Mixing/Djing?

lukewalnuts

lukewalnuts

Active member
figured here would be a good place to post about this.

basically I want to get into mixing/ djing but know absolutely nothing about it....

anyone have any advice on where to start/look?

I want to do something like dj craze in this vid...

 
Don't listen to Rajna, beatmatching is nice if you want to spend hundreds of dollars on vinyl and turntables, but you can also get a cheap Numark midi controller and a copy of traktor and DJ out of the box that way. Yes beatmatching is cool, yes its what everyone does in the UK, but there are easier ways to get started.

Get a copy of traktor 2, a sound card, and watch youtube tutorials until you're comfortable with the program.

Here's a good place to start:

http://www.djtechtools.com/category/dj_techniques_tips/basicdjtips/

Honestly, NS isn't a great place to ask about this kind of stuff, you get a lot of people that listen to the Essential Mix every week and think they know what they're talking about. GOOGLE EVERYTHING. All the best answers are easy to find on the internet.
 
What the.... I don't even know where to start. I'm honestly baffled by your response Montin.. I agree NS isn't the best place for DJ advice and your exactly why....What the fuck are you talking about saying beatmatching is what people do in the UK?!?!

As for OP: You really are better off on a DJ forum for more detailed advice and further explanations. But ill try to help explain why your going need to learn to beatmatch.

Beatmatching is the quintessential skill of mixing/djing/pushing buttons and has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do without how much money you plan on spending or what genre you intend to mix. If you plan on playing music in front of a crowd and being taken seriously then your going need to fully comprehend this idea. Start reading down below and check out some tutorials. Your going to need to use this skill whether your spinning turntables, CDJ decks, computer program, or a DJ controller.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatmatching

Next, your going to want get some hands on experience. You could start by using a computer program, which is probably the cheapest and easiest way. This isn't a bad idea and eventually if you ever want (Traktor, Virtual DJ, Serato)

Or you could get a DJ controller that connects via USB to your computer. This is probably your best if you willing to invest a little money into this. Using computer programs can be very clumsy and the interface is rather hard to navigate quickly since your limited to a keyboard and mouse. The DJ controller is basically turntables and a mixer bundled into one unit that interacts with your DJ software.

You can find those here:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/DJ-Controllers/ci/14008/N/4294549049

Native Instruments is always a solid bet.

 
I use traktor pro 2, akai apc 40 with collision mapping, and a Traktor audio 2 by native instruments.

It's such a simple program to start using and very versatile. That's the program i recommend starting with. I recommend the numark mixtrack pro (you do not need an i/o if you get this) and or a kontrol s2 if you can afford it.

HAVE FUN!
 
Beatmatching is essentially using your ears and two turntables to make sure the tracks you're mixing are at the same speed. This takes absolutely NO skill with a computer, which tells you what speed your tracks are playing at and even what key they're in, and you can even see the actual audio file, which will show you exactly where the transients for kick drums are. Line up kick drums>check that tempos match>press play. No beatmatching - because beatmatching is done with your ears, not a computer.

Basically, don't play two tracks at different speeds, and you'll be fine.
 
Yes, perfect.You'll have a ton of fun with that, just make sure that everything on your controller works like its supposed to as soon as you get it if you buy it used.
 
Exactly.

OP, learning to beatmatch is one of, if not the most essential thing(s) you can learn if you plan on getting into dj'ing. If you have money to invest, start your career on analogue equipment - it will give you a more solid foundation and an overall better understanding of what dj'ing is about than if you take the route Montins is talking about. Seriously, people skip over this step because really, it is quite a basic concept, but it is VERY important nonetheless.
 
It kinda goes beyond just syncing up kickdrums though...if the hit hats and snares sound like garbage then it's not properly beatmatched IMO. If you use a SYNC button in traktor then clearly it takes no skill, however it can be good practice to do it manually because you'll have a better ear for it once you do move to turntables.

More importantly, I'm still waiting to hear why this skill is useless and a waste of money as you stated in your earlier post lol
 
Nothing wrong with starting out with Traktor... A $300 midi controller will let him get started easily without dropping over a thousand for tables and a mixer. No harm in upgrading later, but what you're suggesting is like telling someone starting out skiing to buy a touring setup and avi gear. Complete overkill.

Sure, learn to beatmatch, but it's not going to help you with Traktor, which is what OP wants to learn. A valuable skill for sure once you know what tempo different genres are, and once you have the ear for it, and when you have the gear that demands it though. Use your ears OP, if it sounds good then go with it.
 
Ya that should be good for you but ditch the audio 2 sound card because the s2 already has a built in sound card for you. Now op I got into djing just like you. I saw the dj Craze and the Ean Golden Traktor videos and was hooked. All i thought slept and dreamed of was djing then. I didn't know anything or even how to do dj. Now at first I was brainwashed to buy the best of the best gear. Though what you really need is a good laptop and a good board to learn on. Now the Traktor s2 is perfect because you will learn the simple and basic steps on how to use Traktor and midi controllers. I started out with a Numark Mixtrack which really helped me understand the basic mixer setup and tables. By just sticking with that basic controller I have learned a lot about djing and the basics of it. Make sure to do a lot of research and be confident in what set up you choose to buy. Here is a good link that might help you choose a good board or gear you may want.

http://www.djtechtools.com/2012/08/06/what-controller-is-right-for-you-all-in-one-vs-modular-dj-set-ups/

http://www.beginnerdj.com/the-beginner-dj-equipment-guide-building-your-first-dj-setup

 
the 128/70 is referring to the tempo. These are transitions between the original songs and the remixes, so you can change tempo easily in a mix without having to do anything, or move from house tempos to trap tempos easily.

What he's doing is really simple, you should be able to do this without the transition tracks. Simply use the buildup from the house track, then drop the trap remix at the end of the buildup. Easy tempo change, you see people doing this all the time in mixes. Its not hard.
 
I have Novation Twitch and its crazy fun! Many would say that it isn't real Djing when you don't beatmach/scratch using vinyl, but I disagree. I've had it half a year and never regret buying it.

twitch-main-640-80.jpg
 
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