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Here’s the third video in Andy Touchfingers’ Mixed in Key video tutorial series for djs. Andy demonstrates in this video how to listen to tracks for differen sections, many of which have different keys (much like an entirely different song within the main song). He also continues to show us how to match keys of tracks using software.

“Some kinds of music are very logged in to  one tonal center” explains Andy. Many different genres have different song structures, and some have more movement in tone. He also tells us how music with a lot of effects and strange noise are difficult to key, simply because of the strange nature of the sounds!

Andy also explains how the Circle of Fifths works, which is very valuable to know in order to understand how different keys go with each other.

Click here for more great videos & detailed DJing tips and tricks from best product currently on the market

• Next DJ Tutorial Vid: DJing in Key Video Tutorial 4 of 5
• Previous Video: The Key Mix : Djing and Key Matching Video Tutorial 2 of 5

Thanks to Andy Touch Fingers from www.learnhowtodj.com for this video.

Transcription:
In the second video of our 5-part video series, Andy demonstrates how to listen for the melody, hum the key / tonal center. He shows how to match the key of a track by comparing the tonal center with a note played on a computer piano (for reference). Andy also recommends writing down every track in your playlist down so that you know which key they are all in … so your entire set is planned appropriately.
The second part of this video is an explanation that a track can have more than one tonal center, and how to find the best key for tracks like that.

Andy demonstrates that using the bassline is the best thing to listen for as a starting point in finding a key.

Click here for more great videos & detailed DJing tips and tricks from best product currently on the market

• View the next video in the series: Key Match your Mixes: Video DJing Tutorial
• View previous tutorial video: Mixed in Key: Video DJing Tutorial Part

Connecting Your DJ Equipment

Putting all of your new djing gear together can be a daunting task if you’ve never done it before. Thankfully, the guys at idjondemand have helped with this section of their DJ Equipment setup tutorial, which focuses only on how to connect your dj mixer, turntables, dn other equipment.

Source: idjondemand

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Now that you have all of your DJ equipment you need to connect everything together. Your central point of contact for your equipment is the mixer. All of your sources come and out of this unit. When you place your DJ equipment out on the table put your mixer between the turntables.

For example purposes we will be using the Rane TTM 56 2-Channel Performance Mixer and the Numark TTX1 Direct-Drive Turntable.

All turntables produce a stereo output on left and right channels which are marked by white and red RCA leads coming out of the turntable. Your ground wire also comes out of the turntable. This is a thin wire with a U shape clip on the end to secure to the mixer.

DJ Tutorial Tip: Remember these DJ tips when connecting your DJ equipment.

* Secure all ground leads to the mixer where indicated. (PHONO GND)
* Connect your turntable leads (White Lead = Left and Red Lead = Right) to the proper inputs on your mixer.
* Connect the remaining components into their corresponding inputs and outputs.

To secure the ground leads to the mixer unscrew the ground connection but don’t remove it from the mixer. Just loosen it enough to fit the ground lead from the turntable between the mixer and the screw. Now tighten the screw making sure that the ground lead stays firmly in place. Repeat the process for the other turntable.

As you can see there are 2 channel inputs or program inputs marked by LINE 1 and PHONO 1 and LINE 2 and PHONO 2. Plug the leads from the turntable on your left into CH1 (PHONO 1, Left and Right) and now plug the turntable on your right into CH2 (PHONO 2, Left and Right). Unless stated otherwise, turntables plug into the PHONO INPUTS.

DJ Tutorial Tip: Typically these inputs are also marked by color as well. The LEFT INPUT is WHITE and the RIGHT INPUT is RED. Your turntables leads are marked in the same manner so all you do is connect the colors. All other components get plugged into the LINE INPUTS.

Altogether you should have both turntables leads and ground wires connected securely to the mixer. So what’s next in this DJ tutorial?

Before I forget, those slipmats are for your turntables. Use the slipmats instead of the rubber mats.

DJ Tutorial Tip: Take the rubber mats off that came with your turntables and replace them with the slipmats. The rubber mats are useless if your going to be a ‘real’ DJ

Place your vinyl on top of the slipmats, turn the power on to your turntables after you’ve plugged it in.  Place a finger on your vinyl as the plate turns around beneath.

Now put enough pressure on the vinyl as to hold it in place as the plate underneath still spins. This is where your mixing skill begins to take shape. I hope that DJ tip helped some. DJ needles and cartridges are up next.

If you don’t feel like you need any more help with your setup, you can get some more advanced tips from this great djing resource.

To continue to the next step of the series go to: How To Connect Djing Needles and Cartridges

or

Go back to the DJing Equipment Setup Index

How To DJ

New DJ eBook from  Danny Rampling

Fall of 2008 marked the launch of a new DJ eBook from legendary house DJ Danny Rampling *wikipedia link. This How To DJ book , titled “Everything You Need To Know About DJ’ing And Success” features over 300 pages of in-depth detail on the music industry, technical dj tips and tricks, and even life advice taken from Danny’s years of DJ ing; both to packed clubs and to a large radio audience through his tenure as a BBC Radio 1 DJ.

The title really does do the book justice, as it contains information on EVERY aspect of DJing and the DJ/nightclub industry. Inside is an all-encompassing library of valuable information that is applicable to both novice and expert dj’s alike. Many of the introductory chapters are great for those starting with a clean slate, while the later chapters of this DJ eBook provide some valuable content for those with a little more experience under their belt. For the price of a dj lesson, you can get an entire volume of work that can be read over and over.

This DJ book includes sections on :

• DJ Equipment
• How To DJ
• DJ Music Genres
• DJ Software
• DJ Download Sites
• DJ Tips
• DJ Tutorials
• Music Business
• Personal Development (Surprisingly insightful!)

Head over to Danny’s Book Page for more info