Module 1 of 6: DJ Skills

Summary

This module deals with the creative musical aspects of the DJ. The mixing and scratching performance skills needed by the modern DJ require many hours of isolated practice, hand/ear co-ordination and self-discipline to achieve the standard that audiences demand, just like learning a traditional instrument. If you already have basic DJ skills you'll produce good work in this module and it is also the reason why we have included some more advanced content. The art of 'Turntablism' is usually demonstrated on vinyl decks with a mixer but you can take this module using CDs or software-based programs.

Content

Equipment & Set Up 

Equipment and setup - turntables, CD players
Mixers, speakers and amplifiers
Headphones, cartridges, slipmats & leads
Connecting the gear and trouble shooting

Mixing Techniques
Drop mixing, beats, bars and phrasing
BPM & combination of beats and bars
Beat mixing and tempo, synchronisation & beat matching
Phrase matching, pitch shifting

Mixing Techniques Part 2
EQ, tone, levels, hi & lo pass filters, EQ tricks
Levels and volume theory
Tricks - back 2 back, phase, line/phono and level tricks
Fill tricks, delay, reverb, strobe, breakdowns & spin backs
 
Digital Mixing Techniques

CD Mixing
Looping
CD Sampling, MP3
Stabs, Autostart

Scratching Techniques
Basic scratching - baby, forward, scribble & chop
Transformer & crab, rub/stab,
Flare & orbit, hydroplane
Beat juggling & delay FX's

Plan & Perform Live Set
Prepare a live set
Perform a live set