticed that only EDM dj's do this.. r&b, hip hop dj's dont use alot of effects..we bang out hits..a scratch now and then.. but that's about it.. so hey....not knocking the edm dj's...do your thing....keep your audience dancing...cause to be honest.. the customer paid their hard earned money to come see you perform.. so give them their money's worth!! #djtimdogg
technically 'edm' has been around for the same time as r&b/hiphop, although effects existing on the tables or mixers is more recent
hiphop gets problematic for me to mix with such bpm variance (partly due to the different kinds i want to play, not only club bangers)
It's just a different genre and different type of dancing. Also, a lot of the effects on the club standard DJM/Xone mixers sound a lot like the kinda sounds that are gonna be in dance tracks so they fit well.
kn00tcn try mixing funk and soul, then youll know what is djing about.
tim bayard shiiiit. Try salsa and some other Latin genres. Being a Latin music DJ has made me better in other genres
tim bayard you really had to fuckin hashtag your own name?
Wow, so many resources on the technicalities of DJ'ing these days. When I started learning how to DJ, not even that long ago (about 15 years), I had to READ an article about beat matching and then attempt to repeat the instructions. I remember I had two copies of Kelis's new hit, Milkshake, and practiced mixing them seamlessly. Drove my mother crazy listening to the same song over and over. :D Finding a video showing it back then was nearly impossible. Videos like this is what I needed 15 years ago as a kid - would have spared me a lot of hard lessons. Nowadays it's mostly common sense to me. Fine work.
I disagree about loop being the solution for "unfinished mixes", the proper solution is knowing the structure of your songs and dropping the next song at the correct point respecting the structures of both songs
If I could double like a comment, I would.
That is easy to say if you are an experienced DJ but let's face it, beginning to moderately experienced DJ's are not going to get it right every time. They will either jump the gun when dropping the next song or will panic and freeze for a moment thus passing the point where they intended to drop in the next track. In those cases, looping the out going beats can cover up your mistake.
Using the loop function is not making a mistake... its there... use it..
Dude - mistakes happen - even to the best!
Very useful tips! Thank you!
"twisting knobs looks cool, so..."
lmao you killed it right there
ps: good tutorial also!
The fundamentals on how to DJ; know the equipment, not only your own but the venue's too, keep it simple and pay attention to whats going on with sound both with equipment and how sound behaves in the particular space/room.
problem 6 more than one bass knob at unity
I think this video points out very common mistakes that's being overlooked. If you are looking to get flawless sets then this video is a good start and take notes from.
My biggest pet peeves are...
1. Changing tempo while the track is playing. COME ON! I hear this all the time. Speeding up the track from 120-124 BPM slowly over the course of a minute or two, or in a breakdown. I hate this. Really big pet peeve and kills the vibe, typically clears the dancefloor. The only exception to this is when it is an intentional thing like the song itself speeds up, or the song has some repetitive tribal drumming or something where it sounds natural to speed up. Really hate it when it's a minimal techno song or whatever and it starts getting faster for no reason. Ugh.
2. Clipping. So many DJs leave no headroom and are red lining because of not properly gain staging.
3. Too many parts where the drums drop out early in the set. Many DJs will open with a track that has a big breakdown where the drums are removed. Then track #2, same deal, big breakdown with no drums for 16 or 32 bars. Then track 3, same deal. Ugh. I make it a policy to have maybe 1 or 2 breakdowns like that, tops, for the first hour of the DJ set. You can do that more later in the set when people are "in it" but it's really pretentious and unnecessarily attention-grabbing early in the set. Seriously, many of my favorite sets have no breakdowns without drums for the first hour or so.
4. Too many busy tracks or a lot of melodic content early in the set. I really like sets that build over time and start minimal, working their way up to "peak" tracks.
5. Just generally poor sequencing, huge pet peeve of mine, like opening a really killer banger that would get everyone dancing 2 hours into the set. And then after just playing some boring repetitive stuff that would have worked great beforehand.
Of course these are just my pet peeves and your mileage may vary. Obviously a lot of people don't find these annoying at all, because they do them all the time! But those are things that really bug me in a DJ set, much more than beat matching being slightly off, or a lot of effects, or a mix out happening too soon. In fact none of the stuff in this video really annoys me at all. But poor sequencing, like starting from a really high energy track and demanding a lot of the audience's attention and then flubbing it with some boring stuff after, that really bugs me.
Can't believe some of the childish comments on here about differences in music opinions or the way you should do things. As someone just starting to mix I found this quite helpful.....cheers
Another DJ mistake is playing this tune in the clubs
what do you suggest?
i was gonna say that 2 lol ....what a terrible jam....
church... play some evigt mörker instead
play some Wildchild Experience
in a club? top 40, hiphop classics and mainstream edm
at least that's what people will dance to
fuck DJing at a club though shit is mindnumbing
Funny that you mention overuse of FX. I hate hate hate the airhorn! And I heard it being used to death in a reggae mix. It was really starting to get to me! I think that is the easiset one to fall into, as you feel the need, I think to "dress up" your mixes in the beginning, as opposed to mixing two tracks together, beatmatchng, etc. which is harder to do at first. That can apply to music in general. I've played instruments that use sliding "grace notes" and my teacher said overusing them can make the song sound sloppy. I found that it did.
what about not using these cheap fx and leave it to the production
When playing minimal, extremely repetitive styled music, it depends on what the crowd needs to get them more hyped. A lot of the productions are more like tools that actual full songs. FX in those situations are essential.
mitchiemasha yes thats why i play 30 tracks / tools / locked grooves in a hour and not 12 and mass around with some cheap fx to get it less bored
this was the best answer i've readed in a long time
Not really, he kind of contradicted himself but i'm not sure what part is sarcasm. Playing 30 tracks / tools / locked groves in 1 hour is hardly leaving it to the production.
Personally I don't do FX, I DJ normal music but I like listening to set done that way.
I actually get pretty pissed when the DJ mixes out of tracks to fast. It's like "Hey muthafuka! I was just getting into that an you gonna go and change it on me?!?!". I spin a lot of progressive techno. Talk about letting the production do the work. That's why I dig it so much. I mean yea, I do find myself looking for something to do at times, but I usually either dance and interact with the crowd or start looking for the best track mix into next. If you're dig'n the vibe, most likely they are too and vice-versa.
Nice tip with the Jog Wheel because Is the number 1 of my bad habbits . Thx
can you please write the tracklist in the description?
LOLZ
check suara label
you've done the community great justice!
Leaving both low EQ's on while beatmatching on the bass. WRONG.
Please elaborate on why this is inherently wrong. I am not attacking you. I don't understand.
i agree OP... i usually get the inbound track mixed in with little to no bass and then switch up and turn up the bass on the inbound track while turning down the bass on the outbound esp if the transition is really slow...
Depends on what style your playing. This guy is doing what's right for seamless mixing in deep house
No it's not. And it sounds like crap.
yeah it totally fucks up the dynamics of the songs and reduces the impact of pretty much every sound maybe it doesnt matter at some psytrance bush rave as much as in a club but yea
hands down best video about djing on youtube I have watched so far
4:55 beat jump + loop! Saves lifes!
Your so right. We just have to listen how it sounds and not look at the postions of the button.
6: Playing random tracks without taking into account of factors such as:
-genre
-key
-the sound of a drum kick
-rhythm
-bassline
-overall mood of track, etc.
IMHO the perfect DJ mix is about consistency and achieving a flow - a state in which audience notices that tracks are switched, but it's not distracted by that fact. Actually only few DJs can play sets like this.
One of exaples of such a "perfect mix" is Eric Prydz's Essential Mix from 2013. Technical masterpiece.
You should definitely listen to the Oscar Mulero Boiler Room Berlin set !! It's such a masterpiece
that is completely subjective. there are plenty of dj sets who mix all kinds of genres and even change tempos and it's an amazing experience for everyone involved. there is no perfect dj mix or dj or dj style. not everything is about a single style, monotonous techno or progressive house or trance or whatever with seemless transitions... djing is a lot more than that
Mood is everything, and knowing the crowd. Genres doesn't matter as long as people are enjoying the music.
juancs, you still have to consider which genre & which track you're changing to, it has to be either a nice compliment or contrast, but it shouldnt be totally random, OP is not saying stay in one style or genre at all
Hello flow police is in da house
If you're changing up from 2 bpm's (say 126 to a 128) it's never going to come out completely perfect. I give myself an extra 2 minutes to match them up to as close as they can get. The bpm detection is not absolute and can be sporadic so that's when you have to use your own ears. Also a flick of the wrist on the turn table and adjusting the tempo accordingly and going by ear is the way to keep them both synchronized but occasionally one might drag to which you just allign by ear/hands. No matter what, if the 2 tracks differ in bpm then you have to do the 'finger dance's. Also (more rambling), I always cut in the cue'd track with no lo eq and no fading between the two just a quick switch, adds a nice bounce without it sounding like the tracks are abruptly transitioning. cheers!
why dont you just change the pitch of either songs.......?
MrMrWilkins because he's not a real dj
Ever heard of a pitch fader bro?
Going from 126/128 is not hard work at all. Hardly noticeable with just a little adjustment of the pitch. And if done correctly, it would be perfect 👌🏽
I've heard a lot of this at clubs and shows before, now I understand what's happening on the decks
you have some solid dj skills keep it up men.
Use the high pass filter on build ups with lots of highs. If you're using it during the main part of the track, a short, snappy application works, just apply it to a beat or two. Low pass is good for breaks.
Bad dj habit no 1: Using cheesy pioneer filter/effects.
good meant advice: for electronic music i would recommend an analog mixer like the xone 92, it plays low frequencies down to 5Hz, an pioneer reaches only 20Hz which is quite poor for such an expensive mixer.
and the overall sound quality of the xone is far superior than the plastic pio
it's amazing that you can hear right down to 5hz! what's your secret?
+Sam Talley
you cant hear it, you can feel it with an infrasub ;)
mastered recordings will have zero to very little content at 5hz and very few soundsystems will reproduce it. 20hz is fine for us mere mortals.
Feeling 5hz will either make you shit your pants or kill you....
+muckleby
you get me wrong guys, its about the fact that an 1000 €+ mixer (pioneer) cant reproduce such low frequencies but an nearly 15 years old cheaper mixer like the xone 92 can and comes with a better sound quality
the xone plays the most beautiful basses in his price range and there is a reason why it became Industry standard
this guy is on point, basicly followed this pattern back in the 90s and it works well.
I stopped watching. When you used the flanger for FX -_-
Love it. Specially #2. I always say: "If you only can make the track 'interesting' by using (the same) effect over and over again, you should think about deleting that track and search for good ones" (When that gets too much on my nerves, I use the microchronometer on my phone to find out the interval of the same effect. 1min25sec is the avarage on most "hobby DJs").
Makes video titled bad DJ habits.
Taps cue twice then play when starting track for no reason. 🤣
Excellent and useful video, very clear description and solution to the problem, the thing is... I never got to hear the mistakes... I dont know. may be my laptop speakers are not up to the task...
Try Vinyl, u only get 1 try to get it right !!
True
its funny cuz alot of "vinyl" djs i know use serato vinyl...and yea
Good video and points.. All though some are valid and some are subjective points as you stated... Depending on the style of music you're playing. A "professional DJ" should not be making mistakes like this.. Also it is a good idea to USE the pitch sliders? Keeping the same bpm and choosing the same bpm is like using a sync button. Try Hip Hop, R&B or even some 70s disco tracks where the bpm's are all over the place due to oldskool editing.. This will teach you other ways to DJ and produce challenges that will make you a better DJ.
DJing: Over 25 years
Audio Engineer: 20 years
Bottom line is, everyone will make mistakes from time to time, we're not perfect BUT if you're going to preach and teach? You better know at least how to mix with the sliders by ear.
A note on trims.. Before the gig starts, pick your loudest track, set the trim to 1 or 2 yellow peaks.. Preferably stay within the greens, Keep your master level about three quarters up, Then when you come across a track that is quieter you have more headroom to balance. The problem is that our ears adjust to the volume and we find ourselves driving the tracks louder and louder from when you first started.
EQ: Your balance might be set correctly but a bass change from a song or EQ will change your balance (Peak level).
FX: Only should be used to spice things up a little, a touch of it is great to keep things interesting but like all things DJ there is a time in the song or mix to use them, the job of a DJ is to identify when and where to manipulate the track or mix.
FX part 2: Don't just use on board effects, you can do live effects by creating dubs.. IE: Having an instrumental on A and an acapella on B, not through the whole song! that wouldn't be an effect.. But teasing within a track is ;) very effective.
Your own mix: Create your own version of the songs you're going to "shine on" Don't change the song but give yourself some space by adding loops in the intro, after the first chorus and at the end.. This will allow you to tease.
I could go on and on lol.. maybe I should make a video :)
Great work! Just don't criticize other DJ's unless you're perfect.
No1 is.
im a 13 yr old dj and one year ago i saw dis vid and it made me improve a lot.
One word. Grammar.
That's what it's all about. Forget all the trash talk. If a persons video helped someone improve their skills and get inspired then that's all that matters.
Jamie C OMG finally another kid my age (I'm 12 but you get what u mean) anyway yeah this video was a faint help to me as well lol
How tf are kids your guys's age able to afford equipment that is Thousands of dollars?
Kobuna I play at clubs my equipment is bought for me. I have a few small controllers at home but I did a gig in New York and they supplied the pioneer CDj for me
Good Video, i have the exact same experience as you do have. i hate these small mistakes but it is true that most people don't really hear such mistakes ;)
To my experience, the most important is the track selection, at least for friends party/weddings...
For my personal mixes, the most important is the track selection but also the transition quality and the order of track (slow to high energy).
the most complicated is the volume perception, there can be so differences depending of the mastering of track that to keep the same perceived volume from start is not always easy.
Fuck haters. This was a good video.
Everything is spot on. I hate overdoing it.
a wise man once said "my son, if you mix together two shitty tracks - what you will end up having is a seamlessly mixed bigger piece of shit." in that sense i say one bad habit here is the selection. your music has no soul!
Great advice to loop the song when you are not ready with the next one. Great video!!
JUST A REMINDER: ITS NOT ABOUT THE TRICKS YOU PULL WHEN DJING ITS ALL ABOUT THE SETLIST AND HAVING FUN... and occasionally tripping balls 😁
Why not just use Spotify then? The algorithm can play the top 100 tracks in a genera and produce a KILLER set list and mix it for you.
@@earnestgildon2704 the tricks are just to do something different and make it more fun
Okay for one: The purpose of being a DJ isn't just to play the songs only add a filter to it. If we use effects it's way better because we change the way the song sounds and make it our mix.
No. 6: Playing the same genre over and over again - all night - that just bore and make people crazy...
Haha but when I am in a Techno Club the People want to hear Techno... Strange isn't it ?
@@quentinbaumgartner9160 There are many styles: detroit, industrial, dark, hard, offbeat, dub, ambient, trance fusions and plenty of more.
I've heard from expierence djs that there are some basics to djing u should know but ur style is ur style theres no wrong way really to play music
Tip 6: Do not play "DESPACITO" or u'll get shot! :)
Def helped. I make these mistakes and want to fix them before my gig. Thanks for the tip💛
My biggest issue is when the DJ plays songs like those. Where NOTHING ever happens. Just some stupid people saying shit that makes no sense to the same old boring ass best for 7 mins.
Absolutely. It bores me to tears.
Thats Tech House / Minimal, and much People like it (like me) it is the 2th Most selled Kind of house at beatport
I used to feel the same way until I met someone really into techno. He described the music as meditative. Its nice to listen to once in a while instead of more fast paced genres like dubstep, trap, etc. where you instantly receive the satisfaction of the beat dropping. I can't describe it as well as he did but I hope you got the point lmao
the tech house scene in London is poppin
my biggest issue is people like you
Most club DJs can’t mix for shit so that’s probably why. This guy is good at mixing, great job bro 👍🏻
people complaining about dj's that want to look busy but do nothing... If you really want to see a busy dj go to a DnB rave, then you'll see a busy dj who isn't faking it... All those fake ass house dj's these days.. getting famous beause they know some people in the scene ( or you have to be a producer). No hate on Techno/house/etc.. love the genre but those dj's aren't real anymore...
5:10 - sounds SO much better. Looping the end of the track on the right was a good play. Always works in those sticky situations.
6: playing tech house
How can they be bad brother right now in the video i really love how they all sound and it really create a cool dramatic scenario....they all sounds so dope
Even better tip. Don't play deep house. I'm snoozing over here.
its for the video. tutorial type song. its simple and easy to mix with whatever
I agree, if it's overplayed. A little bit at the start of a set maybe would be good to build slight energy
I agree. Though sometimes I use the repetitive, easy nature to fill gaps when transitioning etc
how is this deep house?
this is tech-house
Lots of good advice here. Before I figured out how to quickly set loop points in Traktor I would use a lame spinback before I ran out of track.
REAL djs don't need no loops and all the gadgets we just need 2 turntables and a mixer yall done watered down djing so now anybody with no real skills or love for music can be a dj
+smallville smallz Sort of true, but ignores technology and present state of affairs.
+smallville smallz At the time when turntables didn't exist but cassettes, people used to said that same stuff "REAL djs do not need turntables and vinyls..." so... Let's enjoy music, however it's made. I always preffer parties where there's no lights so u don't even see the dj :)
Buddy my sets with the newest technology would absolutely destroy your sets with your basic turntables. The creativity i have at my side is next level. You can keep your 2 track basic transitions and go no where with your djing. Let me guess, felt like you were being cheated by new and upcoming DJs with their fancy equipment and small learning curve, so instead of keeping up with the times you stuck with your dated gear and got on the internet and started complaining everywhere because you couldnt get booked any gigs. Grow up.
+Stereoscopic | GFX Amen.
+Stereoscopic | GFX the fact that most credible dj battles are won with two turntables & a mixer proves you no nothing Jon Snow
That's was a very good video sir..this helps me a lot..at times I get to much in a hurry to bring in the other track...your video didn't have much of lyrics..can you do another with more lyrics and show how to blend it in..thanks..going to be trying this now...
🍄 Best way to learn is listen to a lot of pro sets and practice a lot at high volume. Experiment. If you're gonna play in front of people know your tracks. 🍄
The problem with mixers is that the control is not fine enough, it ought to let you limit the knob to 100% travel for only 30-40% action in digital mixers.
Problem #5. Use the lights. Scroll to a loud part of the track. Beat match, then check the lights on the individual channels. They should match. If not. use the trim. Then you can go back to your cue point.
New DJs take note
Particularly in edm it’s easy to mix and you often find yourself doing nothing till your next hot cue or mix
And instead of ruin your mix with fx cuz you want to look cool
I always say if you don’t need to do anything then don’t 😎
thanks!
I think that's why vinyl is so much better, you could spend 4 minutes figuring out and matching a track, keeps you busy.
Haha very cool Video! I dj since 2010 in my City and i saw doing some of those mistakes. I'll better have an eye on it!
My main pet peeve, Dj's leaving the beat of 1 track in when the other drops out for 2 or 4, unless they both drop out and compliment each other. Running out of track can happen a lot, the filter can help and using the EQ more excessively to simulate a pause before a reentry can help too. Disagree with 1st point, that wasn't enough filter, done at the right time, it needs more than that to be most effective.
Thank you so much :) I'm a beginer DJ and this video helped me a lot. I knew the knobs (buttons) on the turntable, but I didn't know this useful informations about that. I'm gonna take your advices and I hope it would save me from the burn out. Thank you :)
While I see your points and Im sure there are so many cases of this happening, Its important not to get into the habit of using terms like "better way" because I can use anything you don't like in ways that you would love... in fact in ways you might even think its remixes... But also I LOVE how you pointed out. "try to look busy"... IF anyone has to fake anything in that way then thats str8 up cheeze... But you can also trick and freak things out like in DJ CRAZEs NEW SLAVES routine he pretends hes warping the bass with his back... So its fake but not cheeze.. I DUNNO PERsonally I love to do things opposite of what a majority might say this is the right way... Or DON'T MIX that with THIS or this way or that way.... BREAK THE RULES!!!!! I THINK YOU grab the knobs like your afraid your gonna break something... that gets on my nerves... grab that shit... like when your hitting it from the back and make orgasms happen.... and MOST IMPORTANTLY every dj and producer artist... ALWAYS THINK FOR YOUR SELF AND EXPERIMENT AND PUSH THE TECHNOLOGY PUSH THE IDEAS AND PUSH EVERYTHING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE! Los ANgeles Techno culture Modularz Recordings USA Provoke thought for a better tomorrow!
Nice video, love how you break it down into details. Just one litle thing, the last song ends on 3 orange bars, while the prefeous song was on 2.. ;-)
All very valuable tips. What's interesting is Tip #5. Pre Digital Mixers have a section marked at ~80%, which on an analog mixer is Unity gain. This section is where after adjusting input gain you get optimum performance in terms of audio quality from the fader. The section has the area +- 5db marked off so that you can give a little extra or less db when needed. This is also true on P.A. mixers. It seems that the digital world just left this behind which is a shame. IMO it's better to manage at the fader level.
Depends on the mixer.
@@Reticuli No it does not. It's a matter how to properly manage headroom. If you run your faders at 100% then you have zero headroom for tracks that sound soft or sound loud although their peak amplitudes are indeed the same. Professional sound engineers never run faders at 100%.
Good video. For the last point, I like to properly make sure the master out meter matches my channel levels. Meaning that if I'm at +1 on the only channel up - my master needs to say +1. This way, when I'm mixing two songs, I try to only let my master go up to +2 tops - MAYBE flirting with +3 for a split second. I've noticed a great improvement in my level control when doing this - validated by the removal of big spikes in level on every transition when I playback a recorded set in Audacity.
The most bad dj habits are to agree with video like this, don`t get me wrong i don`t want to disrespect the video and the work behind this video, but how you will play your track(s) (mixing, effects, track choosing e.t.) build you as a dj and person which peoples can recognize, so yes in some situation can be totally wrong to filter to much the song (for example), but if you`re enjoin it and see the crowd is happy that`s enough i think. Maybe this video is more if you`re preparing mix which you will record and give it to some radio, online channel e.t, but not for live performance
These are some good well established methods to make your mixes more consistent. Im am not a fan of too many effects and prefer to make my own for example, id rather instant double or duplicate a track then phase myself because its more natural with that often beat cancel which is much better. I also dont play tracks to the end (well, rarely) and like long planned mixing. On a mix in, i tend to hold my fader at 80% so that i can punch it in on the take over. Too many button clickers and knob turners, guys you dont need to look so busy. A great example is Offaiah at Splash house palm springs, looks totally in control with an excellent set
This video was incredibly helpful! Very clear instructions, thank you!
Nice basic tips, I do wonder how the hell anyone could become a pro dj and make these kinds of mistakes, I was mixing like this when I was 15 on my belt drives :)
"Turning knobs looks cool", yes, if all you can do as a DJ is to turn knobs for fx and loops, indeed, you need to look busy doing that. Take a look on Satori's live sets or Polo & Pan for example, to name just two where working on the mixers is beyound FX and levels.