Door DJ School Amsterdam
The list below contains the most important knowledge for DJs. The first part covers equipment, followed by Track, Timing, Mixing, and Image, all according to our Big Four method. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!
GEAR
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TURNTABLE
A turntable is another word for a record player. In DJ terms, the word “turntable” is often used, and it usually refers to a record player designed specifically for DJ purposes. This type has a slightly different drive mechanism and needle than a “regular” home record player. Additionally, a DJ turntable can always adjust speed (continuously).
A turntable can also refer to a DJ media player.
MEDIA PLAYER
In the DJ world, a media player generally refers to a modern digital turntable that plays and adjusts music files. Sometimes, the media player is a standalone device, such as the Pioneer CDJ-3000 player. In that case, you can only DJ if you have two of them and a mixer. In other cases, the media player is an “all-in-one” set, consisting of two players and a mixer, like the popular Pioneer XDJ-RX3.
CONTROLLER
A DJ controller is a control unit used to DJ with music stored on your laptop. You always use a controller in combination with your laptop and DJ software like RekordBox, Serato, or Traktor. DJ controllers come in various shapes and sizes, from cheap to very expensive. One of the most popular controllers for beginners in recent years was the Pioneer DDJ-400, recently replaced by the DDJ-FLX4.
STAND-ALONE
A stand-alone DJ device is a turntable or media player that works directly from a USB stick and doesn’t need to be connected to a laptop to DJ. Unlike cheaper DJ controllers, these devices have a screen that shows you the tracks you’re playing.
HEADSET
A headset is another name for headphones. In DJ terms, people often refer to them as headsets rather than headphones, but they are the same thing. Good headsets for DJing can generally be purchased from around 50 euros. The Sennheiser HD-25 has long been considered one of the best headphones in the DJ world. You can find a brief review of the most popular headsets by our DJ instructor Roeland here.
DJ SET
A DJ set typically refers to two media players and a mixer or an all-in-one set containing all three, such as a Pioneer XDJ-RX3.
Another, very different meaning of a DJ set is the set the DJ plays, meaning the tracks they perform.
DJ GEAR
DJ gear is a general term for the equipment needed to DJ. This includes a DJ set (separate components or an all-in-one set) and your headphones. When booking a DJ, it’s agreed in advance whether the DJ provides their own gear. Typically, this refers to the DJ set, not the sound equipment.
DJ MONITOR
A monitor or monitor speaker is a standard part of the DJ booth and is a speaker aimed directly at the DJ. The volume can be adjusted from the DJ mixer, allowing the DJ to hear the same sound as the dancefloor. This helps the DJ mix tracks without sound delay and with a clear sound image. In small settings, a monitor doesn’t need to be that large. At festivals, monitors are numerous and powerful to overpower the sound of the main speakers in the DJ booth.
TOP SPEAKERS
Top speakers or “tops” are mobile speakers, often on stands. They are usually good enough to power a party on their own, but are typically used in combination with one or more subwoofers for bass.
SUBWOOFER
A subwoofer is a bass speaker that plays little to no high and mid-range sounds. They are always used with (top) speakers that cover the higher frequencies. In small clubs and bars, there are usually one or a few subwoofers, while at festivals, there can be dozens to enhance the bass.
SOUND EQUIPMENT
In the DJ world, sound equipment or “sound” generally refers to two (or more) (top) speakers, one subwoofer (or more), and a monitor.
DJ BOOTH
The DJ booth is typically the table or structure on which the DJ set is placed. “Booth” is the English term for a “cabin” or “stall” and can also refer to the space where the DJ stands. The fixed components of a DJ booth are the DJ set and the monitor(s).
PIONEER
Pioneer has been a market leader in the DJ world for years when it comes to turntable equipment. This started in 2001 when it made the first CD player that could function as a turntable. The CDJ-1000 digitized all the functions of the famous Technics 1200 turntables (which were the standard in clubs at the time) for use with CDs.
The current club standard, the CDJ-3000, still resembles the CDJ-1000, with the main difference being that it no longer accepts CDs but instead uses a USB stick.
Since Pioneer has been the club standard for so long, their cheaper and semi-professional DJ devices are also the most popular in their category.
TECHNICS 1200
When DJs refer to “the Technics,” they mean the Technics turntables of the SL-1200 type. These record players were the club standard in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Becoming a DJ often meant having the same turntables at home for practice, as mixing with records is much more difficult than using modern equipment.
DENON
Denon has been a competitor to Pioneer in the DJ market since the early days of CD turntables. Especially in the early days of CD DJing, Denon’s dual deck was often found in bars and small clubs. While Pioneer has remained the standard in clubs, Denon released the SC5000 in 2018, a media player that is on par with Pioneer’s top models in terms of quality.
NUMARK
Numark, like Pioneer and Denon, produces DJ equipment. Numark is generally cheaper than Pioneer but doesn’t prepare you as well for the club standard, Pioneer. Additionally, Numark does not use RekordBox, the music program from Pioneer, which most DJs use to organize their music.
SERATO
Serato is DJ software used to mix tracks. It is primarily used with cheaper controllers from Pioneer. It is also (especially in the US) a popular program used with an audio interface, two turntables, and two “dummy” records, so it appears you’re mixing with vinyl when in fact you’re controlling MP3s from your computer. Alongside Serato, the program Traktor is also used.
ABLETON
Ableton is one of the most used programs for making dance music. Along with other software like Logic, QBase, and Reason, Ableton has become a household name among producers over the past twenty years. At DJ School Amsterdam, we consider Ableton to be the most user-friendly program for creating dance music and the most accessible for beginners.
THE MIXER
The mixer (or DJ mixer) sits between your turntables and allows the channels from both players to be mixed. It also routes your sound to the speakers, or to an amplifier, which then sends it to the speakers.
The mixer often has 3, 4, or 6 channels to handle sound from various devices, but it always has at least 2. There’s also usually a separate input to connect a microphone.
On your mixer, you can influence the sound of each channel using the channel equalizer. Additionally, there are various effects on each mixer that can be applied to individual channels or the overall (“master”) sound coming from the mixer.
The most common mixer in nightclubs is the Pioneer DJM-900NXS, a four-channel mixer. Another widely used mixer in large clubs is the Allen & Heath Xone 92.
FADER
A fader refers to one of the sliders on the mixer or media player. Most often, it refers to the faders on the mixer. With the fader, you control the volume of the music coming through that channel. The Pitch Fader is on the media player (CDJ) and adjusts the speed of the tracks.
CROSSFADER
The crossfader is typically located below the “normal” vertical faders and is horizontally positioned on the mixer. Depending on the setting, it makes either the left or right player audible through the mixer. The crossfader is primarily used in turntablism and scratching to quickly switch between channels. In other forms of mixing, the crossfader is generally not used.
CUE (BUTTON ON THE MIXER)
The cue buttons above the faders on the mixer are used to select which channel you want to hear in your headphones. You can select multiple channels. Generally, a DJ only listens to the upcoming track in their headphones while the currently playing track is heard on the dancefloor. In some cases, you may choose to have both tracks in your headphones, especially if you don’t have a monitor and need to “beat-sync” through your headphones.
FX
FX is short for “effects,” a term that encompasses all the effects you can apply to the sound passing through the mixer. Effects aren’t essential for DJing, but they can help make the music livelier and sometimes make transitions sound smoother. The most commonly used effects are Reverb, Echo, and Filter.
REVERB
Reverb is one of the most commonly used effects by DJs. It creates a sense of space in the music. By gradually turning the reverb up and quickly closing it, you can add energy to a mix or a moment in a track.
ECHO
Echo is a short repetition of sounds in your tracks. An echo of half or a quarter of a beat can add energy to a track or mix. As a DJ, you generally keep the echo on for just a few seconds and always close it on “the one” of a bar. Echo can also be useful for a drop-mix.
FILTER
A filter removes certain elements from the track being played by the DJ. A filter can remove the “low” (often as a build-up to a climax) or the “high” frequencies, often used to make a track disappear.
THE SPINNING GEAR
CDJ
CDJ stands for Compact Disc Jockey and is the designation for Pioneer’s most important media players. Since 2001, Pioneer has been making these turntables for CDs, but nowadays, they no longer use CDs, although the brand still sticks to the CDJ designation.
XDJ
XDJ is the designation for a series of Pioneer media players, where from the start, music could only be played using USB. The XDJ-RX was revolutionary in the DJ world because it made the features of the more expensive CDJs available at a much lower price.
CDJ-2000NXS2
The Pioneer CDJ-2000NXS2 was the standard for DJs to play with in clubs since 2016. It was often accompanied by the DJM-900NXS mixer.
CDJ-3000
The Pioneer CDJ-3000 is the most recent top model in the Pioneer CDJ series, released in 2020. Due to the coronavirus crisis, this model didn’t immediately become the club standard, but it is expected that it will become the standard in the coming years.
CUE (BUTTON ON THE PLAYER)
The Cue button on the CDJ or XDJ players (not to be confused with the Cue buttons on the mixer) is located above the Play button and is used to go back to the beginning of the track or another pre-saved point. You can also create a new start point in a track by pressing the Cue button after hitting pause.
It’s common to see DJs rhythmically tapping the Cue button just before mixing. While not necessary, it helps the DJ feel more prepared to time with the play button. This tapping is also the reason why the Cue button is often the first to break on a CDJ or XDJ player.
HOT CUES
Hot Cues are points pre-set by the DJ within tracks, where you can jump directly to by pressing the Hot Cue buttons on the media player. If done correctly and in rhythm, you can skip sections of tracks this way.
In house music (and related genres like Techno), Hot Cues are generally not used to jump to, but rather to mark specific moments for reference during mixing.
LOOPING (LOOP)
Looping (pronounced: loop-pen) is repeating a section of music. DJs usually loop 4 or 8 beats, but it can be shorter or longer. The loop function has been present since the start of digital DJ sets.
Looping can be very useful for mixing a track with a short intro. This makes otherwise difficult-to-mix tracks mixable. Choosing the best loop for an intro is an art in itself. For house music, it’s usually simple and an automatic loop will suffice. In other genres, a self-made loop, which may not start “on the one,” can make a track mixable.
Many beginner DJs use the loop function too often, which can hinder the development of their mixing skills. Therefore, learning to mix should initially be done without the loop function.
PITCH (FADER)
The pitch fader is found on the turntable or media player and is used to adjust the speed of a track.
Before the advent of digital turntables, you could only adjust the speed a little, and you had to memorize many records that were roughly the same speed as the one currently playing. Nowadays, modern media players can handle extreme tempo differences.
MASTER TEMPO
Master Tempo ensures that a track always sounds as it was made, even when you change the speed. For example, you won’t get chipmunk voices if you speed up the track. You also won’t hear any distortion when you speed up or slow down the track during beatmatching.
In the first generations of CDJs, it was clearly audible when Master Tempo was enabled, as the music would produce a warbling sound. Nowadays, DJs almost always have Master Tempo turned on.
MEMORY BUTTON
You set memory points by placing a Cue point and saving it with the Memory button for future use. This ensures that a track always starts from your pre-set memory point. You can set up your CDJ/XDJ and USB stick to always start a track from the memory point. Memory points can be created and saved both on the media player and in RekordBox.
To start a track at a different point than the beginning, DJs often use a Hot Cue, though this is less convenient and is mainly because many beginner DJs are unaware of the Memory function.
JOG WHEEL
The Jog Wheel sits on top of the media player and is primarily used to get and keep your tracks in sync. It’s inspired by the turntable, but no longer controls a spinning mechanism. You can also use it for scratching, provided the device is set to vinyl mode.
CDJ MODE
On modern media players, you can choose whether to set the Jog Wheel to CDJ mode or Vinyl mode. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. In Vinyl mode, you can use it for scratching, but, like a turntable, you can only adjust the track by nudging it at the side for beatmatching. In CDJ mode, you can use the entire jog plate for beatmatching, and it makes a helpful stuttering sound when you pause the track, allowing for precise start-point control. Learning to DJ in CDJ mode greatly shortens the learning curve for beatmatching.
SYNC FUNCTION
The Sync function automatically aligns two tracks so they run in sync, even if you start the new track off-beat.
The Sync function is controversial among DJs because before this feature existed, you could only DJ if you could manually sync tracks by ear. It took years to master. Also, the Sync function is not developed enough for DJs to fully rely on it, and it requires that the beats of your tracks be accurately analyzed by RekordBox. It is also not dependable for music from before 1985 (when beats were often played by live drummers). As a result, most DJs still manually sync tracks by ear, keeping the Sync function off.
QUANTIZE
The Quantize function is designed to help you apply Cue points, Loops, and Hot Cues rhythmically and accurately. It can be helpful when looping or triggering Hot Cues during a track that people are dancing to. However, it only works if your music has been accurately analyzed by RekordBox, and if you want to keep everything perfectly on the beat. In other cases, the Quantize function can work against you, so it should be turned off.
A.CUE (AUTOMATIC CUE)
The A.Cue (Automatic Cue) ensures that every track you load is ready to play without immediately starting. It automatically sets a Cue point, typically at the first point where music is heard (depending on your settings). In house music, this means your track is almost always set to the first beat for easy mixing. A.Cue is usually found next to the display, under the same button as the Time button. This function is typically always on.
REKORDBOX
RekordBox is Pioneer’s music management program. Most DJs use it to organize their music before transferring it to a USB drive. In RekordBox, you can also set up loops, Hot Cues, and Memory points in advance. RekordBox is free, but if you buy a controller that works with RekordBox, you’ll get the paid version that turns the program into a virtual turntable, which is often included with Pioneer controllers.
To make a clever start with Rekordbox, this page is extremely helpful.
SYNC MANAGER
The Sync Manager is a feature in RekordBox that allows you to transfer your collection or any changes to it onto your USB stick. Many new RekordBox users use “Export Map” for this, but this can lead to problems.
THE TURNTABLE
VINYL
Vinyl is the material from which a record is made. The process of making a record is a complex chemical procedure involving multiple materials, but the final product is simply referred to as vinyl. Someone who collects records is often called a “vinyl junkie.” In the 2000s, vinyl was almost entirely replaced by CD-based DJing, but there’s still a large, growing movement of DJs who play with vinyl, and “vinyl only” nights are still held at many venues. DJ School Amsterdam also offers lessons in vinyl DJing.
TURNTABLISM
Turntablism is a style of DJing where the DJ showcases their technical skills with turntables by scratching and quickly switching between tracks. It originated in the American hip-hop movement of the 1980s. Turntablism is no longer as prominent in clubs, but competitions are still held in many countries worldwide.
12-INCH
A 12″ (twelve-inch) is the extended version of a single on vinyl. Just like singles are released on digital platforms like Spotify, records were once released as singles on vinyl. DJs always wanted the 12″ version of a single, which is the size of a full-length album and typically included extended versions and/or remixes of the track.
Because there is only one or two tracks per side of a 12″, there is much more space for grooves, which improves sound quality and allows the needle to stay better aligned with the grooves when scratching or beatmatching compared to LPs or 7″ singles.
12″ dance records from roughly 1980 to 2000 are still highly sought after by DJs because they often contain music that was never digitized for CD or the internet.
7-INCH
A 7″ (seven-inch) single was the standard radio version of a single, typically containing the album version of a track with another song on the B-side. 7″ singles are harder to DJ with than 12″ records because the grooves are narrower, causing the needle to easily skip to a different groove during beatmatching.
LP
An LP (long-playing record) is another term for an album on vinyl. Before the advent of CDs around 1985, all music was released on records. Artists typically released LPs, and the best tracks from these albums were also released as 7″ or 12″ singles.
DJs rarely played from LPs, as the grooves are close together, and the best tracks usually came out as singles instead.
BACKSPIN
A backspin is an effect where the DJ pulls the running track in the opposite direction under the needle before cutting off the sound on that channel and starting a new track. Even with modern CDJs and XDJ players, this effect can be simulated. Backspins used to be a popular way to stop a track if you didn’t know a better transition method. Nowadays, backspins are rarely heard because modern turntables offer more options to transition smoothly between tracks.
AND NOW, FROM OUR BIG 4 LEARNING METHOD: TRACK, TIMING, MIXING, IMAGE.
TRACK
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OLD SCHOOL
Old School is a term used for old but credible music that is considered the best in its genre. It is mostly used in Hip-Hop and R&B, referring to the 1980s and 1990s. In House music, Old School generally refers to the early forms of house from the late 1980s and early 2000s.
DOWNLOADING
Since the launch of music-sharing website Napster in 1999, it became very easy for DJs to obtain music for free. With the advent of Napster, DJs no longer had to visit record stores. After Napster, apps like LimeWire and Kazaa followed. All of these apps were illegal since music isn’t free. However, there are still ways to obtain music without paying.
At DJ School Amsterdam, we encourage DJs to pay for their music. This ensures that you always get the best sound quality and, more importantly, that the artist is properly compensated for their work. By downloading music for free (illegally), you harm the musicians you admire.
BEATPORT
Beatport.com is the most popular website for DJs to purchase music. You can browse and click through labels, artists, and remixers to find the gems within your style. Other popular sites among DJs include Traxsource and iTunes.
GENRES
To guide you in what-is-what in dance music, we made this genre guide to help you find out who plays what, and where the rootys of your favorite music lies.
TIMING
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BREAK
A break can mean two things in DJing. In House music, a break is the moment when the beat or rhythm section fades out, and the track (re)builds without a beat, leading up to a ‘drop’. Generally, you don’t mix two tracks during a break.
Another meaning of break is a small drummed rhythm of 4 or 8 counts. This is especially used when sampling rhythm pieces from funk and soul songs from the ’60s and ’70s.
DROP
The ‘drop’ is the moment when the beat and/or the entire rhythm section of a track starts or returns after a build-up or break.
THE DANCEFLOOR MATRIX
The Dancefloor Matrix is the term DJ School Amsterdam uses to describe the visible and invisible factors involved in selecting the right track at the right time. This includes the energy level and the atmosphere, which are influenced by the background of your audience, their gender, ethnicity, age, and many other factors. When a DJ says they “see the matrix,” it means they know exactly which track follows the current one to get the best response from the crowd.
ENERGY LEVEL
The energy level of a track is determined by you, based on your feeling. It is always relative to what else you’re playing. As a DJ, you are the manager of the energy level in the club for the entire night, at least when it comes to the music. You must have total control over this, which is only possible if you have your music well-organized according to energy levels.
If you like heavy EDM, then tracks in the lower energy range will be intense for a DJ who plays soul. The heaviest tracks from a deep house DJ may be very relaxing for a techno DJ. Everyone arranges their tracks in their collection in a way that best fits them. As long as you can provide the best flow for the night for your audience and are always “in control,” you’ll be good.
MIXING
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BPM
BPM (Beats per minute) indicates the speed of a track. The number of beats in one minute determines the speed. Since the introduction of digital turntables, you can see the speed of a track on the display. Most DJs first check the number and then verify through their headphones if the BPM is correct. As BPM counters get more accurate, many DJs no longer need to check.
Alongside BPM, most DJ equipment also shows the percentage by which you can slow down or speed up the track. This is important information because there are limits to what you can do with a track. In house music, the margin is roughly between minus one (slower) and plus three percent (faster).
In general, this margin increases when the music is slower and narrows with faster music. You can often speed up R&B tracks by up to 7%, but you definitely shouldn’t do that with Drum ‘n’ Bass. Furthermore, a DJ usually plays music for a dancing crowd faster than the original (typically between +1 and +3 percent) and rarely slower.
BEATSYNCING
Beatsyncing means getting the BPM (beats per minute, speed) of two tracks in sync. Today, this is easy with modern DJ equipment: the BPM of the tracks is immediately shown. However, some tracks may not be well analyzed or may have varying tempos. In that case, you need to beatsync by ear, something DJs had to do with turntables. It’s wise to stay alert for speed differences even with modern equipment. As a DJ, you must always be able to resolve them, even if the BPM counter fails you
BEATMATCHING
Beatmatching is ensuring that two tracks run exactly in sync at the moment you mix them. This is often the most nerve-wracking part of DJing for beginners. You often need to adjust a new track slightly forwards or backwards when the faders of both tracks are up. To never make the wrong choice, there are specific exercises taught in the DJ Basic Course. The ‘Sync function’ of many modern devices is a helpful tool for beatmatching, but it doesn’t work as well as a trained DJ ear.
KEY
Key refers to the tonality of a track. A key is the family of related notes (tones), forming a chord, which serves as the foundation of the entire track. There are often more chords in a track, but it typically starts and ends with the chord that determines the key.
A beatmix between two tracks sounds extra good when both are in the same key. You’ll always see the key displayed on your DJ equipment. However, choosing tracks based on their key is not always a priority.
Additionally, the key shown on RekordBox or your player is often incorrect. Always verify by ear whether the keys actually match before mixing. We have a helpful article on the website explaining when “mixing in key” is relevant for a DJ and when it’s not.
4
Four is an important number for DJs because a bar in contemporary dance music (almost) always lasts four beats. This is called 4/4 time.
8
Musicians often count to four when playing, but DJs generally count to eight when following the music. This is because most basslines and melodies last for eight beats (two bars). A pattern of eight is usually easy to identify.
16
Sixteen is often mistakenly considered an important number for DJs. Sixteen beats is four bars (of four beats). Many DJs who haven’t learned to count properly will start their new track after 16 beats in a block of music from the old track. This often results in a mix that doesn’t sound right. When mixing Top-40 or Hip-Hop/R&B, 16 can be relevant, but only if you are aware of the far more important number, 32.
32
32 is the holy number for DJs. Thirty-two beats is the length of almost all “blocks” in popular (dance) music. A verse and a chorus are generally 32 beats long, from pop to urban to rock and dance. In house music, there are basically only 32 blocks, or multiples of these blocks.
When mixing, you always stack your 32-blocks on top of each other, so that the ‘one’ of one track always aligns with the ‘one’ of the other track. This creates logic for the dancefloor.
DROP-MIX
A dropmix is an immediate transition between two tracks without overlap. A dropmix is a commonly used way of mixing for tracks that are difficult to beatmatch or have such a distinctive or recognizable intro that they have the most impact on the dancefloor by themselves. A dropmix is also a good way to switch tempos as a DJ.
BEATMIX
The beatmix is the most common type of mix DJs use to connect two tracks. By aligning the BPMs and “stacking” with 32-blocks, the tracks transition as smoothly as possible.
EFFECT MIX
If a dropmix or beatmix doesn’t give the desired result for a transition, you can opt for a mix with specific sound effects. For example, by “filtering” out the old track before starting the new one, or using an echo effect to let the old track fade away. A loop can also help make an effect mix work beautifully.
IMAGE
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ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
Artist Development is the collective term for activities that make you a bookable artist. This includes your online presence, as well as offline activities like networking and business practices such as accounting and having a business plan. We provide intensive guidance in Artist Development, for both DJs and producers.
PRESS KIT
A press kit or EPK (Electronic Press Kit) is your bundled promotional material, such as your bio, photos, and anything that represents you well as an artist. An EPK is now more common than a physical press kit, although it’s still good to have business cards or USB drives on hand to promote yourself. In your EPK, it’s important to have a high-quality bio and high-quality photos. For everything in your EPK, you can rely on DJ School Amsterdam.
All of the above topics are explained in detail in our 1-on-1 DJ and Producer lessons. Check our course overview for DJ or Producer to see which lesson or package best answers your questions.
