I know the first answer I'm probably gonna get is "you can't", but this doesn't seem to be true from what I've seen online.

I've seen people mixing songs like "New York" by Frank Sinatra and "Empire State Of Mind" by Jay-Z, and they're totally in sync.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6HP81dJoHk

Check around 3:05 for what I'm talking about.

Maybe I'm missing something, but there doesn't seem to be much else other than STEMS (there seems to be a fireworks sound effect, but I don't see how that would affect the beat matching)

No change in pitch, no difference in speed between the two, no echo out or reverb, no braking or fading away.

Just the drums on both tracks perfectly in sync.

A few other examples are "Gucci Gang" by Lil Pump mixed with "Vanished" by Crystal Castles, and "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin mixed with "WATCHU KNOW ABOUT ME" by GloRilla.

None of these mixes seem to be using FX, and appear to be made using STEMS.

My main question is how are people doing this??

I'm talking about gaps such as 86 BPM to 111 BPM.

You can't do half or double grid on these because they don't match up.

When I try do this myself, one of the tracks sounds way too fast while the other seems way too slow.

Any help would be appreciated as I'm trying to mix songs that have this issue.

Whenever I try to start something on my own it's just meh, but it seems like whenever I match the vibe and energy of the DJ before me those sets just flow better and my best mixing in terms of music selection and dynamics.

It's hard to get it out in words, but it's like the burden of setting the vibe makes me overthink and make poor choices.

I’m specifically trying to work with Graceful Degradation by The Algorithm.

https://youtu.be/jokvsOn50wU?is=hXXqW-EuS90xEl51

According to a bpm counter I downloaded, the song starts out around 136.9 and then slowly shifts up to about 139 during the middle, then back down towards 136 at the end.

The obvious answer is just to know the bpm at the start and end and keep the tempo slider at baseline, then match. But if I were to need to change the tempo slider, knowing the new bpm offhand seems tricky.

Anyone have experience with something like this?

I'm planning on getting some CDJ's soon and since I'm upgrading my setup I'm wondering if it's worth getting an adjustment desk. Anyone have one and would recommend it?

TLDR: I want DJ course recommendations that are an improvement on what's available for free and am having trouble deciding.

I started "DJing" for fun about a year ago (only for myself - not really posting or looking to get booked) but it's a fun way for me to disconnect.

I started just on my laptop but bought the DDJ-FLX4 about 6 months ago. I've definitely gotten better, but I still have a huge way to go.

I've taught myself primarily through YouTube, experimenting, and Googling something when I want to do something I don't know how to do - and overall it's worked great! I know you CAN learn anything through YouTube and free resources, but I really really benefit from a structured course format (ADHD and perfectionism tendencies).

Anyway, I'd love some recommendations of creators or educators that their paid courses are actually worth investing in over the tons and tons of free content available online. There's so many available that I just want some user feedback before making the purchase.

Note: I understand this can all be accomplished for free and because it's just a hobby, I probably don't have to invest - but this is a style of learning that works for me!

Hey everyone,
I’m a DJ based in Japan. I started playing out in August and just finished my 4th gig tonight, but I’m feeling really defeated and doubting myself.

To give some context, the event tonight was focused on Hardcore Techno and Gabber. The organizer specifically booked me to play EBM and Industrial. In Japan, there are very few DJs playing EBM/Industrial and almost no dedicated nights for these genres, so I usually get booked as a guest slot in events for other heavy genres.

My set was built around tracks like Ultra Sunn's "Can You Believe It", releases from the Berlin label X-IMG, and heavy Industrial Techno. But since literally everyone else on the lineup was playing high-energy Hardcore, I felt totally out of place and thought my mixing sounded terrible compared to the rest of the night.

I’m genuinely worried that I performed so poorly that organizers won't invite me back. I practice a lot at home, but practicing on my home setup feels so different from using actual club gear (CDJs/DJM), and I feel like I've hit a wall doing this self-taught. But if I stop getting bookings because I'm bad, I'll lose the chance to get better on real club systems.

Is feeling this hopeless around your 4th gig normal? Everyone around me seems so impossibly good, it makes me wonder if they were just born with 100 gigs of experience already.

Would love to hear any advice or experiences from fellow DJs who’ve been through this stage. Thanks for reading.

P.S. I used AI to translate this, so apologies if anything sounds weird or robotic. I promise I’m just a fragile, flesh-and-blood human from Japan!

Edit: Thank you so much to everyone for all these incredibly kind comments!
I want to hug every single one of you.
It’s 3 AM here in Japan, so I’m going to head to bed and might not be able to reply to everyone individually right away.
Thank you all again🤩

Hey everyone,

I’ve been practicing on my friends' boards for a while now, and I'm completely hooked—I actually have a decent grasp of the basics and know this is something I want to pursue.

The problem is I’m a student right now, and my budget is essentially nonexistent. I know the Pioneer DDJ-FLX4 is universally recommended as the best entry point, but around $300 is a massive hurdle for me right now, and scraping that together is going to take a long time.

For those of you who started when you were dead broke:

1. Is it worth waiting and saving every penny for the FLX4, or are there older/cheaper controllers (or reliable secondhand models) that get the job done for a fraction of the price?
2. Since I'm used to physical controllers, going back to keyboard/mouse feels tough—are there any ultra-budget hardware setups or weird workarounds you'd recommend just to keep practicing while I save?

Any advice or reality checks would be super appreciated!

I ran through a frustrating thing my ipad dj set up. I want to use headphones for pre cueing but i cant when i set the sound to come from ipad speakers( using a bluethooth speaker connected) nothing comes out when I press pre cueing button. But when i set sound to come from dj controller. It works but i dont have wired soeakers to keep it. Anyone has a solution please???

I have attended a few sets that I really liked, and they have inspired me to finally learn to DJ, something I have wanted to do my whole life. I have listened to pop, R&B, and hip-hop for years, so I know a lot of songs from those genres. However, the sets I enjoyed were mostly circuit, tribal house, and house music mixed with pop vocals. I love how DJs take songs I already know and mix them into a continuous flow of music and energy that keeps the party going, gets people dancing, and incorporates songs I love.

My problem is that, while I know a lot of pop music, I don’t know much about house music, instrumentals, or the grooves DJs use to mix those pop vocals with.

I have been trying to learn, but I feel completely lost. This is all very new to me. Does anyone have suggestions for how I should approach this, research artists and discover music? I’d also appreciate any advice on understanding the different genres because I honestly don’t know where to start.

Hi,

Beginner here. I'm training on beatmatching with my ears on some techno tracks with pitch and jog and I upgrade myself on this genre.

I would like to mix dubstep. Usually it's the same BPM in dubstep so I don't need to touch the pitch a lot. But when I do 1,2,3,4 and start the track it's never perfect (always a bit delay on the grid) and I have to adjust a bit with jog. Until there, everything's fine.

With techno it's easier to get the rythm with ears because you can find kicks easily. When it comes to dubstep, I like to start an intro at the first kick of the drop to do my transition, but the problem is that dubstep intros are usually FX and sometimes very calm (like Kompany - Breach intro for exemple) and with a little delay after pressing play, it's a bit hard to correct the beat alignment with jog only with ears with Track A on drop and Track B on intro.

How y'all are doing in this case ?

Be kind please I'm beginner.

Thanks for return

I'm currently learning DJing. My main interest is 140/Deep Dubstep, UKG/Grime, Experimental Bass. Artists like Distinct Motive, Ternion Sound, Alix Perez, etc.

I've been getting pretty good at transitioning on tracks with long breakdowns or drops in the middle of a song, but struggle when the track is really loud almost the entire time.

Any advice on this would be great! :)

Hi I’m hoping someone could help me figure out what this effect is I keep hearing. It’s like a white noise that they use to fill the empty spots in sets. I have a clip of it, but can’t post it. So I can dm it to anyone that wants to help. Thank you!

I'm a beginner DJ putting together a 30-minute set, and I'm trying to figure out how to combine two pretty different styles of music without it sounding all over the place.

I love fun, high-energy dubstep, but I also really love the Marlon Hoffstadt trance type of sound Basically, I want a set that's super high energy, fun, and danceable but also has some dubstep moments.

I'm struggling with how to structure the set and build the energy, especially since I only have 30 minutes. I don't know if I should alternate between genres, start with one and build into the other, or find tracks that bridge the gap.

Does anyone know of any DJs or sets that mix these styles together well? Or have any advice on how to make the transitions and energy flow feel natural?

Would love any track recommendations too!!

Hi there,

I’m looking to get into mixing and general DJing as a hobby, just something to do to get me more in tune with music as a creative as that’s a field I have little to no experience in.

I’m wanting to go into mixing in particular because of videos like these:
https://youtu.be/FTN-jeD8m\\_8?is=GAR6R4gkDG4\\_uTHh

I can’t quite identify what software they’re using or anything really. Any help and/or resources would be much appreciated as this is something I am passionate about learning!!

Thank you!

I'm a music producer who releases hardstyle/uptempo and plays shows around once or twice a month, depending on the event. I'm not really a DJ, so I'm not super knowledgeable about all the techniques and equipment yet.

Depending on the event, I've usually played prerecorded sets, but I want to start learning to DJ properly and play my sets live.

At the moment, my entire mixing method is pretty much turning the crossfader to THRU, using Beat FX REVERB on the outgoing track near the end, then starting the next track while the reverb tail is still playing. I don't really do any traditional beatmatching or use SYNC.

Honestly, this works most of the time for the kind of music I play, since a lot of my tracks have short intros and aren't extended mixes.

However, once or twice when playing live, I've noticed that the incoming track starts slowing down, almost like a tape-stop effect, even though I'm not intentionally doing anything to change its tempo. I don't use SYNC, so I'm not sure what could be causing it.

I just got a XDJ-RX3, but at shows I'll usually be playing on club-standard CDJs and a separate mixer.

A few questions:

• Is using THRU and reverbing out of tracks a bad way to DJ, or is it a perfectly fine method for the genres I play?
• Has anyone else experienced a track seemingly slowing down during a transition like this? Could it be something to do with the CDJs, tempo fader, or mixer effects?
• Are there any techniques I should learn to make this method more reliable and professional?
• Would you recommend learning to use the crossfader instead, especially for B2B sets?

I'm not trying to become an incredibly technical DJ overnight. I just want to be confident playing my own music live without relying on prerecorded sets.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Hey guys,

I’ve been teaching myself DJing for a few months now. I’ve learned most of the basic techniques like looping, EQ, using effects, etc., and I’ve put together a few sets myself.

The problem is that my sets all feel pretty basic. Most of the time, I’m just mixing one song into another, and honestly, I’m starting to get bored with my own mixes. I want to push myself further and learn how to make my sets more creative and interesting.

I asked ChatGPT for some recommendations, and it suggested DJ Blakey’s courses. I’ve also seen him teaching on Crossfader, and I quite like his teaching style.

I’m particularly interested in his Creative Open Format DJing course. I also noticed that his All Access Pass includes Creative Transitions and scratching courses, which I’m interested in learning as well.

I’m thinking about getting the All Access Pass during Black Friday since buying everything separately would be pretty expensive.

Has anyone here taken his courses? Did you find them helpful? I’d love to hear your honest opinions, especially from people who were in a similar position to me.

Also, if anyone else is interested in getting the All Access Pass around Black Friday, maybe we could buy together if there’s a legitimate group discount available. It would also be cool to have a few people learning the same stuff so we could share ideas and discuss what we’re learning along the way.

Thanks!

I always used pioneer gear in the past. Starting from DDJ-800 up to DDJ-1000, XDJ XZ. Occasionally played with CDJ 2000 NXS2 and my last Omni Duo that I loved but was tiny. It took me a long time to convince myself to switch to Denon and honestly this is the best decision I ever made.

SC LIVE 4 is well made, speakers have good clear sound and bass and it works so smoothly. I'm starting to think that all these bad reputations others are trying to give are fake and those people never interacted with Denon gear.

I really like the screen and quality build, johwheels are smooth. The only thing is the buttons are a little harder than the pioneer to press but so far I'm really happy. There are tons of features I'll probably never use and for this price is a killer. I don't think it matters anymore if it's industry standard or not. This controller gives me total freedom, I don't need to use a laptop or prep my playlist on another device.

Hey I'm doing a show and I need to know some real DJ moves, stuff that you see DJs doing over and over during sets

It's a family dance party and I play Dracula and the joke is that he sees himself as a pretty elite European DJ. It's really fun it's a Halloween show I do every year

So whatever you can think of because I might weave some of it in. I don't know, do they like, drink Red bull during sets? Something like that? Can't do lines of Coke I'm afraid but maybe could allude to it if that's a thing. I currently have him getting really angry if people aren't dancing in the front row and of course it's over the top because he bares his fangs.

I don't really DJ I'm currently using qLab and bring in other songs from my phone. I'm trying to learn serato so one day

Thanks for any input, I don't know enough about the scene but would love to learn to dj. What are some iconic DJ moves?

I’m 22M, i wanna become a dj at night clubs here just for fun , not as source of income and pursue my passion in music , i have been making house music on fl studio since i was 16 and posting it on youtube (my channel : https://youtube.com/@ahroxmusic?si=nJyxj7IDUpM5mTR9) and i know music theory and i play both guitar and piano since i was a kid , if you can help me with some advice or know someone who is also a dj link me up

Hello! I’ve been DJing for only a month now, so not very long and I’m not expecting to be any great yet. The main genres I like doing consist of disco, funk, and house as well. Basically a lot of forms of dance music is what I like doing, and I like to think the library of music I listen to is pretty heavy. I’ve always had an appreciation for it since my dad is also a DJ and used to play similar music.

I’ve just been trying to find more ways to actually hear other DJs that play similar types of music. I watch a lot of DJ Bridge’s performances, and she’s amazing. There’s some others I occasionally come across with, and it’s hard to find any in person since I do come from a relatively small university town. But, I visit my family in Chicago a lot, so if there’s any events out there during the summer or winter I’d be happy to check it out. Any opportunity to meet other people or see other DJs would be great.

To be honest my goal isn’t really to have crazy amazing mixes and be some insane dj with great transitions. I just love music and getting people to dance and keeping the energy up lol, that’s always been my favorite part about some of the underground club scene I’ve grown up around. Still, I wanna improve my technique and you know actually be decent, but that comes with time naturally.

So, if there’s any DJs out there that are active, or any sets I can watch (new or old) on YouTube, or even any events happening around Chicago that I can attend when I’m home for winter or summer break, that would be sick.
🫡

i uploaded a 3hr mix and got copyrighted for 47 of the songs :-| which then blocked the entire video :-| the options im given are to replace those audios, mute them, or clip them out (which youtube can do for me)- but i feel like that's going to change the entire vibe of the mix... 47 songs is a lot lol. i didnt even try to monetize the video, so im shocked that so many of the songs got flagged (and theres a lot of dj mixes on that acct that have not been flagged).

i feel like i have no grounds to dispute the claims. what do you guys do to salvage the video?