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(DJ Career) Essential things you need to become a DJ

It requires effort and time to launch your DJ career. It’s simple to get started in the music industry however, standing out and being exceptional is difficult.

Who is a DJ?

The DJ title can be assigned to someone who plays a DJ set, usually at nightclubs or dance parties or a person who mixes recorded music on a CD player or digital audio console at weddings, parties and other events.

DJs can use turntables (or CD players), synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, sequencers and various other sound sources to produce unique beats while recording a music.

DJs typically have to balance the needs of individuals at live events; they must also be able to quickly adjust their volume according to what is happening throughout the event.

There are multiple DJs with different skillsets. Let’s take a look at the requirements to become a DJ.

DJ software you need to start a DJ business.

It’s time to experience what it’s like to be a DJ! To begin, you’ll need to get DJ software. In the DJ business, below are the primary platforms used in the DJ industry:

Serato – DJ software beat maker

Serato is one of the smoothest and most durable DJ software available today. They don’t develop their hardware; instead, they collaborate with other companies to guarantee seamless operation and tight integration with little setup. Serator may be utilized for free if you purchase the certified “Pro gear.” 

Serato’s most significant advantage is that over 90 pieces of hardware completely support it. Serato is the only DJ software program that can boast such a wide range of integrated support, which means you have a lot of possibilities!

Because of its origins in turntablism, Serato is also quite popular and widely supported by scratch DJs. If you want a lot of hardware possibilities or want to use Serato DVS to be a turntablist, Serato is the way to go.

You can start with a membership account for $9.9/month or buy the premium Serato DJ beat maker for $249. A free trial is also available.

Traktor – DJ beat maker software

The “Native Instruments” Traktor provides DJs with excellent performance features. However, getting the most out of this program necessitates owning actual Native Instruments gear. 

Traktor’s Remix Decks and Stem’s capabilities have made it popular in the techno industry. If you’re an electronic DJ/producer looking to combine the two worlds, Traktor is the right option for you.

Traktor Pro 3 is $99 on its own (and works without hardware), but it comes with any official Traktor controller. There is also a free demo available. 

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Other Outstanding DJ Software

Virtual DJ claims to be the most downloaded DJ software globally. The claim could be true because:

  • It supports the most cutting-edge DJ technology.
  • A large community backs it.
  • It’s entirely free to use at home.

Djay Pro, Mixxx, and Mixvibes CrossDJ are some more fantastic options available today in the music industry.

Choosing a DJ platform is, of course, a personal choice. You should be able to locate the program that works for you.

DJ Techniques

When studying how to become a DJ, there are many fundamental abilities: mixing, phrasing, beatmatching, and preparation. You’ll go through them briefly now.

Beatmatching

Consider two automobiles traveling beside each other on the highway:

A tempo is a measure of speed, such as 60 miles per hour. Beatmatching is done by adjusting the song’s pace using the pitch fader on your player. You may use a jog wheel, press a pitch bend button, or touch one of your playing records to modify the phase.

Is it essential to understand beatmatch when there’s a sync option available?

Possibly not. But it’s a fantastic concept in any case! To begin with, it allows you to beat-mix on anything (e.g., turntables). You can always come back to it later, but you believe learning to beatmatch from a young age is a fantastic concept.

Phrasing

It simply implies that you should mix your tracks logically throughout the song. Whether you’re playing electronic dance music, hip-hop, funk, or top 50, almost all of the music you’ll be DJing is in 4/4 time. In technical terms, this implies that each measure (bar) has four beats, with the quarter note receiving one moment. The message is that you should learn to count to four since most “DJ-able” music is in 4/4 time.

Take Command

Auto-gain technology is included in specific DJ software, which reduces the amount of manual adjustment required between songs. Stay out of the red as a general rule. If you want greater volume, you can turn up the amp or speakers.

Recommended: Cost of hiring a DJ in the US.

Getting Some Experience Is Essential to Become A DJ

When you’re thinking about becoming a DJ, there’s no substitute for experience. No matter the route, whether it’s practicing with your friend’s equipment or getting some real-world experience by working as an assistant, there’s no shortcut to success.

Collaborating and following other DJs will allow you to take advantage of their experience. You can also use their content to get inspiration for your own, or even interview experts in your niche to gather knowledge when becoming a DJ.

Becoming a DJ is not as easy as you may think. You need to be dedicated, hardworking, and acquire some knowledge in order to become a successful DJ.

If you genuinely want to become a great DJ, you’ll never stop practicing until you’ve mastered your profession.

Tips for new DJs

There is a common misunderstanding that DJing is about mixing two or more songs together for a smooth transition. In actuality, the art of DJing is much more complicated than that. Besides playing songs that sound good together, a DJ must learn to read the crowd and gauge the appropriate time to make a change.

You must focus on song selection and improve your ability to find music that appeals to your target audience.

Context is essential in becoming a DJ. Depending on your time slot, location, demography, audience size, and other factors, the same music will have vastly varied effects. 

Before starting a DJ career, you must learn to perform in the appropriate venues.

Summary: Starting a DJ career

There are many things they need to know before launching your career as a DJ: they can be broken down into three categories: hardware, software, and music.

The first category is hardware, which includes turntables, mixers, CD players, headphones and speakers.

The second category is software which includes DJing programs like Serato or Traktor.

The last category is the music and sounds DJs use for their sets.

The DJ profession is a booming one. With the advent of new technologies, DJing has never been easier. If you are considering a career in this field, here are some tips on how to get started:

  • Find your niche,
  • Get the equipment,
  • Practice and get feedback,
  • Network and stay visible,
  • Stay committed to your DJ career.

Read more: See the cost of hiring a Dj

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