An Important Lesson for Beginner DJs!

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Setting your gain structure and controlling your levels is a critical part of every DJ routine. Often overlooked and the main cause of bad sounding audio and mixes, it's important for every DJ to know how and when to adjust the gain. In this video our DJ tutor Jamie Hartley breaks down the essentials to make sure your mixes never suffer from unwanted distortion or compression.
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Пікірлер: 124

  • @Crossfader
    @Crossfader4 жыл бұрын

    Learn new DJ skills with our online DJ courses. From beginner to advanced courses, specific to various pieces of DJ hardware and software. Click here to find out more: bit.ly/learntoDJ

  • 4 жыл бұрын

    Very, very informative and eye-opening tutorial! It helped my sets sound less wild and more sophisticated. Thanks for this!

  • @Alobamofficial

    @Alobamofficial

    2 жыл бұрын

    You just revailed a big secret over there! #Dj Rg'dot An upcoming Dj who want a Dj course

  • @SharaG.
    @SharaG.3 жыл бұрын

    I’m learning so much as a hobby DJ! I will be better prepared for my first gig in May 2022! It’s my family reunion so they should be more forgiving! THANKS FOR THE VIDEOS

  • @nashgich5315

    @nashgich5315

    Жыл бұрын

    starting my journey too as a hobbist😅 How did your fam gig go?

  • @SharaG.

    @SharaG.

    Жыл бұрын

    It went well after the family realized I knew what I was doing and stopped requesting songs!😂😂 I wore a t-shirt that said “I got this”. My way of saying back up and let me play music! 🥴

  • @SiD-KiD

    @SiD-KiD

    11 ай бұрын

    How did the gig go?

  • @Bedrock1966
    @Bedrock19664 жыл бұрын

    Especially important when playing older tracks which are often quieter.

  • @elvoj5245
    @elvoj52454 жыл бұрын

    Basic but very necessary, many of us don't get it right at the beginning and stick to bad habits, being wrong volume performance a mistake that many Djs still do to this day. Thank you!

  • @RobertF420
    @RobertF4204 жыл бұрын

    Awesome content . I have seen many intro vids . And you are the first to go into great detail about the sounds levels thank you.

  • @AWALLOFFICAL
    @AWALLOFFICAL3 жыл бұрын

    Only guy I can sit hear and listen to explain this. Thank you, you made it very clear and intriguing, keep up the good work and again thank you!

  • @kiranraj4149
    @kiranraj41494 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for explaining the importance of leveling of sound while mixing it

  • @markohm.4879
    @markohm.48794 жыл бұрын

    Gracias por este tutorial tan práctico. Saludos desde España.

  • @emilian2142
    @emilian21424 жыл бұрын

    Nice and helpful tutorial, thanks!

  • @jakehettinger1087
    @jakehettinger10874 жыл бұрын

    amazing video! not enough videos about this with all of the DJ content out there. I would put something about gain staging in the title because so many people search for that information and could really use this video

  • @FSwiftDJ
    @FSwiftDJ4 жыл бұрын

    Great tutorial But I'll be honest every sound engineer don't want you working the gains or trims on a club mixer or controller 😆 Back in the days, some club's use to put bit of paper on top mixer with a sign like ( Don't mess with them thanks ) 😁😆 Good way is normalize your tunes in a Audio Editor ( Audacity ) etc -4 dB is good balance for clarity , bit of headroom for your mixing , just level your Lups ( RMS) Then import them back to your DJ software Keep your level trims the same 22:00 10pm, I would even try 12:00 mark is fine after doing that , as you have -4 dB headroom

  • @tmus1905

    @tmus1905

    3 жыл бұрын

    being a sound engineer myself also I have found many ways around this, my fav. being plugging my own contoller into the main feed, maxing everything, then adjusting to suit so when they plug in max is max

  • @sabeshbala1933
    @sabeshbala19334 жыл бұрын

    Very useful information for beginners like me. Keep it up Cross fader.👍

  • @bavikon
    @bavikon4 жыл бұрын

    Great video for beginner 👍

  • @househeadspeakz
    @househeadspeakz4 жыл бұрын

    Wow! I will play this video at home and test it on my controller.

  • @martawd1
    @martawd13 жыл бұрын

    Thank You great tutorials ! very helpful

  • @DJ_Schuelze
    @DJ_Schuelze3 жыл бұрын

    Perfect video Jamie, thx

  • @Khudoshin_proMoto
    @Khudoshin_proMoto3 жыл бұрын

    found a channel and began to pump two skills - English and dj. thanks a lot

  • @monomakes
    @monomakes3 жыл бұрын

    Yea, really nicely explained! Thanks :)

  • @NeoMason2004
    @NeoMason20043 жыл бұрын

    I can't wait !I start djing

  • @eurobeat33
    @eurobeat334 жыл бұрын

    Great information thanks friend....

  • @IVAN3049
    @IVAN30494 жыл бұрын

    Thank you 🙏 for the tips

  • @iAm_KweenKatt
    @iAm_KweenKatt4 жыл бұрын

    Great info thanks so much

  • @CleminforMix
    @CleminforMix4 жыл бұрын

    Great video bruh💯

  • @rajd33p42
    @rajd33p423 жыл бұрын

    Very Very Thanks today I faced this problem....😍😍😍😍

  • @DJ_AVIK007
    @DJ_AVIK0074 жыл бұрын

    Epic buddy ❤️ i was waiting for #pioneer ddj sb3

  • @gurudattabeura6738
    @gurudattabeura67384 жыл бұрын

    Nice brother... I am from India..

  • @devilcity5827
    @devilcity58274 жыл бұрын

    Thanks cross fader

  • @joelbrandao4
    @joelbrandao43 жыл бұрын

    Nice video!

  • @djdeeonemix
    @djdeeonemix4 жыл бұрын

    You're always the best

  • @AT-wl9yq
    @AT-wl9yq Жыл бұрын

    I think the information presented in this video was good, but it should have been a bit more technical, so that if there's a problem, a new DJ has a better chance of fixing it. I know it may be confusing to some, but if you plug into a strange system and are having issues, knowing a bit more about how all this works can save you from having a bad sounding set. It doesn't matter what skill level you're at, but you must know the difference between a volume control and a gain control. You can redline the signal to where everything is lit up solid, as long as you know what you're doing. I'm not going to make a long post because there's plenty of information available if you want more details. Here's the basics. 1. You need to identify every level control in your system and determine if its a volume or gain control. 2. Only excessive gain can distort the signal. You can't distort the signal with a volume control. (This is the most important one because a lot of people just don't know it. Also, be prepared to explain this to whoever is in charge of the house system. If the system doesn't have their gain structure set up properly, its not your fault that you have to red line.). Like I said above, its easy to find more detailed information on this topic, but just understand that gain controls are always on the input section of any given component, and because they are amplified, have the ability to overdrive the signal causing distortion. Volume controls are always on the output of any given component, and can't distort the signal. They just attenuate (hold back) the signal, not amplify.

  • @randytran1233
    @randytran12333 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much

  • @JMacc213
    @JMacc2133 жыл бұрын

    This was hella helpful.

  • @RonaldoFabian
    @RonaldoFabian4 жыл бұрын

    nice tutorial!

  • @nevhemm1981
    @nevhemm19813 жыл бұрын

    Thanks man. I do appreciate these pointers. This is so cool and easy to understand. I always have a problem with one song volume coming in lower or higher. Thumbs up.

  • @ic3manofficial
    @ic3manofficial4 жыл бұрын

    in this situation I use platinum notes 4 , works perfectly with serato dj and I never have to pay attention to the volume of a song!

  • @NilMykhils
    @NilMykhils10 ай бұрын

    Thanks man 😎👍

  • @kevinrobinson4274
    @kevinrobinson42742 жыл бұрын

    Thank you 😊

  • @DavidSantiago1958
    @DavidSantiago19584 жыл бұрын

    It was good video. I often have to adjust levels in Mixcraft after a mix I've recorded because the levels get a little high during the mix.

  • @Bedrock1966

    @Bedrock1966

    4 жыл бұрын

    Is that freeware? Link please friend?

  • @DavidSantiago1958

    @DavidSantiago1958

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@Bedrock1966 No, It is paid software, you can try it for free. Probably the best inexpensive, most powerful DAW for Windows

  • @brennanb2251
    @brennanb22514 жыл бұрын

    I’ve been djing for 4 months now and didn’t even know this. Thanks Jamie!

  • @Timesplitter777
    @Timesplitter7774 жыл бұрын

    Should you still move the gain if you slightly use the high pass filter to bring in the song and cut out the other song.

  • @djsid21
    @djsid214 жыл бұрын

    Super Tip 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🔝🔝

  • @bidders77
    @bidders774 жыл бұрын

    This is a good tip bit when you turn up to the bar you're playing at and they have no idea how to operate the house system to give you more headroom you haven't got much chance of sorting it

  • @andredeketeleastutecomplex

    @andredeketeleastutecomplex

    4 жыл бұрын

    If they don't give me control of their system, I don't play. But because I only play 'all-nighters' and I also fix the sound better than the sound engineer, they just let me take control. Off course, they usually already know I'm also a producer, that helps. If you have to compete with other dj's, make sure you get the soundguy at your side by never 'overdriving' what you play. Then he will help you to sound even better.

  • @JammTj664
    @JammTj6644 жыл бұрын

    i was just finishing practice! i have a ddj wego4, tnks 4 the lesson!

  • @gevikmanuchahri3955

    @gevikmanuchahri3955

    4 жыл бұрын

    hey buddy, I use WeGo and traktor pro 3,do you know how find that button?

  • @JammTj664

    @JammTj664

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@gevikmanuchahri3955 witch button?

  • @gevikmanuchahri3955

    @gevikmanuchahri3955

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@JammTj664 level

  • @JammTj664

    @JammTj664

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@gevikmanuchahri3955 gain on the wego gota go to pc cus is not fisic on the controller

  • @gevikmanuchahri3955

    @gevikmanuchahri3955

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@JammTj664 so, i cannot map with software?

  • @seranes_silence
    @seranes_silence6 ай бұрын

    I have a question: why do you go the extra step of changing the trim value while the new song is already playing? why not prepare the correct volume levels beforehand and just keep the channel levels lower until the new song should become the front?

  • @dj_paultuk7052
    @dj_paultuk70524 жыл бұрын

    If only some big DJ's could follow this !!. I was with Sander Van Dorn last week @Ministry and he was in the red all the time, and it sounded terrible. His music was clearly distorting, but he didnt seem to care.

  • @haydenfraser3035

    @haydenfraser3035

    4 жыл бұрын

    I feel you bro, I was at a Drum and Bass concert a couple weeks ago with Sub Focus and Danny Byrd and everyone was redlining to the point where it hurt our ears... Still was a sick concert 🤘🤘

  • @dj_paultuk7052

    @dj_paultuk7052

    4 жыл бұрын

    @Chuck Given im a DJ and do alot of handovers i very rarely see a DJ actually redlining the main output. Most large clubs have a sound engineer and simply will not allow it. Sander Van doorn however was right into the red as soon as he started and it sounded awful. I didnt stay around but i guess MoS staff would have stepped in. That soundsystem was just over 1M USD. , 25,000 watts peak, and 215 speakers !.

  • @lustforlow-end6022
    @lustforlow-end60224 жыл бұрын

    It’s amazing how many pro djs blast their levels in the red all the time. Just think of your level meters as traffic lights... RED MEANS STOP!

  • @fullcirclewithcainbradley5924

    @fullcirclewithcainbradley5924

    4 жыл бұрын

    It only usually when they are crazy busy. If they have more than one deck on and are going nuts, easier for them to just leave it up,

  • @djyungblu174
    @djyungblu1744 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this video. What level do set your actual songs to in serato? Should you leave everything at auto-gain or manually set each track ?

  • @Joaquin77

    @Joaquin77

    4 жыл бұрын

    I have tried both options.. and I decided to stay with the manual option just because I am constantly adjusting the track's volume gain in serato to a point where I will set it where i like the particular level. When using the auto gain I noticed that my songs sounded too quieter and had to mess with the settings to 95Db and i decided to not rely on auto gain.

  • @manishpahuja5226
    @manishpahuja52264 жыл бұрын

    Hi can you make a video about Beginner DJ’s switching from controller to CDJ’s. Will appreciate some tips in videos .

  • @BruceDavis2301

    @BruceDavis2301

    4 жыл бұрын

    I got external hard drives for sale, 2 channel mixer and a Serato SL2 interface.

  • @shidypix8726
    @shidypix87264 жыл бұрын

    Thanks

  • @Inflow459
    @Inflow459 Жыл бұрын

    Hi Crossfader, I had a question for you or anyone else in fact. The VU levels on my Numark Mixtrack Platinum show 1 song on both metres rather than 1 song on 1 individual metre. Which I find a bit strange, and of course the only way to tell if they songs are balanced is by listening to them. I was wondering if there was a fix for this or if I was missing something. Any help would be much appreciated!

  • @DjSmoothNY
    @DjSmoothNY4 ай бұрын

    In Serato settings just set gains to match and both tracks will play at equal output = gain😀

  • @hellogooglefuckyougoogle1206
    @hellogooglefuckyougoogle12062 жыл бұрын

    Nice

  • @gtabro1337
    @gtabro13374 жыл бұрын

    Question to all - using precisely this controller and *recording* the mix through Serato DJ Pro - if set as you shown then why are the tracks in the mix quieter than the originals? Is that a Serato limitation? 🤔

  • @hogard2992

    @hogard2992

    4 жыл бұрын

    When you click the record button at the top of serato and the bar comes up to name the mix and start recording there is also a dial which you can turn up to set the level of the mix louder. Its only set to mid level normally I turn mine up to about 75% and it seems to be loud enough when im listening back to it

  • @martijnd
    @martijnd Жыл бұрын

    Hi, I am rather new to dj-ing and have been busy for a couple of months. Since there is so much music that is new to me I have to prepare for a mix or a live set. I find it takes a lot of time sorting out what music to use in a set. I need to set hot cues etc. but most time is spent to really find compatible music that mixes well in order to get nice transitions. In other words, preparing a mix of an hour will take at least 2 or 3 hours of sorting, testing, setting hot cues etc. am I doing something wrong or is that fairly normal?

  • @Msbenjamin
    @Msbenjamin2 ай бұрын

    Hey I tried this today when practicing and I did notice a difference in sound which I’ve never paid much attention to before but I was like aha I hear the distortion lol… like I’ve heard distortion before but it wasn’t like bad to me but anyways how do you do it effortlessly with the eqs as well? I was finding it hard to keep watching the trim and changing the eqs usuallly I only worry about the EQS. But I’m still learning to be faster in general with my hand mechanics .. any tips on that too btw?

  • @courtneywilson8258
    @courtneywilson8258 Жыл бұрын

    At the master with the solid line there is a zero there. Can I set it there on the ddj sx3. Can I place it on the zero all the way to the right and if so, am I in trouble?

  • @allsmartcz
    @allsmartcz4 жыл бұрын

    Nice🙏🇨🇿

  • @dennisskyden2939
    @dennisskyden29394 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, I always played „All the Way up“ before... 😂🤦🏼‍♂️

  • @andredeketeleastutecomplex

    @andredeketeleastutecomplex

    4 жыл бұрын

    Play in the red Now the sound is dead

  • @dennisskyden2939

    @dennisskyden2939

    4 жыл бұрын

    André Deketele 'AstuteComplexTheory' Actually it wasn‘t 🤔 but till now I mostly played on my Bluetooth (connected with cable) Marshall Speaker for practicing. This was pretty okay.

  • @6thtankbrigade517
    @6thtankbrigade5173 жыл бұрын

    what software are you using in this video?

  • @alexanderbarbu9856
    @alexanderbarbu98564 жыл бұрын

    I dont know if all programs have it...Is Auto gain (A-gain in Rekordbox) any good?

  • @LeonEdwards1976

    @LeonEdwards1976

    4 жыл бұрын

    I turn that off. Gain structure, levels control is a skill in itself, all DJs should learn it.

  • @niilojoukanen106
    @niilojoukanen1064 жыл бұрын

    Soon at 200k.

  • @tonycammie1269
    @tonycammie12693 жыл бұрын

    This gain stuff is really tripping me up, with me and the music I use some tracks in - db sound way louder the + db track.. I'm thinking it's the tracks are problem and that some music is no good to mix with

  • @driesduyck469
    @driesduyck4694 жыл бұрын

    first lesson play good music !

  • @erickmack4131

    @erickmack4131

    4 жыл бұрын

    *dont be a douche

  • @soundmasterz8306
    @soundmasterz8306 Жыл бұрын

    5:49 most important.

  • @djevablessclarke3050
    @djevablessclarke30504 жыл бұрын

    i got sb2 controller but one side louder than one

  • @TUNESDJS-cj1oz
    @TUNESDJS-cj1oz3 жыл бұрын

    Wt happenes if higher level we keep

  • @hot4futureyears2come
    @hot4futureyears2come4 жыл бұрын

    I have become spoiled with auto gain. so when i mix on CDJ's i have to react more quicker at tracks at lower levels. lol but that is my fault.

  • @andredeketeleastutecomplex

    @andredeketeleastutecomplex

    4 жыл бұрын

    Adjust your level in pre-mix.

  • @hot4futureyears2come

    @hot4futureyears2come

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@andredeketeleastutecomplex yes and i do that, but at times i get lazy and forget, lol

  • @andredeketeleastutecomplex

    @andredeketeleastutecomplex

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@hot4futureyears2come you can always put a sticky note on the mixer. ☑️

  • @hot4futureyears2come

    @hot4futureyears2come

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@andredeketeleastutecomplex i will the next time , thanks

  • @Dopydraws48
    @Dopydraws483 жыл бұрын

    No mention of amp and loudspeaker settings

  • @eylon951
    @eylon9513 жыл бұрын

    The trim is level for each channel indepently

  • @niekdehaan2214
    @niekdehaan22144 жыл бұрын

    like this

  • @tmus1905
    @tmus19053 жыл бұрын

    in a age with more and more features and aids, remembering the basics pro or beginner would have to be rule no#1 don't get distracted with all them extra buttons

  • @djbhavishayush8292
    @djbhavishayush82924 жыл бұрын

    Wow

  • @mattvincey
    @mattvincey4 жыл бұрын

    Nice 😅😅😅😅😅

  • @glenwong6195
    @glenwong61954 жыл бұрын

    I still don't know how does "trimming" work

  • 4 жыл бұрын

    Rewatch the video then. I don't know what else to say. This was very informative and eye-opening for me personally

  • @Bedrock1966

    @Bedrock1966

    4 жыл бұрын

    Another word for gain.

  • @ninaschuller5935
    @ninaschuller59352 жыл бұрын

    👍👍

  • @bobbywright6062
    @bobbywright60624 жыл бұрын

    Master Blaster rules Barter Town.

  • @RomanSpike
    @RomanSpike4 жыл бұрын

    Cool! =) Like )))

  • @bobbywright6062
    @bobbywright60624 жыл бұрын

    DUH!!!!

  • @Discoretrox
    @Discoretrox2 жыл бұрын

    Never touched the trim in 20yrs of djing....🙄

  • @joelshewey798
    @joelshewey798 Жыл бұрын

    If you’re not red lining you’re not headlining

  • @andredeketeleastutecomplex
    @andredeketeleastutecomplex4 жыл бұрын

    Simplified: don't play in the red (zero or below), keep en equal trim to your tracks, master volume and amps at max 66%. Don't use EQ over the centre of the knobs, that's filtering. Play best music with best carrier which is flac and ogg. MP3 is bad, wav gives you unwanted digital sound at start/end.

  • @andredeketeleastutecomplex

    @andredeketeleastutecomplex

    4 жыл бұрын

    PS I didn't watch the video, it's just what I know to be 'right'.

  • @SnaikHead

    @SnaikHead

    4 жыл бұрын

    What is i download a song as mp3, would u still then convert it to flac?

  • @andredeketeleastutecomplex

    @andredeketeleastutecomplex

    4 жыл бұрын

    No, never convert an mp3. Best download in wav, than convert to flac or ogg (keep the wav for future converting). If you cannot find wav, download in flac or ogg directly. I advise a minimum of about 600 kbs. Only use mp3 for extra small parties (20/30 persons), and only 320 kbs, and don't go very high in volume (amplifying destroys mp3).

  • @SnaikHead

    @SnaikHead

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@andredeketeleastutecomplex cool ok i got it. So what happenes when u convert an mp3 to flac?

  • @andredeketeleastutecomplex

    @andredeketeleastutecomplex

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@SnaikHead basically it's still mp3 quality, but now with a flac extension. Don't do that. Also, every time you convert, some 'bits' might get 'lost' in translation. An mp3 (already being low in bitrate) cannot be converted without additional loss. Try this for hands on proof: take your best mp3's and record a mix with them in 320 kbs. After, listen to the difference between the original mp3 and the recorded mix. If you have healthy ears, you will hear the difference well. If you do the same with flac tracks you will find that the mp3 mix (320kbs) of it is still fairly okay, at least still good enough to enjoy it at home or even in a small venue.

  • @BruceDavis2301
    @BruceDavis23014 жыл бұрын

    Anyone needing external hard drives, a mixer, or Serato SL2 interface?

  • @djskittles_3019
    @djskittles_30192 жыл бұрын

    CCC Csllsseeet

  • @DanielGarcia-pr1dd
    @DanielGarcia-pr1dd4 жыл бұрын

    Y have a lot of knowledge but i dont like how u mix

  • @musicdreamer767
    @musicdreamer7674 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for tutorial but if someone want to be successfull in the life need to start to produce his own records.Anybody can be a Dj.But producing is hard.In those days the biggest clubs in the world looking for producers,they not looking for Dj’s.You can learn to be a dj just for a week.So how I said if you really someone want to go up need to take this seriosly.And also you need good booking agent.He will promote your own maded tracks.

  • @lennybilling5501
    @lennybilling55014 жыл бұрын

    If you’re not redlining you’re not headlining

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