View Full Version : Becoming a DJ
Hey guys, im interested in becoming a DJ and producer.
Im wondering what some of the first steps i should take in meeting my goal.
Any advice + tips?
DJing, Buy or Hire some cd players, mixer and speaker and play every house party and b-day party you can find, this is the best way to learn how to play a crowd plus you can master the equipment and mixing without punters complaining about your skills. People will always give you grief no matter how good you are!
Producing music is completely different, making music is a purely self indulgent thing where as DJing is all about the punters!
Whereas I don't think DJ lessons are worth the time, music production courses might be a good idea as learning the software is a lot easier if you have someone to help you out!
Thanks mate.
I have a few mates that are DJ's, definately gonna talk to them about it.
Can i have some advice on what kind of CD players and mixers ill need to have a look at?
What kind of producer software should i be looking at as well? I had a look at Fruity Loops so far. I heard it's good.
Eros le Tardfack
03-Jun-09, 08:11pm
do you actually love music, or just like the idea of being a dj?
SwordSnare
03-Jun-09, 09:36pm
DJing is a good way to decide which genre or style of music you want to produce. :thumb: Whether it is for you or to make music people want to hear.
Citizen
03-Jun-09, 09:44pm
Hey guys, im interested in becoming a DJ and producer.
Im wondering what some of the first steps i should take in meeting my goal.
Any advice + tips?
DJing is expensive. Production, less so.
Demos and "borrowed" software enable you to have a crack without any investment at all - this would be a great way to start before making the huge investment in monitors, computers, outboard equipment etc etc etc...
On would assume that you already have a passion for yoour genre/s of choice - hence you already have a collection of beats in some format. Most DJs I know "become" DJs simply as an extension of their music collecting habits - do you have a collection (in any format) already?
Like most people, I would suggest that you try using your friends equipment to see if you enjoy it. It can be frustrating at first.
Good luck, and have fun.
:thumb:
SwordSnare
03-Jun-09, 09:53pm
DJing is expensive. Production, less so.
really?...I'd say they are both pretty expensive. Depends on what level you want to do both.
Living and breathing music for the last 6 months. I cry if my ipod is dead and i have school.
In regards to music collecting im basically just downloading songs off limewire and putting them on my ipod. When you say in any 'format' does this mean Mp3, CD etc?
My favourite genre is trance btw.
Buy a decent DJ mixer, battle mixers are a good idea for a beginner and you can always on-sell it when you decide which way you want to go, ECLER HAK360 or HAK380 and RANE TTM56 or TTM57 are good solid mixers. Serato and 2x SL1200 is probably the best way to go if you want to play vinyl, if not grab some CDJ400, 800 or 1000’s because PIONEER CD players are rather a standard these days!
Saving money by buying 2nd hand is a good idea with pro mixers and TECHNICS turntables but not a good idea with CD players or consumer DJ mixers like PIONEER, NUMARK, STANTON etc. Unless you know who you’re buying them off “most of the time friends won’t rip you off”…
Software is a whole new issue; you need to work out what you’re going to do and how you are going to do it first. Maybe you need to talk to someone who knows the ins and outs of different programs, there will be someone on here that can help, and personally I don’t know enough to compare software!
Living and breathing music for the last 6 months. I cry if my ipod is dead and i have school.
In regards to music collecting im basically just downloading songs off limewire and putting them on my ipod. When you say in any 'format' does this mean Mp3, CD etc?
My favourite genre is trance btw.
The fact that you own a Ipod means we wouldn't get along, not to memntion the Trance! LOL....:lol:
Yes he did mean MP3, CD, Vinyl etc.
The fact that you own a Ipod means we wouldn't get along, not to memntion the Trance! LOL...
haha, well i havn't had a problem with it since i got it, 2 and a half years ago.
talio93
03-Jun-09, 10:22pm
i only started DJing about 6 months ago, and i found that you really have to want to do it (which i did and still do)
i got a very decent setup consisting of 2x Pionner CDJ 800's and a DJM-400...
practice A LOT!
if you can have a good 2 hours of mixing every day i think that means you really enjoy doing it!
good luck!
haha, well i havn't had a problem with it since i got it, 2 and a half years ago.
Ignore me I’m just being a prick; I have an aversion to most things digital!!!!
2years is nothing; my mixer was built in the 1970’s and still works perfectly... Actually so was I but I don’t work to well though …:stroke: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
{:-(
trouble hifire
04-Jun-09, 09:12am
In regards to music collecting im basically just downloading songs off limewire
:shakes head:
doesn't anyone pay for music these days!?
Eros le Tardfack
04-Jun-09, 09:21am
In regards to music collecting im basically just downloading songs off limewire and putting them on my ipod. When you say in any 'format' does this mean Mp3, CD etc?
fuck off then.
My favourite genre is trance btw.
fuck right off.
Lloyd C
04-Jun-09, 09:30am
The fact that you own a Ipod means we wouldn't get along
so you don't get along with most of the modern world? :haha:
SwordSnare
04-Jun-09, 09:55am
:shakes head:
doesn't anyone pay for music these days!?Pretty sad, hey?...Limewire is the best source for reeea good quality viruses...I mean music :D
JulesPLees
04-Jun-09, 10:38am
What kind of producer software should i be looking at as well? I had a look at Fruity Loops so far. I heard it's good.
can of worms. good for a beginner - and some guys have taken it all the way to using it to write some pretty big tunes - however id suggest ableton or logic (if you have the ca$h for a lil bit more)...
oh yeah - dude - buy your music - dont be a c***
Don't be deterred by some of the comments here, most of the people here probably downloaded songs illegally online before they got into dj'ing, I know I did.
But if you are serious about dj'ing and want to really get into it then you have to separate yourself and start buying songs to support your producers and labels. once you get into buying songs you wont look back it's so much better, and also it's very much frowned upon here if you download songs illegally.
I suggest choose either the dj or producer route, then branch onto the other. generally most people start dj'ing and then delve into producing. I mean it's up to you and what you feel most passionate about.
what's your budget?
trouble hifire
04-Jun-09, 10:54am
Pretty sad, hey?...Limewire is the best source for reeea good quality viruses...I mean music :D
in all honesty i would love to see some kid who decided to download his entire collection of music actually play a gig then realise that it all sounds like shit through a decent PA and there be fuck all he could do about it.
that would be justice.
Dr Bones
04-Jun-09, 10:58am
in all honesty i would love to see some kid who decided to download his entire collection of music actually play a gig then realise that it all sounds like shit through a decent PA and there be fuck all he could do about it.
sounds like you've never been to an electro night.
SwordSnare
04-Jun-09, 11:08am
sounds like you've never been to an electro night.
I generally leave a venue if my ears are bleeding :-D
Dr Bones
04-Jun-09, 11:13am
that's generally about the time that i take my ear plugs out.
SlicyDicer
04-Jun-09, 11:19am
can of worms. good for a beginner - and some guys have taken it all the way to using it to write some pretty big tunes - however id suggest ableton or logic (if you have the ca$h for a lil bit more)...
oh yeah - dude - buy your music - dont be a ****
FL is fine, it's all about what VST's, outsorced effects and mix down gear you have really. I looked at the demo of ableton but I'm not convinced enough yet to go out and buy a copy.
in all honesty i would love to see some kid who decided to download his entire collection of music actually play a gig then realise that it all sounds like shit through a decent PA and there be fuck all he could do about it.
that would be justice.
LOL , but i have seen it happen was one of my best nights out actually
SwordSnare
04-Jun-09, 12:00pm
FL is fine, it's all about what VST's, outsorced effects and mix down gear you have really. I looked at the demo of ableton but I'm not convinced enough yet to go out and buy a copy.
Saw in a recent copy of FutureMusic magazine that Laidback Luke uses FL Studio as main DAW...cause of it's simplicity? It really does open up a can of worms...Ableton Live, Cubase, Logic, Sonar, etc, etc.
powerstruggle
04-Jun-09, 12:27pm
I really like italics
Really
trouble hifire
04-Jun-09, 12:32pm
sounds like you've never been to an electro night.
got it in one, i have enough bullshit to deal with without going out looking for it.
RE use of FL as a DAW, Spor uses FL and constantly creates amazing productions (in all honesty it amazed me when i found out as i was under the impression it was underpowered compared to cubase etc)
PUBLIC SERVICE WARNING - if your into your electro don't look up spor.
actually yes look up Spor and listen to some real music for a change
Living and breathing music for the last 6 months. I cry if my ipod is dead and i have school.
In regards to music collecting im basically just downloading songs off limewire and putting them on my ipod. When you say in any 'format' does this mean Mp3, CD etc?
My favourite genre is trance btw.
Just get another mypod plug it into one of those mypod docking fucking mixer things and continue to steal your music, bingo your a dj
JulesPLees
04-Jun-09, 03:13pm
FL is fine, it's all about what VST's, outsorced effects and mix down gear you have really. I looked at the demo of ableton but I'm not convinced enough yet to go out and buy a copy.
you using FL mangz?
i dunno i mucked around with it a few years back - just found it really really fiddly to use
:shakes head:
doesn't anyone pay for music these days!?
I paid for everything I play, mind you I can afford it as I play a lot, I in no way look down on music theft, I just like the idea some of the money I earn gets back to the artist who made the tracks that made me my money! Plus you can’t download vinyl “YET”……
so you don't get along with most of the modern world? :haha:
Oh you must have met me before then! :lol:
Actually no I don’t get along with most sound designers and operators in Australia and most of my clients these days are audiophiles not clubs though it still says “Dance Club Audio Reproduction Systems” on our logo…..:stroke:
Lloyd C
04-Jun-09, 03:46pm
“Dance Club Audio Reproduction Systems”
so you plug in the following:
2 x cdj1000's
2 x technics 1200's
1 x djm800
1 x efx1000
1 x funktion 1 audio system?
/stiring the pot
powerstruggle
04-Jun-09, 04:05pm
Just get DJ Hero and you're a real DJ
You can thank me when you're rich
so you plug in the following:
2 x cdj1000's
2 x technics 1200's
1 x djm800
1 x efx1000
1 x funktion 1 audio system?
/stiring the pot
2 x cdj1000's – No choice
2 x technics 1200's – Great turntable
1 x djm800 - Never
1 x efx1000 – If it’s required
1 x funktion 1 audio system? – No I haven’t been impressed by this stuff mostly. Though I did like the Resolutian one and I have been informed the F-88 and the new Dance Club ground stack is kinda impressive! But if i need a large ground stacked system for a club i'll build it myself!
Thanks a lot for the replys guys. Learning a lot.
Ok, don't download music, gotcha :P
What are some of the best ways to find new music (or a range of artists) in a certain genre?
khaiyin
04-Jun-09, 04:23pm
Thanks a lot for the replys guys. Learning a lot.
Ok, don't download music, gotcha :P
What are some of the best ways to find new music (or a range of artists) in a certain genre?
Don't download illegal* music
Check out Beatport.com
you can sort by genre, see the latest popular songs, new releases, etc and then make a list to buy those songs. that's the way a lot of ppl do it (including myself). buy the songs, download, sort in itunes playlists, burn to cds, mix on decks.
SlicyDicer
04-Jun-09, 11:46pm
you using FL mangz?
i dunno i mucked around with it a few years back - just found it really really fiddly to use
Over the many many years I've gotten into a really good work flow with it. Know the ins and outs and know it like the back of my hand.
Can't really be bothered learning all over again with a new software system just yet.
But I've also built up my sample collection, bought some main VST's that I use (Albino, predator and z3ta+) learnt them back to front and have heaps of plug ins and shit so it's just acting as a DAW pretty much.
People act surprised when you tell them you make music with FLstudio, most people think it's just a toy or something. The stock samples / VST's are pretty standard and I think that's what gives people that impression.
They just look at it once and go "this sounds shit" without delving much further.
Anyway, horses for courses, all DAW's will do pretty much the same thing these days.
JulesPLees
05-Jun-09, 02:00am
^yeah - agreed like i know mike nichol has sold more units than just about any khunt around using fruity....
it doesnt matter what ya use...just how ya use it
...cool man
Funkedub
05-Jun-09, 09:24am
Living and breathing music for the last 6 months. I cry if my ipod is dead and i have school.
In regards to music collecting im basically just downloading songs off limewire and putting them on my ipod. When you say in any 'format' does this mean Mp3, CD etc?
My favourite genre is trance btw.
For your sake I'm glad there's actually people here willing to help you in your cause.
As you can tell from some of the sentiments voiced here your actions and attitude are the scourge of the DJing community for many.
Purpose
05-Jun-09, 11:09pm
Thanks a lot for the replys guys. Learning a lot.
Ok, don't download music, gotcha :P
What are some of the best ways to find new music (or a range of artists) in a certain genre?
You're going to battle downloading music, without actually downloading it.
www.beatport.com for similar artists within a genre. Or.. although many will hate it, hit up youtube with some people you like, then scroll through related videos; it brings up similar songs, artists.. people those artists have worked with etc - then hit them up on beatport.
in all honesty i would love to see some kid who decided to download his entire collection of music actually play a gig then realise that it all sounds like shit through a decent PA and there be fuck all he could do about it.
that would be justice.
are you joking? 128 kbps is industry standard these days, right?
talio93
05-Jun-09, 11:15pm
when you buy off beatport its 320 kbps... 128 sounds like shit
Purpose
05-Jun-09, 11:19pm
when you buy off beatport its 320 kbps... 128 sounds like shit
i'm taking the piss.
when you buy off beatport its 320 kbps... 128 sounds like shit
Buy waves as even some 320 @ beatport sound like bad vinyl rips. 128 is a no no in a club environment
Purpose
06-Jun-09, 09:25am
128 is a no no in a club environment
i'm taking the piss.
I was taking the piss.
are you joking? 128 kbps is industry standard these days, right?
no. where did you get that idea from?
Purpose
06-Jun-09, 09:58am
no. where did you get that idea from?
I'll actually start killing people if you're serious.
128 is a bit high isn’t it?:haha: ......... Ah what ever happened to Vinyl:whyioughtta: !
.
Over the many many years I've gotten into a really good work flow with it. Know the ins and outs and know it like the back of my hand.
Can't really be bothered learning all over again with a new software system just yet.
But I've also built up my sample collection, bought some main VST's that I use (Albino, predator and z3ta+) learnt them back to front and have heaps of plug ins and shit so it's just acting as a DAW pretty much.
People act surprised when you tell them you make music with FLstudio, most people think it's just a toy or something. The stock samples / VST's are pretty standard and I think that's what gives people that impression.
They just look at it once and go "this sounds shit" without delving much further.
Anyway, horses for courses, all DAW's will do pretty much the same thing these days.
Exactly. Don't mean to sound like every guy with a small dick ever, but it's how you use it that matters. This is proved by the likes of Spor, Laidback Luke (even though I hate his tracks), etc etc.
OP: Get a copy of Virtual DJ. It's shit, but it's easy to learn the basic ideas behind mixing on it. Or if you wanna try producing, get a demo of FL Studio/Ableton/Reason/All of the above and see what works for you.
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