Sampling AI music services in DJing

Music generation is well and truly here. Already, you’re able to create your own royalty-free backing tracks from scratch. But for career DJs, the power will be in creating sample-able sections of songs using a combination of neural nets and the more discerning human ear. Here are a few platforms which are already available as a source of new (and currently uncopyrightable) musical material.

Loudly

Think of Loudly as a remix studio. Loudly is a byproduct of the team which made the Music Maker JAM mobile app. The aim of the Loudly AI system is to utilize its Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) to produce new music from what you upload. The platform hosts a sample size of over eight-million tracks and is currently fundraising to open to the public. 

AIVA

If there’s a tool for generating orchestral music, it’s likely AIVA. AIVA creates bespoke pieces of music using machine intelligence. Over time, the system has been fed orchestral input and is better known for its understanding of musical scores than its ability to output music from other genres. Vodafone and TED are among its clientele. Good place to generate some classical-sounding samples for remix!

Musenet

Musenet has some spectacular results. It’s been considered the ultimate AI in composition, and uses - you guessed it - a neural network and a massive catalog of input, from classical to pop. Musenet both responds to input and can create brand new compositions internally. The results are worth taking note of! 

All the big players from Google to IBM are behind automated music generation. It’s certainly going to be a very interesting transition period for DJs and producers as we once again redefine what music is. Make sure you keep up with the trends and continue to upskill by checking out the DJ courses offered by DJ Courses Online today. 

The rise of AI music platforms

Generative music services are popping up everywhere. The demand is there and the competition is propelling AI music platforms into providing ever better options to consumers. From professional DJs to hobbyists, you can expect more interest in augmented music services. Let’s check out three of the best. 

Amper

Amper received a huge swath of publicity when reality TV star Taryn Southern used it to produce a hit album. The platform is user-friendly and aimed at musicians and content creators. You can both import your own ideas and start new ones from scratch, depending on the style of music you’re aiming for. Check out Amper. 

Evoke 

Evoke is certainly one of the easiest AI music platforms to use, with no real musical background required. You can create music by typing keywords into a tool which then spits out music. It’s closer to a royalty-free music library than a creative tool. Check it out. 

Deepjams

Deepjams (like deepfake, geddit?) allows you to make new compositions out of your existing input. Boasting a broad-ranging machine intelligence, Deepjams outputs fields of music based on what you upload. Deepjams makes a case for three models - jamming out, composing and driving engagement - and you’ll see fair results in all three cases. 

AI music services are a fast and dynamic industry, one which is currently quite diversified in their offerings. Once the experimental phase tapers off, we’ll likely start to see large-scale implementation of AI songwriting and production services become the norm (and good old fashioned manual editing go the way of film photography). But skill is always in demand! Head over to the DJ Courses Online programs to check out how you can level up today.

Three standalone production devices

The march towards standalone music production devices continues. Staring at a screen and using a mouse to generate musical ideas and perform live just aint that cool. Not with all the other toys available to DJs now. Let’s continue our own march towards a successful career in DJing and check some of them out.

MPC Live II 

Akai Professional once again tops the list of device manufacturers to declare war on the laptop. Their latest offering? The MPC Live II. It offers built-in stereo monitors in a battery-operated standalone unit with a small touchscreen LCD, allowing you to sequence and play beats wherever. Built in wifi and Bluetooth allow you to connect up to Ableton if need be, but the idea here seems to be that you play it like an instrument. One that now makes its own sounds. Check it out.

Synthstrom Deluge

Perhaps one of the most unexpectedly cool things to ever come from New Zealand, the Deluge is an all-in-one grid sequencer which makes the improvisation of electronic music a remarkably productive process. At a tidy 1.5kg and currently costing just $899, Deluge looks like a ton of fun and is certainly one of the more hands-on DJ controllers on the market. Check it out. 

Elektron Octatrack

Elektron’s eight-track sampler upgrade brings an improved hardware build to their previous release. Despite a lack of new features, the device is arguably unbeatable from a performance point of view. Placing creativity at the heart of the process, the Octatrack does seem to require a little more brain power to operate. But in return you’re rewarded with a deeper level of sequencing and automation than its peers, along with great effects and a comprehensive song and pattern-building system. If the goal is to go screen-free, this might be the way. Check it out.

Based on how things are going, it seems to be the goal of DJs to fully escape studios and return to natural environments, where the inspiration flows more freely. Freshening up your gear is one way to level up. Another is to sign up for a DJ course by DJ Courses Online and figure out some of the skills you don’t know you’re missing. 

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ

Labels turn Twitch-friendly

Dance music record labels appear to be entering a new phase in Twitch-readiness. Performing DJ sets on the streaming giant can land you with a takedown notice. Now, labels appear to be pre-clearing their catalogs with Twitch, greenlighting the way for DJs to stream without hitting the copyright wall. 

Anjunadeep goes first

London-based deep house label Anjunadeep has announced that they’ve cleared 500+ tracks for playback on Twitch, This means that DJs who spin those tracks will not be hit with copyright infringement notices. This could potentially be very good news for the average streamer, professional DJ and others. 

Pushback?

Whether or not there will be resistance from the music industry (and copyright holders) is unknown at present. It’s understandable that rights holders would want to be fairly compensated for plays of their work, something that livestreaming services aim to defend by issuing takedowns. But in the present gig drought, it’s more likely that producers will take what they can get in terms of hype and allow for more permissions to be granted to their DJ audience. 

Official playlists

Ajunadeep appears to have manifested the best of both worlds by allowing only for the playback of songs listed on their official playlist. DJs are thus able to download any of up to 500+ and escape the copyright bots when they stream. Sure, 500 isn’t a lot (especially if everyone’s playing the same tunes), but it does set a welcome precedent in accessibility for DJs.

Copyright issues or none, Twitch is still the leading DJ streaming service and the shift by Anjunadeep towards pre-cleared song permissions may well prompt similar behaviour from other labels. This development signals a new direction for anyone looking to make a living from professional DJing - keep paying attention and level up with a course from DJ Courses Online.

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ

The rise of demix culture

Thanks to the bionic chip released by Apple in 2017, we’re on the cusp of a new era in DJing: signal separation or ‘demixing’. The tech has finally hit DJ software, and it probably won’t be long before we see stem separation a standard feature in Traktor and other leading software. Get on board with the new direction in professional DJing and check out what’s now possible. 

DJay Pro AI

DJays Neural Mix is billed as the world’s first AI-powered DJ feature. The feature allows users to separate the stems of a single track into its component parts in realtime. It’s not a particularly new trick. Software like Melodyne and AudioSourceRE have been able to perform demixing for years. What makes it impressive is that it’s now available for real-time playback on mobile devices. It’s a serious win for DJing. 

The community

There’s a community for everything now. Including those who aim to make signal separation a standard feature in all audio processing in the future. The Signal Separation Evaluation Campaign are leading the field in demix research. They’re even tackling non-DJ-specific fields such as clearing up background noise and distinguishing between multiple people speaking through different microphones.

Acapella gold

The usual slew of concerns around intellectual property aside, it’s an increasingly awesome time for acapella hunters. Being able to rip a high-quality vocal stem from your new favorite track is fast becoming an accessible option. We can expect even more creativity to be shoehorned into the crowded marketplace of DJs. Our advice? Start getting creative with them acapellas now, before the race gets going. 

Push a button and the vocals disappear. Flip a fader and the vocals come in solo. It’s apparently that easy. Which means everyone’s racing to get on it. So if you’re along for the ride of career DJing, get up to speed with a course by DJ Courses Online today. 

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ.

Hosting your DJ mixes post-Soundcloud

The time might be coming to part ways with Soundcloud. It’s all good having your music up on as many different platforms as possible, but it appears that Soundcloud’s time might be up as a place to host your mixes. Here are a few other services you might want to consider switching to. Follow an online DJ course to train yourself up, then get uploading to these post-Soundcloud sites.

Mixcrate

Like Mixcloud, Mixcrate is a place for DJs to host their mixes and indeed places most of its emphasis on the long mix format. The upload policy discourages single tracks and playlists, allowing DJs with top mixing ability to shine. There’s an upload limit on files (190mb). There’s clearly a caring DJ community behind the site, one that shares a wide range of influences. Chances are good you’ll find something you like. 

Soundclick

Since 1997, Soundclick has been providing a community of music listeners, creators and DJs to share and sell their stuff. There’s no overall upload limit, but there is a 10mb limit on individual songs on a free account. No hi-def files and no long mixes. Unlike most other streaming services, Soundclick has baked direct download and licensing into their interface. Tracks are often accompanied by a price tag (but no play counts), making it easy for fans to see what the artist feels their stuff is worth. 

HeartThis.At

The German platform HeartThis.At mimics Soundcloud in its diverse offering, with tracks ranging from electronic  to hip-hop and even podcasts and festival performances. The “Maps” feature allows you to see the locations of submitted tracks. Useful to see what’s trending at the production end of the pipe, and a great tool for touring DJs. For a free account, it’s free track hosting until you reach either 5000 downloads or 10,000 plays. 

We’re all gonna miss Soundcloud angels, fresh music and yeah, even those comments from puppet accounts. As the music industry moves ever forward, we’ll all have to keep an ear to the ground for the heartbeat of DJ communities around the world. Get connected by signing up for a DJ course by DJ Courses Online today and join the flow.  

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ.

3 black-run labels in the spotlight

Labels are the flagbearers of our favorite new artists, and we support the role that black-run labels have had on dance music since the beginning of recorded music. We stand in solidarity with black-run record labels. And in our efforts to present DJ education in the form of online courses, we feel it’s time to shine a little light on three labels presenting fresh stables of upcoming artists. 

Sneer Records

Sneer Records is the brainchild of funk ambassador Brett Eclectic. The DIY aesthetic and curatorial approach behind Sneer Records is also evident in the choice of artists, a wide range which includes electro, boogie, future funk, synthwave, ambient and more. Plenty of territory to cover if you have an unrestricted listening ear or two. Check out Sneer Records.

Morph Tracks

Morph Tracks is a small label with a very loyal following. Based in Atlanta, GA, the label currently lists only two artists: Leonce, whose blend of American urban and experimental electronica results in a hardline style that reflects his southern (New Orleans) upbringing. And JSPORT, whose soca and West Indian influences are hammered into accessible shape for modern dance floor audiences. Check out Morph Tracks.

NDATL

Also based in Atlanta, GA is NDATL, a focused community run by Kai Alce, the Haitian-born New Yorker who describes himself as ‘a DJ for DJing’s sake’. Simply true to the music, Alce has built NDATL (which stands for New York, Detroit, Atlanta) to connect the power of his soca-jazz background to a list of club-influenced artists including Miranda Nicole, Ed Nine and Cherry Pie. Check out NDATL.

Even after all the gates have been opened, labels are still the backbone of the music industry. We still require tastemakers and risk-takers to put the good stuff in front of us, and hats off to all those doing it despite - or perhaps because of - the challenges. Get into the game by upping your DJ skills with a course from DJ Courses Online today.

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ.

3 black DJs in the spotlight

There’s absolutely no doubt that black DJs have been among those to build the foundations of dance music. Worldwide. No question. In the spirit of recent events, Bandcamp has released a massive database of black DJs, artists and black-led labels in the hopes of sparking off support initiatives. In our efforts to raise the bar by providing DJ tutorial courses, here are a few choice selections of black artists worth checking out. 

Black Jazz Consortium

Black Jazz Consortium is the alias of Fred P, the New York-turned-Berlin resident with an uncountable back catalog of releases on labels including Soul People Music, Perpetual Sound and Private Society. Years of podcast releases, live mixes and appearances on Boiler Room Berlin, Breakfast Club and many others solidify his reputation as a valued contributor to dance music culture. Check out Black Jazz Consortium on Bandcamp.

LAKIM

Virginia native Lakim’s inspired fusion of dance music, hip hop and alternative is indeed a fresh voice in a crowded room. His sound has been described as a “blend of crisp drum patterns, dreamy synths, and lush vocal chops.” His touring schedule has seen him perform in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, sharing the stage with Nas, Kendrick Lamar and Lauren Hill. Check out LAKIM.

ABYEE 

Label Deepblak’s Armon Bazile aka ABYEE is described as “an ecosystem of rhythm”. Whether we’re talking about the hip-hop and techno influences or the sample-cut African chanting of a track like Wave Principles, it’s clear that Bazile’s music reflects a host of influences. Founded in Oakland, CA and now based in Berlin, expect soulful music on the outskirts of dance from ABYEE.

Music is arguably the most powerful tool we have to break down divisions. When we dance together, we realize the similarities far outweigh the differences. Keep fighting the fight to make things more fair. Be inspired to sign up for a DJ course by DJ Courses Online today. 

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ.

DJ Collaboration tools

When it comes to remaining inspired and motivated, collaboration is key. Making beats on your own is fun, but having other people able to get involved is where it’s really at. Keep moving forward into your career as a DJ by getting others on board with what you’re doing. Here are a few tools designed to keep you collaborating. 

Realtime beat jams

Endless is an iOS app created by Tim Exile, the DJ and software engineer who brought us performance tools like Flesh. Endless allows you to collaborate with others wherever they are in the world by recording loops and interacting with each other's recording - in realtime. Strictly speaking, it’s not fully realtime - there’s still the bandwidth latency problem - but being able to stack layers and effect each other’s loops looks like way too much fun.

Submitting your tunes for collab

Soundstorming is a place where “musicians, artists, and songwriters can instantly record ideas, share in a global community, and collaborate easily.” It’s not particularly aimed at DJs per se, but offers opportunities to meet like-minded music creators with a view to collaboration. Download the free app. Record or upload a piece of your music. Share it with the community. Collaborate with the takers. 

Finding acapellas

Sourcing good acapellas is always a chore for those among us looking to do live remix sets. Get original by finding rappers and singers looking for their own break by scouring sites like HitRecord. HitRecord was founded by actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt and hosts a friendly community of artists open for the business of collaboration. Search ‘acapella’  on HitRecord to get started. 

It takes an openness to others to make it in the DJ game. Start by linking up with others - regardless of how many followers they have - and build something of your own. The pride you take in your work is the reason that people share it. Go for it! And while you’re at it, check out some of the online DJ courses that are going to help you get there.

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ

Powerful reminders for DJs under Covid-19

We all need a bit of good cheer around now. Fortunately, that’s exactly where DJs come in. We’re the ones showing up with fancy gear and playing songs that put smiles on people’s faces. It all feels a little stifled right now, but don’t forget that there are others out there waiting for you to step up and lead them. Here are a few encouraging reminders from the DJ Courses Online crew. 

DJs bring the good times

The good times are officially in demand. They’re always in demand, but especially so during times of crisis. This isn’t true for many other industries. People under stress consider their entertainment not negotiable. While people have lost their jobs (and their freedoms), most are still saving a lot of money on entertainment. If you can bring the good times right now, you’ll see a rise in popularity.

Live streaming is about interaction

Live streaming is one income stream that’s allowing DJs to offset their gig losses. But remember, music is free everywhere. Videos of people DJing are free everywhere. You’re not just here to facilitate music playback. You’re here to communicate and interact with your guests. Drop the act and get into the comments feed while you’re waiting for Track A. Live performance is a skill separate to the skill of working a pair of decks. 

Be a social conduit

Anyone in any kind of spotlight right now has a powerful opportunity to provide people with what they’re craving. Interaction. Conversation with strangers. Meeting interesting people. Covid-19 is going to spark off a wave of openness between communities who all share their isolation. Be the middleman by offering an environment for people to mingle. Whether it’s a Zoom group chat or a Mixcloud Live stream doesn’t matter. The quality of the stream doesn’t matter (too much). The aim is to get people together. Show up regularly on weekend nights. Make people happy to be there. 

The times they are certainly a-changing, and we have to change with them. Not all is lost. And don’t forget - you have a skill. Forget the old way of doing things and start to use the skill of creating good times to make people glad you show up. That’s a career. Maximize your skill by signing up for a DJ course by DJ Courses Online today. 

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ

Personal tips for out-of-work DJs

It’s not the greatest time to be a DJ, is it? The industry as we knew it appears to have shut down. Nobody seems to have any work. As we shift from denial to acceptance, things feel difficult. That’s because they were easy before, but things have changed. And anyone who calls themselves a professional DJ will have to change with them. Here are a few things to keep you active and motivated during this time. 

Find the resources

Sites are popping up with lists of resources for out-of-work creatives during this time. Start Googling and check out what’s available to you in your area. FreelanceArtistResource.com is one good place to start, but keep looking for what you’re looking for, of course. 

Keep healthy

We’re DJs, and we feel more like studio rats than people who do yoga (although this guy is apparently a yoga DJ). So it’s OK if you don’t do 6 hours of meditation or run on the spot for 5 miles. But you have to admit, we need physical and mental exercise to stay healthy. Start with one small thing every day. It could be a stretch while you wait for the kettle to boil. Make it something you do every day. Just like you enjoy being able to use a pair of decks, learn to enjoy the benefits of keeping healthy.

Stay in touch

Those under lockdown are all getting a little tired of Zoom calls and WhatsApp family groups by now. So make sure that you’re enabling some quality interaction with the people you used to see regularly. Make the purpose of your phonecall to have a laugh or offload some of your worries. Keep connected to people, even though lofi phonecalls aren’t great. Make the time spent with others count. 

A few simple things are all that’s required to stay positive and healthy during this time. Remember, as DJs, people look to us to bring the good vibes. And the good vibes are certainly in demand right now. Keep learning the tools of DJing in our selection of online DJ courses. Now’s your chance to level up! 

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ

Mixcloud Live is here

With the popularity of live streaming DJ sets on the rise, Mixcloud has launched a brave new solution to the problem of playing copyrighted material. Mixcloud Live is now in beta, having released earlier than anticipated. Start adapting to what it means to be a professional DJ. Let’s check out a few features of the problem-solving platform.

What’s the problem being solved?

The problem is being flagged for copyright infringement every time you want to play your favorite golden oldie in a live stream! Facebook and Twitch clearly have to defend themselves by issuing these notices (and interrupting your feed). But there has to be a smarter solution. At the very top of Mixcloud Live’s FAQ is the statement that “Mixcloud Live is the only legal and licensed streaming platform for creators to upload and live stream their shows.” 

What’s the catch? 

You need to be a premium member, which currently costs $15/mo, with the option for a free 90-day trial. We’re in one of those time-will-tell situations, but the general buzz seems to be that the problem of the Covid-19 income drought is already being addressed by Mixcloud Live. If you’re serious enough about your DJing to afford risking $15/mo, it’s certainly worth a shot. 

How does it work?

Mixcloud Select is the payment model allowing DJs to earn from their streams. It’s been praised for embracing a subscription model instead of merely facilitating tipping and donations. The model empowers creators to think of themselves more as service providers meeting a social need than lucky recipients of generosity. 

We all need to have fun. We all need social connection through live events. Mixcloud is leading the way here, offering something which feels like more than just content. The chance to empower practicing DJs who work hard to bring you the best new music around. That’s worth a few bucks. You know what else is? Learning more about how to DJ the best new music yourself. So get over to the DJ courses page and check out the available coursework from the team of seasoned professional DJs. 

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ

Stay calm and keep DJing

Stuck at home? Join the club. But even though the party’s on hold, there are still good reasons to keep working on your DJ set. For starters, when lockdown regulations are finally lifted, there might be a boom in demand for parties and professional DJs. You want to be ready. Let’s visit a few more positive ways of looking at this weird time

Normal is overrated

Accept it. Life probably isn’t going back to normal any time soon. You’re not likely to be playing to a crowded room any time soon. So what’s the gameplan? There must be other skills that you’re able to work on in the meantime. Have you explored the avenues of live controllerism, crab scratching, production? There are so many things related to DJing that are now at your disposal. You know when your mind starts to wander and you fantasize about the next big thing? Now’s the time to lay the tracks and get on that train. 

Get productive

How about getting into some new habits? Here’s an idea for those who have more time now than ever: break your day into chunks of 2 hours each. Make a spreadsheet with a few 2-hour tasks every day. Make it easy while you start the habit. Then, start feeling the sweet satisfaction of ticking off the list as you go. Finish a track. Compile a lockdown mix. Set up an online store. Research trends in live streaming. It doesn’t all have to be bleak. In DJing, as in life, you choose your own path. 

Stay positive

Might be tougher than it sounds, but now’s a good time to flush out negative interactions with people who don’t support you and start thinking about your future as a creator. Don’t despair. There are enough people online who want to hear what you have to say. Believe in that, and begin the process of finding them. How? Not by shouting louder and Facebook ads. By showing up consistently with something very specific for people who want to hear from you. 

Join the others who see the value of upskilling themselves during this time. Learn more in a structured environment. Sign up for the Advanced DJ Techniques course DJ Courses Online today. 

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ.

Taking your DJ set online

There are probably more people now than ever searching the web for something new. This gives DJs the opportunity to pick up some new fans by live streaming their DJ sets. Ready to go live? Following on last week’s post, check out a few tips on how to do it right using Open Broadcaster Software.  

The connection

A good connection, great audio and an interesting look. With these three things in place, your DJ set stands apart from the rest. If possible, use cables instead of wifi. Reduce network traffic by disabling wifi on your mobile devices. Get your little brother to stop streaming videos for a while. Kill any background programs that might be eating broadband and CPU while you stream. 

The audio

Good audio is really important, seeing as most people will have you on in the background. So raise your standards a little and make sure your outgoing live stream feed isn’t clipping, dropping out or being broadcast in mono. Don’t use your computer’s built-in audio card to pick up the room sound. They generally fail at bass and sound, well, roomy. Use an external soundcard or a handheld recorder like a Zoom H4N or Tascam. However you solve it, make sure the audio is a direct feed and never passing through air at any stage.

The picture

Pick an angle which shows your face. It’s cooler to be dark and hidden but more people will connect if they can see what you look like. Using your laptop screen is an option, but you’ll probably want a second device placed further away to capture the booth area. You can use an external webcam or your phone as a second camera with the OBS Camera app. 

Seriously, though, get your live stream set together. A lot of people are bored right now, and besides that, there’s room to grow even when you’re stuck at home. Upskill your party curation with the Advanced DJ Techniques course DJ Courses Online today.

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ.

Live streaming your DJ set

A whole bunch of DJs around the world are currently restricted to their homes. Not the ideal environment for people who like being around other people, preferably on a busy floor. Maybe you’re just having fun, or maybe you’re ready to get DJing professionally. Either way, let’s make the best of it with this guide to live streaming your DJ sets from home. 

Get the streaming software

First, you’re gonna want to download and install OBS. Open Broadcaster Software is a free program that allows you to assign and transmit audio and video feeds to live broadcasting platforms like Twitch, Facebook Live and YouTube. Install, set it up (here’s how) and enter your stream key to begin streaming to your preferred platform. It’s pretty easy to get set up. 

Pro tips for live streaming

Often you’re unable to monitor the live feed of your set yourself while doing it. Maybe you’ve only got one device, or the bandwidth is poor. Have a DJ or audio buddy watching your stream from their place to comment on the audio and video quality so you can tweak it should anything go wrong. Typical problems include clipping, audio dropouts and unintentionally broadcasting in mono. 

Copyright

Yeah, about that. You might get cut off for playing previously released music when you use Facebook Live and YouTube. Facebook and Instagram allow you to hit larger numbers than platforms like Twitch, but you might not want to restart the stream every time the AI comes along to shut you down. It seems that standard practice among DJs right now is to use Facebook to begin the set, alerting people to the unrestricted party on Twitch. Another option is Zoom, which was recently used to 

Streaming your DJ set live is a great way to kill some time and share your selection with a new audience. Due to the recent changes, people are behaving differently online. It’s a good opportunity to get your name and your work out there. Sign up for the DJing Basics course with DJ Courses Online today and use this time to take the next step in your DJ career. 

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ.

Using the mic at your DJ gigs

Whoa! Nobody said anything about public speaking when you signed up to be a DJ, right? Well here’s a little tip for you: a DJ that connects with a crowd is way more likeable than an elusive shadow in the corner booth. When it comes time to stepping up your game in the world of career DJing, use the mic to address people and keep the vibe alive. Here’s how to ace it. 

Learn a few phrases

You don’t have to make it all up on the spot. Just learn a few key phrases that people want to hear and use them often. Here’s some stuff that works every time: 

• How are y’all doing tonight?

• Everybody make some noise!

• Get your hands up!

These easy phrases are expected by crowds all over the world. It’s part of the gig. Get comfortable with them, and then start expanding your repertoire of crowd-pleasing lines!

Know your audience

There’s a pretty big chasm between a banging house party and a formal corporate event. Know your audience. Corporates don’t want to be interrupted while they’re having a conversation, so don’t tell them to get on the dance floor until they’re ready. House party guests don’t care about how badly you’re behaving, so feel free to use colorful language and joke around. Being a professional is about matching people’s expectations. Use the appropriate language.

Practice

Talking to crowds can be terrifying. You gotta practice! At every event, you should be talking to your crowd, even if it’s just to announce your name or make a small connection. Make sure you grab that mic at least once at every gig you do. 

Being able to speak is part of the job of DJing. Just remember to keep your sentences short. And don’t be surprised or offended if the host asks you to cut the music and make an announcement to the guests. Overcome your fears and get better at DJing by signing up for a course with DJ Courses Online today. 

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ.

Elevating your online DJ profile

How do the same DJs seem to keep getting gigs? Ask around and you’ll find it’s most often a case of recommendation through trusted friends. Relatively few people are Googling ‘book club DJ’ because chances are strong they already know someone personally. So in order to make the move towards a professional DJing career, it’s super important that you have an online presence that shows people what you’re up to. If they get a recommendation to check you out, impress them. Here’s how. 

Release regularly

If you haven’t posted anything in 6 months, you’re not active. Even if you’re really pretty busy in real life, it will appear as though you’re sleeping through the season. Pin your best clips at the top of your feed. Make sure the next thing below that is no more than a month old. Keep your feeds alive with content.

Get a website

You know what bedroom DJs and amateurs don’t do? Invest $10/month in their own websites, that’s what. A site doesn’t have to be glam. It doesn’t have to be more than one page. Having your own site is a way of saying yes, I am in fact available for business. It distinguishes you from those who are content to make a lot of noise on social media alone. Link all your social media channels to your site. Have a large, quality image of yourself. People most often book you based on how you look.

Email people

Emails are the secret weapon of entrepreneurs. A list of people who want to hear from you should be at the heart of your communication strategy. Emails are far more effective than social media at driving people into action. Anticipated, regular emails are how you maintain a presence in the minds (and hearts) of your audience. 

You’ve heard all this stuff a million times. So get on it! Make a career for yourself as a DJ by acting like the pro you feel you already are. Get there quicker by signing up for a DJ course by DJ Courses Online today suits you best.

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ.

Different approaches to your DJ mix

It’s not all about using two decks to avoid silence. It’s an artform that takes practice. And you can design your own unique style by DJing with different approaches to each mix you do. Check out a few ways to improve your DJ skills by approaching the mix differently. 

Single out performance features

One way to approach your next DJ mix is to decide that for a certain track, you’ll be using only a certain effect to its full potential without layering in different effects. There are so many ways to spice up a track - reverbs, delays, slicers, hotcue triggering, filters - that it becomes tempting to flick around from one to another. Don’t! Make it a practice to say, ‘OK on track B I’m only using the beatmasher’ this time. Limit yourself. Limitation forces you to be creative. Then, for the next track, only use the next feature.

Experiment, practice, hone

There’s more to DJing than mixing track A into B. You might get your kicks just nodding along to a basic A-B mix, but at some point you’ll want to improve your looping and sampling. Remix decks are a good way to get away from the beginner stuff. They’re designed to allow playback of stems rather than mixdowns, and really crack open some amazing possibilities. The best way to get good? Spend a few minutes a day repeating what you did yesterday and taking it one step further.

Cross-mixing genres

You know what happens when you switch genres mid-set? You take a risk. The crowd might hate it and leave the floor. But you know what else happens? People notice you. And if it’s an artfully done and well-rehearsed move, most people will assume you have some taste. It’s almost always an energy shift which you can use to your advantage. Flip the switch by going half time (playing an 80bpm tune over a 160bpm tune) or double time. Make sure you’ve practiced your major cross-genre mix moments beforehand. Software can be unpredictable when you break the format.

Controlling the energy is what it’s about. You’re a vibe creator. Challenge yourself to create unusual flow in your set and go beyond the temptation to simply be normal. Eventually, you’ll want to make a name for yourself, which means taking a chance. On yourself. Get more into DJing with one of the three Advanced DJ Techniques courses offered by DJ Courses Online today.

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ

Planning a DJ routine

Time to get your set together! Right, where to begin. Well, uh… wait a minute, how does that track go again? Where did this batch come from? That’s right. The very first thing is knowing your music backwards. Like, loving it to death even though you’ve heard it 100 times. Listen to your favorites every day. Then you’re ready to start putting together a proper mix routine and implementing some of your DJ tips and tricks.

Mix the isolated parts

Listen out for parts that are isolated. Examples might be a vocal acapella, a drum break or a melody line that stands alone in the mix when the beat and bass have dropped out. These are usually good transition points. Mix the isolated part of one track with the bass and beat from another. Hey presto! You’ve got a unique mix that nobody else has thought of!

Highs, mids, lows

Frequency bands are how DJs think about a track and its mix potential. A good mix will aim to cover all three ranges by using the highs of one track with the mids and lows of another, for example. Play just the mids from one track with the highs and lows of another. This is all basic stuff, but learning to DJ comes easier when principles are clear. Create a new fusion out of two previously separate parts by interleaving the three frequency bands of two separate tracks like a sandwich.

Mixing in key

Without getting too much into music theory, mixing in key is a great way to control the flow of your set and the energy of the crowd. In the same way that you’re able to beatmatch, you’re able to keymatch. Keymatching is simply choosing songs to blend into each other that share a similar position in the musical spectrum of keys. The key of C major, for example, works well with A minor or even F major and G major. This is because they’re related. Check out some more on the circle of fifths for theory about which keys to use. 

You have to know your music. Spend the time listening to the music. Headphones in while walking to work. On the bus. While working. This habit really goes to the heart of DJing, and your love for music will carry you through when you’re tired of hearing the same track again and again. But do it anyway. Upskill your party curation with the Advanced DJ Techniques course DJ Courses Online today.

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ.

Switching from controllers to CDJs

Making the leap from using a controller to using CDJs can be a little intimidating. You don’t know the booth gear as well as your own controller. Your custom functions (like keyboard shortcuts) are no longer available. There’s a learning curve to DJing on new equipment. Let’s check out a few things all DJs should know before making the jump.

Hot cues

Even if you find hot cue buttons on most models of CDJ, they’ll be in a different position. There are generally fewer than 8 and don’t have more than one function. Their playback behaviour is also generally toggle, meaning that they’ll latch on and start playback of a track rather than toggle playback momentarily, like a drum pad. Hot cues aren’t as widely used on CDJs as on controller devices and seem to be more of an afterthought than a primary function. 

Browser behavior

CDJs don’t have a keyboard. You can’t search by track name. This means that you have to be more organized! No use having 30 million songs if it takes you a year to find each one with the browser knob, even with the hold-down speed scrolling function. By the time you reach CDJ fluency, you’ll want a few solid playlists and very little switching out of old and new material between gigs. Build a good library that reflects your taste, and then tweak it. 

Jog wheel behavior

CDJs are generally considered more of an artform than controllers. Even though most controllers have jog wheels (but many dont), DJs mostly agree that CDJs are a little more tactile and don’t raise many latency issues. It’s generally easier to scrub through the track and find the downbeat. There’s sometimes a HARD/SOFT knob which allows you to control the stiffness of the wheel. 

Unless you’re a master DJ, fewer functions generally means more fun. With CDJs, there’s less to go wrong, and you spend more time feeling the music and the touch of the gear than you do hunting solutions with your brain and keyboard. It’s a recommended step for anyone learning to DJ to get to grips with a pair of decks at some point. Sign up for the DJing Basics course with DJ Courses Online today to take the next step in your DJ career. 

John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ.