8 Reasons Mixing Skills Matter for Every DJ
Old-school or modern, no DJ can afford to skip mixing. Today we look at 8 reasons why professional DJs never stop practising this basic yet vitally important skill!
- Mixing is an essential part of what makes a DJ:
Right from the start, blending two tracks was the signature of DJs playing disco, funk and hip hop. To this day, mixing two tracks into each other to create captivating, seamlessly blended melodies and rhythms remains an essential part of the craft.
- Modern technology makes mixing more and more fun:
Mixing technology started out with nothing more than loops and key lock on CD-based DJ players. Then software on laptops came along and gave young DJs far more powerful tools. Blending two tracks is now easier and more convenient than ever! Every DJ can let their creativity run wild and come up with seriously exciting blends.
- Good mixing shows the skill of a real DJ, not an automatic music player.
Automix on any device will never give you a set as good and as emotionally charged as a live DJ! Even with the most amazing software, there will always be awkward gaps between tracks playing back to back. In the Industry 4.0 era, when anyone can find the songs and genres they like on the internet, mixing skills are what prove a DJ is not a jukebox, or a guy who just stands there pressing a few buttons to change tracks for the crowd. ^_^
- Mixing lets you connect with the crowd and pump energy into the audience
Trying to get your audience out of their seats and onto the dance floor? The crowd doesn't seem into it yet and they're getting bored of the music? Get creative with your mixing: a small change of tempo (the speed of the track), a little vocal blending, or why not try an effect on this familiar section? If you've mastered mixing and know how to work a crowd, they may well be amazed by the blends you create live!
That's how professional DJs keep their dance floors packed and buzzing non-stop! ^_^ Let's dance till we drop, guys!! :)
- Polished, fluent mixing makes you stand out from other DJs
Imagine you're invited to play a big club as a special guest. All around you are DJs with killer track lists who definitely know the crowd better than you do… Wow! That's when professional mixing skills become one of the most important things that let you prove yourself and stand out with more confidence than ever.
- Mixing takes you on bolder, more adventurous musical journeys
When you mix well, you'll always have great track combos that make people go “wow” when you play. DJs with good mixing skills tend to take risks and try out lots of ways of combining tracks. From those daring experiments, backed by solid technique, they find seriously catchy and exciting blends. So when you mix, don't be afraid to experiment — you might just discover some really bold combinations!
- Mixing keeps you busy behind the decks
You're probably tired of seeing DJs pretend to press buttons, or bury their heads in their phones after every transition, right? If your mixing is good enough, you'll always be busy creating exciting moments for the crowd, and they'll love watching you control the music and steer their emotions. Done right, mixing won't annoy listeners — it makes them listen closely and wonder what you're doing up there!
- And finally — mixing puts you in control
Once you have the skills of a top-class DJ, great tracks become just tools for your performance. To avoid being labelled a “DJ who just presses play on other people's recordings”, you need to get a message or a story across in your set. Mixing is the all-important lever that lets you do that! Remixes, mash-ups, speeding tracks up, extending them, or even getting the whole crowd swaying and dancing… you can pull off all that magic as long as your mixing is good enough.
So how do you improve your mixing? You practise, practise and practise some more! And don't forget to record your mixtapes and take time to listen back carefully, so you can assess and polish the parts that still need work…
Finally, remember that Muse DJ Academy can help you master these skills :) so drop by Muse to practise and learn more!
See you at Muse Inc!
Minh Hoàng – DJ Forte
(Source: Digital DJ Tips)
