On The Decks 17
Pioneer DJ XDJ-RX2: Hands-on Review
I’ve spent the past three months with the Pioneer XDJ-RX2 and I’ve really grown a liking to the unit. So far, I have performed with it on five Twitch streams, recorded multiple sets, and practiced with it for hours. I have come to understand its strengths, its features that I love, and its quirks. The […]
Stream Your DJ Sets to the World
Like everyone else, I have been going a bit stir crazy at home, and I always enjoy a fun project. I wanted to find the best way to stream my DJ sets using various setups, and needed a solution to use outside my home studio space. So I improvised and I found a setup that […]
Using Pitch Riding to Improve Your Mixing
In our era of master tempo and the “sync” button, mixing can become very stagnant and boring. These features easily become crutches and they aren’t always correct. You may find yourself in a situation where you need to know how to manually beat-match and, most importantly, mix songs unassisted. So while computers and CDJs/media players […]
Improve Your Mix With a Well-Placed Backspin
The backspin, sometimes known as a spinback, can be used as a perfect transition into a new song or a fun trick to add to your DJ repertoire. I am going to break down how to use this technique on a CDJ/controller and how to use it on a turntable. The basic technique involves taking […]
Organizing Physical Music Libraries for DJs
In my previous post I talked about organizing music digitally and preparing for a gig. In this post, I’ll give some insight into preparing and organizing my records and physical media in preparation for a gig. Whether you’re playing with physical media for the feel, nostalgia, or even just for novelty, organization is key. With […]
Organizing Digital Music Libraries for DJs
In the age of digital DJing, organizing a music library has never been easier. Not only can you fit a whole crate of records on a flash drive, the ability to create a playlist and organize songs into folders is much more intuitive than labeling physical media. I am not trying to talk negatively about […]
Three DJ Transitions to Try Between Songs
For DJs, a solid transition between songs is just as important as song selection and set programing. Transitions add cohesion to a set that you can’t achieve by just letting songs fade into each other. They can add a finesse to the night and can be used to build tension and excitement on the dance […]
Why DJs Are Choosing Rekordbox
DJs who perform live are constantly making choices. Which song to play next? What feeling do I need to create right now? Is the crowd ready to build energy, or take things down a notch? And unless you’re an all-vinyl purist, one of those choices is which digital DJ platform to use for performing and […]
Programming Songs for Your Mix
When DJing, it’s important to know your gear and the techniques required to mix and create seamless transitions. This knowledge is important in creating a mood or keeping a dance floor moving. Early on in my DJ career, my mentor taught me the concept of programming. Programming is the preparation of your music for the […]
