Let’s face it y’all. There are a lot of DJs spinning out there and sometimes we are going to run into a fellow DJ when we are playing at the club or even a house party who is going before or after you. When this happens there is a delicate and technical art to transitioning between two DJs. Unless both DJs are using the same flash drive and CDJs, there needs to be a way to switch the talent without losing the momentum of the club. Today I am bringing you a few tips to help make that transition smooth for both the DJs and the audience.
Coming into the Booth
Before we get into ways DJs can transition between each other’s sets, let’s discuss the etiquette of entering the DJ booth to, essentially, boot out a fellow DJ. No one wants to be “that” DJ who acts like he owns the place. Here are a few Dos and Don’ts:
DO:
- Make your presence known when it’s about time for you to go on.
- Come into the booth with your stuff ready to be set-up and hang out for 10-15 minutes before your set. The current DJ will notice and get the idea.
DON’T:
- Don’t try to bother them in between a mix but be sure to shake hands and exchange pleasantries. Remember to smile, be polite, and be punctual.
- Don’t ask the current DJ to drop into a certain BPM range. It is frowned upon and as a DJ you should be flexible with BPM changes.
Method 1
Keep It Simple: Aux Cable and Phone/iPod
This is the simplest solution and can be used in almost any situation. Come into the booth with a phone (on airplane mode) connected to a RCA cable. Plug the RCA connections into a free channel on the mixer and play a song or pre-recorded mix. Then have the current DJ mix into what is playing off the phone. I usually play a fifteen minute warm-up mix. That way the DJ before me and I have time to get our stuff in/out. This is pretty straight-forward and it gets the job done.
Equipment Needed: Male RCA to male 3.5mm cable and free channel on the mixer.
Method 2
Old School Cuts: Playing Control Vinyl
Some clubs still have a pair of turntables plugged in for DJs to use for DVS control however these turntables can also be used to spin actual records. DJs can pick up control vinyl that has a song pressed on one side. DJs using Serato can use this method to easily switch between DJs without adding to their setup or a DJ can carry around her favorite vinyl to provide some music while she sets up for her set.
Equipment Needed: Serato control vinyl with an analog song on one side or a normal vinyl record. Stokyo World offers a selection of control vinyl with music pressed on one side.
Method 3
Battle of Two Soundcards
It is very common for DJs to connect to the internal soundcards into the club’s system so switching between soundcards can be another avenue for transitioning DJs. On the Pioneer DJM-900 and Rane Sixty Two mixers there are two USB ports for two computers to play audio simultaneously. The key here is to have the current DJ spin a track on one deck, step aside, let the next DJ come on and plug into the mixer. Then the current DJ can mix out of the song and start their set, allowing the former DJ to disconnect from the mixer--all while the crowd is still dancing and the music has never stopped.
Equipment Needed: A USB A-Male to B-Male cable. You can pick one up on Amazon for less than $5.
Method 4
White Noise + Crossfader = Scratching
A more tactile route would be to actively DJ the transition between DJs. One way this is done is by utilizing the Pioneer’s DJM-900 color effect. This effect is a white noise generator that can be turned up using the effect knob. On an empty channel turn the effect on and then turn on the Echo effect post fader. Then, use the crossfader to cut the sound in while manipulating the intensity of the white noise effect. It will begin to sound like you are scratching a record! At this point the next DJ will come in and setup. Once they are ready the new DJ can use the same effect to scratch into their record.
Equipment Needed: This transition would need some practice before hand, quick setup times, and a Pioneer DJM-900 mixer in the booth.
Method 5
Rolling Out
Luckily Pioneer equipment is the most often used equipment in the clubs because this tip is also specific to the DJM-900 mixer. On this mixer there is a “Roll” feature which allows DJs to store loops of what is playing in the mixer meaning that if the loop is playing in this fashion then the current sound source can be unplugged and a new one can be plugged in. For this to work for transitioning DJs the current DJ needs to set an 8 bar loop (typically a drum loop). Then after the roll effect is activated the DJ can disconnect from the mixer entirely and allow the next DJ to come in who can easily mix out of the Roll effect.
Equipment Needed: A Pioneer DJM-900 mixer or a mixer with a loop recorder.
Method 6
Get an MC on the Mic
I have watched a lot of Boiler Room sessions recently and in one session I saw a unique, but effective, way for DJs to swap out with each other. Basically, have the MC of the club or party get on the mic at the end of one DJ’s set and have them begin to hype up the crowd. Then, the next DJ gets setup really quickly and the MC can introduce him to the crowd. It is a bit old school and unorthodox by today’s terms, but under the right circumstances it could work out very well.
Equipment Needed: A mixer, microphone, and hype MC to rock the mic.
Mixing Back to Back
These are a few tips that I have found to be effective when mixing in and out of different DJs. For most club gigs there isn’t a reason for the music to stop while DJs switch out their equipment because unlike festivals the music is expected to play continuously. That is why it is not only important for DJs to know how to transition but also why a seamless transition is important. DJs are a rare breed and the ones who are blessed with the opportunity to play for a crowd need to work together to make the audience happy rather than be DJs who are hard to get out of the booth.
Dean William can be found gallivanting about the clubs of San Francisco. He's on Twitter: @deanithon.