Mixing Techniques for Dj’s – 5 Creative Tempo Changes

via djtechtools.com

Have you ever wanted to mix in a greater variety of tempos into a set but were to afraid to screw up the mix? That is the case for many DJs, new and experienced alike. Dropping songs of different styles and tempos can be scary territory but potentially rich with reward. Now with digital technology we have a wide variety of tools. many of which can help bridge the gap between songs of various tempos while keeping the blend smooth and natural. In today’s article I will cover 5 mix techniques that will help you do just that!

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7 Essential Books For DJs and Producers

via djtechtools.com

Festival season is just around the corner, which means significantly more downtime for DJs and and music fans alike while en route to the show. When you’re waiting in bus stations, trains, airports, and cars to get to the next big event, having a book to read is great – and you could be expanding your DJing and production knowledge while staying entertained. We’ve put together a great list of seven essential reads for DJs and producers, read on!

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The Best Podcasts and Livestreams For DJs

via djtechtools.com

In any artform, it’s critical to constantly be studying and observing the people at the top of their field, and DJing is no exception. Listening to well-assembled sets and watching DJs perform is one of the best practices that a DJ of any caliber can do to improve their craft. Today we’ve put together a list of the best podcasts and livestreams that every DJ should know about – read on to see our picks and suggest some of your own!

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Digital DJs Can Say Goodbye to Wires Forever

via gizmodo.com

Unless you're incredibly organized, it's highly likely that you have different music tracks dotted around different devices, which can turn digital DJing from a celebration of music to a mess of jumbled cables quicker than you can shout "tune". Pioneer's new digital decks, however, swap wires for Wi-Fi.

The new XDJ-AERO, you see, can suck music directly from up to four different devices—smartphones, tablets, laptops, whatever—via Wi-Fi. You can also create chunks of playlist on a device before the big event, then drag them to the decks ready cued up, so that you can spend time thinking about what should come next.

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DJ Tips 101: What Equipment Should a Beginner DJ Use?

via showamerica.com

Are you a driven person who loves listening and playing the hottest beats? Do you have a love music and dance? Do you want to be considered one of the top djs of the entertainment business?

To maximize the progression of your music between tracks, you will need to create an atmosphere with a great deal of good energy, so that can make people dance all night long.

Once you make a decision that you want pursue a career in music and djing, then you must set up a budget for the equipment you need to purchase for your business. Choosing equipment will take patience and some work on your part, but if you follow this guide, then you will have no problem finding the right equipment for your business. To ensure that you make the best choice, you must take the time to inspect each type of equipment.

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14 techie turntables that any geek DJ would kill to scratch on

via dvice.com

Just as every bartender has his or her favorite cocktail mixer, a DJ must wield his turntable. DJs are the kings of virtually every major party. They set the mood and keep the fun times thumpin'. Without DJs, parties would be as slow as your mom and dad's prom date. Collected below are 14 of the most out-of-this-world turntables that would have any DJ waiting in line to spin an LP on.

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Where to Build Your DJ Web Presence in 2012

via djtechtools.com

As a digital DJ or electronic music producer, a well-curated internet presence can seal the deal when booking gigs, getting fans and friends out to your events, or putting your original tracks into headphones around the world. Today, we focus on some of the best tools and practices out there for maximizing your time online in 2012.

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Future DJing Technology? Leap Motion Control

via djtechtools.com

From the “this would be awesome to DJ with” department, we couldn’t help but feature this soon-to-launch technology that allows for three dimensional control over your computer using just your hands. It’s called the Leap – and it’s a iPod-size motion detection box that sits at the base of your monitor. A promo video and full description after the jump!

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The Art Of Preparation – 5 Principles Every DJ Should know

via djtechtools.com

Casual observers of the musical arts assume that most of the creative process happens on stage. While it may be true that inspiration and improvisation create amazing results in the moment – great preparation tee’s those moments up in the first place. Without a comfortable base created by consistent discipline the creative mind never has the chance to fully play.

Here are five critical areas of disciplined preparation that are one way to form a creative base for expressive DJing. Ultimately everyone needs to find their own system but these are some timeless principles that might help you get started.

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Must-Watch DJ Movies You Haven’t Seen

via djtechtools.com

If you haven’t seen Scratch, Maestro, and It’s All Gone Pete Tong, you’re missing out. But most of us have seen these DJ classics – so we decided to investigate the lesser-known gems that really get to the heart of DJ culture and that you can watch right now! Put the popcorn in the microwave and read on to start your weekend off by watching some great productions!

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DJ TechTools | Show Us Your DJ Setup

via djtechtools.com

It’s time for another edition of “Show Us Your DJ Setup”! This is the blog version of our popular set-up section in the DJ TechTools forum, and we’re excited to feature long-time forum member Fullenglishpint today. In case you haven’t noticed, DJ TechTools hosts one of the largest DJ communities on the internet and this is just one of the ways we try to include you in the editorial process.

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DJing With A Computer Keyboard

via djtechtools.com

Digital DJing and controllerism has come a long way from simply “laptop DJing” (say it with contempt for full effect), but for most digital DJs the laptop remains the central part of their setup. While there’s usually a better workflow than hunching over your keyboard, there are instances where using your computer’s keyboard gets the job done better than anything else. In this article we explore the best uses and mapping considerations for the buttons that you always have with you on your laptop!

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DJ TechTools on G4′s Attack of the Show

via djtechtools.com

A few months ago, Attack of the Show producers got in touch with Ean to see if he’d be interested in appearing in a new segment on their show, “Rad Jobs”. We were more than excited to get a chance to be back on television and show off some of our latest creations – keep your eyes peeled when watching this segment for the Midi Fighter 3D in use, the VCI-400 Ean Golden edition, and even our mapping expert, Flashflooder!

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Legal Concerns for DJs: Negotiating a DJ Contract

via djtechtools.com

Negotiating a DJ performance contract can be a tricky thing, but doing it right is an essential step in turning your hobby into a career. Today, we discuss considerations for DJs that sign performance agreements, and provide some tips for minimizing risk and maximizing return. In a new column, Legal Concerns for DJs, our favorite lawyer and legal expert Noah Sutcliffe shares his tips to making your paperwork quite a bit easier!

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DJ Toolbox: How To Find New Music Online

via djtechtools.com

You’ve got all the gear you need to tear up the club, and you’ve mastered every transition tutorial you’ve found online- but here’s a dirty little secret: No matter how fresh your gear is, it’s useless if you don’t have great music to play. In today’s toolbox, Meatman takes some time to share his process of crate digging in the digital DJ realm of the internet. We’ve written about this previously, so enjoy this update for 2012!

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The DJ of the Future - New Technology

via thenextweb.com

When the bridge was built that enabled DJs to use vinyl records in order to manipulate music on their computers, it was an historic moment in DJ history. But ever since that day, DJs have had to look at their computers in order to see what’s going on with their music.

You see, DJ’ing might be heavily about sound, but there’s a visual portion which can’t be ignored. When DJs spun traditional vinyl records, the shape of the grooves could tell the DJ what was about to happen. When we moved over to digital vinyl systems, we lost the definitions in those grooves, and instead landed on a record that looks the same all the way across. In order to see what was coming up in the track, we had to look at the computer (or CD player) screen.

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Online DJ Scratch Schools Comparison: Which Is Right For You?

via djtechtools.com

An awesome DJ set rarely comes down to which equipment you use – it’s singularly about the sound you deliver. That is, unless you want to scratch. The tools of the turntablism trade are relatively simple, the techniques have evolved at a glacial pace compared with other DJ disciplines, but it’s an artform that is anything but simple to master. So where does the budding DMC turntablist champion go to get the very best education on “cuttin’ it up rough”? In this article, we look at some of the online resources out there that will build those flares, tame your crabs and keep those chirps tight.

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Protecting Your DJ Gear: The Ultimate Guide

via djtechtools.com

The great irony of DJ equipment protection is that one of the most dangerous places to take your gear is to the exact place that you want to be going to – your gig. Be it an after-hours tech house rager, a weekly wobblefest at your favorite venue, or even a mere wedding reception, the hazards of playing out are there. But don’t fear – we’ve got some great ideas for things to do to make sure that your DJ kit comes home with you ready to play the next show.

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Where’s Best Place To Get Samples & Loops For My DJ Sets? - The Answer

via digitaldjtips.com

It’s great that you’re wanting to do the right thing and obtain your samples from legal sources. With the Traktor Kontrol S4 putting particular emphasis on the use of samples, you can’t be the only DJ looking at this route to make their sets more interesting.

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