I want to learn to DJ

[Phil_on_uni]

anyone know some one who DJs or does anyone DJ personaly?

i kinda want to know how to get started.... from someone that actually knows how... not some one that looks it up online... cause i can do that...

im mostly intrested in learning to mix my own music... not so much do gigs.... so ya

[Jeremy R]

My friend got a setup for gigs, put him back 5000.

[Jerrick]

You should go to Guitar Center someday and head to their audio/piano/electronic section (Back pass the guitars, right before the basses and to the right), and ask some of the guys there. I know two of them are DJs who do shows all over Spokane and theyd be able to answer questions, let you try out equipment and help you pick out gear if you want to buy something. They also have magazines and such that you can pick up that usually will have good articles on sound.

Mixing is harder to explain, cause it will be different for every song and style, but there are really good online guides that help you mix your sounds and songs to get them sounding just perfect.

[MuniAddict]

I *was* a club dj for 9 years. Some of my responsibilities included, but were not limited to:

Buying the music, (paid by club) labeling the records for title, genre, bpms and duration.

Running & maintaining state-of-the-art lighting and sound system.

MC for various contests, including the Wet T shirt!:D (My gf at the time did NOT like me doing this! Too bad, lol!) I even remember taking my old unicycle out of moth balls one day for a contest-I was known to ad lib and make up stuff to keep things fresh and interesting.

Knowing how to keep people on the dance floor, create and maintain energetic, fun atmosphere.

Announcing drink specials, talking to the crowd in general to pump up the room, being funny now & then lol.

Taking requests when possible and working them in to the format

Doing Monday night football and Sunday Beach Party

Salary: $180 night. Not bad for 1980's. :cool: I was a very creative and damn good mixer and even did some "scratching", but management frowned on this at the time. :( And the after hours parties! Don't get me started on that haha!

Also a radio announcer for several stations over many years. I was also a news writer/reporter, did live and recorded commercials, did on-air cash giveaway contests, and talk show host.

[Phil_on_uni]

im mostly interested in the music aspect of it... probably more to the side of learning how to mix music... maybe mix it enough to make it my own. You ever dabble with that Terry?

[MuniAddict]

im mostly interested in the music aspect of it... probably more to the side of learning how to mix music... maybe mix it enough to make it my own. You ever dabble with that Terry?Uh, yeah lol. That's what a club jock HAD to be able to do; and do better than the competition.

There were tons of ppl trying to get those jobs back then. Being a great mixer was important, but just as important was being a good communiucator on and off the mic, and having a fun attitude and personality. Too many of these dj's were just too mechanical, never taking their heads out of the music, never relating to the crowd.

If you wanted to get hired for a top dj job back then, yiou had to be a total performer. The bottom line for the employer was/is: will this person be good for the club, bring people IN and keep them there, buying LOTS of alcohol! If all you could do was mix, you'd never get the gig.

I devised many ways to mix, in an effort to be as original as I could. Kinda like putting my own stamp on things. You could wait for the "break" (Like a club mix version with lots of just beats at the break) and mix into a song with a similar bpm. I always like mixing "UP" as I went. I mean increasing the bpms slightly each time, or if a song had a "cold" ending, then you could throw in something totally different, like a ballad even. The idea was not to keep to the SAME beats for too long; it would just get boring and redundant.

So I liked to mix it up a lot and play lots of different stuff. But I would get into "blocks" where I would just mix, mix and mix. It all would depend on the vibe of the room, or what I needed to do at a particular time. Everything was done for a specific reason. Again, the bottom line was to MAKE money for the club. And that kept me on the job too! Fun. :) Btw, this reminds me that last month was my 22nd year sober! Yay! I found that I did my job way better when I quit drinking!

[Phil_on_uni]

so do you have all your own gear.... or are DJ Geezers days done?

[MuniAddict]

so do you have all your own gear.... or are DJ Geezers days done?Haha yeah the gear was property of the club. I didn't have to lug anything around. Well, I had my own headphones, but didn't need my own cds, or.... *records*...remember those? :p I did make a lot of my own funny videos that I would get from various tv shows, like clips from funniest home videos and snl. I'd use it to play woth no sound on the big screens around the club. Ppl would watch and laugh so it was good and added to the fun atmosphere. I quit club DJ-ing about 1992. Worked in radio after that, and started my current business about 2000.

[Phil_on_uni]

sounds like a pretty sweet gig

[maestro8]

When someone put a "turntable set" on their christmas list, I responded with this post (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1143137&postcount=22)... it might interest you.

Perhaps you could start by telling us what you're interested in doing. What kind(s) of music are you interested in? Have you any other experience with music production, musical theory, ever play an instrument?

I can help introduce you to techniques, but we need to find out if you want to do techno remixes, rock mashups, or simple club/pop-radio transitions.

Also, what is your budget for equipment? If you buy a cheap setup, then upgrade your equipment later, you'll be spending a lot more than if you buy the "good stuff" up front. Don't be afraid to buy used here, as pro-audio equipment doesn't wear out like consumer electronics do.

Obviously, you'll want to start with tables and a mixer, but you'll also want to get good headphones and a good monitor speaker and amp. A home theater system will not work for deejaying, trust me. I've destroyed a good dozen of 'em before I got pro audio equipment.

As for tables, CD decks these days are just as versatile as turntables, so if you're not hooked on the idea of juggling vinyl and you can afford 'em, take a look at what Numark and Pioneer are offering. I've used some si-i-i-ick decks that allow you to cut and loop songs, and apply tempo-locked effects on the fly.

If you are looking to use traditional turntables, find your local record stores NOW and see what they're offering. If you can't easily stock up on vinyl, you're going to have a hard time getting off the ground. Again, don't be afraid to buy used... most of my collection was bought from the used racks, and there are some great gems to be found in places like Goodwill and St. Vincent dePaul ;)

[maestro8]

Forgot -- just a word of caution that I'd like to reinforce:

PROTECT YOUR EARS!

Pro-audio mixers and headphones can put out sound at dangerous levels. Pro-audio amps and speakers can blow the windows out of your bedroom... well, maybe not, but they can really piss your neighbors off, even if they live 1/2 mile away.

Unless you're smart about how you use your headphones, you WILL end up with permanent hearing damage. Unfortunately, I wasn't smart, and now I have an annoying case of tinnitus that flares up whenever I go to a club or rock show. Yuck.

Here's how to be smart: keep your volume levels low when practicing, especially in your headphones. Realize that your headphones can be used as hearing protection, too; turn the volume off in the headphones if you don't need them, but always keep them on, even if just over the ear that faces your monitor speaker.

Be safe!

[Goats_On_Unicycles]

This might seem like a stupid question, but do earplugs help if you're using the headphones and all?
I play with headphones whenever I'm doing a loud show but I seldom use headphones.

[Jerrick]

When someone put a "turntable set" on their christmas list, I responded with this post (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1143137&postcount=22)... it might interest you.

Perhaps you could start by telling us what you're interested in doing. What kind(s) of music are you interested in? Have you any other experience with music production, musical theory, ever play an instrument?

I can help introduce you to techniques, but we need to find out if you want to do techno remixes, rock mashups, or simple club/pop-radio transitions.

Also, what is your budget for equipment? If you buy a cheap setup, then upgrade your equipment later, you'll be spending a lot more than if you buy the "good stuff" up front. Don't be afraid to buy used here, as pro-audio equipment doesn't wear out like consumer electronics do.

Obviously, you'll want to start with tables and a mixer, but you'll also want to get good headphones and a good monitor speaker and amp. A home theater system will not work for deejaying, trust me. I've destroyed a good dozen of 'em before I got pro audio equipment.

As for tables, CD decks these days are just as versatile as turntables, so if you're not hooked on the idea of juggling vinyl and you can afford 'em, take a look at what Numark and Pioneer are offering. I've used some si-i-i-ick decks that allow you to cut and loop songs, and apply tempo-locked effects on the fly.

If you are looking to use traditional turntables, find your local record stores NOW and see what they're offering. If you can't easily stock up on vinyl, you're going to have a hard time getting off the ground. Again, don't be afraid to buy used... most of my collection was bought from the used racks, and there are some great gems to be found in places like Goodwill and St. Vincent dePaul ;)


+1 :)

Also, with the digital tables, hooking those those into a computer running Native Instruments Traktor can get you some very amazing sounds and things happening. I got to mess around with a nice setup over at Guitar Center.

I can dig out my old Numark tables for you to mess around with. I dont have headphones for them anymore though. For $200 you can get a really nice set of monitoring headphones.

But seriously, a trip to guitar will answer every question you have.


I need to go there soon to buy some cables soon, so you should probably come with me.

[maestro8]

This might seem like a stupid question, but do earplugs help if you're using the headphones and all?
I play with headphones whenever I'm doing a loud show but I seldom use headphones.

Earplugs will always help you, and there are even earplugs made for musicians that maintain the quality of the sound that travels through them. Google will find you plugs that range from $5 to $200

That being said, a good pair of over-the-ear headphones do a good job of blocking excessive sound. The trick is to keep the volume in the headphones as low as possible. When you've got loud music all around you it's quite easy to crank up the headphones to a level that could damage your ears.

[Phil_on_uni]

jerrick that sounds like a good plan... just keep me up to date.... i am totally willing to drive... i do have a pretty good set of headphones...

i have worked in metal shops for years so i know all the stories about keeping my ears safe.


as far as music goes.... I suppose sounds that i would try to emulate would be aretist like:
Quantic, Dj Krush, Crystle Castles, RJD2, DangerDoom, Lovage

stuff like that is what i am really into

music that i guess most people would consider to be backround music... then again... i dont go to any clubs so i dont know if that what is usually played

[agentQ]

Phil,

The Djs you listed are all the type of stuff I am into... I lean a little more on the scratch happy side.

I have a setup witch I would currently sell for dirt cheap, as I am moving to Boston. The shipping cost might be more than you would want to pay as the condition of my stuff is not perfect.

Everything works, one table has a broken tone arm, that when taped up with a splint, still plays fine. The mixer I think has a couple broken knobs. There are no needles with them, tho I do (I think) have some old cartridges. (they are nice ones, so you wold only need to replace the stylus)

2 Numark TT1625 (one cracked tone arm, one whole table in perfect condition)
Behringer DJ mixer (http://www.audiolines.com/product.php?productid=11746)
75 dollars plus shipping, PM to talk about it.

[peleschramm]

I want to learn to scratch. I have for about a year now. Except it's so expensive!

[agentQ]

I want to learn to scratch. I have for about a year now. Except it's so expensive!

No no. See scratching is cheap, one record, haha. What Phil is getting into is expensive... mixing. Collecting records is a very very expensive.

No doubt that played a part in me loving the scratch. Once you have "one" table, a cross fader(with a curve), a battle record(or two.... and they do wear out), you can scratch.

[peleschramm]

but even thats expensive!

[Goats_On_Unicycles]

that's the problem with music...
even singing can be expensive...

[Jerrick]

Just belt it out into a Shure SM58. One of the most famous mics used for almost everything, but mainly for singing. Cheap too, and not a condenser mic, so you wont need an extra pre-amp or a way to provide phantom power.

[Phil_on_uni]

sam, have you ever done any beat boxing? maybe mixed it with you DJing?

[agentQ]

sam, have you ever done any beat boxing? maybe mixed it with you DJing?

Naw. I used to scratch with some bands, or even just a drummer. That was always the most fun.

[maestro8]

as far as music goes.... I suppose sounds that i would try to emulate would be aretist like:
Quantic, Dj Krush, Crystle Castles, RJD2, DangerDoom, Lovage

I'm still a bit unclear... do you want to deejay, or do you want to produce your own music? 'Cause some of these artists do both.

If you're into deejaying, then grab some records from these artists and start mixing 'em up. If you're into producing, grab some of the records these artists sample (http://www.the-breaks.com/), and start mixing 'em up.

Have you found a local record shop yet? Determined what your budget is?

[Goats_On_Unicycles]

When I get into this, I want to write and record my own beats

[Phil_on_uni]

I'm still a bit unclear... do you want to deejay, or do you want to produce your own music? 'Cause some of these artists do both.

If you're into deejaying, then grab some records from these artists and start mixing 'em up. If you're into producing, grab some of the records these artists sample (http://www.the-breaks.com/), and start mixing 'em up.

Have you found a local record shop yet? Determined what your budget is?

ya, we have a great record shop in spokane....

but i figure that you got to learn to mix before you learn to do it on your own... but i am leaning more on the side of trying to come up with my own music

[Goats_On_Unicycles]

Phil, with Jerrick's amazing recording shtuff, we could all record stuff and you could do digital djing... Maybe?
hmmm...

[ntappin]

jerrick that sounds like a good plan... just keep me up to date.... i am totally willing to drive... i do have a pretty good set of headphones...

i have worked in metal shops for years so i know all the stories about keeping my ears safe.


as far as music goes.... I suppose sounds that i would try to emulate would be aretist like:
Quantic, Dj Krush, Crystle Castles, RJD2, DangerDoom, Lovage

stuff like that is what i am really into

music that i guess most people would consider to be backround music... then again... i dont go to any clubs so i dont know if that what is usually played

Check out Soulwax (including 2 many dj's, soulwax nightversions and radio soulwax), justice, erlend oye, MF doom's special herbs album, cut chemist, and of course Canada's own Kid Koala, for more inspiration.

I think the best way to get set up is to just build a record collection, going to clubs and getting to know dj's who will let you use their set ups. My brother has been doing that for years, some places even let him use their equipment after/before hours.

I have some friends that will do that from time to time when we go to a few clubs. If they know the DJ well enough then they just hop in the booth every now and then.


I'm still a bit unclear... do you want to deejay, or do you want to produce your own music? 'Cause some of these artists do both.

If you're into deejaying, then grab some records from these artists and start mixing 'em up. If you're into producing, grab some of the records these artists sample (http://www.the-breaks.com/), and start mixing 'em up.

Have you found a local record shop yet? Determined what your budget is?

Damn you brought up a bunch more good points, as usual... Another really good thing is to learn how to buy proper records. There are lots of really good tutorials on youtube on how to shop for records, and any halfway decent shop will have a record player or two for you to sample what you are buying. Nobody likes a scratchy warped sounding record.

I liked Jason's point about some artists producing as opposed to djing aswell, important to notice the difference and how its done.

Another good DJ as opposed to producer is Ztrip, great mashup artist, good way to see how people mix stuff, without all the fluff that many dj's these days add on the production end.

[GILD]

Forgot -- just a word of caution that I'd like to reinforce:

PROTECT YOUR EARS!

+1

I've also taken this advice too late.
I have now invested in a pair of Noiseban (http://www.hass.co.za/noiseban.asp?area=noise_ban)s, especially for bagpipe practise.
They are flat-EQ gain reducers (for want of a better term), so they protect your ears while not filtering out any of the frequencies you need to hear when you're doing music.

[videotoast]

Interesting thread....

I, too was a professional DJ for a number of years (from the 80s to mid 90's). I worked primarily around the Minneapolis and TC area, but had the chance to do a few gigs in NYC and in LA, as well.

There was no formal training to be had, "just 2 turntables and a microphone," and I had my own Bozak mixer, preferring the rotary pots to sliders, until I started doing some scratching and remixing, as well.

If you want to do it, you will most likely be best to take an entry level job with a mobile DJ company, doing weddings, etc, until you get more comfortable with the hardware that is out there.

There are some pretty good CD players that you can "scratch" with, still, and looking at what Tiesto or DJ AM or some of the other top tiered DJ's use, you will find it is not a really complicated setup. It is about familiarity with the music, knowing when to drop mixes....and beats, as Terry mentioned, earlier.

I would recommend 2 places to go to see gear, if you can do it. First is the NAMM show in Anaheim (1/15-1/18) It is the National Association of Music Merchants, and all the manufacturers of lighting and sound equipment are there with all the new products for the retailers to check out. Secondly is the Winter Music Conference (3-24 through 3/28) in Miami WMC (http://www.wintermusicconference.com/about/index.php) All the influential folks in the dance music industry are there.

Lastly, protecting your hearing is supremely important, you can never regain lost hearing...once the damage is done you are fooked! I still work around the concert industry and do not leave home (ever) without hearing protection. I am at shows at least once a week, and would be deaf by now if I wasn't prepared....AC/DC was the loudest show touring this year, and it was uncomfortable....using high quality protection with a 15-20db flat pad makes a huge difference...and does not distort the sound in any way, just makes it more enjoyable.

If you have any other questions, I can also be helpful regarding mixing (recording) and well, and know a few GREAT programs where you can learn that as well.

[videotoast]

Fun. :) Btw, this reminds me that last month was my 22nd year sober! Yay! I found that I did my job way better when I quit drinking!

Congrats!!!!

[maestro8]

but i figure that you got to learn to mix before you learn to do it on your own... but i am leaning more on the side of trying to come up with my own music

One of the benefits of practicing mixing is that you really get to know your artists and their styles of music. You'll hear a lot of the same songs over and over, and you'll be focusing on their rhythms and arrangements. This should give you loads of ideas for writing your own music.

Unfortunately, there is not a lot of crossover between mixing equipment and recording equipment. You're not going to mix on a synthesizer, and you can't produce much with turntables, although the tables will help you if you want to use samples.

So, what equipment are you looking at buying? Where to start?

[Phil_on_uni]

well have talked with AgentQ, and i am going to start buy buying his equipment. Figure 75$ for even a beginer set up is a good place to go.
but everyone says that the tech1200 are like the best thing since sliced bread. so i am going to start with sams tables and see where i go from there

[videotoast]

1200's are the standard, have been for years....you can buy them used and will need some work. Check The Needle Doctor (google it) and he can get you anything you need for turntables....

the difficulty with turntables is the lack of availability of vinyl....but you can do it if you set your mind to it....a decent mixer with a crossfader and a couple turntables and a headphone will get you mixing in the privacy of your own room in no time, getting your chops....mix to tape or a hard drive to playback the mixes to review it later and critique yourself....

[Harley]

Great advice from the guys re: hearing protection.

You might want to look into a filtered, custom molded ear plug such as these if your going to get serious about working in the music industry.

Fitting of these types of plugs is usually done by an audiologist so they will run in the $150 -$200 range.

http://www.earinc.com/p2-specialty-musician.php

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/er915and25pr.html

[Goats_On_Unicycles]

Another great option are industrial earplugs which you can get for a couple bucks.
They cut out lots of volume and I havn't noticed any major sound difference.

[Goats_On_Unicycles]

1200's are the standard, have been for years....you can buy them used and will need some work. Check The Needle Doctor (google it) and he can get you anything you need for turntables....

the difficulty with turntables is the lack of availability of vinyl....but you can do it if you set your mind to it....a decent mixer with a crossfader and a couple turntables and a headphone will get you mixing in the privacy of your own room in no time, getting your chops....mix to tape or a hard drive to playback the mixes to review it later and critique yourself....

Hmmmm... I would have thought, what with the popularity of hip-hop and other such genres, that vinyl would be more common.
But everyone uses digital now... blah.

[Harley]

Another great option are industrial earplugs which you can get for a couple bucks.
They cut out lots of volume and I havn't noticed any major sound difference.

Your correct. The industrial plugs will protect your ears and they are much more economically priced.

A musician of your talents however owes it to himself to try the filtered plugs. You should notice a vast difference especially if you play with others in a band or concert setting.

[Goats_On_Unicycles]

haha, I don't have any money though!!
And I'm fine with the plugs I use. When I do shows, I can hear all my monitor good but it's not overpowering.
But since I mainly play Jazz, I rarely find the need to even use them. Only when I'm playing funk or blues shows.

[Phil_on_uni]

so are you guys trying to tell me i should protect my hearing?

;)

[Jerrick]

Not at all. =p

I need to get the special earplugs. The ones I have I think are from a racing brand, so they work really well to cut out dbs, but they also block a lot of frequencies from my amp. I can still play through the songs, but Im pretty much playing deaf at our shows.

Phil, I think youd really like using FL studios. Completely easy to make your own songs within a few mins and have stuff that compares to the top techno songs out today.

If you are going to be an audiophile about this, stick with vinyl, cause their quality is going to be the closest to the master tape/file. The standard in cd is 16bit, 44.1khz, which is actually video standard, and sound got lumped into it, and when compared to 24bit- 192khz, you can really hear the difference.

[Phil_on_uni]

so jerrick... when are we going to go to the music store?

[Jerrick]

Once I go to work for a bit. I should of gone today, but the snow out past mead I guess is too bad to drive through. This Thursday and Friday I should be working, so that will get me enough money.

Then again, we can go in anytime really, cause its fun to just be there to play with everything.

[GILD]

so are you guys trying to tell me i should protect my hearing?


Yes, and keep your weight on the seat.

[Phil_on_uni]

Yes, and keep your weight on the seat.

oh... so thats how its done