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-- What should I do if i want to start DJing?

What should I do if i want to start DJing?

I'm thinking of Djing(it's crazy,but still i want to try this), the only problem is....where do i start? I mean what should i do...what software or equipment should i get in order to get a good grasp of the basics DJing? (i seriously have no clue what a trance dj does...=.=" i know i know....pathetic)

Well i know u guys are masters at this already...can anyone give me their advice on the BEST COURSE OF ACTION on being a DJ?

but a "how to dj" dvd.

it will show you what a dj does, the concept of a dj, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by stupidisco but a "how to dj" dvd. it will show you what a dj does, the concept of a dj, etc.

Thats extremely a waste of money. To learn Djin is pretty easy, just have patience and don't read these "How to Dj" books or whatever, they will confuse you even more..

When i began i taught myself how to Dj, how to beatmatch and so on... teach yourself, nothing more satisfying to know you did it by yourself rather than some other person telling you how.

Begin by getting yourself a Dj setup first, then it gets easier from then on... but do try to be a vinyl Dj, don't be fake, like the CD Djs.

quote:

Originally posted by Psygnosis Thats extremely a waste of money. To learn Djin is pretty easy, just have patience and don't read these "How to Dj" books or whatever, they will confuse you even more.. When i began i taught myself how to Dj, how to beatmatch and so on... teach yourself, nothing more satisfying to know you did it by yourself rather than some other person telling you how. Begin by getting yourself a Dj setup first, then it gets easier from then on... but do try to be a vinyl Dj, don't be fake, like the CD Djs.

have you ever seen those videos?


they seem to be a good start for total n00bs. however if you have been listening to EDM for a while and watching djs you already have a good idea, so it could be a slight waste of time and money. although sometimes you find little nuggets o info in them that are useful.



what you need are 2 turntables, mixer, records, speakers (either self powered or with an amp)

or 2 cd decks, mixer, cds, speakers (either self powered or with an amp).


then you can search this forum for all od the hundreds of posts covering dj techniques.

Re: What should I do if i want to start DJing?

quote:

Originally posted by Akelius I'm thinking of Djing(it's crazy,but still i want to try this), the only problem is....where do i start? I mean what should i do...what software or equipment should i get in order to get a good grasp of the basics DJing? (i seriously have no clue what a trance dj does...=.=" i know i know....pathetic) Well i know u guys are masters at this already...can anyone give me their advice on the BEST COURSE OF ACTION on being a DJ?

i wouldnt buy anything. not yet. it sounds like youre new
to this music, and no, im nto saying because youre new you
cant be a DJ. my view is, just not yet.

a) have you ever seen a DJ live?

im referring to an electronic music oriented DJ. if you
haven't, well i recommend you go do so. any DJ, just to
begin with. analyze what you heard. did you like it?

b) have you ever heard a set from a famous/big DJ?

you should have by now, at least on mp3. if not, go download
things by Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, DJ Tiesto and such
if you like trance. listen to it. compare it to whatever DJ's
you've heard live.

c) can you name at least 10 producers?

if you can't even name 10 guys that make electronic music you
like, i'd say it's pointless trying to DJ so soon. find music
you'd want to play before you even consider playing music.
otherwise, it's like me trying to learn how to play a guitar
to start a heavy metal band, when i can't name 10 heavy metal
bands.

--------------------------------

a good sign is when you wake up one day, listen to some
track or set you used to think was good, and ask yourself
"what was i thinking?". this at least means you've progressed
into something better than when you begun, and minimizes
the chances you have to one day start DJing and then end
up hating the music you once thought you loved.

in other words, listen to the music first. make sure you
like it. watch/listen to as many DJ's as possible. then,
if you still want to be a DJ, you will have either learned
about it yourself, or will have a pretty good idea. by then,
it will just be a matter of what brand equipment to buy,
and such, and all you have to do is search these forums of
you want opinions.

if you are new to dj'ing, i would say start off on the computer with a dj program like traktor, so you can see how the tracks go together, what sounds good or not etc, then if you like it go and get some decks. I started on traktor about 4 months ago to do that, and think i'm just about ready to move on to decks now

Well bro, the first thing you must know is that it's an expensive hobby, especially if you decide to go the vinyl route.

As Boomer said, you need either 2 turntables or 2 CD (digital) turntables, one mixer, one pair of headphones, and speakers to play the music out of. The turntables (CD or Vinyl) range from around 200 up to 1200 dollars. Mixer prices range from 150 up to 1200 or so for the high quality ones... there are the VERY expensive mixers which can be up to 5 grand. The reason vinyl is more expensive in the long run is because records tend to be more expensive than CDs, around 8 to 12 bucks per record, and to start off, you can burn MP3s onto CD so you can practice mixing with your favorite songs right off the bat. You also will need to buy cartridges for the vinyl turntables which is the part at the end of the tone arm (the movable arm that plays the record) where the needle is. These are in the double digit price range mostly. Good headphones are in the 50-150 dollar price range.

Some people prefer vinyl over CDs mainly because of the "feel" of the record, it's more manual, and some claim the sound to be significantly better (but to many others, the difference in sound is actually INsignificant). So it's really a matter of preference.

There ARE those DJ PACKS which come with all the gear you need, but these is usually low quality gear being offered in a cheap package. In TA the standard approach to DJing is to buy high quality gear, even if you're just starting out, because if it turns out you really like DJing, you'll have great gear to advance your hobby, and if it turns you don't like DJing, the high quality gear you bought will have a good resale value (On Ebay n' such).

Another route you could take is the software approach, which is the way I started out. It's excellent to see how much you would enjoy DJing if you would end up buying the real gear. Get yourself a program such as Virtual DJ (www.virtualdj.com it's excellent) and begin fooling around with it. Try mixing songs and also listen to many livesets by professional DJs and try to recreate the way they mix. Or you can always ask here how to start off and what a proper mix should sound like.

Hope that had all the info you were looking for, if not just reply.

ID

Well, instead of talking about equipment, I'd go with what some of the others were saying.

Download some trance livesets, get a feel for it. Spend a few months (or longer) just listening to trance, listening to DJ's, etc. Go out to a few parties... If you still want to DJ after all that - then buy the equipment. If you don't know what a DJ even does, obviously your not ready to be one. How can you want to do something when you don't even know what that "something" is ?

True, listening to livesets and doing some exploring is a must. But it can't hurt knowing what DJs use and how they start off. Explore first though!

Re: Re: What should I do if i want to start DJing?

quote:

Originally posted by Inertia a) have you ever seen a DJ live? im referring to an electronic music oriented DJ. if you haven't, well i recommend you go do so. any DJ, just to begin with. analyze what you heard. did you like it?

quote:

Originally posted by Boomer187 they seem to be a good start for total n00bs. however if you have been listening to EDM for a while and watching djs you already have a good idea, so it could be a slight waste of time and money. although sometimes you find little nuggets o info in them that are useful.

These guys have offered excellent advice here. When I first started downloading live sets, I had no idea how the music was being created as one continuous mix. I didn't know they were using vinyl. Hell, I didn't even know they had still pressed vinyl. And I didn't find any of this out until I downloaded an actual liveset video, by which I was mesmerized. (Specifically, it was PvD @ Mayday 2000). I had already developed a pretty solid interest in the music at the time, and it was this very video that inspired me to want to try my hand at DJing. That was about 2 years ago...as it turns out, I love it to death, and would never turn back.

Just reinforcing the point here, to make sure you know what's going on and to observe a DJ at least once before you buy anything. If you don't think you'd like it, then your money is probably spent elsewhere. Not trying to discourage you by saying that, but that's the simple truth. On the other hand, if you like it, go for it. You may find that EDM and DJing becomes a passion for you.

quote:

but do try to be a vinyl Dj, don't be fake, like the CD Djs.

could you be a little bit less ignorant please?

Sorry nothing to really add to the thread, just when I read that I really started laughing.

quote:

Originally posted by Psygnosis but do try to be a vinyl Dj, don't be fake, like the CD Djs.

not neccessarily, i use cd's only right now, that doesnt make me wanna be fake....

Akelius, use wutever u prefer, even if its two tape decks... the important thing is u should be able to mix, thats all that matters for now. once you get to know how to mix, the next step is to know wat tracks to play, which i am struggling with at this time, i hope i can learn how to make a good track selection soon. after thati have no idea wat you suppose to do... lol... so good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by Siang could you be a little bit less ignorant please? Sorry nothing to really add to the thread, just when I read that I really started laughing.

Agreed... that was an extremely lame comment. Considering Ferry spun 80% cd's at the show here in Calgary that would make Ferry a fake DJ right? hehe

i just think he should learn about the music more before he begins DJing. i've been attending events for over a year, been listening to the music for about 4-5. i love it, and i could say i almost consider myself a trainspotter. i have just begun the journey that is learning to spin a few months ago, and not to sound pretentious, but compared to friends of mine who jumped right in without knowing squat about the music, my progress has been a lot smoother and noticeable than them, not to seem pretentious.

if you want to jump right in, go ahead, but my advice is you do a bit of homework first. not to mention theres a bunch of small DJ's out there, who can actually mix decently, but don't not squat about the music. many just thought DJing was cool, so they bought a setup and started mixing, and this makes them not know how to build a set or select tracks, or even have a defined musical taste. you see them trying to do what they think is right, breaking the entire flow of the music and basically causing what i would call and aural short circuit. and as far as they know, they're the next Sasha.

also, IMHO, it's a bit disrespectful to just go out and buy a setup because "it looks cool." disrespectful to all of those DJ's out there who do it because it's their passion. just get to know the art and how it works before you get into it. it's what will set you apart from most other mediocre DJs some day.

quote:

Originally posted by Psygnosis but do try to be a vinyl Dj, don't be fake, like the CD Djs.

i have one word for that ... nonsense

its so stupid and ignorant im not even gonna bother posting why i think that.

Use what you feel most comfortable with.. or even both if u feel the need to learn both. More mixes are available on vinyl and it is a little more expensive but sometimes u do get the odd rare mix on a single / maxi cd that you dont get on record.

vinyl rocks.

i like it cuz i feel the power of the track, i dunno im crazy.


but for house especially, getting new tracks is much easier on vinyl.

long live vinyl.

and make sure u buy ur cds if u go thart route. mp3s are soo gay live.

Re: Re: What should I do if i want to start DJing?

quote:

Originally posted by Inertia i wouldnt buy anything. not yet. it sounds like youre new to this music, and no, im nto saying because youre new you cant be a DJ. my view is, just not yet. a) have you ever seen a DJ live? im referring to an electronic music oriented DJ. if you haven't, well i recommend you go do so. any DJ, just to begin with. analyze what you heard. did you like it? b) have you ever heard a set from a famous/big DJ? you should have by now, at least on mp3. if not, go download things by Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, DJ Tiesto and such if you like trance. listen to it. compare it to whatever DJ's you've heard live. c) can you name at least 10 producers? if you can't even name 10 guys that make electronic music you like, i'd say it's pointless trying to DJ so soon. find music you'd want to play before you even consider playing music. otherwise, it's like me trying to learn how to play a guitar to start a heavy metal band, when i can't name 10 heavy metal bands. -------------------------------- a good sign is when you wake up one day, listen to some track or set you used to think was good, and ask yourself "what was i thinking?". this at least means you've progressed into something better than when you begun, and minimizes the chances you have to one day start DJing and then end up hating the music you once thought you loved. in other words, listen to the music first. make sure you like it. watch/listen to as many DJ's as possible. then, if you still want to be a DJ, you will have either learned about it yourself, or will have a pretty good idea. by then, it will just be a matter of what brand equipment to buy, and such, and all you have to do is search these forums of you want opinions.

a.) Yes I have....but i don't really like it...it's not Trance anyways...

b.) Yes I have...of course^^...Armin, PVD...and the rest

c.) And yes

And thanks for the posts...I'll consider these poinsts...but keep them coming any more other suggestions?

naw just a statement
DJing is 95% about the music and 5% about technical skills.

There's a whole crapload of other knowledge in being a great DJ... cause as anyone would know, having good tunes won't make you a good DJ, but can't hurt just the same.
For DJing live... you have to be able to read a crowd, play the right tracks for the right time (doesn't mean honouring requests however). Plus build your sets from beginning to top.
There's no golden rule about how you DJ... there are helpful suggestions on how to do things, but please remember that you should really know "yourself" for your musical tastes. Define your own style.
So many big-time DJs out there have defined their own style and always hit you with something new that only expands their style.

You don't have to DJ only trance, hell, most "trance" djs during a live set won't be playing solely trance... in fact its a rarity when they do.
The last Gabriel and Dresden set I heard involved a big-room house tune (Junior Jack's Da Hype) to breakbeat (Plump Dj's how much is enough) back to melodic trance (can't remember at the top of my head... an Andain track).
Anyways I've been listening to electronic music for about 3 years... and in the last year I've realized that Trance isn't my only music... now I enjoy the likes of Dark House guru Steve Lawler and ecletic Danny Howells, and if anything, don't want to be them, but closer to that... than say the likes of AvB.

Anyways, I haven't quite got my technical skills down pat yet, but i won't quit and I keep strong to the scene because I believe that there are people who will enjoy what I can bring them... and that's basically what DJing is all about... being the pusher for punters/joe's to have a good time.

If you really want to learn how to start djing give me a dollar for every time you think about starting a new thread asking this question (that goes for all newbies). I will then be more than happy to search the site on my own and send you the 231782 previous threads that dealt with this question. That should give me quite a bit of extra cash to support my vinyl habit.

quote:

Originally posted by Ibiza Dreams Well bro, the first thing you must know is that it's an expensive hobby, especially if you decide to go the vinyl route. As Boomer said, you need either 2 turntables or 2 CD (digital) turntables, one mixer, one pair of headphones, and speakers to play the music out of. The turntables (CD or Vinyl) range from around 200 up to 1200 dollars. Mixer prices range from 150 up to 1200 or so for the high quality ones... there are the VERY expensive mixers which can be up to 5 grand. The reason vinyl is more expensive in the long run is because records tend to be more expensive than CDs, around 8 to 12 bucks per record, and to start off, you can burn MP3s onto CD so you can practice mixing with your favorite songs right off the bat. You also will need to buy cartridges for the vinyl turntables which is the part at the end of the tone arm (the movable arm that plays the record) where the needle is. These are in the double digit price range mostly. Good headphones are in the 50-150 dollar price range. Some people prefer vinyl over CDs mainly because of the "feel" of the record, it's more manual, and some claim the sound to be significantly better (but to many others, the difference in sound is actually INsignificant). So it's really a matter of preference. There ARE those DJ PACKS which come with all the gear you need, but these is usually low quality gear being offered in a cheap package. In TA the standard approach to DJing is to buy high quality gear, even if you're just starting out, because if it turns out you really like DJing, you'll have great gear to advance your hobby, and if it turns you don't like DJing, the high quality gear you bought will have a good resale value (On Ebay n' such). Another route you could take is the software approach, which is the way I started out. It's excellent to see how much you would enjoy DJing if you would end up buying the real gear. Get yourself a program such as Virtual DJ (www.virtualdj.com it's excellent) and begin fooling around with it. Try mixing songs and also listen to many livesets by professional DJs and try to recreate the way they mix. Or you can always ask here how to start off and what a proper mix should sound like. Hope that had all the info you were looking for, if not just reply. ID

Holy shit that's some pretty expensive hardware...but first...since I"m really a newb to all this...i guess I will take the software route first...but other than virtual DJ, is there any other good mixing software too? i heard there's one called....mix meister? is that any good?

oh ya and thanks for all your suggestions and opinion everyone^^

try links like THIS
and on the vinyl vs cd thing, now call me crazy, this is just a 'way out of this world idea', but maybe, just maybe, THIS will help you..... iyyy yi yi

these boards are seeming more and more..... stagnant? repetetive? or maybe bland... there should be a forum for members who have reached like 1000 posts or something, not that i would be able to go on there yet, but it would sure be nice when i got there if there was that option.

quote:

Originally posted by ezbeats these boards are seeming more and more..... stagnant? repetetive? or maybe bland... there should be a forum for members who have reached like 1000 posts or something, not that i would be able to go on there yet, but it would sure be nice when i got there if there was that option.

I believe there is such a thing, you just can't see it yet...

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