Previously we've looked at some simple crossfader tricks. So this time (you guessed it) we’ll look at some that are a touch more difficult!
This month we’ll go through a few more tricks you can use to enhance your DJing sets. The first follows on from the tricks we looked at last month. This time, however, you start the second record early. If this has got you confused already, don’t worry: it’s not that difficult, it’s just tricky and goes against the grain somewhat. What we need are two records the same instrumentals or dubs would be useful to practise. Do remember that not all tracks are suited to this sort of trick, so it may take you some time to find two you’re comfortable with.
Imagine you’re playing the main track on deck 1, and deck 2 will be used for your trickery. Cue up deck 2 at an easily definable point in the track, wait for deck 1 to get near that point, but release deck 2 one beat early before deck 1 actually reaches that point. You can then use the crossfader to bring deck 2 in for just one beat and then switch back to deck 1. This is an early repeater if you like because you are making the sound earlier than intended and then switching back to the main track where it happens again.
Once you’ve done this, you can then do the same trick again but this time you release deck 2 only half a beat early. This is pretty difficult to master, but sounds brilliant when you get it right. You will have to use the crossfader very quickly and cut between the two tracks, remembering exactly what is happening within them so you don’t do it at the wrong time. All I can say really is have a go at these tricks and see how you get on the hardest part is getting used to releasing the tracks early, as it doesn’t feel at all natural.
STOP!
Some other tricks are concerned with stopping tracks. We’ve all heard a simple deck stop, spin back or power off effect but there are variations on the theme. For a simple deck stop, try pressing the start/stop button at a specific point. Whilst in the mix, stop the track one bar before the end of the phrase, but bring the crossfader to the side of the outgoing track. You let the stop noise play for the length of a bar (of the incoming track) and then move the crossfader right across and continue with the incoming track. If the deck stops too quickly you can push the platter round some more with your hand. New tricks are possible with some of the newer decks on the market (such as the Vestax PDX 2000), which let you adjust the turntable’s start and stop speeds.
Another stop effect is the slow spinback. To perform this trick, keep your hand on the record and wind it back for two or four beats at the end of a phrase but keep the track at roughly the original speed so the track sounds like it is playing in reverse. Then you simply bang the crossfader across and continue with the next track. One final way but very risky is to scratch out the outgoing track for a couple of beats matching the tempo of the incoming track. This can sound quite impressive if you pick the right sound and get it right – though get these parameters wrong and you’ll be hiding behind the decks!
That’s your lot this month, but I think you have more than enough to be getting on with! Next month, in the final part of this series, we’ll look at using other technology to enhance your DJing.
Source: I-DJ Mag
