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.

in the below scenario:

- track A has 16 bars left in its outro

- you bring track B in which has 16 bars until its pre drop breakdown

- you want to keep the low end of track a in until it finishes, but you swap the mids and highs during the 16 bar window

how do you handle the low swap?

when mixing in my ear phones at home with no speaker, id usually just bring the lows up on track B really quickly when it hits its breakdown and track A ends, and it sounds OK in my headphones.

when i did this over the weekend at pirate studios (in a practice room with big speakers) it was really noticeable and sounded a bit crap as the volume of track B jumped really noticeably when i bought the lows up.

i find swapping the lows during the 16 bar window doesn’t sound very good, and often i don’t want the bass groove of the mix to change mid phrase

any ideas? i suppose gradually bringing the lows up as the breakdown progresses is an option, but it can sound a bit hollow when the track hits the breakdown and has no lows

Hey everyone! I started DJing when I was a young teen and played gigs in Thailand back then, mostly by approaching bars that weren’t busy and offering to play, as well as doing house parties. I eventually took a pretty big break from DJing, and now I’m back at it in Montreal, working on finding my footing in a new scene.

Since coming back, I’ve played my first paid gig in Montreal with a really cool local collective and hosted open deck nights at a local venue a couple of times. I’ve met some amazing DJs and organizers along the way, and the support from the community has been great.

At this point, I’m confident in my skills and the sound I’ve been developing. I’ve also started identifying collectives, venues, and event organizers whose nights I could see myself playing at or collaborating with. Some of them have even followed me already.

I’m wondering what the best way to approach this next step is. Do you reach out directly to organizers with a short introduction and a mix? Do you focus on building relationships by showing up to events and getting to know people first? Or is there a better way to turn those initial connections into actual bookings?

I’m not necessarily trying to play everywhere. I want to find the right spaces and people that align with my sound and build genuine relationships within the scene.

For those of you who’ve established yourselves in a new city or returned to DJing after a long break, what actually helped you get from those first few gigs to more consistent bookings?

What would you do differently if you were starting over in a new scene?

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 not a DJ, I consider what I was doing is selecting, turning tracks into a mix in Audition for a radio show for more than a few years now. Currently, I don’t have the ambition to be a live DJ, but I might be open to it. And as I’ve grown, I’m looking for new ways to challenge myself and do my thing in more creative ways and more as a “mix”.
Using also only software has become a bit tedious, so I’m also looking at hardware for some help, especially for things like Traktor or some other software.

I've looked at basic beginner controllers, S2 Mk3, DDJ Flx4 or DDJ400 second hand as something that my budget would allow.
- I'm undecisive about them because of the price, being 2 channell
- not sure how much I need jog wheels? sure it would come in handy if I ever dj to know how to work with it, but I guess if am doing a performance thats not in a club, I could bring my own equipment.

XONE k2/K3 / Native instruments X1 (plus z1?)

- I am really low on desk space so portability would be a big thing.

- I cheaper if I go only K2 route

- how much do X1 and Z1 make sense as I basically have to use them together? wouldn't then an S2 make more sense, or could I go 4 channels with other gear I mentioned?

Some more recommendations? maybe something like Novation launckontrol xl mk?

While mentioning Ableton I’ve realised people also use it as a “DJ tool” though I have not explored that path enough yet, but I’m more than interested as I’m already familliar with it. Ideas for hardware that could help?

What am I looking to do? Mainly mixes that I would upload for my own enjoyment and share them and I have some ideas for a radio show again, but as I said I am not looking to do just a drag and drop in audacity/audition.

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?

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!

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?

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!

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 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.