DJ Beatmatching and Mixing Techniques

A lot of new DJs start to get beatmatching down and then they quickly jump onto advanced mixing techniques. They can't learn the advanced mixing techniques and they don't understand why.... Here is why:

You need to get the basics of Beatmatching, Cueing, Throwing, Pitch Riding and other fundamental skills down before moving on. Learning different mixes or effects before you can beatmatch flawlessly every time is like trying to put up the different floors of a building before digging out and pouring the foundation. It's the total mastery of these commonly overlooked basic skills that allows the pro DJs you love to effortlessly put together mix after mix. You can learn more advanced tips here www.musicanddjinstructionalmedia.com The thing that all Pro DJs have locked down that amateur DJs don't is that their levels are TIGHT. The volume (level) of each of their tracks is perfect so the tracks blend together well. When an amateur is bringing in a new song, he or she will usually misjudge the volume of the song and will bring in the song too loud or too quiet. If a song is brought in too loud it is overpowering. If a song is brought in too quiet it kills the energy of the mix. The pros have their levels nailed perfectly and here is how they do it: Before you bring in the next song that you have beatmatched, get it playing in your headphones. Once the song is playing listen to both songs at the same time in your headphones by choosing both channels using the headphone "cue" button or dial on your mixer. Now that you can hear both songs playing in your headphones, turn all of the EQs up on the song you are going to mix in, so it sounds normal. (When you mix a new song it is common to have one or all of the Bass, Mid or High EQs turned down so the certain parts of the new song, like a melody, won't clash with the song that is currently playing.) Put your headphones on both ears and simply switch back and forth between songs using the "cue" dial on your mixer. You can hear the first song and then the new song... then back to the current song that is playing out loud.. then back to the new song. Doing this and adjusting the "gain" knobs will get you're levels right and everyone listening will think you are a total pro! Pitch Riding is one of those skills that really separates the Pro DJs and the intermediate DJs that can mix but make mistakes. Its only the DJs with perfect mixing that get the big gigs. "Trainspotting" is when you sit behind, or to the side, of the DJ booth and watch every move the DJ makes. Its called trainspotting because this is how DJs catch other DJs "trainwrecking" (which is a term that refers to the sound your mix makes if you don't have the beats matched – a train crashing). Trainspotting is awesome because you can see little tricks DJs use and you quickly learn how they mix their songs together. You can then try the same tricks at home. Keep what works for you and forget the tricks that don't. Some of the best mixes and tricks are learned this way. You can learn even more DJ tips from here www.musicanddjinstructionalmedia.com