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DJ Tutorials

This section has links to DJ tutorials and technical information.

Mistakes when Switching DJs

This article covers all the issues that happen on an extremly common situation: switching between DJs. It is pure gold.

Covered:

  • Not following DJ etiquette
  • Forgetting your headphones or adapter
  • Plugging in your own equipment incorrectly
  • Only bringing one USB Pen
  • Ejecting the wrong USB
  • Loading on the wrong deck
  • Stopping the wrong deck
  • Forgetting to put Quantise on
  • Trying to mix the unmixable
  • Running out of time

Well, we are only half-way. Covered next is:

  • Cutting short the other DJs track
  • Not beat-matching the transition
  • Failing to notice the FX are on
  • Failing to notice the crossfader is on
  • Adjusting the volume
  • Using low quality music
  • Starting with a bad track
  • Not reading the crowd
  • Getting nervous
  • Not looking up

Article: https://www.londonsoundacademy.com/blog/the-biggest-mistakes-to-avoid-when-switching-between-djs

How to choose a headphone

Another great article from the LSA:

  • Headphone Components
    • Headband
    • Driver & Enclosure
    • Ear Pads
    • The Cable
  • Buying Criteria:
    1. Audio Quality
    2. Comfort
    3. Durability
    4. Budget

  • Other Headphone Options To Consider

    • Closed or Open-back?
    • Impedance or Ohm Rating

  • Recommendations for DJ Headphones

    • Sennheiser HD-25 - RRP £129 ‍
    • Aiaiai TMA-2 DJ RRP £180
    • Pioneer HDJ-S7 RRP £159
  • Headphone Recommendations for Producers
    • Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro RRP £105
    • Beyerdynamic DT-990 RRP £109
    • Sennheiser HD650 RRP £399
    • AKG K Professional Headphones Range £39+ .. £1499
    • Audio Technica ATH-M50x RRP £119
    • Audeze LCD-2 RRP£989
  • What to Avoid:
    • Fast-fashion Headphones
    • Gimmick Headphones
    • Headphones Brands That Do Not Offer Spare Parts
    • Bluetooth or Wireless H

https://www.londonsoundacademy.com/blog/the-best-headphones-for-djs

How to select the right speaker for your event

See this video to learn how to buy/rent large speakers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMQurf2Za1g

Battery Speakers:

  • JBL Eon One Compact https://amzn.to/3epiwME
  • Bose S1 Pro https://amzn.to/3fvWWaF
  • LD Systems Maui 5 Go https://amzn.to/2CrKERD

Column Arrays:

  • Video https://youtu.be/fc2_bls2R_g
  • EV Evolve 50 https://amzn.to/2CkUPYm
  • EV Evolve 30m https://amzn.to/2AOvZQj

Beginner Speakers:

  • Video https://youtu.be/1pLiTkG8nYc
  • JBL Eon 615 https://amzn.to/36WRPM5
  • QSC CP12 https://amzn.to/2Tu3VJ0
  • Mackie Thump 15 https://amzn.to/30nUM69
  • Avante A15 https://amzn.to/2QY9627
  • EV ZLX 15bt https://amzn.to/3aes8sq

Beginner Subs * Video https://youtu.be/wohIvfcgwAw * Top Powered Speaker Video https://youtu.be/BUhxUIntPkk

Intermediate Speakers:

  • EV EKX15p http://amzn.to/2uzjgLd
  • EV EKX12p http://amzn.to/2eP4Sck
  • JBL PRX815 http://amzn.to/2tLFN8X
  • JBL PRX812 http://amzn.to/2uE0LUk
  • RCF Art 712 https://amzn.to/2AOcQ0J
  • RCF Art 715 https://amzn.to/3einWc7
  • QSC KW 122 http://amzn.to/2ePkA7b
  • QSC KW 152 http://amzn.to/2ePkSLj
  • QSC K12.2 http://amzn.to/2eORa9k

Intermediate Subwoofers:

  • EV EKX15 Sub http://amzn.to/2uZF8An
  • EV EKX 18 Sub http://amzn.to/2vL4gsg
  • JBL PRX 815 XLF http://amzn.to/2ePkaO9
  • JBL PRX 818 XLF http://amzn.to/2h4QPju
  • QSC KW 181 http://amzn.to/2uE1iFO
  • RCF 708 https://amzn.to/3gOj4gt
  • RCF 705 https://amzn.to/3fkWyeH

Intermediate 3-way tops:

  • JBL PRX 835 http://amzn.to/2vKTnH6
  • QSC KW 153 http://amzn.to/2h4RAsQ

PRO Level Speakers:

  • EV ETX 15p http://amzn.to/2uz9Krv
  • EV ETX 12p http://amzn.to/2uySdj6
  • JBL SRX 815p http://amzn.to/2uE2jxN
  • JBL SRX 812p http://amzn.to/2uzeLR4
  • RCF Art 745 MK4 https://amzn.to/2BYSmD5
  • RCF HDM45 https://amzn.to/3iQfcgF

PRO Level Subwoofers:

  • ETX 15 Sub http://amzn.to/2h4AKKV
  • ETX 18 Sub http://amzn.to/2uEgu60
  • JBL SRX 818sp http://amzn.to/2uyZOy5
  • JBL VRX918sp https://amzn.to/2ZZGlW4
  • JBL SRX 828sp http://amzn.to/2h47tzQ

  • RCF 8003 https://amzn.to/38LpEkZ

  • Touring level Tops / arrays:

  • JBL VRX932lap https://amzn.to/2BPL44I

  • RCF HDL6A https://amzn.to/3iReWy9

  • Martin Audio CDD live 15 https://martin-audio.com/products/lou...

  • Touring level Subwoofers:

  • RCF 8004 https://amzn.to/2Ziddu7

  • RCF 8006 https://amzn.to/2W80TKQ
  • Martin Audio CSX Live218 https://martin-audio.com/products/arc...

Top 5 Easiest Instruments To Learn

  1. DJ Controller
  2. Piano
  3. Drums
  4. Ukulele
  5. Harmonica

https://www.londonsoundacademy.com/blog/top-5-easiest-instruments-to-learn

Where to Download House Music Online

  • Free
    • Soundcloud
    • Record Label Promos & Mailing Lists
    • Music PR Company Promos
    • Direct Contacts
    • Download Gates (eg, Hypeddit)
  • To Buy ‍ * LSA Records
    • Beatport.com
    • iTunes / Apple Music
    • Amazon
    • Juno Records
    • Traxsource
    • Boomkat
    • Bandcamp
    • Subscription Streaming Service For DJs (eg, Beatport Link)
    • DJ Pools

https://www.londonsoundacademy.com/blog/where-to-download-house-music-online

How to make a mixtape, from easy to hard

  • Super Easy
    • Pacemaker AI DJ App
  • Easy
    • MixMeister
    • Garage Band
  • Easy-Medium
    • Audacity
  • Medium
    • Rekordbox
    • Serato
    • Traktor
    • Virtual DJ
  • Difficult
    ‍ * ‍Ableton
    • Logic Pro

Article: https://www.londonsoundacademy.com/blog/10-ways-to-make-a-mixtape

How to use instant doubles

This feature is also called deck cloning.

Benefits are: * Playing With a Single Turntable * Beat Juggling * Put Your Best Hand Forward * Doubles, Follows, and Chases * Current Track Preview

Article: https://mixxx.discourse.group/t/new-in-2-3-deck-cloning/20267

How to run a party uisnga a 12V portable battery

Do not use your car battery.

Instead use deep-cycle batteries, solve for RVs, or marine batteries used by boats.

These are meant to be used on boats or in RVs, where you’re expected to run appliances off the batteries without the engine running.

https://igor.moomers.org/the-12v-music-manifesto parts list

List of Online DJ Courses

Below a list of DJ courses, all from well-known Tutors.\ This is appropriate and recommended when you want a structured syllabus that covers all bases.\ In particular DJTechtools is offering interactive-only advanced sessions.

Other than paid courses, these fine people contributed A LOT of FREE tutorials in youtube, their websites and forums.\ If you are dedicated enough, experimenting and trying these materials for yourself can get you as far as you want.

  • Phil Morse and team:
    • https://www.digitaldjtips.com/dj-courses/
  • Ean Golden and team:
    • Advanced Interactive: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XyLog-v7QXm4LoBMxLfdCg
    • Videos: https://store.djtechtools.com/collections/sound-packs-tutorials
  • Carlo Atendido:
    • https://sellfy.com/djcarloatendido/
  • DJ TLM:
    • https://djcoursesonline.com/dj-programs/
  • DJ Endo / DJ Shiftee:
    • https://online.berklee.edu/courses/learn-to-dj-with-traktor
    • http://www.dubspot.com/programs/dj-extensive-program/?from=105#courses
  • Jamie Hartley:
    • https://wearecrossfader.co.uk/online-dj-courses/
  • DJ DAVE:
    • https://www.adsrsounds.com/product/courses/traktor-pro-3-masterclass/
  • Udemy:
    • https://www.udemy.com/topic/dj/

List of Introductory DJ Tutorials / Exercises

DAVE beatgrid tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De3bEzVt1rk

TBD.
For now, see: https://www.mixxx.org/wiki/doku.php/beginner_dj_links

List of beginner tips

This guide explains simple A to B mixing using sync. https://www.native-instruments.com/en/traktor-dj-2-s2-quickstart/mixing-tracks-using-sync/

(more to add)

The great Sync debate

Audience point of view

About the "dj sync debate", I believe the following: a) all preparation that happens while the fader is DOWN is not relevant to the audience (see exception below) b) everything that happens while the fader is UP is extremely relevant to the audience

The biggest exception to the above is that beatmatching takes a lot of time of the DJ. It is hard work. This time comes on top of track-searching and cueing tasks.

For some audiences like live-streaming, specialized non-commercial music styles, vinyl-only nights, etc they definitely appreciate the DJ to look and to actually be very busy.\
To other audiences, this is not relevant at all.

Taking the above rule into account, I then believe the following:

  • Beatmatching tracks that beatgrid well is just a waste of time
  • Using sync on tracks that do not beatgrid well is very damaging
    • this is why elastic beatgrids are so important
  • Some tricks typically associated with vinyl/beatmatching are definitely enjoyed by the audience, eg TT break / TT stop
  • Beatmatching forces you to hear and known the tracks much better. It is a significant help in respecting and leveraging the phrasing structure of the tracks.

DJ point of view

Typically the DJ has a different point of view than that of the audience.

Beatmatching can range from being very enjoyable to being a burden. It definitely is a huge barrier to beginners that pursue this path.\
DJs themselves tend to enjoy being busy, so beatmatching is one way to satisfy that need.\
This also happens a lot with other topics like excessive use of EQ tuning, Effects, Scratching, sampling, etc.

In the end I recommend that you learn Beatmatching as a useful backup tool for the cases of 80s, live drummers, unanalysed tracks, older equipment, vinyl, acapellas, etc.

More info, and more comments: * article1 * article2 * article3

Recommendation to DJTT DJ course

https://store.djtechtools.com/products/dj-techtools-live-master-classes#course1

I've been very lucky to be in the first 2x interactive DJ course by Ean Golden. The level ranges from Intermediate to Advanced, with an emphasis in advanced, which I really enjoyed.

An absolute bargain for the price, you get 6x completely interactive sessions where Ean explains extremly useful and real-world proven DJ techniques, covering the entire DJing spectrum.
There you see Ean's real collection, tracks, cues and loops, where he shows over and over the techniques that he wrote in DJTT blog posts since 2007.
https://djtechtools.com/2015/05/17/the-history-of-dj-techtools/

Even better, you can ask any question at any time. But crucially, the questions are moderated by RandomFPV (Chris Benoit), to ask them in the best order and at the best possible time. This SIGNIFICANTLY improves this process to be a lot more efficient and clear.

The cherry on top of the cake is an after-party zoom call where you discuss and interact these and other topics with your peers - the other students - from all over the world.

AFAIK this course and format is unique. It specifically targets intermediate and advanced levels. While very high-quality as well, AFAIK other courses are only prerecorded and are typically start at beginners and up.
Nothing wrong with that, but I personally prefer this model and target audience a lot more.

Looking forward more follow-up courses, namely by other high-quality Tutors, in the same efficient format.

DJTT DJ course syllabus

Course #1: link

  • Session 1 - FX For Success (the two essential FX everyone needs and how to use them creatively)
  • Session 2 - Critical Loops and Cues (how to prepare your music for low stress seamless mixing)
  • Session 3 - Setting Up Amazing Mixes (engineering mixes that wow the crowd)
  • Session 4 - Using Different Tempos (how to seamlessly blend music from various genres)
  • Session 5 - How to change between radical tempos and shift energy
  • Session 6 - Using Keys in a set creatively (shifting energy and building a quality flow)
  • Session 7 - Creative arrangement of a set (telling a story and building the flow)

Course #2: link

  • Session 1 - Creative uses of 3rd and 4th decks
  • Session 2 - Leverage Remix Decks and Sample Decks to add dimension/ personality to your sets
  • Session 3 - Software//Hardware techniques for delicious and unique sound quality
  • Session 4 - MIDI Mapping for the win - Adding a layer of creativity to your sets
  • Session 5 - Going beyond the basic mixes. 6 out of the box ways to pick and blend music that set my style apart from others. I will give you nearly all my favorite mix tricks lately in 1 hour!
  • Session 6 - Creating Edits that really work and will make your DJ sets unique!

List of Technical Webinars

TODO: add more high-quality webinars.

Comparison of STEM seperation technologies

Baz Curtis made detailed comparison of the AI separation of the same tracks in this thread

Key Detection comparison 2020

Baz Curtis extended the classic key detection work and extend it into 2020 with more softwares.

These are his results:\
https://www.reddit.com/r/DJs/comments/hwlzyt/key_detection_comparison_2020/

Same, using beatport as a reference

Music Theory in 16 Minutes

This amazing video is only 16m and covers eveything you need or may need in music theory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eKTOMhpy2w

Contents:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 00:26 Basics principles and piano layout
  • 02:14 Note names
  • 04:25 Major & Minor scale
  • 08:37 Intervals
  • 10:23 Chords
  • 12:25 The circle of fifths

Tutorial on Traktor preferences

I highly recommend you dominate every preference of your DJ software.

For traktor, see this article by Dj Endo: http://blog.dubspot.com/traktor-pro-preferences-guide-troubleshooting-setup-tips-by-dubspots-dj-endo/

and this top 10 list of traktor tips: https://www.digitaldjtips.com/2012/09/10-hidden-traktor-gems-for-better-djing/