DJ NOTES
ACADEMY

Six lessons on the core techniques. Free for everyone.

• 1BeatmatchingTwo tracks, one tempo: the skill every other technique is built on.6 min
• 2Phrasing and the DropA perfect beatmatch can still sound wrong. Here's why.6 min
• 3EQ and the Bass SwapTwo kick drums at once sound like mud. The EQ is the fix.6 min
• 4Harmonic MixingSame tempo, still clashing? Then the keys don't fit.6 min
• 5Reading the RoomYou can mix perfectly and still lose a room.6 min
• 6Building a SetA set is a story with a beginning, a middle and an end.7 min

How dance music is built, how to read a track and what your gear actually does.

• What a DJ Really DoesMixing is only one third of the job. The other two decide whether a night works.6 min
• Bars, Beats and TempoCount along with any dance track and you will always know what comes next.6 min
• Waveforms and BeatgridsYour screen can show you a track's structure, but only if its grid is right.7 min
• Gain and HeadroomLoud is not the goal. Clean and consistent is.6 min
• Audio Formats and QualityA big sound system shows every weakness of a bad file.6 min
• Choosing Your SetupThe best setup is the one you will actually practise on.7 min
• DJ Software OverviewEvery DJ program does the same five jobs. Know them and you can use any of them.6 min

Cues, loops, filters, effects and every kind of transition, including the rescue moves.

• Cue Points and Hot CuesSave the important moments of a track once, and jump to them whenever you need.6 min
• Loops and Loop RollsA loop buys you time. A loop roll builds tension. Both work best when used with care.6 min
• Tempo Range and Key LockYou can bend a tempo, but every bend has a price. Learn where it starts to show.7 min
• Beatmatching by EarSync can fail. Your ears won't, once you have trained them.7 min
• Fixing a Drifting MixEvery DJ's mix drifts sometimes. What matters is how fast you fix it.6 min
• Long Blend vs. Quick CutHow long two tracks overlap changes how the whole room feels.6 min
• Filters and SweepsOne knob can build tension and release it on the drop.6 min
• Effects in TransitionsEffects are seasoning. A little lifts the mix, too much hides it.6 min
• Echo-Out and Emergency ExitsWhen a transition can't work, a clean exit beats a messy fix.6 min
• Mixing Different TemposGoing from 100 to 128 BPM is not a problem if you know the routes.7 min

Genres, song structure, energy, digging and a library you can find things in.

• The Genre MapKnow where each genre lives, and you'll know what mixes with what.7 min
• Song StructureKnow the map of a track and you always know where to mix.7 min
• Energy MixingMatching keys is half the job. Matching energy is the other half.7 min
• Digging for MusicYour library is your voice. Here is a simple system to keep it growing.6 min
• Organising Your LibraryA track you can’t find in five seconds is a track you can’t play.6 min
• Preparing TracksMany smooth mixes are decided at home, long before the gig.7 min
• Remixes, Edits and AcapellasSame song, five versions. Knowing which one to play is half the skill.6 min
• Buying, Streaming and Venue RulesWhere your music comes from decides how safe your set is.7 min

Warm-up, peak and closing sets, mistakes, requests, nerves and sharing the booth.

• Warm-up SetsThe warm-up DJ sets the stage without stealing the spotlight.6 min
• Peak-Time SetsPeak time is not one loud hour. It is tension, release and timing.7 min
• Closing SetsThe last hour decides what people remember when they go home.6 min
• Recovering from MistakesEverybody makes mistakes. Good DJs make them sound like decisions.7 min
• Crowd and Time of NightThe same track can be perfect at midnight and wrong at ten.7 min
• RequestsSomeone holds a phone up to the booth. Here is how to answer without losing the room.6 min
• Stage PresenceA DJ set is heard and watched. Here is how to give the room someone to connect with.6 min
• B2B and Sharing the BoothTwo DJs, one set. It only works if both of you serve the same crowd.6 min
• Nerves and MindsetNerves before a set are normal. Here is how to give them a job.6 min

Acapellas, samples, effects, scratching basics and a toolbox of transitions.

• Acapellas and MashupsA familiar voice over a different beat. Here is how to make it work live.7 min
• Samples and FX SoundsAirhorns, risers and impacts can lift a moment or ruin it. The difference is dosage.6 min
• Creative Effect ChainsEffects are not only for transitions. Used well, they are an instrument.7 min
• Scratching and ControllerismUse your hands as an instrument. Here is a first step into scratching and pad play.7 min
• The Transition ToolboxThe same two tracks can be joined ten different ways. Here is your toolbox.8 min

Booth setup, sound systems, the pre-gig routine and reviewing your own sets.

• Booth Setup and MonitoringIf you can't hear your mix properly, you can't judge it. Set up your booth first.7 min
• Sound Systems and LimitersThe club’s speakers have a ceiling. Knowing where it is keeps your set clean and the system safe.6 min
• Pre-Gig Checklist and USBMost gig disasters are not about skill. They are about something you forgot at home.6 min
• Recording and Reviewing Your SetsYou cannot hear everything while you play. A recording tells you the truth the next day.6 min

Your identity, promo mixes, getting booked, social media, fees and staying healthy.

• Your DJ IdentityPeople book and follow DJs they can describe in one sentence. Can they describe you?6 min
• Promo MixesYour promo mix is your business card. Most people decide in the first few minutes.7 min
• Getting BookedA short, specific message beats a long, generic one. Here is how to write it.7 min
• Social Media for DJsYou do not need to go viral. You need people to remember your name and your sound.6 min
• Fees, Contracts and RidersMost conflicts around a gig come from things nobody said out loud. Ask early.7 min
• From DJ to ProducerYou already know how dance music is built. Producing is building it yourself.7 min
• Staying HealthyYour ears, your sleep and your energy are your equipment. Look after them first.6 min