Professional DJs have the power to bring the dance floor to life. But how do you create such energetic beats without mistakes? The magic lies in the advanced DJ mixing techniques they use to create incredibly creative and diverse music. Do you want to expand your DJ mixing skills and shine like a pro? If so, then at the end of this article you will learn some cool techniques to use in your next game. Each technique will help you take your skills to a whole new level. So let's get in.
1. The perfect blend of fading
Mixing two tracks seamlessly may sound simple, but it's certainly not easy to achieve. Even experts have trouble getting it right. So we're going to highlight some DJ mixing tips and techniques to help you mix tracks smoothly.
Most DJs just fade from one track to the next, which sounds weird and creates an amateurish vibe. It would never work even if you match the audio tracks. So what can you do? You can use different effects and filters for a seamless experience, but first you need to consider a few things: the music genre, the mix and output zones, and how well the sounds and instruments complement each other.
Once you're done with the above elements, you're all set for a perfect blend. Below are the best tools for perfect DJ mixing techniques.
low frequency volume
This is the part where you find the kicks and bass lines. Proper tuning will keep you in control of the powerful bass in your master track. Even if two tracks are played at maximum volume, clipping often occurs here. So lower the frequency for a smoother, more fluid mix.
medium frequency volume
Stabs, harmonies, riffs and some percussion occur in this area. Vocals are also present here, but we have to avoid them until the mix is done.
Also, slowly attenuating the incoming track in the mids reduces its dominance. However, it would be much easier if the next punch had dominant features. Therefore, we suggest that you build in a maximum of 70% until the rhythm is ready to dominate the incoming track.
high frequency volume
The high frequencies allow you to reduce the percussion (cymbals, hi-hats and snares) of the tracks. As a result, it would have a smoother sound. Start with a low volume and gradually increase it throughout the mixing zones.
effects and filters
To create a smoother, more consistent incoming sound, they are used in small amounts. In addition, they help make the track less impactful by removing heavy noise.
By taking into account mix zones and mix zones, volume frequencies, filters and effects, you can seamlessly transition from one master track to a new one. This is one of the most prevalent DJ mixing techniques you will see in the industry.
2. Tempo Transition Mix
As one of the most complex DJ mixing techniques, it is avoided by many, even experts. But this takes your DJing to another level. Here's how to mix tracks with different tempos using music mixing software.
Preparation of the DJ mixer software
Like most DJ software, Beat Mixer only offers a 16% tempo range. But thanks to digital DJ mixers, we can extend the reach even further. For this trick, do the following:
- In your software, go to the "Covers" or "Transport" settings.
- Look for the Tempo Range option to change it.
- On a DJ music mixer like Serato, you can achieve this by using the Shift key in conjunction with the Tempo option.
- Set the pitch range to at least 50%.
- Please enable "Key Lock" as you don't want to change the pitch but the tempo of the tracks.
Perform Tempo DJ mixing techniques
Suppose you switch from a house track to a drum and bass soundtrack. It means it will go from 125 BPM to 174 BPM.
First, both the master and incoming tracks are synchronized. So it will slow down the incoming track to 125 BPM to survive the match. We recommend putting on the headphones and continuously checking whether the sound is correct. The key trick here is to stretch the percussion and kick drum for perfect timing.
DJ mixing techniques with infinite loop
The main idea here is that certain sections of tracks, as well as in and out zones, are great for loop mixing. Let's move on to find out how to achieve this.
how it goes
Apply some effects to reduce the droning in your incoming track: Beatmasher, Flanger, Gater or Iceverb. Then fade into the loop with a slow rhythm of about 50% for 16 to 32 beats. If you want to add a background loop effect to the main soundtrack, place it on the first beat.
You can also create new sounds by playing around with different effects and adding some texture to your tracks. Finally, boost the low, mid and high frequencies and cut the effects to complete the mix with your digital DJ gear.
Mix of keybinding and keybinding
Advanced DJ sound mixer software allows you to sort tunes by key so you can mix accordingly. Here we're going to use the same DJ techniques to prepare some brilliant mixes.
Setting up the DJ library
Create a playlist of your favorite songs in the software and have them analyzed. The melodies are arranged in relation to the keys in the library browser. If the keys are not visible, go to the browser column and click on the "Key". If the software didn't sort the tunes by key column, sort them manually.
how it goes
It's not hard to achieve once you know two basic rules of DJ mixing techniques. First subtract or add the numbers; 3 or 6 on the buttons and select the track to mix. For example, the melody, which has a key of 2M, harmonizes easily with tracks of 8m or 5M.
Similarly, the 4d track will match either 1d or 7d. The result may surprise you, especially when the instruments on the tracks complement each other. Note, however, that this doesn't work for every title in the list, so you may need to experiment to find the right combination.
Second, listen and analyze your tracks to identify the ideal spots for cues, cues, and loops. Keep practicing and experimenting until you know how to mix while maintaining harmony.
Shaping the sound palette with FX
Using FX on looping combos always turns out to be a great thing. But you need to set them up properly to get the most out of them. Done right, it's undoubtedly one of the best DJ techniques.
Learning the FX combos
- Riser + Phaser + Reverb: Mix filters with delays or reverbs and phasers for a classic riser effect.
- Delay + Phaser + Bitcrusher - Mix a phase with a delay to drive the environment crazy. You can also add a new melody to cancel out this effect.
- Beat-Repeat + Filter + Reverb - Not only the best DJ equipment, but also cheap DJ controllers that allow you to use roll or beat-repeat as a loop-roll. Until the rhythm repeats note 32, you can now rotate the FX to create a swirl effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
All these advanced techniques above may have raised some questions in your mind. Let's address them individually.
What is the best DJ software for trance?
Whether you want to mix dubstep, trance or even techno tracks, the following software puts all the essential tools at your fingertips:
- TRAKTOR Pro von Native Instruments
- Mixxx.
- DJ night.
- MixVibes Cruz DJ.
- Ableton Live.
In addition, you may also want to try DJ mixers online. They allow you to mix your music for free without having to download heavy software.
What are the best free beat makers to experiment with advanced DJing?
Tracktion 7 and LMMS are promoted as the best free beat maker software compatible with Linux, IOS and Windows. They are designed not only for beginners but also for advanced users. You can do everything from amateur-level beats to advanced DJ mixing techniques.
Is there an affordable DJ controller?
Many DJ controllers, especially pro-level devices, are quite expensive. Even if manufacturers offer DJ mixers for sale, the deal is still unsuitable for beginners. If you're just starting to explore the world of DJing, you might be looking for the best budget DJ controller. That's why we've listed exactly what you need:
- Denon DJ MC4000
- Numark Mixtrack Platino
- Neon-Reloop
- Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3
- Pioneer DJ DDJ-400
- Numark MixTrack Pro 3
- Roland DJ-202
On the other hand, if you want to go cheaper then portable DJ mixers might work for you: Reloop MIXTOUR DJ and the Pyle Pro Bluetooth DJ mixer.