when im learning to dj

[djk]

hows best to start off,
just jump into dubstep, and start trying to beatmatch or what
how did you all start off

[setspeed]

i started with a lo-fi allstars record and a howie b record

but yeah, i got a mate to spend an hour showing me the basics, and then spent the next few weeks just practising hours a day (it was the summer holidays). i only had about 4 vinyls so my mum must have got pretty bored tho

[Sharmaji]

if you can, start w/ doubles of hiphop or house and try to match the same tune. then move to 2 different tunes around the same tempo, etc, etc.

[somejerk]

the best advice i can give is to use instrumental (no vocal) records, regardless of genres. spend as much time as you can with two records, getting to know them separately and then how they sound together. the hardest thing at first is going to be differentiating what sounds are what. once you can figure out what goes where and how they need to match up (snares, hats, kicks, in that order, is usually how i get things to match) beat matching will be easier.

once you can mix those two records, try mixing another record. and so forth. use what you have already, don't go out and buy a bunch of shit.

once you have beat matching down, it's time to learn to count. ie, learning and remembering when certain parts come in - ie the bassline, vocals, break downs, changes in the song, etc. this will help you "build" sets that actually go somewhere.

next phase.....learn to use your eq. the first thing is to cut the bass from the record that you are mixing in so that you can layer them without distortion or "competing" basslines from occupying the same frequencies.

all in all, the best thing you can do is practice practice practice! watching DJ's doesn't really help a lot of the time, but i have learned from watching very skilled and experienced DJ's. sometimes sitting back at the club and just listening to how they mix is good as well, especially if you are new to DJing and DJ culture in general.

don't let yourself get frustrated and quit, just keep going at it. the moment you get beat matching down, it's an incomparable feeling. as you get better you can mix any genre and eventually records you've never even heard before.

[legend4ry]

if you can, start w/ doubles of hiphop or house and try to match the same tune. then move to 2 different tunes around the same tempo, etc, etc.

Thats how I learned to DJ, I think it was DJ Luck & MC Neat - Little Bit Of Luck

[serox]

hows best to start off,
just jump into dubstep, and start trying to beatmatch or what
how did you all start off

I started off mixing with 2 records. Practice with them as much as you can. Move the pitch around and try match them up without touching the platter.

Learn how to use the pitch! Once you have mastered it with 2 records try using other records. You will just need to pratice as much as possible tho tbh.

[truthaddict]

Be original!

[rocko]

definitely try to touch the platter as little as possible. when i first started mixing i used to think it didn't matter as long as it got the job done, but lately when i've been mixing using just the pitch control i notice my mixes seem to stay locked for a lot longer. also depending on the tune, it's sometimes really obvious when you push the platter i.e. tunes with pads and stuff

and i'd say anything with a prominent 4/4 pattern throughout the tune would be ideal to learn mixing with, even if it's just the hats. i started with drum and bass and after that everything else just seemed that bit easier to mix

[djprojekts]

Practise Practise Practise Practise

[djk]

cheers for the advice i always see threads about mixers etc
but never really about the records haha

[addict]

if you can, start w/ doubles of hiphop or house and try to match the same tune. then move to 2 different tunes around the same tempo, etc, etc.

[donna_dada]

Yeah I started on gemini's. Just as was said before when adjusting the mix touch the platter as little as possible. Pitch shifting is the way to do it. Or it gets sloppy and sounds horrible.

The truth is one day it just clicks. Like drumming you start thinking independently...oh and don't start on ragga jungle. HA

[habitualbeatscamp]

I learned how to mix by playing UK Hardcore...


I haven't touched decks in well over a year.

[le_knigh]

it's all about finding music that you adore,i mean like so you could just sit there for hours apon hours just playin with the vynils and decks and jus practice bruv if you love it ull get it ,standard,i started on some numark belt drives and if any one knows how to mix it's like having a work-out now but highly recommend startin from the bottom n working your way up to the top,allow buyin 400 squid a deck when your leaning youll kill them,still if you got access by all means rinse them when you can ,,bottom to the top man it's all part of the grind.

[wub]

I learned how to mix by playing UK Hardcore...


I haven't touched decks in well over a year.

Is that because someone broke your fingers for playing UK Hardcore?

[cryptic]

I learned how to mix by playing UK Hardcore...


I haven't touched decks in well over a year.

Very wise - The faster it is - The easier it is to mix. I recommend learning faster muisc first.

[airhead]

quick question while on this thread - in general when you all mix do you have one tune playing in headphones and match that to the other tune which is coming through the speakers, or do people have both tunes playing in the headphones and mix those together?

just wondering coz i've got my first club set coming up and don't think i'll be able to mix with both tunes playing in the headphones coz of how loud it's gonna be in there.

cheers

[beerz]

you should have monitors if you're in a club so use them to listen 2 the track playing and have the track coming in in the headphones. It's easy to mix in the headfones at home when its (relatively) quiet, but in a club where its really loud, you dont want to look like an idiot cramming the headfones against your head trying to hear if the tracks are beatmatched in the headphones.

[simian]

I generally find that you need to have a little bit of the track that is already playing on the same ear as the track you're bringing in.

If the system you're using is loud enough you might not need to mix any in, but just find the volume that works for you, and change the PFL mix till you get it.

[phaelon]

hows best to start off,
just jump into dubstep, and start trying to beatmatch or what
how did you all start off

I started off mixing with 2 records. Practice with them as much as you can. Move the pitch around and try match them up without touching the platter.

Learn how to use the pitch! Once you have mastered it with 2 records try using other records. You will just need to pratice as much as possible tho tbh.

Best advice right here. I know out of instinct you're going to want to touch the platter, but in the long run its going to make your mixes soo much smoother if you just use the pitch control. I'm trying to break myself of that habit.