Do & Don't: 5 DJ Tech Tips in 20 Seconds
, by Marcus Fitzpatrick, 1 min reading time
Great sets are not just about song choice. A handful of small technical habits separate a clean, confident performance from a scrappy one, and none of them take long to learn. Here are five to get right, each boiled down to a single do and a single don't.
Gain staging
Do set each channel's gain so the loudest part of the track sits at the top of the green and just nudges the amber on the meters. Don't push everything into the red. Clipping sounds harsh through a big system, and it leaves you no headroom for a lift when the track drops.
Track preparation
Do import and analyse your music at home so the waveforms and beat grids are ready before you arrive. Don't turn up with an un-analysed USB and make the gear think while a full floor waits for the next tune.
Your media
Do carry your library on two separate USB sticks and always eject them safely before pulling them out. Don't stake the night on one unbranded stick you found in a drawer. Corrupted files at the wrong moment are a night-ender.
Cueing
Do learn to beatmatch by ear using your headphone cue and the split-cue function. Don't lean on the sync button for everything. When a beat grid is slightly off or a track drifts, ears will save you and a button will not.
Your own cables
Do keep a spare set of RCA leads and a backup cable in your bag. Don't assume the booth will have working ones. Venue cabling is often tired, and a crackly channel is a problem you can solve in seconds if you came prepared. Master these five and you will already look more assured behind the decks than most people starting out. When you are ready to build a setup that makes them second nature, browse our DJ controllers and full range of DJ equipment, or head to our DJ advice blog for more.