Beginner’s Guide to DJing

RECEIVING becoming a DJ has never been so easy. With an abundance of controllers, decks and music material, you can start DJing right away. Once you’ve made progress, you can improve your knowledge, ability, and repertoire as you progress.

Not only that, but the start-up costs needed today are much lower than they used to be. Whether you want to start with CDJs, controllers or DJing software, the current setup costs make DJing accessible to everyone.

DJing training involves developing the ability to balance one’s own musical expression with the preferences of the audience. It requires vigilance, reaction and creativity and goes beyond just putting songs together or matching beats.

Contrary to popular belief, learning to DJ is not an easy path to instant success. Everything we love and are passionate about takes effort, perseverance and time. Well, it’s not hard to get started. However, it is difficult to be exceptional and stand out.

Here are five of the best ways to become a DJ:

1. Learn Basic DJing Skills

Thanks to the wonders of the internet, you can learn some basic DJing skills.

Here are a few key points to start with:

Beatmatching: The purpose of beatmatching is to synchronize two tracks so that they play at the same tempo (song playback speed) and phase (so that their beats are in sync).

Formulation: Phrase is the process of putting together tracks at intervals that make sense to you.

Take control: This aspect of the factor focuses on adjusting the volume in a variety of ways.

Equalizer: Equalization (EQ) is the act of boosting or cutting frequencies so that multiple audio tracks blend nicely.

2. Explore and develop your skills with DJ software

Recordbox

Rekordbox is Pioneer’s music management platform for DJs. It can be used to import music, create playlists, set cue points, and perform any other preliminary tasks. Using the export mode, you can download this library to a USB flash drive and play it on equipment such as the Pioneer CDJ.

Everything is completely free. However, to access additional features such as cloud sync, DVS support, and performance mode on more hardware, they offer a subscription-based service.

Serato

Serato is one of the most stable and reliable DJ software currently available. They work with other equipment manufacturers (such as Rane, Pioneer DJ, Reloop, Roland, etc.) to ensure a seamless experience and seamless integration with no configuration required.

Serato DJ Lite is free, reliable and user-friendly DJ software for mixing two channels. With Practice Mode, you don’t even need any equipment to start DJing. If you decide to upgrade later, the process is simple.

3. Track recording and mixing

Once you get the basics down, you can start mixing and recording your own tracks. For those DJing with a laptop and a DJ controller, this will be easier, as most DJ software allows you to record your set with the push of a button.

Alternatively, you can use free software such as Garageband or Audacity to record directly from your Record Out ports to your computer’s audio input.

Mixing in the bedroom is not the same as performing in front of an audience. Some skills that are important in live performance, such as reading the crowd, do not apply when recording a personal mix.

However, you can take this opportunity to tell a story with your kit. Think about your starting point, destination, and the route you want to take to get there. Maybe you can play the script in your head as you stand in front of a crowd.

As your library of songs and sound effects grows, you may also find copyright-free music on websites such as Bensound, Free Music Archive, or Soundstripe.

4. Make your name known as a DJ

As a starting point, you can make some mixtapes, record your mixes, and share them with your friends and family. Ask them for feedback and opinions, and find out where you are making mistakes.

Uploading your mixes is the best way to get them heard by a wider audience. You can try Mixcloud or turn it into a video and upload it to YouTube. Once it’s on YouTube, find bands on Facebook, Reddit, and other websites and post a link there.

Before contacting any venues, make sure you are confident enough to enter the club and mix for at least an hour without making any mistakes. Be prepared for this and make sure your mixing is up to par. Club owner promoters may ask you to demonstrate your fitness to perform at their club before they take the risk of allowing you to perform live.

5. Keep practicing to become a better DJ

DJing is more than just mixing music. Many DJs overlook the fact that they are here to entertain the public. These people paid good money to see them, so it’s important to get it right.

As a result, to become a DJ, you must also learn to read the crowd. This is an important skill in DJing that should not be neglected. If you get it wrong, you’ll clear the dance floor before the first song is over.