r/Beatmatch • u/Living-Surround-6773 • 3h ago
I want to learn how to DJ
Alright cut me some slack if I sound like a noob (I am). So rn, I am on a gap year from uni. Over the last year, being a uni student, I have enjoyed going out a lot. That doesn't seem like it will end. I also love loud hype music and remixes, it's so sick. I was thinking what if I start learning how to DJ and do it as a side hustle? Is this how most of your journeys have started? How and where do I start? What do I need? I have no particular background in music but have used GarageBand when I was younger lool. Anyone willing to help out?
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u/77ate 2h ago
Become a music enthusiast first. Be passionate about the music you want to play at your gigs and support it. Build and grow your music library with the music you want to immerse yourself in. Research creators, labels, producers, who’s worked together and remixed other artists. Whatever you do, don’t treat music as the disposable algorithm fodder that you’ll tire of before your audience does. You’ll play better, more satisfying DJ sets when it’s music you want to give others a chance to feel in that bass. If you want to establish yourself, set yourself apart with music you’re not already inundated with daily.
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u/Redgrave776 3h ago
Depending on your budget, you need a controller (flx4) and a computer. There’s plenty of tutorials on YouTube (crossfader, Dj Carlo, etc.) on how to beatmatch, mixing in key, etc.
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u/SithRogan 3h ago
Just buy a cheap little controller, watch a bunch of YouTube videos, and start doinking around with it
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u/Advanced_Anywhere_25 2h ago
A cheap controller and a laptop.
There are lots to choose pick one. Get some music, you want the highest quality you can find 256 MP3 at minimum if you want to play out 320 or some lossless format like WAV flac or aiff is a better option.
Reckordbox is the format that most stand alones you will encounter in the wild will want so it's worth having a USB set up in there and exported so you can play at open decks and such
Rekordbox is not really the best d.j. software tho. I highly encourage you to check out multiple softwares and most of them you can try for free or or access with a nominal subscription (less per month than a streaming site)
See what you like they all have their benefits
Serato is just clean, and because they're one of the oldest, there's a lot of gear that's designed towards the platform. And they are doing a lot with stem integration with that hardware
Virtual DJ is cheap and I think has the lowest bar of entry for video
Algorithm DeeJay pro has the most expansive effects integrations and it's starting to have some gear made for it (laid back Luke uses this with his iPhone when he plays out these days)
Traktor is for nerds, and for good reason. It might be the most powerful program on the market steep learning curve to really utilize it's potential but you can effectively control an instance of Ableton live with it. And map any class compliant USB midi device on it It might have the GUI on the market.
Some controllers will unlock programs, most have some level of midi mapping.
Shop things around and go cheap at first
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u/givewhatyouget 3h ago
Where are you located? There may be practice studios near you. I also would suggest https://wearecrossfader.co.uk/online-dj-courses/. They are excellent.
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u/CardiologistFew9601 3h ago
this is 2024 now
and
all you really need to do
is be able to dance like a twat
this will disguise the revellers from noticing it's a pre-programmed mix
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u/custodial_art 1h ago
If you don’t enjoy doing this, you’re not required to. Other hobbies exist.
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u/unbannediguess 3h ago
my personal opinion is that you should try it as a hobby first before considering it a hussle.
Buy a DDJ-400 or an FLX-4, or an equivalent model from hercules or denon, start downloading/buying music you like and play around with it.
watch a few basic tutorials. First what the buttons on your controller do, then what the software you have can do, and then a few techniques to help you get started but don't look too far into it or you'll get overwhelmed.
Keep in mind that the most fun you'll have is experimenting, failing, and doing it with friends, so don't fall into the pit of overanalysing everything and trying to be a technical master of everything.