Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Learn How To DJ In These Simple Steps

By Celia Hall


A disc jockey, or a DJ, is a person who plays music that has been previously recorded for an audience. Today, there are said to be more than a million professional DJs in the world. Despite this large number, there are still thousands who want to learn how to DJ.

The first thing to consider when learning how to DJ is the type one wants to be. The Radio DJ plays music that is broadcast on radio stations. Club DJs play music in clubs, bars, discos, raves, and parties. The Hip Hop DJ plays music using turntables to back-up MCs or to do turntable scratching. The Reggae DJ is a vocalist who raps over pre-recorded music. The Mobile DJ is a DJ who travels with a portable sound system to play in various events such as weddings and corporate events.

One must also choose between being a digital DJ or an "old school" DJ. The digital DJ has the advantage of having all his music in one location, while the old school DJ has to bring a number of vinyl records to every gig. The digital DJ also has access to software that provide different effects that the old school DJ is not able to use. Vinyl records, on the other hand, have better sound quality than digital media files.

After deciding on the type of DJ one wants to be, it is time to gather the music. If one chooses to be a digital DJ then he will need to gather digital media files. For those who prefer the old school way, then he will need to gather vinyl records or CDs.

Once the music is ready, the equipment will have to be acquired. Four pieces of equipment are necessary in a basic DJ setup. The speakers and the amplifier are what allow the music to be heard by the audience. The mixer allows the DJ to cue one song after another. The mixer is necessary because part of being a DJ is being able to play songs continuously. Sources of audio such as the record player and the CD player play the vinyl records and the CDs. For the digital DJs, one will only need the laptop or PC as the source of audio.

More advanced DJs use other pieces of equipment to further enhance and manipulate the music. Samplers and drum machines, and the sub harmonic synthesizer, are just a few of the many equipment available. Although these are not necessary, these can be useful additions to the setup.

After all the preparations have been completed, the aspiring DJ will need to learn the different mixing techniques. The only way to master these techniques will be through practice, and one of the best ways to practice is to DJ for an actual crowd. Volunteer or free gigs are usually great starting points for amateur DJs.

People say that being a DJ is a form of art. Thus, there are no set steps when one wants to learn how to DJ. Aside from technique, one must also DJ with his soul.




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