Check out what I have gone through in six months since my first post in this blog: http://www.digitaldjtips.com/forum/threads/what-i-learned-6-months-into-djing.4226/ My First Blog post. I am very new into this 'scene' is that the right word to describe it? I just got my Ns6 with Serato Itch and I just love it. I am setting up a learning journal for myself to become better at mixing and creating music and I was hoping you guys could help out. I used to do this as a self development technique. Basically what i do is, I set a goal for each week and focus solely on accomplishing that goal to improve that skill. At the end of the week on a saturday or sunday I will create an hour long mix using what I learned. So I am hoping you guys can help me out with pointing me into the right direction. These goals can be anything from getting my beat matching down, to learning FX, to picking the right music, to creating a completely new sound and whatnot. Also I would like to keep this up as an online journal for feedback but I dont know if this would be the right section. 1st weeks challange/goal is to get famillier with the Ns6. I am studying where all the buttons and dials are and what each one of them does. I was mixing for a few hours last night and was just not used to the controller. I know this is something that comes with time but its definately one of the first things i must work on just so i have an idea where everything is; without looking for it. I used a Vestax Typhoon for a week before I got my Ns6 but that has ALOT less controls. 2nd week is to get famillier with Serato Itch. 3rd week is to focus on smooth beatmatching. -D.J.Manhattan
Be sure to go download the new version of Itch (2.1) from Serato as that will change some of the "shift" functions on the NS6. Before - no hardware control of the SP6 Sample player Now - SHIFT+Hot Cues = Samples
I often do this after spending an hour or two twinkling around.... Did I learn anything new? Am I better at anything? What I have started doing is ALWAYS hitting the "record" button in Itch before I start messing around for an hour and then listen back to it either right after or at a later time.
Hmmm Thanks I will start doing that. I was kinda intimidated to start recording myself but I do have those moments when I hit on something awesome and remeber that im not recording.
Recorded 90 minutes last night cant wait to listen to it. I do want to break it apart into sections though since that would be a bit easier. I have an idea on how to do this but I was wondering if you guys have tips on how to break apart long tracks.
I consider my first week a success. Actually, it was a very eventful week and here is the overview to lauch myself into my second. Oh and this new Dj passion of mine, got me laid, as a bonus. This post it kinda long so here is the short point form version - Practiced every day for about an hour each. - Researched as much as I could. - Met with people who can help me set up a design. - Got laid - Put out my first mix. See it here: and here: http://soundcloud.com/you/tracks After listening to that mix a few times I started hearing alot of mistakes... but that is part of the process right? I hope you guys enjoy and any feedback would be great! Long version Last sat and sunday I was home sick and picked up my NS6 while with a High fever. I almost passed out a couple of times in the store so I am glad that my friend was there to help me carry the controller home. Monday I started to feel better so each day after work (12 hour work days) I would come back home and set up my mixer in my tiny room on my bed (which is tall so works out perfectly) and practise mixing for a couple of hours using only headphones, at around 11:30pm I would eat and then sleep. During the day while at work I spent most of my free time to promote my page, research, set up accounts for social sites, and got in touch with all the people I know who are into digital design to ask for help setting up a business cards for myself. On saturday I met up with a friend who will help me with the design aspect of all of this. He is a long time buddy of mine who is in third year for graphic design. I set up a two week project for him to do. Basically its to find out as much as he can about getting business cards and 2-3" round stickers printed. First week to get some samples in and by the end of the second to have the final design set up and be ordered. I also asked him to set up a few designs for promotional stickers and what not. At the end of it all he'll get some money out of it. He was shy about being paid, but I thought it would only be fair for his time. I came back home to start working on my mix for the sunday upload and ended up inviting this random girl who I met on newyears. She hung out and watched me the first time I played at my friends gig, you can say I was the intro and outro for him that night (Thanks alot buddy!). She watched me set up the music that I wanted in my mix but I didint end up creating it -if.you.know.what.I.mean- In the evening I met up with another friend of mine who introduced me to this lesbian girl who has a passion for graphics so I will meet up with her next weekend and see if we can work something out. Sunday morning I re-listened to all the music I selected from the other day. After about four hours of work, and 4 or 5 versions, I made something that I was willing to post up on sound cloud and youtube. My Dj adventure has begun. Here are my goals for week two. - Practise at least an hour a day. - Get The Dance Music Manual - Get famillier with Serato Itch (I only know the basics of it) - * Finalize my business card design. - Finalize my sticker design. - Find a website provider. - Start picking songs for next mix, coming in two weeks. - Get either Reason or Ableton live. - Start digging for music. I used to have alot until at one point I decided that I am addicted and cut myself off, deleting my entire library of about 40-50 gigs. It's been about a year since then. I am basically starting from scratch. This time around I will focus on getting music legitimately. Any websites that you would recommend would be highly appreciated. I played around with Reason a long time ago so i am somewhat famillier but I hear Ableton live is better what do you guys think?
I hope everyone had an amazing week! Here is a break down of what I did this week. Jan 16th - Jan22nd Mon - Friday - Set up a mix Called Vocal House Mix - Practised alot, although not as much as last week due to time constraints. - I met up with a buddy of mine who runs a great business and is intrested in my work and self development. We sat down and talked about some ways i can set up goals for myself. - I started to wake up an hour earlier (6am) to have an hour in the morning to pick out music that I will mix later that night after work. - I ordered The Dance Music Manual. It should be delivered by 2nd of Feb. Sat (today) - I met up with my graphic designer friend. He showed me my new business cards and stickers for promotion and they look great. We will start printing them at the end of the month. - I upload another mix called Vocal House Mix 2. - I found out that my yonger sister knows people at her uni club. She will put in a good word for me. hopefully by mid Feb I will have a gig or two there. Sunday (tomorow) - I am buying a table for my room to set up my Dj Equipment. - Finalize my business card look and look into costs for printing. - Start working on my Hour Long Mix for the end of the month. My goals for the week are as follows. - Create an hour long mix with various music types and genres. Have at least 25 - 30 songs. - Advertise and gain as many followers as possible. Reach a total of 30 Fans on my facebook page! So help me out and like me! http://www.facebook.com/D.J.Manhattan - Print my business cards by sunday. - Learn and Learn some more. I want to find as much material on how to create music. - Learn all the effects and what they do.
Wow man this is all a great idea, you have inspired me to do the same. Keep up the great work my friend, also I'm not sure if you have started using a music software to produce with, but if not I think you should use Live. I think Live is great for that kind of stuff, but I'd say learn it first before you take the dive.
Although I think your mixes could use some improvement, as your transitions aren't very well and don't sound to good. I also noticed on one of your mixes, that one of the tracks wasn't in sync with the other tracks. I do like your track selection though and some of your transitions aren't that bad, I'm also another DJ who has been at this for five years now and is just starting to get the hang of it. Don't get discouraged though, keep at it and you'll get better. Just remember one thing as another fellow DJ always says "Practice and enjoy".
Thank you for the feedback. I know its definately not anywhere close to being "professional" standard but that comes with time and practice .
I am like 30 minutes late typing this... Lets just say its been a really busy week. I just finished putting up my Set up at home... No more DJing on the bed... Now I have something that looks like a studio. I love it. Check it out on my Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.368495059844046.110551.136944379665783&type=3 As for the week here is the break down. - I ordered, The Dance Music Manual, and it should arrive sometime tomorow and I cant wait! - I am up to 23 likes on my page... two more and I can add a vanity URL - I have not practised as much as I like... since I have been really busy with many other projects. - My business card is finished. I will get them printed next weekend, cant wait they look amazing. - Set up a mini home studio. - Picked out songs for my hour long 40 mix. I havent started it yet again due to time constraints. - I've been on forums night and day... just getting to know people who are as passionate about Djing as I am. - I have been listening, commenting, and studying what others make. These are my goals for the week: - I didint do well with my FX practice so I will be focusing on that for a couple of days. - Finish my hour long top 40 mix. - practice everyday for an hour, call it a POWER HOUR - have 30 likes on my Facebook page. - Start reading The Dance Music Manual once i receive it. thats all for now. I must sleep due to work at 6am.
Another week has passed by: I am ending on a rough patch this week. I wanted to do an hour long top 40 but nothing sounded right and nothing mixed well... I've been at it for four hours now and spent the entire week setting up cue points and organizing music. For now its done... I am just going to sleep on what I learnt. It is a real shame I can't release anything to show for this week (music wise...). I will try again tomorow after work. As for the other goals this week I have done pretty well. - I received the dance music manual. - I set up my mini studio/work area for mixing - I end this week with 38 likes on my facebook page, 8 likes more then what i wanted to get! - My bussiness cards are ready to print. I had a busy weekend so I couldent print them - I didint work with FX to much. The goals for next week are as follows: - Read a chapter of the dance music manual everyday - Practice mixing for an hour each day. - Create 5 mash ups this week. - Play around with FX and Samples. - Finish the hour long top 40 mix. - Design a more main stream logo. Add an animal or a character that people can recognize and describe easily. Thats all for today! I hope you all had a great weekend and have an amazing week.
Your goals are very ambitious. Good for you. I found I was setting similar multi-faceted goals for myself and not truly spending enough time mixing (recording) and listening back to my sessions. I spent a bunch of time on my logo and branding myself (facebook and the like) and this week I am totally dedicated to mixing/recording/listening to myself. But I am going to finish this new Avicii Mashup lol.
