To all dubstepforum DJ's...

[wolf hood]

learn cuing and buy two records of the same tune and practice dropping one in on top of the other and take it from there. most standard dubstep is 140bpm so you're safe that way

[ikeaboy]

I'm no expert but I'd say focus on your beatmatching before trying the more fun stuff like effects, beat juggling, mad EQing etc. Nothing worse than somebody covering up shit mixing with heaps of Pioneer DJM effects.

[ST100]

you could just not bother learning and call yourself a 'selecta'

Sounds good to me.

[surface_tension]

I know that beatmatching is pretty vital in house music etc, but what about dubstep? Or is it just vital whatever music you are spinning..

I think a lot of people discount it. But I'll leave to get a drink if you're trainwrecking through your set. It's a bad look in general. If you can't beatmatch, you're not a DJ.

Don't even bother trying to play out unless you can do this at the very least. I think a lot of people skip over the entire practicing and perfection aspect of DJing and just want to jump into the spotlight. I probably trainwreck a mix each time I play, maybe 2... but that's over the span of how many mixes? Just learn the basics... beat matching is a guitar strum. If you can't play scales, you can't play the guitar. Some would argue that if you can't read music, you aren't a musician. Even more still would argue that if you can't write music, you aren't either..

but without learning to strum the guitar and play a proper scale, you are definitely no guitarist.

[djelements]

Mixing DnB does NOT translate to mixing dubstep.
This is fact.

[Coppola]

when i was learning about 5 or 6 months ago, i watched a tutorial on youtube about beatmatching using just the pitch control. i was teaching myself, using some dnb vinyl. i didn't realise about phrasing. when you listen to almost every dance tune there are breakdowns etc and you have to bring the record in at the right time or else it will never sound right. i tried using the pitch control only but because the records were out of place with each other, even if they were at exactly the same speed they would sound shite.
after you learnt to bring them in at right time, it's just about nudging or whatever to make up for mistakes, using pitch control occasionally and fucking about with EQ.

[bright maroon]

I'll tell you - You drop the new record on the 1 - but it can't be just any 1..it has to be the 1 at the beginning of a new movement..there are a couple of those on every record - but practice with the first new movement after the break...not the first 1 after the break - but the 1st 1 of the new movement after the break..

practice counting to songs first..play Adam f Circles in another window and count to my diagram, start after the tick..count the bass thumps..as they are on time..

*1,2,3,4 - 2,2,3,4 (up)
**1,2,3,4 - 2,2,3,4(down)

***1,2,3,4 - 2,2,3,4(up)
****1,2,3,4 - 2,2,3,4(down)

****1,2,3,4 - 2,2,3,4 (up)
***1,2,3,4 - 2,2,3,4(down)

**1,2,3,4 - 2,2,3,4(up)
*1,2,3,4 - 2,2,3,4(down)

NEW MOVEMENT
1,2,3,4, - 2,2,3,4
etc,,etc...

I may be killed for revealing this to you..

[magma]

have about 10 andy c sets on the go at the same time on 10 different ipods and listen to them all day long.....its the secret

And then if it all screws up on the night, plug your iPod in.

[Dead Rats]

Just started as well, only fucking around with about 3/4 tunes to start me off. They go together quite well.

*Caspa - Where's my Money?
*Distance - Victim Support
*Crissy Criss - Don't Mess About
*Rusko - Hammertime

They all have breakdowns, and are all bangers, so I'm getting used to just mixing the same 4 over and over again.

"...What with the state of the music industry these days, and-AHH, YOU KNOW WHAT?---D-D-D-DON'T MESS ABOUUUUTTT, *Whump*--wobblebblebblebblebbleebblebble-aahhhh............

Feels good man.

[neka]

Fuck about trying mixing different tunes and if something works really well, write them down, then find another that works well with the next one then link them up so you've got a nice flowy set that youre comfortable with

[Dead Rats]

Fuck about trying mixing different tunes and if something works really well, write them down, then find another that works well with the next one then link them up so you've got a nice flowy set that youre comfortable with

I haven't been doing it for long, as I say, but I've been heckling myself to write a set. It's a great feeling when I discover a new mix, and pull it off perfectly. Not so good when I forget what fucking part I bring it in on, especially with my shitty memory.

Some DJ's put marks on their vinyl to symbolize when a bit comes in, does that help at all?

[surface_tension]

Some DJ's put marks on their vinyl to symbolize when a bit comes in, does that help at all?

Generally those are turntablists who need to drop a specific bar, or a small piece of a break, then rewind immediately in the mix and drop it again... works well for dropping doubles of tunes and cutting and juggling back and forth.

A real DJ who is just mixing 2 tunes together in a mix should know their tunes enough to not need such crap. If you need these stickers, the odds are you wouldn't know how and where to place them in the first place. Just learn your tunes inside and out. There is no trick or formula that will replace hard work, practice, and trial and error. Anyone here who claims to have the formula is full of shit, ya know?

I played for like 2-3 years before I even thought to play at a house party. If you don't feel like you could school have the people at every show you attend in the art of mixing wax, you shouldn't probably be on the bill at the show.

[shook1]

Learn to count.

Phrases and bars, simple shit but vital unless you want wasteman sets.

Also be aware of what records are about to do.

[joey snack]

it takes a while but you will know when you are improving.

just play around untill you get it. dont to work out the bpm of each track and have it written down as you will end up relying on this if ever faced with records you dont have it written down for.

[kozee]

record your mixesand listen to them... it helps alot.

[djelements]

Mixing DnB does NOT translate to mixing dubstep.
This is fact.

Heh. Well you are entitled to your opinion, however i think you are off on that statement. I spin dubstep and dnb together all the time. They work well interchangeably when mixing for a rasta crowd anyway.

Rockin the reggae/ dub end of the dubstep then hype it with a couple good ragga dnb tunes and among other mix progression and development, you elevate the momentum of your dancefloor vibe. Dubstep and DnB mix very well together if you know what you are doing (or are just lucky.)

I call luck on that one.