When you leave your bedroom and start playing in public, you've honed your basic talents and preferably mastered them. Many DJs will not seek to improve their performance by studying more advanced DJ techniques. They've honed their craft, are performing in front of large crowds, and are now content.
But what if you want to stand out from the crowd of DJs you're playing with? What can you do to make your DJ sets more unique?
Whatever you require, these top DJ tips and tricks will set you apart from the competition!
Let's look at some ways to improve your mixes and add a few features that many DJs lack. We'll also point out some common DJ mistakes made by both beginner and professional ones.
You should be aware of the audience's expectations as well as the time period for which you are performing. Take the appropriate music as well as several backups in case you encounter a difficult crowd.
Sort your music into folders to make it simple to find what you want to listen to. You could even create a playlist just for that performance. You won't have to guess as much on the night if you have a playlist of songs that go well together.
Speakers and headphones will also be distorted. This makes your set sound bad and puts your speakers at risk of blowing up. If this happens, crank down your gains, EQ, or master volume until you see green.
Gains and EQ should be kept at 12 o'clock throughout your set as a general rule.
If you are mixing with lapto, keep in mind that the majority of DJ mixing software has a tool that analyzes each of your tracks. The key of the track in your music collection will then be listed. Some dj softwares, such as Recordbox, can even display the corresponding keys in your playlist. Make sure you plan out your track flow ahead of time and don't try to do it on the fly.
It's still crucial to know your tunes even if you're utilizing software. Just because two tracks are in the same key does not guarantee that they will sound nice together in the mix.
It takes more practice to do it by ear. The majority of DJs will toss any music into the mix without even considering how it would sound. They don't mind if it's beatmatched as long as it's beatmatched. Some mixes, though, will simply not sound right.
Try matching sounds like kick-drums if you want to take it a step further. Certain kick drums or kick drum patterns will not work well together. Others blend in so smoothly that it's difficult to tell the two songs apart.
You'll know you've got it down when you can flawlessly blend two tracks and no one can tell the tracks have changed!
When listening to a recorded mix, this has to be one of the worst things you can hear. It's not much better to hear it out in a club. It's acceptable if it's done correctly and serves to tease the next track. However, when it's done for no reason, it can come across as amateurish.
Try recording your mix to hear how it sounds to others and see if you appreciate it.
Too many DJs play with flanger, delay, reverb, and other effects during their set, which can come out as unprofessional and frustrating to your audience.
Some people utilize FX to hide bad beatmatching, while others use them to transition from one mix to the next. This can help you get out of a jam, but you shouldn't rely on it. It's preferable to polish your beatmatching, EQing, and other techniques.
Do you think you could pull off a disco set at the club on Saturday night if you only mix Techno and have never mixed anything else? It's unlikely.
Try to blend as many genres as possible; they may not be your favorites, but they will improve your mixing and skill level. Plus, as your genre list grows, you'll be able to take on more employment.
7.Learn How To Use The EQ In Your MixerThe three-band EQ on a mixer can be the most critical feature to use during a mix. DJs mixing without even touching the EQs is still quite normal to witness and hear. You'll probably hear basslines clashing, speakers distorting, and a sloppy mix if you mix without utilizing the EQ. I would say that blending your track with the EQ is crutial!
This is a basic tip that should be practiced all the time.
Production software has gone a long way and is becoming better all the time. You won't have to spend thousands of pounds on constructing or even hiring a studio. With tools like FL Studio, Ableton live, and the bet of all for me, Cubase, you can create an entire track on your PC, Mac, or laptop.
These softwares allow you to create whole tracks in just a few days. All you have to do now is include the tune into your DJ performances. You'll be able to judge how well you're doing by the crowd's reaction.
You need to learn how to get the audience going and how to engage with the crowd as a DJ. You'll also learn about the crowd's body language. And what should you do if the crowd is illegible?
Don't overlook this crucial DJ ability. It's equally as vital as mixing, and mastering it will help you gain a larger following. People will remember you more easily as well. And they'll want to watch you perform again.
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