Hot DJ & Turntablism How-Tos « DJ & Turntablism

How To: Install Jog Grips on a VCI-100 MIDI controller

Interested in having your VCI-100 feel more like a CDJ-1000 when pitch bending? Jog Grips have been designed so that your hand naturally falls half on, half off the grips when you grab the wheel. So one of your fingers activate the touch sensor while the index finger benefits from from the grip and added tactility. For step-by-step instructions on the Jog Grip installation process for VCI-100 controllers, take a look.

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: 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: 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: Stop record wobble on your deck

Does your 12" vinyl record wobble in the middle of the turntable spindel? Learn how to stop records from wobbling on the platter while you're DJing.

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: Replace the arm rest on a turntable

DJ Tutor teaches you how to replace the arm rest on a Technics sl1200, by bending a screwdriver at a ninety degree angle.

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: 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: Talk over music properly when DJing

Learn how to use a mic to best do a talk over or speak over music during your DJ set.

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: 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: 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: Count bars and phrases in drum and bass

Learn how to count the beats in drum and bass music so that you can mix it properly.

How To: Make your own slipmat

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

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: Make your own homemade record player

Play records with a piece of paper and a needle. Amazingly easy to make! I don't recommend using your good records for this though.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Fix or replace Technics SL1200 tone arm

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. But you also need to know how to fix your turntables. This two part how to video explains how you can fix or replace Technics SL1200 tone arm. Also this video gives an in depth look at the Technics SL1200. Watch this two part DJ tutorial and you can learn how to fix or replace Technics SL1...

How To: Use the roll feature on the Pioneer DJM-800 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 you can use the roll feature on the DJM-800 mixer. This feature basically samples music. Watch this DJ tutorial and you can learn how to use the roll feature on the DJM-800 mixer.

How To: Use DMX Par Can lights in your DJ setup

This is 1 of a 2 part video talking about DMX and LED Par Cans lights as well as Dip Switches and using a DMX controller.

How To: Mix 80s era music as a DJ

In this tutorial, we learn how to mix an 80s era music as a DJ. There are so many different styles of music from the 80s, start at modern day dance music to see how the beat sounds now from then. A lot of the dance music back in the 80s was off key because it was done by people and not a computer. You will first have to take several hours to construct the mix that you like. Chop and mix the different sounds together, then bring different songs in at different points. For old school, the sound...

How To: Mix old school funk tracks

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 old school funk tracks together. This video gives you an example of how to mix old school funk. You must remember that this style of music most of the time had no drum machine keeping the timing. It was a real drummer and so in turn the BPM (beats per ...

How To: Beat match with off beats

This video teaches you how to become a DJ. In this session we can learn how to keep the beat off beat by keeping the timing of the beats the same. This video shows the specific way of increasing the beats and decreasing the beats according to the tracks that are played. This tutorial also has a live sample of how a beat can be matched off and a how to maintain a constant interval between the beats. It also has some specific instructions on how to maintain a constant interval between the track...

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: Use the roll feature on the DJM-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 use the roll feature on the DJM-400 mixer. This video samples some music from channel 1 and takes it to channel 2. Then the instructor messes around with the buttons that can lengthen or reduce the original roll. Watch this DJ tutorial so you can learn how...

How To: Organize the cables in your DJ setup

Learn a simple way to keep the cables in your DJ setup or PA system organized using gaffer's tape and/or zip ties.

How To: Skip-proof your records

DJ Q-Bert of the Invisibl Skratch Piklz shares a tip on how to modify your vinyl records to keep them from skipping while playing or scratching with them.

How To: Do the boomerang scratch with fading pattern

The video describes the effect known as the Boomerang Scratch. The author describes the technique and shows the sheet musical note equivalent. After explaining the sheet music notation, the author shows a video of the technique being performed on a scratch deck with a cross fader. The video then covers volume levels as indicated on sheet music and how to read these notations. This video provides a few different examples of the boomerang scratch along with close-up videos of the authors and ha...

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: Use the back of a Gemini CDM-3600

In this instructional DJ video, take a look at the back of the Gemini CDM-3600 unit to learn how to use the inputs and outputs. This video is ideally for beginners who are just starting off as DJs and need some advice on the various outlets. Learn how to use the back of a Gemini CDM-3600 by watching this DJ tutorial video.