Hey everyone, this is my first post. Interesting site here!

I am 17 years old, looking to get into DJing. I have always listened to club music my entire life!

I have a software program on my computer called "Ableton 7.0" and Ive been playing around with this program for about a year. Just mixing songs together and whatnot, making CDs.

What I am wondering (and I know this sounds stupid but I am young so I have to ask) is how do people like Paul van Dyk, Deadmau5 and so on. How do they make trance songs? Where do the beats come from? Can you make a good song using only computer programs? Is it with a computer program like Ableton? Or do they use turntables and CD players?

Also, I am too young to get into clubs right now.

But do DJ's have to use CDs or Vinyls?

Is it possible that a DJ just uses his laptop computer and a program like Ableton?

How valuable is Ableton to a DJ?

Thank you and sorry if my questions are dumb.

youre in the wrong thread to ask about music production.ableton can be used to dj and make songs...

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trancer

quote:

Originally posted by thismodernlove sorry if my questions are dumb.

They are.

But I guess everyone has to start somewhere. I recommend LOTS of googleing to get your answers, and then perhaps post more specific questions.......in the correct forum (Music Production). After you have used the search button obviously

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>>> Beatport Stuff <<<

One of the things you have to first learn is to separate Djing from producing. Some people do only one or the other. Some people do both! Most of your big name DJs produce their own tracks AND mix tracks (aka DJ). Some DJs still mix with vinyl, but I think you will find that most today mix with CDJs and/or some type of mixing software and MIDI controllers.

Read some threads in the music production forum here to start if you are interested in producing. There are different programs used for producing your own tracks. I don't produce, so I don't know what to recommend. I am familiar with names like Cubase and Fruity Tracks/Loops, for example. Others with more knowledge can suggest more.

When you see a DJ performing live, what you're seeing (in most cases) is him or her mixing tracks which have already been produced (usually someone else's tracks). The DJ is simply pitching the tracks' speed up or down to match the timing of the beats to create a seamless flow (one long song, some call it the first time they hear a mix). Now, there's more to it than that, such as making sure the EQs are set right, making sure the songs are phrased properly, mixing in key, etc., but in most cases the DJ is not "producing live music" right there in front of you.

But, with today's software and controllers, adept DJs can do live "remixing" of sorts and many other things that do tend to blur the line between just straight mixing and production. And I think the lines will continue to blur, but that's another discussion for another day.

So, armed with that knowledge, explore what you want to do - mix other people's tracks, create your own tracks, or both! I personally mix other people's tracks (using vinyl) just for fun and has a hobby/stress reliever. I will never play out live, and I will never have a proper gig, but that's not what I bought my kit for.

If you want some good tips/tutorials, check this: http://www.recess.co.uk/

start with reading the stickys in the production section/subforum. theres ALOT of usefull info there.

(1) How do they make trance songs?
(2) Where do the beats come from?
(3) Can you make a good song using only computer programs?
(4) Is it with a computer program like Ableton?
(5) Or do they use turntables and CD players?
(6) But do DJ's have to use CDs or Vinyls?
(7) Is it possible that a DJ just uses his laptop computer and a program like Ableton?
(8) How valuable is Ableton to a DJ?

(9)Thank you and sorry if my questions are dumb. [/QUOTE]


So many question, I've numbered them:

(1) Same way as all music is made, with sound.
(2) Samples, loops, synths, and from actual instruments
(3) Yes, in fact, most trance producers do
(4) Let's use Deadmau5 as an example. He uses Reason, FL, and ableton together. He usually does most of the production in ableton, but creates some of the loops in other the other programs. That's one way of doing it. You could also use only FL, for example.
(5) Not for production, no. There is very often a confusion between mixing, like the DJ mixes, and mixing, like the producer mixes. They are not the same thing.
(6) A DJ could use a program like ableton, Deadmau5 (to bring him up again) and Sasha uses ableton with a midi-controller. But the standard way of DJing is using CD's and vinyls. I would go so far as to say that that is the best way of learning it. Kind of like how you learned math in school. At first you were only to use a pen and a paper, to learn the basics. When you had that sorted out, you were allowed to use a calculator. Kind of anyways.
(7) Yes.
(8) To me, because I don't use it, it's not valuable at all. Honestly I don't think I understand the question. But a DJ doesn't have to use ableton.

(9) No problem at all.

If you want to learn this stuff my suggestion is dive right into it. Find some other people who want to learn the stuff as well, keep prodding those in the know with questions.

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Check out Crossfade Collective
Sebastian Zander - Hotel Chaplin
Sebastian Zander - Set Two [Electro/Tech House and Trance of some sort]
Paulo Da Costa - AVGN [Prog. House](128kbps])

quote:

Originally posted by thismodernlove Is it possible that a DJ just uses his laptop computer and a program like Ableton?

sure it is. also, you could just mix the music at home and pretend to be mixing in a club by turning knobs and yanking faders wildly. also, you can simply take credit for someones mix cd. also, you can replace the "s" with "5" and "e" with "3" for greater DJ reputation. just my 5 cents

quote:

Originally posted by thismodernlove Hey everyone, this is my first post. Interesting site here! I am 17 years old,

hi there *growls*

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Le Freak - A.D.D & Chimichurri [Techno/Tech House/Music to put on burritos.]*click bitches*

quote:

Originally posted by thismodernlove What I am wondering (and I know this sounds stupid but I am young so I have to ask) is how do people like Paul van Dyk, Deadmau5 and so on. How do they make trance songs? Where do the beats come from? Can you make a good song using only computer programs? Is it with a computer program like Ableton? Or do they use turntables and CD players?

Using PutBoy's template....

With computers.

Find your own sounds. Theres that one track that uses that unshielded speaker sound when someone calls and man its terrible. But at least it is something thats different.

Yes

Yes

Whatever is available to the DJ.

No, they could play the bongos all day and be considered a DJ (Donald glaude when hes with DJ Dan)

Yes. This way they can remix live.

Depends on the DJ

No questions are dumb, just either redundant, or irrelevant. Luckily yours was the former rather than the latter.

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these questions should not have been serious