Hot DJ & Turntablism How-Tos « DJ & Turntablism

How To: Connect your laptop to your DJ mixer

This video shows you how to connect your laptop to your mixer. First you will need two different sound sources from your laptop to your mixer. This is so that you can use all of your mixer functions on two different channels. The way to do this is to run a 1/8" RCA cable channel 7 from your normal earphone jack to the mixer. Also use a behringer uca202 audio interface to connect to the laptop via USB cord. This provides another earphone jack. Then use a master out cable to connect it to an am...

How To: Use the EQ, bass, mid and treble on a DJ mixer

Want to mix and scratch like a professional DJ? To be a good DJ you need to understand the concepts of mixing tracks, adding cool effects, and of course you need a good sense of rhythm to line up the beats. This how to video explains how to use the EQ, bass, mid, and treble on a DJ mixer. This video gives you a demonstration on how to use the EQ on a DJ mixer while a track is playing. It should be set at twelve o'clock because when that track is made at the studio, it's made as a flat signal....

How To: Mix funk, soul, and disco music

Modern music has a drum machine to keep the beat steady the whole time. Old school music might not have the same bpm the whole way through, so it is harder to mix.

How To: Cut and chop on a DJ mixer

Want to mix and scratch like a professional DJ? To be a good DJ you need to understand the concepts of mixing tracks, adding cool effects, and of course you need a good sense of rhythm to line up the beats. This how to video sequence explains how to cut and chop on a DJ mixer. There are loads of ways of describing this technique: editing the track, washing up, mowing the lawn, or drying your hair.

How To: Play 7' records on a turntable

Ever wonder how to play 7" vinyl records on a turntable? Guess what that round piece that came with your turntable is for.

How To: Cue your vinyl records on a turntable

Check out this instructional turntable video to learn how to cue your vinyl records. It's not scratching, but it is cueing. This takes some skill because you want to align two songs perfectly in sync. Remember, this only works if the stop and start time of your platter are the same! It does not matter if your start or stop time is 1 hour, 34 minutes and 48 seconds! Use this method if you need a clean, fast and easy way of starting a vinyl in sync. This video tutorial is great for DJs and anyo...

How To: Link up two amplifiers

A look at how you can link up an amplifier to another with only needing one output from your mixer.

How To: Plug the vinyl turn table into a mixer

Check out this instructional DJ video that demonstrates how to attach the vinyl turn table into a mixer. In this video for the totally new DJ, learn where to plug the RCA cables (or phono plugs) from a Vinyl turntable into a DJ mixer. Discover the proper way of plugging your equipment in by watching this DJ tutorial video.

How To: Fix a wobbly platter problem on a turntable

Learn how to open up your turntable platter in order to fix a wobble on your table, getting those records to play smooth. While DJing might appear simple to the untrained eye, truly mastering the turntables requires as much time and dedication as mastering any other instrument. Fortunately, the internet is awash in free video DJing lessons like this one, which make the learning process easier than it's ever been. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.

How To: Set up an active speaker system

This video shows you how to set up an active speaker system with a built-in amp. Move the gain up and have it halfway up on the mixer. The actual volume control should be set to 0 prior to moving the gain up and down. Mess around with the gain, and slowly bring the gain up until you are slowly tapping into the ampere. You can mess with the gain until it sounds right. This will increase the bass on our mixer.

How To: Talk on the microphone when DJing

What to say on the mic to keep the crowd interested. When you are DJing, you need to have a confident entertainer persona so that you can connect with the audience.

How To: Use the loop function on a CDJ turntable

Interested in jockeying discs? Compact discs? If so, you'll want a CDJ, which will permit you to do with your CDs what your turntable permits you to do with your records. In this DJ tutorial, you'll learn how to use the loop function on a Pioneer CDJ turntable. For more, and to get started creating loops on your own Pioneer CDJ-800, take a look!

How To: Mix a Reggaeton beat

Want to mix and scratch like a professional DJ? To be a good DJ you need to understand the concepts of mixing tracks, adding cool effects, and of course you need a good sense of rhythm to line up the beats. This how to video explains how to mix a Reggaeton beat. Reggaeton is a genre of Latin dance music which mixes rap, hip-hop, reggae, and ragga. Salsa and merengue influences can also be heard in some songs. After becoming very popular in Puerto Rican clubs, it began spreading through parts ...

How To: Master basic scratch techniques for beginning DJs

Are you itching for a scratch? Learn beginner DJ scratches and techniques from a professional musician and music teacher in this free hip hop video series.

How To: Plug in your DJ gear

For beginner DJs - Learn how to plug in and connect a vinyl turntable, a mixer, and a CDJ CD player. Also, learn to connect the amplifier.

How To: Connect speakers in a PA or DJ system

Learn the difference between Speakon, Jack, and XLR inputs. Also learn how to wire all of these connectors to hook up your speaker system on your PA or DJ system.

How To: Use the vocoder effect in FL studio to make and record cool vocal effects

FL Studio is a very powerful piece of audio production software, and it of course incorporates everyone favorite old-school voice distortion device: the Vocoder. This video will show you how to create a really cool vocoder effect in FL Studio, allowing you to zazz up the vocals on any track you're producing with that Zapp & Roger electrofuck edge.

How To: Use the fader start on a DJ mixer

The fader start makes the volume control sync up with the play/pause function on the CDJ. It will stop the music and reset it to the cue point when you put the volume control down.

How To: Use a joystick or gamepad as a MIDI controller

Did you know that your joystick and gamepad are amazing MIDI controllers? MIJOY PRO 2 is a VSTi that lets you use your joystick or gamepad as a MIDI controller. So follow the step by step instructions outlined in this music tutorial video that demonstrates how to use your joystick or gamepad as a MIDI controller.

How To: Set up a turntable for scratching

Before scratching on a given turntable, you'll need to set it up properly to ensure that you will not damage either your records or your hardware. This basic DJ tutorial demonstrates one method (among many) for adjusting up a turntable for scratching.

How To: Remove the knobs and sliders on a DJ mixer

How to remove the knobs and sliders on a DJ mixer to replace the crossfader or make other repairs.

How To: Choose between spherical or elliptical needles as a DJ

Here, we talk about the difference between Elliptical & Spherical needles and what's best for us DJs & why. Also, we look at a few Cartridges.

How To: Make your own slipmat

Is your slip mat slippery? How to make your own for relatively nothinging.

How To: Use Mixmeister

This is a tutorial on Mixmeister Pro 6 software for DJs, but most versions of Mixmeister work the same way.

How To: Buy a second hand DJ mixer

The in's and out's of buying a second hand mixer for your DJ setup. Learn what to look out for.

How To: Use the pitch bend to beat match

Check out this instructional DJ video that demonstrates how to use the pitch bend to find tune your beat matching skills. This video is great for beginning DJs who are just starting. Using the American Audio Q-SD mixer and the American Audio MCD-710 twin CD player, learn a simple trick to beat match. Practice your DJ skills by learning this technique!

How To: Mix basslines as a DJ

Mixing tutorial for the DJ: learn how to mix a bassline from one song into another song.

How To: Buy the right speakers and amp for your DJ setup

What size speakers and amp are the right ones for your DJ setup? Learn how to choose the right setup for home, house party or on the road and whether you're a bedroom or mobile DJ.

How To: Scratch the best songs for DJing

Watch this video to learn what types of tracks or songs are best for scratching. Good for beginning for DJs.

How To: Scratch on the Pioneer CDJ turntable

To scratch on a pioneer CDJ turntable, first select the sound you are going to use. Observe the position of the black line on the turntable in relation to the sound you've selected. Understand how much room you have to manipulate the sound and position your fingers accordingly. The platter will move in accordance to the black line and your finger. You can also lift your hand off the platter in the play and pause mode to let the sound move itself by its own accord and at its own speed. Move yo...

How To: Mix rock music

Want to mix and scratch like a professional DJ? To be a good DJ you need to understand the concepts of mixing tracks, adding cool effects, and of course you need a good sense of rhythm to line up the beats. This how to video explains how to mix rock music. Most rock, soul, disco, motown and other old school styles had real people playing real instruments, so the timing was never exactly the same all the way through the song. So it becomes quite difficult to mix these styles. Watch this DJ tut...

How To: Match a beat on vinyl

Learn how to count beats and match the beats for mixing songs on vinyl record. This how to video teaches the tricks of the trade from DJ Magic Wong.

How To: Play a record backwards on a Technics sl1200

How you can play a toon backwards on a DJ turntable (like a Technics 1200) that does not have the button to reverse the turntable.

How To: Use crossfades to segue between tracks when DJing

Learn how to create smooth transitions between tracks with crossfades when on the decks. While DJing might appear simple to the untrained eye, truly mastering the turntables requires as much time and dedication as mastering any other instrument. Fortunately, the internet is awash in free video DJing lessons like this one, which make the learning process easier than it's ever been. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.

How To: Scratch on turntables for beginners

The video is from the DJ tutorial and it shows us the basic principles of scratching for the beginners. And the first lesson you should learn is that there are basically four movements and here you will actually be not going to scratch put will be moving the record forward and backward. These four moves form the basis for starting to learn scratching. First you need are the type of sounds which are either acapella (song with no music) or with sounds (tracks with breaks on it). Before starting...

How To: Plug a 2 way active PA system together

Want to mix and scratch like a professional DJ? To be a good DJ you need to understand the concepts of mixing tracks, adding cool effects, and of course you need a good sense of rhythm to line up the beats. This how to video explains how to set up a 2 way active speaker system. This video shows you how to plug a two way active PA system together by using an active cross over and two power amplifiers. This is the kit used: 1 Peavey vsx cross over, 1 KAM KXR 2000 amp, 1 KAM KXT 23600 amp, 2 x V...

How To: Organize your own DJ event

DJ Tutor teaches you how to organize your own DJ event when it comes to promotion, and legal issues.

How To: Attach the earth cable to the back of a DJ mixer

Check out this instructional DJ video that demonstrates how to attach the earth cable for most vinyl turntables to the back of the DJ mixer. This video is dedicated to the new DJ who is just starting out and setting up new gear. The earth cable has to be fitted to your mixer. Watch this turntable tutorial video to learn how to attach the earth cable to the back of a DJ mixer to stop any nasty buzzing sounds. Practice and enjoy!

How To: Pimp up your Pioneer CDJ-400 mixer

Want to mix and scratch like a professional DJ? To be a good DJ you need to understand the concepts of mixing tracks, adding cool effects, and of course you need a good sense of rhythm to line up the beats. This how to video explains how to pimp up your Pioneer CDJ-400 mixer. Just follow the simple step by step instructions: remove the two small screws and take off the see through piece of plastic, place a picture down on top of the platter and replace the cover, and re-screw the two screws. ...

How To: Make a Reggaeton beat

Love Daddy Yankee? Check out this DJ tutorial video on how to make a Reggaeton beat. Watch as this instructor guides you along the beat-making process using FL Studio 7. This video is great for beginners who want to learn a few DJ tricks and techniques. Just follow along at home and you can make the next hot Reggaeton beat!