An Important Lesson for Beginner DJs!

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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[@Crossfader]

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

[@Alobamofficial]

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

[@SharaG.]

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]

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

[@SharaG.]

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]

How did the gig go?

[@Bedrock1966]

Especially important when playing older tracks which are often quieter.

[@elvoj5245]

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!

[@AWALLOFFICAL]

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!

[@RobertF420]

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

[@kiranraj4149]

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

[@emilian2142]

Nice and helpful tutorial, thanks!

[@markohm.4879]

Gracias por este tutorial tan práctico. Saludos desde España.

[@bavikon]

Great video for beginner 👍

[@martawd1]

Thank You great tutorials ! very helpful

[@sabeshbala1933]

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

[@DJ_Schuelze]

Perfect video Jamie, thx

[@jakehettinger1087]

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

[@IVAN3049]

Thank you 🙏 for the tips

[@househeadspeakz]

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

[@NeoMason2004]

I can't wait !I start djing

[@Khudoshin_proMoto]

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

[@monomakes]

Yea, really nicely explained! Thanks :)

[@iAm_KweenKatt]

Great info thanks so much

[@eurobeat33]

Great information thanks friend....

[@rajd33p42]

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

[@devilcity5827]

Thanks cross fader

[@djdeeonemix]

You're always the best

[@randytran1233]

Thank you so much

[@CleminforMix]

Great video bruh💯

[@nevhemm1981]

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.

[@NilMykhils]

Thanks man 😎👍

[@kevinrobinson4274]

Thank you 😊

[@DJ_AVIK007]

Epic buddy ❤️ i was waiting for #pioneer ddj sb3

[@djsid21]

Super Tip 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🔝🔝

[@joelbrandao4]

Nice video!

[@RonaldoFabian]

nice tutorial!

[@gurudattabeura6738]

Nice brother... I am from India..

[@JMacc213]

This was hella helpful.

[@FSwiftDJ]

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]

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

[@DavidSantiago1958]

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]

Is that freeware? Link please friend?

[@DavidSantiago1958]

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

[@brennanb2251]

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

[@shidypix8726]

Thanks

[@ic3manofficial]

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!

[@AT-wl9yq]

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.

[@Timesplitter777]

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.

[@bidders77]

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]

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]

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

[@gevikmanuchahri3955]

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

[@JammTj664]

@@gevikmanuchahri3955 witch button?

[@gevikmanuchahri3955]

@@JammTj664 level

[@JammTj664]

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

[@gevikmanuchahri3955]

@@JammTj664 so, i cannot map with software?

[@hellogooglefuckyougoogle1206]

Nice

[@manishpahuja5226]

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

[@BruceDavis2301]

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

[@seranes_silence]

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?

[@djyungblu174]

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]

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.

[@Msbenjamin]

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?

[@dj_paultuk7052]

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]

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]

@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 !.

[@courtneywilson8258]

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?

[@Inflow459]

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!

[@martijnd]

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?

[@DjSmoothNY]

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

[@allsmartcz]

Nice🙏🇨🇿

[@soundmasterz8306]

5:49 most important.

[@lustforlow-end6022]

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]

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,

[@gtabro1337]

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]

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

[@6thtankbrigade517]

what software are you using in this video?

[@dennisskyden2939]

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

[@andredeketeleastutecomplex]

Play in the red Now the sound is dead

[@dennisskyden2939]

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.

[@djevablessclarke3050]

i got sb2 controller but one side louder than one

[@tonycammie1269]

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

[@niekdehaan2214]

like this

[@alexanderbarbu9856]

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

[@LeonEdwards1976]

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

[@mattvincey]

Nice 😅😅😅😅😅

[@driesduyck469]

first lesson play good music !

[@erickmack4131]

*dont be a douche

[@djbhavishayush8292]

Wow

[@ninaschuller5935]

👍👍

[@TUNESDJS-cj1oz]

Wt happenes if higher level we keep

[@Dopydraws48]

No mention of amp and loudspeaker settings

[@niilojoukanen106]

Soon at 200k.

[@hot4futureyears2come]

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]

Adjust your level in pre-mix.

[@hot4futureyears2come]

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

[@andredeketeleastutecomplex]

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

[@hot4futureyears2come]

@@andredeketeleastutecomplex i will the next time , thanks

[@eylon951]

The trim is level for each channel indepently

[@tmus1905]

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

[@glenwong6195]

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

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

[@Bedrock1966]

Another word for gain.

[@RomanSpike]

Cool! =) Like )))

[@bobbywright6062]

Master Blaster rules Barter Town.

[@bobbywright6062]

DUH!!!!

[@Discoretrox]

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

[@joelshewey798]

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

[@BruceDavis2301]

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

[@andredeketeleastutecomplex]

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]

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

[@SnaikHead]

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

[@andredeketeleastutecomplex]

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]

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

[@andredeketeleastutecomplex]

@@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.

[@djskittles_3019]

CCC Csllsseeet

[@DanielGarcia-pr1dd]

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

[@musicdreamer767]

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]

If you’re not redlining you’re not headlining