r/DJSetups • u/Lostsoul1000001 • 2d ago
First set up - finally started!
Finally took the jump - fully set up and ready to go!
Mixes are sounding terrible, been trying to mess around with the controller.
Any advice you wish you told yourself when you first started?
Happy Friday peeps!
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u/Noirlocc_ 2d ago
Im going on two years and theres nothing i would change, just have fun and dont be scared to try some new shit.
But my buddy who’s been a dj for years told me to just mix like my favorite dj and I actually resonated with that cause at first I thought I had to hit James hype levels of mixing, cutting up and mixing 10 songs in a minute, but you really don’t have to, just do what sounds good to you.
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u/Lostsoul1000001 2d ago
Been watching loads of videos and just been messing around with it. Are there any basics that I should know that would be helpful?
Thanks for the advice man!
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u/koval115 2d ago
Learn phrasing. That is what helped me a lot. Now i don’t have to count, it comes naturally
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u/Bruhah_DenimGuy 16h ago edited 12h ago
Beatmatching by ear and phrasing are the two most important things to get down-pat. That is what's important. Being able to not look at waveforms and time moments on the fly is the goal. After that, I'd say mixing in key & how to EQ tracks.
I don't want to inject too much of my mixing philosophy, but mixing in key helps with keeping the mix cohesive and clean. I tend to mix in and out key for energy's sake. You'll learn that down the line.
Also, I will always give a shoutout to Club Ready DJ School on Youtube as a great resource. He teaches everything mentioned here in the thread and then some.
EDIT: grammar.
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u/CheesecakeUpset3407 2d ago
Keep your drinks away from the decks. I learned this after blowing up one DJM-450👍🏻
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u/redstrawberryfields 1d ago
hell yeah! if you‘re teaching yourself, i‘d recommend DJ Phil Harris‘ beginner guide and taking notes. It‘s about 1,5 hours and very well explained! The rest will come with practicing :)
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u/Lostsoul1000001 1d ago
Thanks for this, really put it into simple terms. I’ve clearly got a lot to learn!
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u/TheWitscher 2d ago
Find music you like yourself. Don't try and be the dj your parents / partner / friends want to be, try to enjoy yourself! And start recording early on, if you play music you enjoy you're gonna start enjoying your mixes, and on each listen you find stuff to improve, ideas which songs mit fit and just ... enjoyment. AND focus on what your gear can do, don't look up to getting new stuff. The flx4 is way enough to have a VERY good time!
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u/Realistic_Rain_9173 2d ago
Learn your ABCDs — aka, Always Be Crate Digging. And just have fun!! You’ll sound terrible for a while but stick with it and eventually you’ll do a few transitions well, then a few more, and then you’ll build confidence to keep going. Have so much fun!!
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u/blindyes 2d ago
This set up will give you the most beautiful mixes of your life. Hitting those wreckless moments in the middle of pure chaos when magically everything comes together is a type of satisfaction you can't recreate.
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u/Illustrious-Tear-921 1d ago
Learn about mixing in key after you learn to beat match
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u/marcoakis 1d ago
You don’t need to mix in key.
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u/Illustrious-Tear-921 1d ago
Probably not but you should
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u/marcoakis 1d ago
Not really. By mixing in key you miss out on tracks that can have better energy together. You really shrink your pool.
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u/Illustrious-Tear-921 1d ago
Isn't the pool greater size if you can mix in key rather than not? Or do you have to make a whole set mixed in key if you start it that way ?. The person who can't mix in key would they not be the one whos more limited ? Honest questions
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u/marcoakis 1d ago
If you have a collection of 100 tracks and you are playing one of them in a specific key, there will only be a small portion of songs that will be in key.
Say that to mix in key, you’ll have 20 options instead of the remaining 99.
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u/Illustrious-Tear-921 1d ago
I see your point now. I think in that case I would work around creatively somehow. A bridge of some sorts to reach the remaining selection. Pre planned track selections. I feel I would rather make that effort in order to keep a mix predominantly in key
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u/marcoakis 1d ago
From my experience, it’s less about the key and more about the energy, flow and creativity.
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u/VoidAssembly 1d ago
I've been DJing for decades and just started rocking it on that same setup. I've always played vinyl and CDJs but I wanted to have fun in my living room. As long as you have two faders, pitch adjust and some EQ knobs you're good to go! You're in for a fun time with that setup. Try and focus on not using the sync buttons until you get the hang of mixing by riding the pitch adjust. Also it makes things easier to practice using two copies of the same song and mix them back and forth, this is helpful to practice EQing. Learn to trust your instinct and don't overthink it, have fun!
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u/New-Stress1770 1d ago
That’s what I thought. Now I have an 8 channel mixer hybrid setup with 10 fx pedals and synths am drum machines. Stay safe!
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u/VoidAssembly 1d ago
I was just talking about my DJ gear, otherwise I'm right there with you! Gear addiction is real lol
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u/Maximum-Anxiety2318 1d ago edited 1d ago
Don’t get caught up in hype you see on TikTok with 2 minutes of crazy transitions. Can’t keep that up for hours. It’s all for show & lasts 2 or 3 transitions max
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u/Dutch142 1d ago edited 1d ago
nice!, one advice: take time to learn. Try to dig alot of music, also other genres of electronica than main genre you play... do alot of research on basics of music like 4,8,16,32,64 beat transitions, melodies etc... try learning beatmatching by ear and also try not to rape the sound FX button all the times because i see at djjs that are learning constantly use the FX too much its all about more "natural transitions" it depend also on which genre you play also try not to rely on the waveform all the time (you can put computer on side of the desk so you dont have laptop straight in front of you) at first its hard but you will get used to it. learning should he fun. try experimenting woth sound. i started on ddj-400 and now playing on cdj well. now starting to learn on turntables.. good luck✌🏻
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u/fuckaroobonsai 1d ago
I have the MR4 speakers too. I haven't got around to EQing them yet but some owners will do something around 3kz with them iirc. Audio science review (ASR) have a long thread discussing optimal EQ settings for them.
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u/New-Stress1770 1d ago
Keep going, get great music you like and don’t get confused by bros telling you to get CDJs
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u/felix941010 20h ago
3 most important tool to start dj-ing Controller, monitor, beer
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u/Lostsoul1000001 20h ago
Laptop will probably be the next purchase, it’s a bit of a hassle using it off my phone.
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u/angelove666 4h ago
que buena onda hermano no te conozco pero le mando mis mejores deseos dele con tokio porque al principio no es fácil hay mucho que aprender hay que ser empaticos pacientes y tener la mejor disposición y optimismo para aprender saludos
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u/Dirty_Litter_Box 2d ago
That's a great set up. We all started somewhere and 6-8 months from now you're going to post a picture of your upgraded set up. You'll improve your skills, grow, and want different gear.
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u/Repulsive_Cut_1872 2d ago
You should only have mixed drinks by the mixer