DJ Mixing Techniques and other tips for a smooth mix?

[ozoozo]

Let me present myself here since this is my first post on dubstepforum. I'm 25 and love all kinds of electronic music, I mostly listen to house, techno, garage and "bass" music.

I didn't find a thread on DJ techniques and how to create a good DJ set. I'm a complete noob when it comes to DJing, but I've been reading basically every Resident Advisor music review the past two years and listen to tons of different styles of electronic music, so I would consider myself to know one or two things about music. So now I would like to get started with my DJing.

Since I don't want to waste my money on something I might have the time for I have borrowed a basic DJ Midi Controller from a friend (Numark mixtrack pro) which I have hooked up to my laptop with Traktor Pro 2.

How do I create a fluid mix with many styles (Ben UFO is one of my favorite DJ's)? Should I limit my self to similar BPM? Is there any other threads where this subject has been discussed? Any other general tips for noobs?

Thanks

[123kidd]

The biggest thing is to practice. However, with that being said, make use of the eq knobs (especially important for the lows) for a balanced mix and up faders (volume) for better control and transitions. Know your tracks and song structures well.

[OllieScott]

learn your songs, know how long the sections are in the tracks, learning about mixing in key may help.
Listen to mixes all the time, go out and watch a good dj. Listen at there track selection and how they interact with the crowds reaction.

[Bassf4ce]

In recent weeks I have learned timing is a huge factor. If you time everything to the song structure's then should be really smooth and if you use eq knobs all the better!

[ozoozo]

Yeah, timing is crucial. The hardest thing is to align two tunes and be able to anticipate how long the intro is and the outro. It's hard limit myself to certain tunes too, to make a coherent feel and flow in a set, I like I wide variety of styles.

Thanks for the tips, I'll keep on practicing!

[dickman69]

fuck it, just mix w/e you want into w/e else you want, itll probably sound like shit, but sometimes itll sound amazing (& you remember those ones)

so then when u actually can play for a few people, pull out those leftfield mixes that u know work, and its pretty impressive