It’s all about attitude; love the software and it’ll love you back! In this first video, we’ll break down some of the myths about DJing as well as the tools and resources you already have at your disposal to get you super-skilled at mixing, from the information on-screen to trusting the sensations in your body.

Everything you need to know about kit and equipment to kick off your career as a DJ. From microphones to speakers, software and cables, we look at what to get and when, as well as how to get it all working together.

 Set up your software with confidence and plug-in your kit so the sound comes out of your speakers and your headphones. We take our first dive into the ‘Preferences’ section – the software’s command centre – to establish the settings you need to support you on your DJ journey.

 To learn how to mix, it’s important to understand the building blocks of music. In this video, we take a look at 4/4 beats, 3/4 beats, bars and how to count them. Listening to music in a more conscious way will help you to intuitively feel into when to bring a tune in and when to take one out.

Now that we understand beats and bars, let’s talk about phrases, because knowing how music is structured will help your mixes sound slick! We’ll do our first transitions, dropping ‘on the 1’ and we’ll utilise silence as an effective tool in the mix. There’s also an introduction to BPMs and Keys.  

In this video, we take a journey through some of the different genres of music we can mix with – from Ambient to House, Classical and Drum n Bass. We’ll be looking at when to use tracks with lyrics and how to use genres to inspire diverse movement. We’ll also start tuning into the varying emotions music can induce.

There’s a goldmine of good tracks to choose from but the search to find them can feel a little overwhelming, especially at first. In this video, we’ll look at the best platforms to broaden your range of music, how to support artists by buying tracks and we’ll go down the rabbit hole – the process DJs take to find their freshest tunes.

An organised system is the basis for a smooth and successful set, making it much easier to find the right tracks at the right moments, live in the mix. I’ll show you how I organise my music into folders and sub-folders, which you can use and amend to create your own personalised system. We’ll also look at the different file types of music and we’ll learn how to structure playlists.

As we enter part two of your journey from DJ Mystery to Mastery, let’s get into the nitty gritty of DJ software. In this video, we’ll learn how to link the filing system you’ve just created and how to analyse tracks so that you have all the information you need to mix with. We’ll also look at playlists in Traktor and how best to back up your work so nothing will crash and burn.  

In this video, we take a detailed look at the ‘Browser’ section in Traktor so you’ll have all the relevant data you need on display. I’ll share a useful way to rate the energies of your tracks and we’ll discover how to use the comments section to your advantage. We’ll also go into pre-listening, so you can hear tracks in your headphones before the audience does.

Here we learn how to arrange your tracks by information, such as BPM, key or energy rating – all super useful for when you’re live in the mix. Find out how to search for specific tracks, increase the font size and display the various options that will be most useful to you.

In this video, we go into a thorough explanation of the various buttons in the ‘Graphic User Interface’. We’ll be learning how to ‘toggle’ between different views in the software, as well as activate ‘Cruise Mode’, which will automatically play your playlist with a mix between each track. And, I’ll be showing you how to record your mixes and where they save on your computer.

Now let’s break down the mixer in Traktor and look at the different ways to view your decks, deck flavours, 2 and 4 deck options, grid and minute markers, the stripe view, how to choose the colour of your waveforms, the tempo fader and the phase meter - all of which will make sense after this video!

In this video, I’ll be showing you how to set the layout of the mixer so it works best for you. We’ll learn more about the ‘crossfader’ and how to ‘pre-cue’ tracks. Get the most out of your sets level-wise by activating ‘Autogain’. Understand what the limiter does and arrange the information you want on display in the deck header. This might sound like gobbledigook right now, but after this video you’ll be well on your way to DJ mastery!

 Now that we’ve laid strong foundations and gotten through the mystery of set up, technology and preparation, it’s time to get into the creative aspects of DJing. First up, we’ll learn how to use ‘Sync’ to match the beats of two tracks, then we’ll add the volume faders to smooth out the mix. Building on your knowledge of beats, bars and phrases, we’ll also find the best place to bring tracks in and take them out.

Once you know the rules about syncing tracks, you’ll know how to break them! In this video, I’ll be teaching you how to mix tracks with widely different BPMs using the tempo faders. We’ll also look at the magic key lock button and learn how to transition between tracks with a big jump in BPMs without matching the beats.

In this video, find out how to reset the beat grid manually so it’s accurate, as well as double or half the BPMs of a track without changing its sound. Learn about the different sync settings – tempo and beat sync, and discover what Quantise does.

Now it's time to learn everything you need to know about cue points – the markers you can add to tracks to remind you what to do and when; from setting and saving to mapping and deleting. We’ll also look at the different types of cue points and activate ‘Snap’ to get your cue points bang on beat.

In this video, we bring cue points into the mix – using both cue and load points in one transition, setting a cue point to jump to a different part of the track and repeating a vocal sample to mix with. We’ll also make use of the advanced functions in the ‘Grid’ panel and we’ll go off-rule, trusting how the mix feels in the body.

We break down all there is to know about loops, including when and why we use them, how to set, save, move, extend and reduce loops, what to do if you want your loop longer than 32 beats and how to activate loops so they play in the mix.

Here we’ll learn how to use a loop at the end of a track to smooth out the transition so it doesn’t jar. We’ll also loop the track coming in and the track going out in order to pull off a big tempo change and we’ll use loops as a way of switching genres. Plus, we get creative with our loops to add a bit of flair in the mix.

It's time to learn about major and minor keys and how they inspire different emotions and movements from your audience. Get familiar with the ‘Camelot Wheel’ and how Traktor categorizes keys, so that even without any musical training you’ll be able to mix keys with masterful confidence.

In this video, I’ll be helping you to understand the rules of harmonic mixing, so we can explore ways to break them! I’ll be showing you how to use keys to give the dance floor a burst of energy, or drop it down. We’ll revisit the key lock button and you’ll discover how keys can help you to form the peaks and troughs of your sets.  

In this final section of music theory, we’ll break down frequencies, Hertz and EQ. I’ll show you how to manipulate the EQ to change the sound of a track and we’ll look at how the filter button works. This video also includes a bonus tip for playing out.

In this video, we’ll learn how to use the filter to cut out the high and low frequencies to bring tracks in, take them out and add a bit of dramatic tension in the mix. We’ll also switch the bass from the track that’s playing to the track we’re mixing in, both quickly and gradually, in a technique often used by professional DJs.

It’s time to take a dive deep into the effects as we learn what they are and how to use them, from single to group effects, the types of effects and how to adjust their strength, the difference between insert and post-fader effects, plus how to use the filter button to add effects to your tracks. 

Next up, we’re learning how to apply effects at the end of tracks to smooth out transitions and switch easily between genres, tempos, keys, moods and energies. We’ll make use of the independent parameters of effects and employ effects to reinforce a message in the mix. 

In this video, I’ll be teaching you how to use acapellas and sounds from nature to add interest to your sets and bridge transitions that would otherwise be too challenging to pull off. We’ll also get creative with acapellas, dropping them throughout a track.

We introduce 3 and 4 decks to add colour to your sets by layering sounds from nature under tracks and using drums to add extra energy in the mix. Plus you’ll learn how to configure live instruments as well as your own microphone into your set up.

Congratulations, you’ve made it to the final part of your journey to DJ Mastery! I’ll be showing you where to turn if you’re ever stuck with something; from searching online to connecting with your contemporaries. We’ll also take a look at a couple of software programmes – Platinum Notes & Mixed In Key, which can support you in your DJ journey.

As you’re well on your way to DJ Mastery, we break down everything you need to know about taking your skills out and about – from PA systems, to sound checking and storing cables. We’ll also look at what to do if things go wrong. And we remember why we are doing this work in the first place.