Tips for DJ mixes. DJing on analog equipment becomes easier to listen to when you focus on three "sames"!

When I first started analog DJing, I often felt that my recorded DJ mixes sounded "bad." There are several factors that make a mix sound "bad," and one of them is "lack of listenability," but this can be improved with a little bit of work and effort.

"Keep the same BPM"

Visualize the speed (BPM) of your tracks. Simply write the number of kick beats per minute on a sticker and attach it to the record. When mixing, just use the written BPM as a guide to adjust how much you need to change the pitch to match the master BPM.

If the speed of the tracks fluctuates, becoming faster or slower with every song, the entire mix becomes unstable and difficult to listen to. You can understand the importance of this task when you consider how professional DJs strive for accuracy when matching pitch during a mix.

"Play each track for the same length"

To practice this, use the lap function on your smartphone's stopwatch to keep track of time. This way, you only need to press the button once per mix. For example, if you want to play about 12 tracks in an hour, with each track being 5 minutes long, you can work backward from the total number of tracks you want to play to determine the time needed for each one.

If you focus on keeping the length of each track consistent, a steady rhythm will emerge throughout the entire mix. Dancing is an act of gaining a sense of euphoria and unity by riding a constant rhythm, and this is what is known as "getting hyped." To create a "hyped" dance floor, be conscious of the length of each track.

"Group tracks by the same style"

Group your tracks by their vibe. For example, you can group them by your first impression when listening to them, such as "impressive handclaps," "samba-like percussion," or "dry kick drums." It doesn't have to be precise; just group them and connect them within those groups during your mix.

Mixing similar tracks together feels more natural, so even if your mix is slightly off, it's harder for the listener to notice that the song has changed. Also, when you want to change the style, transition to the next group after a major, high-energy break.

I have been asked, "Doesn't doing that take the personality out of a DJ mix?" But if you put together a one-hour DJ mix using tracks grouped by your own sensibilities, it will inevitably result in a mix with your own unique personality.

Some people might consider these practice methods to be unconventional. However, whether it's a hobby or a job, practice that doesn't yield results is painful and meaningless. And ultimately, the ones judging your DJ mix are the listeners—the dance floor. Understand that "a DJ mix that is hard to listen to" equals "a bad DJ," and perform DJ mixes that are easy for the listeners to enjoy.

I use this for recording my DJ mixes

TASCAM Linear PCM Recorder TASCAM DR-05-VER3