Tweet
How to Be a Dance Music DJ Using CDs
DJs" or "Disk Jockeys" are people who play music for a living. There are several types of DJs, according to setting, style, and genre of the music to be played. This guide will discuss mixing dance music with CD players.
Steps
Begin a "set" (a list of songs to be played) before setting foot inside a DJ booth. Choose which songs to play and in which order. Songs can be chosen by tempo, pitch, theme, or any other criteria. It is a good idea to choose songs that "flow" together well. That is, songs that will sound good when played back to back. Other things to consider are the theme of the set, and raising and lowering the intensity level to accommodate anyone who may be dancing.
Load the first selection, and, simply enough, press play on the first side of the turntables or CD players, which will from hereon be referred to as deck 1, to begin playing the song. The crossfader should be either all the way to deck 1, or in the middle. The upfader should be at about 75%.
Load the next selection into deck 2. Push the crossfader all the way to deck 1, and press play on deck 2, and you will only be able to hear the music coming from deck 2 in your headphones. This is where the "mixing" begins.
Listen to the sample of the next track on deck 2, and try to judge the tempo and adjust the pitch/tempo fader to match the track playing on deck 1. This can only be done by practicing a lot, to acquire an 'ear' for which track is speeding ahead, and/or which track is lagging.
Start the new song in deck 2 over, and begin to find your cue point. A cue point is the exact point in the song that you wish to hear when you press play. From personal experience, it is easiest to use a bass-drum kick as the cue point. Usually this is done by pressing a cue button found on the player, and then searching with the search buttons to find the exact point needed.
Wait for the point in the song playing on deck 1 in which you wish to begin mixing the song on deck 2 into the mix. At this point, press play on deck 2; either with the crossfader at 50% (in the middle), or with the crossfader at deck 1, and slowly moving it from deck 1, to the middle, and eventually all the way to deck 2, so that only the song on deck 2 will remain in the mix from that point. You can not hear this in the headphones, so many DJs wear their headphones with one side off of the ear so that they can hear what is coming out of the speakers, as well as what is going on before the music leaves the mixer.
Continue to switch back and forth between decks. There are many "tricks" and techniques that have not been discussed in this guide, since this is just a basic explanation for complete beginners, or people curious as to what the hell that groovy looking dude in the DJ booth is so focused on while he is "in the mix."
Tips
Many DJs choose to come up with the playlist off the top of their heads; particularly DJs with more experience in the field. However, it is recommended to have a playlist prepared if you're a beginner.
Things You'll Need
A good selection of CDs within the same genre of dance music.
2 professional DJ CD-players.
A 2 channel DJ mixer.
Quality headphones.
A decent sound system (usually two loud speakers and an amplifier).
The will to learn, patience and practice.
Steps
Begin a "set" (a list of songs to be played) before setting foot inside a DJ booth. Choose which songs to play and in which order. Songs can be chosen by tempo, pitch, theme, or any other criteria. It is a good idea to choose songs that "flow" together well. That is, songs that will sound good when played back to back. Other things to consider are the theme of the set, and raising and lowering the intensity level to accommodate anyone who may be dancing.
Load the first selection, and, simply enough, press play on the first side of the turntables or CD players, which will from hereon be referred to as deck 1, to begin playing the song. The crossfader should be either all the way to deck 1, or in the middle. The upfader should be at about 75%.
Load the next selection into deck 2. Push the crossfader all the way to deck 1, and press play on deck 2, and you will only be able to hear the music coming from deck 2 in your headphones. This is where the "mixing" begins.
Listen to the sample of the next track on deck 2, and try to judge the tempo and adjust the pitch/tempo fader to match the track playing on deck 1. This can only be done by practicing a lot, to acquire an 'ear' for which track is speeding ahead, and/or which track is lagging.
Start the new song in deck 2 over, and begin to find your cue point. A cue point is the exact point in the song that you wish to hear when you press play. From personal experience, it is easiest to use a bass-drum kick as the cue point. Usually this is done by pressing a cue button found on the player, and then searching with the search buttons to find the exact point needed.
Wait for the point in the song playing on deck 1 in which you wish to begin mixing the song on deck 2 into the mix. At this point, press play on deck 2; either with the crossfader at 50% (in the middle), or with the crossfader at deck 1, and slowly moving it from deck 1, to the middle, and eventually all the way to deck 2, so that only the song on deck 2 will remain in the mix from that point. You can not hear this in the headphones, so many DJs wear their headphones with one side off of the ear so that they can hear what is coming out of the speakers, as well as what is going on before the music leaves the mixer.
Continue to switch back and forth between decks. There are many "tricks" and techniques that have not been discussed in this guide, since this is just a basic explanation for complete beginners, or people curious as to what the hell that groovy looking dude in the DJ booth is so focused on while he is "in the mix."
Tips
Many DJs choose to come up with the playlist off the top of their heads; particularly DJs with more experience in the field. However, it is recommended to have a playlist prepared if you're a beginner.
Things You'll Need
A good selection of CDs within the same genre of dance music.
2 professional DJ CD-players.
A 2 channel DJ mixer.
Quality headphones.
A decent sound system (usually two loud speakers and an amplifier).
The will to learn, patience and practice.