Becoming a better DJ - improving one's skills.
Becoming a better DJ - improving one's skills. Posted on: 23.10.2013 by Season Bergere Hello.I've already read some threads here about what makes a good DJ, and some of the technical skill-sets that one requires. This is my current process - Track selection (usually takes a few hours for me to find the right tracks that sound good together to go into a set) based on harmonic-mixing. Find the best transition points between tracks and make cue-points where required. Phrase-matching (connected to transition points). Beat-matching. EQ levels when transitioning. And if need be, the odd sample and effect mixed in the right place. Also record practice sets with the intention of making them flawless. I'm not sure if I'm missing something, but what other technical or non-technical aspects do you recommend from experience in order to improve? | |
| Lina Rawie 28.10.2013 |
Originally Posted by DJKaseOne
|
| Evalyn Voges 25.10.2013 |
Originally Posted by flpanhandler
|
| Gaynell Rydberg 23.10.2013 |
Originally Posted by JBang
|
| Season Bergere 23.10.2013 | Hello. I've already read some threads here about what makes a good DJ, and some of the technical skill-sets that one requires. This is my current process - Track selection (usually takes a few hours for me to find the right tracks that sound good together to go into a set) based on harmonic-mixing. Find the best transition points between tracks and make cue-points where required. Phrase-matching (connected to transition points). Beat-matching. EQ levels when transitioning. And if need be, the odd sample and effect mixed in the right place. Also record practice sets with the intention of making them flawless. I'm not sure if I'm missing something, but what other technical or non-technical aspects do you recommend from experience in order to improve? |
| Lawana Mileto 07.11.2013 | Don't overbelieve too much, yeah go ahead and organise your tunes, tag them do whatever, but don't get yourself stuck in creating sets for hours on end, is this productive, maybe? it's a rather limiting way of doing things. The most valuable thing you can do is learn your tunes, listen to them, you'll then know what goes with what. |
| Lina Rawie 28.10.2013 |
Originally Posted by DJKaseOne
|
| Lauri Reinhart 27.10.2013 | I would also like to add that often people can get stuck in these ridgid mixes and ideas in the digital djn world. its often very productive to freestyle practice and just experiment and improv everything, mix different tracks, and try random transition techniques. It will make you more versatile and help you have more unique and creative mixes. |
| Kathyrn Paczynski 25.10.2013 | Hi there, here is my opinion, if you are good at mixing you can make What i Called "Magic Mixing" magic mixing is when you surprise the crowd by mixing tunes without they noticing the transitions, properly done the girls would scream and everybody goes crazy, but if you don't have that skills your can entertain your crowd by getting a good selection of tunes, by not going too obscure, play at least 5 songs in the same genera before changing, surprise the crowd with some club banger that they don't expect.. look at the big picture... Make fun, make it entertaining... enjoy the music you playing ... |
| Kellie Myrum 25.10.2013 | I'd add a mapping techniques as for a digital DJs. |
| Hellen Mindrup 25.10.2013 | Damn, I feel like I do a lot less than most of you when it comes to throwing a mix together lol. After playing tracks once or twice in practice sessions, I get a good idea of what will work with what. When I buy new tracks, I just mix with those for about an hour and once it comes down to recording a mix I just wing it. Maybe I'm doing it wrong. All of this just seems unnecessary to me, but there is no correct way to dj and mix so whatever helps you flow best just roll with it, your little checklist in the first post looks fine to me. |
| Evalyn Voges 25.10.2013 |
Originally Posted by flpanhandler
|
| Vito Chesnut 24.10.2013 | Personally, I take all of my tunes, once they are keyed and analyzed, and label them in comments. Usually these labels have 2-3 words descriptions including upbeat, roller, vocal, instrumental, hardstep, etc. Basically give it max of 3 words to describe. Then when I am mixing, I use the search functions in Traktor or Serato to pull files matching similar descriptions. That way I can keep the energy moving, and odds are there will be a difference in several of those tracks that allow me to move in a different direction. Kind of like the choose your own story type books where one thing has several different options for what would be next. To me this makes it easy to flow without doing a ton of searching, and it keeps me from using playlists and being locked into sets that sound the same. Oh and practice practice practice. |
| Season Bergere 24.10.2013 | Ross I don't agree with your second point. Because I listen to the tracks first to see how the tune flows, and then based on the flow I have an idea as to when to transition. So it's not random but based on feeling. Sure it's not set in stone or the end of the world if it changes somewhat. Anyway it's all good, I have no desire to stop practising. |
| Annalisa Shogren 24.10.2013 | Be flexible with that process. Setting cue points for transitions won't help you feel the flow of a tune I don't believe. |
| Delfina Suedmeyer 23.10.2013 | also when practicing, its better to be doing it 20-30 minutes a day rather than 2 hours for one week; if that makes sense. playing around lets you know what works and what doesn't. when it comes to live show, you'll know what to do then and from there, you can have fun. |
| Gaynell Rydberg 23.10.2013 |
Originally Posted by JBang
|
| Maryam Fevold 23.10.2013 | Just to echo what other's have said, your process is good, but now you want to be able to adapt. When planning a set, I would only plan the first few songs. In a real DJ situation, you're going to be reading the crowd and your song selection should be in response to them. If the energy isn't there, then maybe you want to go in a different direction or keep things relatively calm. But if you see people reacting positively to the music, then keep going, bringing the energy up and potentially making quicker transitions, and seeing how it goes. You gotta be dynamic, and learn not to be so set in your process and song selection. |
| Augustine Mitzen 23.10.2013 | yes ^ just jam around imo |
| Brunilda Kora 23.10.2013 | That process is fine. Now that you've got a process that you're happy with, just practice, practice, practice. Your first step (Track selection (usually takes a few hours for me to find the right tracks that sound good together to go into a set) based on harmonic-mixing) can be replaced/complimented with an informal "jam" or practice session. And don't forget, when you actually perform the set/mix, some of those transition points may change... Just roll with it. |
<< Back to General DiscussionReply