count the beats on the track in your headphone and adjust the pitch so the track in your headphone matches the same speed as the playing track. Remember, What you hear in your headphones isnt heard by anyone else... Learn your counts and Learn your music, In and out.

tap your feet count out loud 1, 2, 3, 4--most beats go for four count, practice with the same records (dubs), instrumental if you got it--what type of music you playing any way?

put a load of clothes in the dryer and start it up. Put another load in the washer, start it, and then adjust the cycle until the 2 machines sync. continue to practice until all your laundry is clean.

^
just kidding. really you just have to practice and trainwreck for a while. eventually your brain will just kind of rewire itself and it will all come together and you'll wonder what all the fuss was about. some will get it quicker than others but we all get there the same way, through lots and lots of trainwrecking.

The way I taught most of my n00bs how to beat match is to learn the "art of the count".

Start by playing only one record, (turn other deck off and JUST LISTEN). Start counting on beat to 32 while listening and start over again and count to 32.

Every 32 beats something drastic happens (chorus, verse, etc).

Once you "feel that" you have basic music structure down and beat mixing will be easier depending on what you play. If you play House or Electro, start your mix on a 1 and ride it out 32 beats and you should be good (providing you can ride a beat). If you play Hip Hop, you may have to think in 16's or even 8 beats.

DJ Micheal Basic posted a VERY good explanation of beat mixing somewhere here, maybe he will link it up.

Go get a book on basic music theory and learn about tempo, measures, and phrasing. That way, not only will you have a better grasp on what actually happens, but you'll actually sound like you know what you're talking about when you discuss it.

Trust your ears!
Don't rely on looking at waveforms.
Listening to the snares/claps is helpful for lining up beats, they may occasionally drift
so riding the pitch is essential.
If you use turntables you can also nudge the platter or record to make quick adjustments.
Cue points are helpful too. Example:

Deck 1 Deck 2
song playing cued in headphones

-Set a cue point on the one

-punch cue point every 4 counts
(counting with Deck 1)

-adjust pitch +/-until beats
are matched.
Have fun and Good Luck!

see... heres the problem, how do i know if its the first beat...you kinda talking about the bass it self? i have this guy that im shadowing at the club, he's too advance for me...he does naturally...i would love to play top 40's and mostly hip hop...i knw practice practice practice..im just wondering different techinque to acquire to make it easier for me...im a really a quick learner thats why i love to adapt to certain way so it wouldnt be hard for me to play...thanx you guys for the inout i greatly appreciated..

Ch

Check this post, it's the one I mentioned above: scratchlive.net

'Go see Strom Carlson, Jeffrey. He's a good DJ......and thorough'.

a book? c'mon man, you always try and get so theoretical about stuff. It's just 1-2-3-4. As soon as you get that, then start figuring out the bars; intro, verse, chorus. Shit man, it's not like analyzing a Linux network. ;) (I caught 'why your mom will never use Linux through your website, Good stuff man!)

Chris...check your private message box, bruh!

If you are playing real Rap and Hip Hop (not that Electro remix stuff), the snare of the song is usually the 2 beat. You have to "feel" the music first.

play one song, nod your head or tap to the beat.
now play the other and do the same.
adjust the speed on one or both of the tables until you tap about the same speed.

now that the songs are close together in tempo, try them together:

play one song (out loud) and drop the other song (in the headphones) so that they're lined up (i drop the snare from one song at the same time as the snare on the other song) now listen to the snares and see if the 2nd one lags behind or gets ahead.

at this point you can:

a. grab the 2nd record and drop it with the snares lined up again, if it's too slow, speed up the pitch slider and drop the record with the snares lined up again, listen to see if the 2nd one needs to be slower or faster then adjust the slider and repeat until the records are beat-matched.

b. keep the songs lined up by speeding up or slowing down the 2nd record by hand to keep it lined up while adjusting the pitch slider until you can let go of the record and it stays matched.

ps. it's easier learn to beatmatch if you eq the songs so that the snares sound different from each other so that you can tell which is which when trying to tell which one is getting ahead or whatever.

watch the lines on the screen

-don't do that, try and learn by ear first.
It will help develope a sense of rhythm.

Just do what everyone says and it will eventually become natural. you should be able to turn on the radio hear a song and know within 4 beats when the 1 is, or when it will come even if its a song that you've never heard before. the one and 5 beat may sound the same but they are not at all.

The cue button and knowing your songs bpm's by heart.

But yeah, train wrecking is a part of DJing that comes and goes as you practice. I now really worry about key clashing and when to fade/backspin out.

I started by playing two copies of the same song at the same time, then with each in a separate part of the song, then different songs entirely. Just pay attention to the sound of the kicks (for edm) or claps/snares (for hip hop) of each of the two songs you're playing. if you're not getting it, cue one of the songs to your headphones, focus on that sound in your mind, then add the other one.

Pretty soon you'll be a natural at it. Just really take the extra time and effort right now to use your ears to isolate each song, and eventually you'll get faster and faster at it.

is there anyone here that started djing with out even counting the beats? you just used your hearing to do your beatmatching...im still quite having trouble counting beats..

i did a lot of music and band in school before taking up djing, so it came naturally.

Here's how you count
1-2-3-4 (thats 1 bar of music)
2-2-3-4
3-2-3-4
4-2-3-4 (this is 4 bars of music)
1-2-3-4 (start over with one)
[...]
this continues...
now, depending on the genre, song, bpm, and even artist, a layering change will happen. It might be a new instrument added, an instrument removed, beginning of vocals, new effect, etc... SOME KIND OF CHANGE. This will pretty much ALWAYS happen on after bar # that is divisible by 4 [more specifically after every 2^N bar, where N is typically between 2 and 6). In other words by the end of every 4th, 8th, 16th, 32nd, or sometimes 64th bar some part of the song structure will change. You will notice this, keep your ears open.

When I would intentionally try to count songs, I would audibly be counting
1-2-3-4, 2-2-3-4, 3-2-3-4, 4-2-3-4 with each kick (snare if you're into hip hop generally)
At the same time, at each count of "1" I would put out one more finger. This is a phrase. A phrase consists of 4 bars.
So 1 finger: 1-2-3-4, 2-2-3-4, 3-2-3-4, 4-2-3-4
2 fingers: 1-2-3-4, 2-2-3-4, 3-2-3-4, 4-2-3-4
3 fingers: 1-2-3-4, 2-2-3-4, 3-2-3-4, 4-2-3-4
4 fingers: 1-2-3-4, 2-2-3-4, 3-2-3-4, 4-2-3-4
no misquote
Usually by the four finger mark, something would happen in the song, and I'd start over. This is not always true. This may be severely different for shorter hip hop songs, but it applies for a lot of house music.

So at that point you know, that you can expect a change in the music every 4 phrases (or whatever you counted) with each phrase consisting of 4 bars, and each bar consisting of 4 beats.

This is the beginning to understanding phrasing and song structure. A lot of mistakes newbies make is to just beatmach and throw in the second song whenever their beats are lined up and they're bored of the first. It's nice practice, but the problem is within a couple bars, the songs will CLASH. It will sound very awkward when all of a sudden a vocal segment is introduced in one song, and just a bar later, a big break happens in the other song. It would be much better if they occurred at the same time, or at least a phrase away from each other (preferably an even number if nothing new happens to the music for 4 phrases).

oh, here's a vid.
Watchwww.youtube.com

try to dance for the music comming out from your headphone and when the outside music will sound correctly for your dancing technique, then you are ready ;)

oh boy.

mix instrumental with an instrumental. start on 1.

u need to hear this in your dreams.

it would suck if u have no musical inclinations.

when something is too slow, what do you do?

when it's too fast?

buy a metronome and listen to songs..... or actually pick up an instrument and play

I remember beatmatching in my dreams, constantly adjusting the pitch.
Sometimes it felt like I got no rest at all!

^holy crap... thats happened to me to. When I started it came natural to me.

beat counting...what does it do? is it just like to find out how many BPM on the song?....so let me get this staight..first you beat count....find out how many bpm do u have on a song then you find another song with similar or at least the same speed of the song for transition...could some one clarify my understanding....thanx for all the input..you guys ROCK!!!

^
not only that. you beat count so you know where to throw in the next song. someone will elaborate...

Think like you are at a concert and the performer says "Clap with Me". You could just start clapping to your own rhythm, but usually you try and clap with the rest of the crowd - ON BEAT.

Beat counting allows you to take that a step further and take Beat mixing to the next level for smooth transitions, like mentioned above, so you know where to start mixing the next song.

This is how I count.

Uno, Dos, Tres, Cuatro, Cinco, Seis, Seis, Seis

This works for me too:

Una naranja, Dos naranjas, Tres naranjas, etc.

I knew i had a problem when i was walking through the living room one day and heard a beat on a tv commercial and my 1st instinctive reaction was damn thats too slow i have to pitch it up....it acutually took me a second to realise i wasnt mixing and i cant pitch up the TV

Dude just look at the waveforms and forget about counting and matching.

SERIOUSLY

Read this book and know the basics before touching anything

www.amazon.com

Beatmatching is the foundation of djing.

1234 1234 1234 1234 crash 1234 1234 1234 1234 bass.

4 bars between a crash and the bass????

LOL @ sixxx

8 bars, whoops.

I know these dudes are joking and all but on the serious tip... Don't do this!!! You have microwave stamped on you for life. Lol

Beat counting in any language try it Watchwww.youtube.com

how do you even use your EQ? how does it help you? my set up are mkII with denon 2 channel mixer (dnx-120) is this good enough for the beginner? when do i need the efx? or do i really need one..

nah mixers are just for show anyways its kinda like those assholes who collect limited edition vinyl, dont be that guy

dude, just go practice your beatmatching/counting...
come back in a week or two when you have it down,
-then worry about EQ,efx,etc.

I normally would never endorse a DJ book, but I've looked through it and it would be a good start. Also, don't be afraid to introduce yourself to DJs at every venue you can and try to gain some insight from them. That's how I started. Once you prove to someone that you want to learn from them, you'll gain respect and they'll help you out.

This is a very good newbie question. I have never thought about this considering I grew up in a musical family and I've been playing drums for 20 years. Counting just happens. I never thought about how hard it could be to learn for the first time.

I teach music on the side, so here's a good note to remember. When beginning count in 4's --> 1,2,3,4 -- 1,2,3,4 -- 1,2,3,4 -- 1,2,3,4

Your kick (bass drum) is usually on 1 & 3 -- Your snare is usually on 2 & 4
(for easy & beginner beats)

If you do dance/house music this is almost every song (Sometimes kick is on all 4 beats - "4 on the floor" & snare is on 2 & 4)

Start with that, then work on your phrasing. Counting measures while counting beats. Easy way to do this was stated above. Replace the "1" on your 4 count with the number that corresponds to what measure you're on -->
1,2,3,4 -- 2,2,3,4 -- 3,2,3,4 -- 4,2,3,4 (This is 4 measures)

Hope this helps with your start

counting and counting...eveytime i hear music from my car stereo or music at work i try to count over and over, but i feel like im not going anywhere..i actually did try some today when i was practicing...its weird because the song is almost over on the other deck and i haven't do any transition...lol...it sux...but i totally agree to the most part that it will come naturally...my ear will adapt to it...oh heres one thing my co-workers wants me to play for the christmas party since they're going to have a ipod dj...ahh im not quite sure if im ready yet...i've only been doing this for about 5 months or so....hmmm

OK, this is emergency time, normally I wouldn't suggest this but you seem to be a special case. You should look into some DJ Intro/Outro remix services, they edit the songs to give you mixable EASY breaks. It is like TRAINING WHEELS for DJing.

Go here: www.ultimix.com and buy one of these, they have real easy Intros and Outro so you can learn how to mix.

Better yet, go to Strictly Hits www.strictlyhits.com (cheaper) and look at some of the titles like "Best of Lethal Weapon", "Best of Top Secret" and Best of Mix Factor.

Again, if you use my method of the 32 Count and just find a nice "right" spot to start the other record you'll be on your way to learning how to beat mix.

When I first started, I spent many hours at clubs just watching what the DJ does. This is harder today with all this digital shit (Cd's weren't invented yet) just turntables, vinyl and a Mixer so it was easy to see when the DJ started his mix. Post up near the DJ booth and just watch a DJ do his set.

Do what he said, or start with some instrumental tracks or simple House music, and mix that until you understand beatmatching and counting. You'll have more trouble if you don't start off simple.

Leave the counting for the math heads. Slam tracks and get on the mic in between every song. :P

or airhoooooooooorn sample!

dj art payne that site is sick..i love it..thanx...i use vinyl timecode...so this is kinda music i just slap it in to my laptop then bam..pretend that im mixing? i like the mix though, very cool...i can just purchase one song right? thnx for the help guys...i have three weeks to practice....

^^^^^^^^^^^ im greatlfull enough to let me shadow this dj at the club..i watched him and took tons of video of him and he's very humble and helpfull and giving tons of tips...however its not enough for me, because no one is really with me when im trying to pratice.. and yes i prefer the 32 counts so the crowd can hear the next transition...the website you recommend, how come they only come in a small portion of the remix? or its just a sample...i love the ultimix website but not sure yet though if i want to subscribe...i dont know how it works...

you can do the same thing by looping an instrumental segment of the song...

NO DON'T DO THAT.... Don't pretend ....

It has BEAT ONLY INTROS so if you start mixing after a 32 count (on the 1 Beat) and count 32 then fade out to the other record you'll sound decent...

If you want to PRETEND, the Ultimix and Funkymix songs have scratches and cheezy effects built into the mix so you can Air Scratch and play with the knobs and fader so the crowd will think you are Jazzy Jeff (although other DJ's will clown you).

You can't buy just one song but some of the "Best of ..." have 5 or 6 useable songs per pack so it is a decent value.

get your Tony Little on dude....!



Dude can't even count yet, how in the hell is he gonna grasp looping a intro?

just tryin to save him a few bucks...
he will figure it out eventually.

He said just purchase one track.

Ok, im calling fake on this shit right here.

There is no way someone has been doing this for 5 months and doesn't know why you count beats or beatmatch.

Time for me to go swallow a shotgun shell if this thread is real.

haha -good call, I was wondering the same thing myself...

me too... But is some persons life so stale that they would make a fake post on some random dj fourm??? After reading the whole thread I think we've been had!! Maybe it's an angry tsp user or a torq user fucking with us..lol. It's a shame because most people gave good useful advice. Oh well......

^^^^ no seriously im new to djing and i do appreciate all the input you guys gave me..im a quick learner and still quite dont get how it works...i've been shadowing this guys at the club, but he's too advance for me...i work full time during the evening and i go to school during morning..when i do have time, i try to practice everyday. its some what, i kinda getting a little bit of beat matching, but beat counting is the one that throws me off....especially the transition...its train wreck, its horrible...and friends at work are asking me to play in a couple of weeks...so there it is....so please don't take this as a joke...i would love to learn how to dj...i'm even thinking aboout going to school for it, but most dj that i know said that they've been doing this for a while and it will just come naturally...and i would really want to dj for our christmas party, but im too nerveous for it, i dont want to play a train wreck and make the party diasaster.....thnx anyway...

Try this. get an extended song with a 32 count (beat intro)

mix that song with the same bpm song at the start of the chorus.

the 1 of the chorus and the 1 of the extended.
when the chorus ends the extended song should be starting its vocal/verse/hook

ifnot you did something wrong.

Yo chris07lex you said that you have a camera... So why don't you post a YouTube video of yourself djing, weather is right or wrong, so we can see where you're going wrong with the mix. Then one of us can post a reply vid and maybe try to help you corect the problem. Maybe I'll do it.. I just got an iPhone 3gs with the video cam in it but I haven't had any reason to use it yet.

^^^^ this is what im going to do this week, because some of my friends at work wants to hear my mix before i could play at the party...i'll mainly start with 70's bit of 80's and mostly hip hop at the end of the night....

I just wanted to interject here long enough to remind SOME of you that NOT EVERYONE has the "ear" for music even though they may enjoy it as much as WE do. I mean, how many of you "experienced" dj's can SING even though you've been playing all your lives? I simply think this is a case of a SINCERE individual that, unfortunately, DOESNT have the NATURAL talent that some of us have and is trying to fulfill a life's dream or maybe even a part-time hobby. So, I say we continue to assist him till all efforts have been exhausted. It's very easy to FORGET where WE ALL ONCE WERE!

You just need to get some basic one or two tracks of repetitive instrumental music. Like an instrumental version of a hiphop song or just some house music. seriously. You usually start counting at the first kick you hear.

A lot of advice has been given to you. Follow it. You really have to learn how to do basic counting to be a dj. Don't get upset if it's taking you a while though, everyone can learn this stuff (kids in band learn it in elementary and middle school in a couple lessons). Hop over to youtube and keep watching counting videos. Also open up a song in serato and watch the waveform as you count, you can see and hear it change (gets bigger, smaller, changes color for a while) every few phrases you count. This is the reason for counting, so you can predict when these changes are going to happen so you can mix in the next song at those points without the audience noticing.

+1

This has to be a forum regular or Tony Little giving us subtle payback.

www.scratch.com

I went and 6 weeks later I was able to beat match (no serato all by ear)

is it worth it? how much does it cost? and how are you doing right now?

YES its worth every penny! I was already DJing at clubs before I got out. Nothing big and I was just opening, but still. The people there are way cool and you make good friends. Ive gotten gigs from other class mates, someone gets a friday or sat night at a place and needs help or other DJ's for 2nd rooms in the club. Plus you learn how to do it right the first time around, no trial and error trying to learn witch makes things go faster. Ive only been DJing for less then a year and I DJ about every weekend. Classes start at $300 a class and you can make payments. the first class is 101. Thats history of DJing and basic beat matching. This class is cool because first thing they do is teach you the history of DJing. They have great respect for the art and teach that to their students. NO MICROWAVES WILL COME OUT OF THE ACADEMY, know where its been to understand where its going! Also know that in 101, you will learn to beat match by ear. Serato or any other DVS is not aloud. Next class is 151. This class teaches you how to put sets together. The final for this class is to play a 6 song set. If you chose to use serato, you may at this point BUT you must sign up for a one day digital workshop. If you dont take the workshop, you cant use any DVS, and you can only take the workshop after you take 101. The workshop was my fav because it shows you how they all work, tells you the strong points and weaknesses, and does it with no bias. No offense to anyone here, but the forums are kinda bias when it comes to selecting a DVS that is right for you. Everyone here will say Serato is the way to go, but at the workshop, you get to try and play with the 3 major DVS's (serato tracktor and virtual DJ) and they help you decide what is the right fit for you. The next class is 152. This class puts you in real life situations and teaches you how to handle things. In other words, bad gear, gear you've never seen before and how to keep your cool with other people around asking questions, trying to make a request, and people touching your gear. This class is trying to teach you some basic experience. This is a fun class! You come in every week with a 6 song set and every week it has to be different and something you dont normally play. For example if your a house DJ, the first week your set can be house music, but after that it has to be differnt, Hip-Hop, 80's, Disco, etc. Also you are purposely given shity gear and you have to figure out whats wrong with it. One week can be bad turntables, next week can be bad cables, you have to figure it out. Also they try to distract you, like bumping into the table, asking questions etc. Its all to get you ready for what its like to be a DJ. Those are the 3 classes for DJing. After that you should be ready to go for the most part.

^^^ thought about taking this class, but im taking college courses and full time worker..this week im going to try to post some train wreck video so most people here can help me how to do things, since im on my own...

Chris...you're not on your own bruh.....I've already made an offer to you. Hit me up!

I would steer clear of that christmas party no matter how badly you want to do it. The last thing you want is a lasting bad first impression from everyone at work....you'll never live it down. Wait until you've mastered beat matching and your transitions are on point before you even think about heading out into the public eye...

or just do the party and don't mix... "radio fade" or whatever

i know..i would really love to do it at the christmas party, but im too nerveous. dj rumor is going to help me out tom and see whats my weakness...like what i've mentioned above on this thread, i feel like going to dj academy to understand the basic fundamental of djing, but im just jealous that majority of the dj here didn't even went to school for this...im sorry if im being INPATIENCE. like what i've said im a really a quick learner and i dont know why i'm having such a challenge on this one...I REALLY APPREACIATE all you help that you've guys been giving me...i guess its time for me to post some video and hear some feedback and suggestions about my mixing...

ill save him the time its confidence and experience




dont know why i found this line so funney ..hmm

Well...They do have Boot Camps. Its 6 weeks of class crammed into one full day. But its like all day as in 8:00am to 8:00PM. Ive never done it but maybe that would work out.

BUMP.....is there anyone here who reply on this thread has a spare time to listen to my trainwreck video? i posted this thread so i could learn and understand how to mix music like a dj. For some of you that thought this thread was a joke, well its not. Like what i've said before i try to learn how to beat count and beatmatch, but im still struggling with it...please give suggestions on my video and please have patience with me...I REALLY THINK EVERYONE HERE IS GREAT AND I APPRECIATED ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU GUYS GIVEN ME!! im now downloading the files in youtube...thanx again...ill post it as soon its done...

Post the video and buy the book I suggested.

post video - ill watch and comment

^^ ditto

you're taking as long to post up a video as learning how to beatmatch...

Post the video.

It's not hard to load them up to youtube.

keep saying error, due to its copyright content!! i tried 3 times 477MB and about an hour to upload. my video is about 23 mins..

i thought there was a 10 minute limit

it says the limit was up to 2GB of video...anywhere else to upload it?

to your website, or vimeo, or somewhere.

no video?

i have it already in my hard drive, just going to register on one of the site that i can post it...

up it to megaupload

So, no video huh?

"Luuuucy.... You got some 'SPLAINING TO DO!"

:-P

BUMP>>>>>well sorry if it took sooo long for me to respond back here..im re-taking my midterms this wednesday and taking my finals on the 14th so im super busy..here's the video that i've done and not a HD quality but hope you guys can hear it... thanx..please suggestion is greatly appreciated...thnx again for the time...

www.megaupload.com

Well I listened but I will wait for others to pass judgment - definitely some ROUGH SPOTS.

hahha i know...is it that bad? coz im thinking taking some dj class..like what other suggested...dj rumor send me a video...which is awesome, but i need tutorial..like wheres the first beat? and where to count...thnx dj ART PUMPIN

You dropped the Im in Chicago Trick(I know its LA I am just showing Chicago love) in at the right spot but it was slower than Im the Ish. Coming from Im the ish to Boom Boom I think you did not start it at the first beat but near the end of that mix I heard it come together and I think you did a record spin when it was together. Rihanna first beat is where she says "Music" so it was off.

Yeah, just keep at it. find the first beat and drop it over the chorus or an instrumental part. Or just practice with some instrumentals after finals. I hated finals but parting afterward was off the chain yo son yaoming?

Don't look at the waveforms for beat matching. If you are learning how to beat match, learn by ear. Easier said than done I know but it can be done. Now if someone can teach me how to scratch. And remember kids HOUSE MUSIC ALL NIGHT LONG.

Im GUILTY of looking at the waveforms, but not really rely on it...one of my friend told me just to look at it, brcause its there just to help me and sooner or later my ear will adapt to it....i hope he's right...thnx for chiming in DJATRAIN...i wish i have some efx so i can make some good fading out...lol...thnx..

efx will just mask your bad mixing. (no offence) Learn to do it with out first. Also go get real records and dont use serato to learn. Pick up two of the same records and use that.

New guy is right and wrong I think. Yeah learn how to do it without efx but I would say lower the laptop screen and go at it like that. You can learn on serato because it is like using real records. Just pick your songs and lower the screen so you will not rely on the waveforms to learn.

whats up man - good looking on posting a video (takes guts especially when you know you're not that good yet). You picked some mixable, similar tempo songs, which is good. your first mix wasn't bad, but many of the following mixes were trainwrecks. I don't mean this in a bad way, but beatmatching and mixing are the most important technical skills. Don't even bother trying to scratch until you have mixing down.

I think there are many times when you ALMOST got the mix but it was noticeably off. What you need to do to get better is to go back in the song and try the mix again, adjusting pitch and where you start to bring the next song in until it is PERFECT. Spinning back or cutting abruptly to the other song is a bit of a cop out, and if you're trying to get better, don't move on to the next song until you have the mix down pat. If it takes 30 tries to mix two songs, do it anyway. You'll hear when it's right.

Some other things to think about: like previous posters said, where does a bar/chorus/etc. BEGIN. The rihanna track was a perfect example. Counting out loud is a good way to start. Then, set your cuepoints so they are exactly on beat. Think about volume levels, and begin some mixes and cuts a bit below the playing volume.

Pitbull Krazy mix started okay, but you should have started the mix a couple bars later, so the vocals wouldn't overlap. Also, you let the mix fall out of sync, so the transition was abrupt and ugly. Do you listen and adjust pitch in your headphones before mixing? Maybe spend more time getting it right before you mix in. Much better to have a good mix and play the song a bit longer than a super fast mix that falls off. Like, coming out of Daft Punk the next song is several % points off to begin.

Seriously, don't even think about scratching, efx, airhorns, or whatever other ambitions you have until you get your fundamentals down. Like the waveforms, its easy to get used to crutches early and become dependent later on.

Keep working on it man - if you like the music you're playing practicing is fun.

thanx beatdown..well im not really into scratching stuff...its just kinda like for me to pinpoint that i am starting a new song thats all it is..but thanx for the advice i greatly appreciated that...and im going to keep practicing just as always...thnx again for the time...

I cant stop looking at the wave forms!!! i even let the headphoes down. I need help!

let the headphones down??

your headphones are really disappointed in you,
you really let them down,
stop staring at waveforms,
(infact close your eyes and use the force)

set your laptop to never cut off even if you close the screen. Choose two songs and close the screen and go for it. That way you can't look at the waveforms. Yataa!

just dont use Serato. You can get records for cheep! Thats how I learned at Scratch Academy.

the waves are awesome to understand the structure of the songs but in fact if you depend on them its not a good idea. I am curing my self from it and the more i do the better I feel about my self when I DJ.
good times! thanks all

Scratch Live is a tool, Its very unfortunate that some DJ's learn to use it as a shortcut.

is there any song that you guys suggest that can easliy be mix?

Almost every song is easy to mix. You will not get it over night, just keep at it.

When you practice grab some instrumentals and keep messing with the pitch on one of them until they are lined up. (Not lined up with the waveforms but with the other beat) Keep doing it until you got it. Don't pull the bass out or anything, just go at it like that.

chris, Beatdown is right the first mix was ok the next ones were off. If you got the first one right you can you can do the rest just keep practicing with the same song, don't know if you were rushing or counting beat, leave the beat counting for now and CONCENTRATE ON BEAT MATCHING. use the instrumentals to practice , are you using tt or cdj? cause with tt you can push or drag record until they match "do this in the headphones" last mix was good too---whats the song after shots?

thnx for the input...im using TT technics mkII 1200...the song youre asking is by modjo: lady