[DJ BIBLE] Tips and Tricks

[legend4ry]

Post your tips and tricks about DJing.


General
Learn your tracks; not every track has the same structure, some have 24 bar intros, some have 16 or 64, or a 8 bar breakdown, you need to know this otherwise it can spoil blends!

Vinyl
Learn your pitch fader; when I started DJing It'll take me ages to get tracks in lock because I wasn't sure how much to move to pitch fader and now, because I know my tracks and the pitch fader - I know roughly where to put the pitch depending on a track before I even drop the needle onto the vinyl.

Pitch rather than platter; for very small changes, sure use the platter but trust me theres nothing more embarassing than getting a "ZORP" sound in a club, in the middle of a blend - learn when you need to use the pitch fader to correct out of time-ness (quick sweeps up/down) and when to use the platter and how to use them properly.

CDJ


Mixer

During a blend, if you want a melody to appear more apparent of the incoming but nothing else, decrease the track's playing mid EQ by 1-2 increments left and the incoming track's mid EQ 1-2 right.

Use the volume faders, not the cross fader; when in a club this is your safest option and every DJ I know uses it for a few reasons..
1) You have a bigger DB sweep.
2) You don't have to worry about having it completely center.
3) Its more natural and easier to move 2 sliders when cutting between tracks than learning x-fader control - obviously unless you're a turntablist but this is more about general - mixing 2 tracks
4) As most DJs use this set up the club's x-faders may be broken/dodgey.

[blinx]

My humble tips, mileage may vary form dj to dj or setup to setup.

Mixer
Try not to run your mix into the red.

When sending FOH your master outputs from the mixer, do not have your master at full volume.. 50-75% master volume will allow for them to actually use their pre amps a little and boost your signal properly which will lead to a better all around signal path to the speakers if your board has a unity setting thats a good place to set the master volume at also.

When you use the volume faders i like to set my gain with my fader all the way up so when i want my tracks at the loudest volume i can slam faders up and down quickly instead of worrying about getting my fader on the unity line which i tend to miss in a club with lights and shit going on.

[tosker]

this is a general turntable tip:

don't lick the contacts at the end of your cartridge in an effort to get sound, doing so will corrode the contacts of the tonearm - get some contact cleaner and keep it in your bag
additionally, DON'T TOUCH THE NEEDLE - these are delicate components, make use of those brushes that come with your needle (if you use Shure needles, not sure if other brands include these) or buy a brush made for cleaning turntable styli from your preferred gear outlet.

maybe there should be a turntable maintenance thread? feel free to move this post as necessary, legend4ry. big ups for all your work!

[wub]

DJing Trick

Requires 2 x CDJs, 1 x DJM series mixer

• With your track playing on deck 1, loop a 4/8 bar loop just before the drop, ideally with some drum fills in it
• Gradually increase the delay on this channel to about 1/4 or 11 o'clock on the rotary control
• You'll hear the drums gradually building and building as the delay works on them
• On deck 2, cue up a beat matched acapella
• Crank the delay on deck 1 up further and drop the bass EQ slightly
• When the crowd is going suitably batshit crazy, come out of the loop on deck 1 so the tune drops, kill the delay and let fly with the acapella
• Hold both arms up and enjoy the moment