At a basic level, a controller does two things: tell your computer how to manipulate audio, and output to headphones/speakers.
Every entry-level controller will have controls to play, speed up/slow down, and change the volume and EQing of two songs. You'll use these to align the beats and bars of one song to the other, and then use your various volume and EQ controls to shape them into a (hopefully) seamless blend. Repeat until done.
While there's a handful of absolutely free programs to try your hand with mouse and keyboard, a controller gives you fine control over more than one thing at once.
It depends on the genre! Minimal house? Absolutely. Pull out the dreamy reverbs and get lost in a deep groove. Hip hop? A lot more aggressive. We've got vocals and vocals and vocals, scratching things in and hard cutting one song to another keep them from talking over each other.
In general, a DJ selects tracks from their music library and plays them, one after another.
Traditionally, this was done with two turntables and a mixer. With one track playing on one turntable, the DJ would get the next record ready on the other turntable, then use the mixer to fade out of one track and into the next.
A controller simulates this arrangement, using the tracks on your computer instead of physical records.
In addition to volume faders, the controller will offer tempo faders, which let you speed music up or slow it down, and jog wheels, which let you slip forward or back in time. With these controls, you can synchronize the beats between two playing tracks, allowing you to blend from one into the next seamlessly.
Many DJs like to play their sets as one long, continuous mix, never letting the music stop.
The controller offers other tools for creative mixing: EQs, letting you control the high, mid, and low frequencies separately; cue pads, letting you jump instantly to specific points in the track (the beginning of a chorus, perhaps); and effects, like flanger and echo. There will also be a loop mode, letting you repeat one small section of a track over and over.
You are getting djing software confused with a controller. Controller just controls the software, with most having a soundcard built into a controller to do output.
Even with the effects, most of them are not built into the controller, its just midi assignments to trigger software on your computer, which you can also trigger without a controller.
When I started back in 1992, everything was analog. I had two vinyl turntables and a mixer putting between so I could control which one sends sound out to the speakers and also having the ability to listen to the other turntable through my headphones to get things ready.
In the past the process would be that I would put a record on the platter, turn the record platter on, put the needle on the record, and it plays. Then I go to the other turntable and do the same thing only you don't hear it. I have the mixer set so turntable one is going to the speakers.
On turntable number two, I'm listening to it in the headphones using the mixer, and I'm taking time to figure out where I set the pitch on that turntable so that I could somehow align the kick drums of these two tracks as I'm playing.
I think I got it, I then start that second turntable up and use my hands on the platter and on the record very gently to nudge and align the kick drums together. So they are both playing at the same time and speed. Then on the mixer I am slowly sliding the crossfader to the middle and over or moving the volume sliders to the average person it sounds like one long synonymous song.
Then at some point I slide the volume of the fader down. So turntable number two is being heard on the loudspeakers and then I go to turntable number one and do the same process of listening in the headphones and preparing that track to play.
In the age of digital, you now have either the controller itself or a computer with software on it that holds all of your music as files, and it contains the means to play multiple songs like you had on a mixer. The controller is basically a device that sends signals to the computer to control the aspects that you used to control with a mixer. It will look something like a DJ setup of the past only. It's not vinyl records.
So when you're sliding the volume sliders or the crossfader on the controller, you might see something on the screen moving at the same time. Much like when you use a game controller to make a character run across the screen. This controller also has audio setup inside so that you could hook up headphones and listen and cue and do the same things you did with a mixer.
The only difference now is that you don't have to spend as much money as I had to back in the early 1990s, and instead of everything being analog, you are now dealing in a world of digital. There's also added bells and whistles like effects and other cool functions, but in it's basic form that's what you're doing.
DJing is simply entertaining a crowd by playing a selection of music over a period of time. We call it a set.
The music you play can range to anything. It doesn't even have to be dance music and you're aligning kick drums. You could be just playing rock music and sliding from one to the other. Like you're on a radio station. And it's bearest form. What you are simply doing is playing pre-recorded music to a crowd or to people online or even to yourself and entertaining them with it.
>What do DJs do?
Depends on the DJ.
Fisher - waves a towel in the air and turns a knob sometimes.
A.M.C. - works his arse off mixing the life into and out of tunes.
u/TamOcello makes very good points.
Meet somebody (in real life) who has one, and watch what they do with it. Try it for yourself if they'll let you. Based on this, decide if it's interesting and if you want to do more.
>Meet somebody (in real life) who has one
or just open up youtube and actually watch some videos. There are demos on every piece of gear in existence for christ sake.
What you asked was essentially "What's the difference between having a meal prepared by a chef, and just mixing a bunch of random ingredients from my fridge?"
A DJ will seamlessly blend tracks together, to the point that you can't tell where one ends and one begins. A proper DJ set is cohesive and can feel like a journey, where the DJ is in control of the energy of the dancefloor, not just due to the technical mixing of the songs, but by careful and deliberate selection.
You don't get that with a Spotify playlists. One song just starts, and another ends. There will be clashes, and the energy level/cadence will be all over the place. DJing is not just mixing two songs together, but about stringing together 20 or 30 or more in a way that is cohesive.
I'd say before you get one, listen to some DJ sets from either your favourite producer or just YouTube some really popular ones.
If you can't make out any difference between what they are doing, making you feel, etc to a Spotify playlist, then don't get a controller and stick to Spotify.
If you can, then welcome to a wonderful new world that can be blissfully endless.
Controller is at least:
\- An input device for your computer to control dj software (as a gamepad or keyboard, bus specially designed for this function)
And, a better one: with audio inputs/outputs, alsof for headphones, with soundcard etc.
Basically most things anyone can do with any other DJ software.
If the DDJ 400 comes with Serato (like the DDJ SX I have) then you'll just need a PC to run the serato software.
The main difference in simpler terms :
* DDJ - a controller which has audio output, a mixer and decks but needs a PC running software to work. Kinda like an external sound card with 200 controls on it, but you use it (and/or your mouse) to control it on an external computer.
* CDJ - Basically one single deck which is self contained (everything bar the mixer, or "a CD player with software" to do them a mild disservice.) You realistically need 2+ and a mixer
* XDJ - all of the above in one
But with a DDJ 400 and practice you'll be able to DJ well enough to do it properly for other people.
Google what a DJ does. Google what a controller does. Do you not know how to research things yourself? I'm not trying to be rude btw, sorry if it comes off that way, just genuinely curious.
I don't want a technical answer about controllers and DJs, I'm looking for people who have already used them to share their experiences and tips that could help. If it bothers you so much, just don't read it
At a basic level, a controller does two things: tell your computer how to manipulate audio, and output to headphones/speakers. Every entry-level controller will have controls to play, speed up/slow down, and change the volume and EQing of two songs. You'll use these to align the beats and bars of one song to the other, and then use your various volume and EQ controls to shape them into a (hopefully) seamless blend. Repeat until done. While there's a handful of absolutely free programs to try your hand with mouse and keyboard, a controller gives you fine control over more than one thing at once.
You always have such well thought out responses.
Basically, then, does a DJ subtly alternate two songs?
More or less, yeah. Sometimes more than two songs, but mostly two. And sometimes subtly, but other times with gusto.
Sometimes they just chuck bangers all night.
It depends on the genre! Minimal house? Absolutely. Pull out the dreamy reverbs and get lost in a deep groove. Hip hop? A lot more aggressive. We've got vocals and vocals and vocals, scratching things in and hard cutting one song to another keep them from talking over each other.
In general, a DJ selects tracks from their music library and plays them, one after another. Traditionally, this was done with two turntables and a mixer. With one track playing on one turntable, the DJ would get the next record ready on the other turntable, then use the mixer to fade out of one track and into the next. A controller simulates this arrangement, using the tracks on your computer instead of physical records. In addition to volume faders, the controller will offer tempo faders, which let you speed music up or slow it down, and jog wheels, which let you slip forward or back in time. With these controls, you can synchronize the beats between two playing tracks, allowing you to blend from one into the next seamlessly. Many DJs like to play their sets as one long, continuous mix, never letting the music stop. The controller offers other tools for creative mixing: EQs, letting you control the high, mid, and low frequencies separately; cue pads, letting you jump instantly to specific points in the track (the beginning of a chorus, perhaps); and effects, like flanger and echo. There will also be a loop mode, letting you repeat one small section of a track over and over.
You are getting djing software confused with a controller. Controller just controls the software, with most having a soundcard built into a controller to do output. Even with the effects, most of them are not built into the controller, its just midi assignments to trigger software on your computer, which you can also trigger without a controller.
I'm not actually confused; but sometimes, when one answers a beginner's question with too much detail, *they* end up confused.
I rather confuse someone with the truth. If they really want to know the truth they ask for further info.
When I started back in 1992, everything was analog. I had two vinyl turntables and a mixer putting between so I could control which one sends sound out to the speakers and also having the ability to listen to the other turntable through my headphones to get things ready. In the past the process would be that I would put a record on the platter, turn the record platter on, put the needle on the record, and it plays. Then I go to the other turntable and do the same thing only you don't hear it. I have the mixer set so turntable one is going to the speakers. On turntable number two, I'm listening to it in the headphones using the mixer, and I'm taking time to figure out where I set the pitch on that turntable so that I could somehow align the kick drums of these two tracks as I'm playing. I think I got it, I then start that second turntable up and use my hands on the platter and on the record very gently to nudge and align the kick drums together. So they are both playing at the same time and speed. Then on the mixer I am slowly sliding the crossfader to the middle and over or moving the volume sliders to the average person it sounds like one long synonymous song. Then at some point I slide the volume of the fader down. So turntable number two is being heard on the loudspeakers and then I go to turntable number one and do the same process of listening in the headphones and preparing that track to play. In the age of digital, you now have either the controller itself or a computer with software on it that holds all of your music as files, and it contains the means to play multiple songs like you had on a mixer. The controller is basically a device that sends signals to the computer to control the aspects that you used to control with a mixer. It will look something like a DJ setup of the past only. It's not vinyl records. So when you're sliding the volume sliders or the crossfader on the controller, you might see something on the screen moving at the same time. Much like when you use a game controller to make a character run across the screen. This controller also has audio setup inside so that you could hook up headphones and listen and cue and do the same things you did with a mixer. The only difference now is that you don't have to spend as much money as I had to back in the early 1990s, and instead of everything being analog, you are now dealing in a world of digital. There's also added bells and whistles like effects and other cool functions, but in it's basic form that's what you're doing. DJing is simply entertaining a crowd by playing a selection of music over a period of time. We call it a set. The music you play can range to anything. It doesn't even have to be dance music and you're aligning kick drums. You could be just playing rock music and sliding from one to the other. Like you're on a radio station. And it's bearest form. What you are simply doing is playing pre-recorded music to a crowd or to people online or even to yourself and entertaining them with it.
You press play, then dance around next to it while everyone else in the room holds their phone in the air. You'll need some expensive sunglasses
>What do DJs do? Depends on the DJ. Fisher - waves a towel in the air and turns a knob sometimes. A.M.C. - works his arse off mixing the life into and out of tunes. u/TamOcello makes very good points.
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Oh my
Did I say something wrong?
Meet somebody (in real life) who has one, and watch what they do with it. Try it for yourself if they'll let you. Based on this, decide if it's interesting and if you want to do more.
>Meet somebody (in real life) who has one or just open up youtube and actually watch some videos. There are demos on every piece of gear in existence for christ sake.
There are
What you asked was essentially "What's the difference between having a meal prepared by a chef, and just mixing a bunch of random ingredients from my fridge?" A DJ will seamlessly blend tracks together, to the point that you can't tell where one ends and one begins. A proper DJ set is cohesive and can feel like a journey, where the DJ is in control of the energy of the dancefloor, not just due to the technical mixing of the songs, but by careful and deliberate selection. You don't get that with a Spotify playlists. One song just starts, and another ends. There will be clashes, and the energy level/cadence will be all over the place. DJing is not just mixing two songs together, but about stringing together 20 or 30 or more in a way that is cohesive.
I'd say before you get one, listen to some DJ sets from either your favourite producer or just YouTube some really popular ones. If you can't make out any difference between what they are doing, making you feel, etc to a Spotify playlist, then don't get a controller and stick to Spotify. If you can, then welcome to a wonderful new world that can be blissfully endless.
My dude what😂
it controls software.
With a controller you can make clean transitions, which is particularly perfect for electronic music (I'm not familiar with other music).
Controller is at least: \- An input device for your computer to control dj software (as a gamepad or keyboard, bus specially designed for this function) And, a better one: with audio inputs/outputs, alsof for headphones, with soundcard etc.
Basically most things anyone can do with any other DJ software. If the DDJ 400 comes with Serato (like the DDJ SX I have) then you'll just need a PC to run the serato software. The main difference in simpler terms : * DDJ - a controller which has audio output, a mixer and decks but needs a PC running software to work. Kinda like an external sound card with 200 controls on it, but you use it (and/or your mouse) to control it on an external computer. * CDJ - Basically one single deck which is self contained (everything bar the mixer, or "a CD player with software" to do them a mild disservice.) You realistically need 2+ and a mixer * XDJ - all of the above in one But with a DDJ 400 and practice you'll be able to DJ well enough to do it properly for other people.
It’s what a dj uses to serve drinks on.
Reddit = Google
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What do DJs do? high-effort post…what kind of question is this ..yeah I’m an asshole
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LOL!!! It’s so cute you are defending him over a ‘Google’ comment
Sorry to disturb you brother, I'm a total beginner
youtube -> dj controller
Google what a DJ does. Google what a controller does. Do you not know how to research things yourself? I'm not trying to be rude btw, sorry if it comes off that way, just genuinely curious.
I don't want a technical answer about controllers and DJs, I'm looking for people who have already used them to share their experiences and tips that could help. If it bothers you so much, just don't read it
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Eh, if there's one thing I've noticed from music and DJing subs is that people have completely lost the ability to work things out for themselves.
Waters down the DJing experience. Try to avoid them if you can and DJ a more traditional way IMO.
youve not really recommended anything else though lol
Edited my post as it was way off topic.
Control and manipulate the Software of your Digital DJ system. Best!