DJing Basics - Lesson 1.1 - Introduction to Turntables and Beatmatching

Learn about the basics of DJing with an introduction to the Technics SL-1200s and the fundamental skill of beat matching.
This is part 1/1 of Lesson 1 of a two lesson series brought to you by Arthur and Alec @ DVC: UCSD.

[@colinbradford2671]

Lesson 1.2: Cable management...

[@hankigoe829]

it's pretty typical though, lol

[@rogersantallusia7873]

Haha

[@oliverconroy6894]

It’s a DJ setup not a drill Sergeants closet

[@DjNikGnashers]

@@oliverconroy6894 Even DJ's know about keeping power & audio cables separated to avoid the 50Hz mains hum (well - 60hz in the USA), being picked up by the audio cables.

[@lgvc6660]

hahaha

[@ulibader8412]

Back in the 80s and 90s mixing was really an art, and still today I'm impressed by the performance of some of my ex colleagues. Very nice tutorial for young DJs growing up with digital equipment only.

[@samgarrod4781]

It's a shame people feel the need to go anti-clockwise with the decks.

[@dannycourtis]

Thanks for taking the time to put this video together. I just got my first pair of turntables after using a controller for the last couple of years. This era of trance is my favourite genre. Now to practice what you taught :-)

[@dj.mk4]

I am doing the exact same

[@TeknoSmoki]

What do you think of that new Indira paganotto

[@_alexanderd]

Wow! That is the best vinyl mixing lesson I've seen on KZbin so far! Thank you very much!

[@TonyMontana33452]

LOL

[@Gameplayerxyzxxx]

best tutorial in this subject that I found on the internet

[@technopixie8258]

Thank you for taking the time to do this. I've been really struggling with working out which track is faster or slower. I'm going to try this technique now 🙂

[@imsmaug]

I only have one turntable but I got myself a cheap mixer with Bluetooth input. It took me like 5 days of daily practice to beat match and mix my first pair of tracks thanks to your tutorial. This is gold and watching you mix is inspirational. This feels addictive!

[@RamiTheIconShorts142]

What turntable do u have ?

[@maxencefroelicher9968]

Mate, yours tutorials are key!!! Thank you very much for you experience. Best Tuto of KZbin ever!!!!

[@ks506soton]

Thank you so much saved my bacon .. forgot everything that was taught to me when I did DJ lessons over 20 years ago..lol🥰 can safely practice before the party..🙏

[@chriswuzhere91]

Armin & Ocean Lab..... a man of culture!

[@Sp3z]

Great quality video, you deserve wayyyy more subscribers :)

[@BenShirai]

This video starts at 22:57

[@DJMonee727]

THAT VIDEO WAS FANTASTIC!!! THANK YOU !!! 🎶🎶🎶🎧🎧🎧

[@FoxRivers778]

Back in the very late 80's I only had one 1200 TT because they are so expensive. Otherwise, I might have been able to teach myself beat matching, since we didn't have KZbin back then. However, now that I can afford a second turntable, or even the clones they have out now, I didn't hold on to my vinyl. Still it's nice to finally get a lesson on this. Also you went into detail on the turntable so much I thought you might explain how to balance the tone arm since proper weight needs to be distributed to the record so that it doesn't bear too heavy into the grooves or slide off the record easily.

[@levishoemaker7005]

At first I wasnt sure if this guy was legit but once I heard him drop the needle on blue fear I got instant chills and realized he was the real deal.

[@Dbulkss]

levi shoemaker lol

[@WILLSTERROCKSTER]

0:09 So we have a pretty simple set up My Brain: all them cables tho

[@claudiamangano4940]

Super nice really what I was looking for to beat match without screen... thanks broder!

[@phillnevard9324]

This is a really useful video - thanks for sharing

[@iJohnyWalker]

Well, Satellite and Blue Fear, 2 top classics Tracks, could it be better? Thank you for this video!

[@trendingshortshorts]

I have a lot of trouble making adjustments by touching the platter! Maybe cause i have a bit of a tremor. I usually just keep it in time by moving he pitch back and forth and can do that much easier without anyone noticing . IS this the wrong way?

[@andycee8234]

Not at all.

[@patagoniatrance8475]

Trance 4 Ever. Saludos desde la Patagonia, Argentina.

[@ninjapo]

Must you sort your vinil collection based on close bpm and do you label each of them? Or would you normally just guess if their close or really far apart. Like 110 to 130 bpm, it could probably sound terrible when the pitch changes to match the other one.

[@underatedfunk]

I bpm my stuff but I have friends that don't bpm anything and just figure out each song on the spot

[@robertschnobert9090]

​@@underatedfunk my traditional DJ friend says that real DJs know their records by heart and labeling or sorting them by bpm is cheating haha labeling your records is basically like using the sync button or looking at waveforms 🌈

[@underatedfunk]

@robertschnobert9090 it is kinda like cheating but it's so your mixing sounds smooth and I have way to much records to know them all by heart but I definitely know my favorites..djing isn't easy for all of us so gotta do what u gotta do..all vinyl still

[@ninjapo]

@@underatedfunk I don’t think being organized and prepared should be seen as cheating, most purists just prefer going at things the hard way so they feel better about themselves and that’s fine too. Thanks for answering btw.

[@charlessmith263]

Did they have those SL-1200 twin vinyl decks at Studio 54? Those Disco DJs needed to be masters of those decks........

[@jimk1313]

First track is a record from Armin van Buuren? What a great music he made back then. Now it's fuck! Nice vid, thx.

[@chinaplateproductions1829]

Silly question but based on your calcs about bpm prior to playing them, can you pre-adjust the speed using the pitch fader without touching the record/platter or does it not lock in a speed change unless you manually adjust. Total newb question

[@lol69_52]

China Plate Productions the speed changes as you move the slider, you don’t need to always touch the platter, nudge or slow it down. People touch the platter and nudge it because sometimes it becomes off beat and some people think it’s easier to push it back in beat then adjust pitch so it doesn’t go off again if the speed is a tiny bit off the playing record.

[@djabusaqr5550]

Whats that turntables are its sl-1200mk2

[@NataliaElle]

Thank you for the thorough information :)

[@pro-air-tech-media]

Thank god he has good music

[@bazrigg3298]

Fantastic video thank you so much

[@Theonedjneo]

The phrasing in most techno happens every 32 beats.

[@samgarrod4781]

Thanks. I forgot that after 35 years....

[@romeroflores7576]

I have everything there...but, What are booth plugs? And do I need them? Also do I plugg in powered speakers in the DJ mixer❓❔🏁thx

[@finlaycarr6425]

Great video man!

[@mustafauygun4077]

What i need... Thank you man

[@xdg-a]

Just in case anyone wants to know the song name of the blue vinyl used from 20:25 - Armin van Buuren - Blue Fear

[@niraj7616]

Nice

[@isaiahcroskey72]

Question, can I only hear vinyl in mono when mixing through the cue? I can hear it in stereo in the master but I’m having a lot of difficulty mixing in mono

[@elitelevelmma]

Are you able to recommend a good brand of turntables to get started with ? Id rather buy something new instead of 2nd hand and then perhaps eventually invest in something like technics... but i cant really find any solid information for a reliable brand of turntables other than technics.... Thanks

[@jamesboughton7841]

Can't go wrong with Audio Technica AT-LP120

[@wesleysnipes8087]

Check out reloops bro, 2000’s or 4000’s

[@nebitnonebitno1957]

I think that Reloops are best value for money, if you can't get used Technics. Just stay away from Denons and Pioneer, they are not cheap and people do not have such a great experience using them

[@Dbulkss]

Technics 1200 M2

[@808chevykev]

I know it's years later but I recently bought a pair of ReLoop 7000s. Mildly priced and highly comparable in functionality to Technics 1200s from what I've heard in reviews. Caught mine on sale for $500 each. I love em.

[@MustafaSheikh]

such good explanation

[@sentino68]

Beautiful setup. Just curious, why are the decks rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise? I’m guessing to clear up the disc space area in front of you? I usually see the arm’s pivot at the upper right position.

[@imsmaug]

It moves the tone arms away from where your hands are working: on the records or on the mixer. I've seen some folks do it and some who don't

[@oviedo5554]

For how many seconds can i hear two vinyl in the right tempo before they get off tempo??? I mean how much time i will have to make the mix?

[@AlxMlh]

Please add subtitles ❤️

[@buddafingaz9403]

Cool video man, much appreciated, Respex, Big Upz, & Mad Love to the Skratch DJs....... 👍👊💪🙏😎

[@mannigolbarg9414]

Thank you so much this was great

[@freakanoizer]

Maybe not so useful, but you didn't mention that if you have turntables that doesn't have a super high torque like the ones I have, then the motor of the turntable has some difficulty to start fast if you let go the record. Then you have to nudge much more to get the record on beat. Other than that, thank you for the tutorial because I have a hard time beatmatching. Greetings from holland

[@saysheate197]

The SL-1200 mk2 was not the original 1200. It was the second (mk2 for mark 2).

[@robertschnobert9090]

Actually the original was the SL-1100 or SP-10 depending how you look at it. The SL-1100 was basically the "mark 0" for the SL-1200 :) 🌈

[@saysheate197]

@@robertschnobert9090 thanks! I stand corrected.

[@martnerby1]

23:00

[@antonoliva7200]

ty for the lesson 👀

[@kierenmoore3236]

Nice setup man! And great video!! :) Cheers

[@thearabsandle2870]

Why wouldn’t I just move the pitch slider rather than touching the record ?

[@thearabsandle2870]

Adjusting by hand helps dictate whether I should increase or decrease BPM? The slider then officiates this action.

[@TodaySatan]

Very thorough

[@astralboy]

what weight do you setup your cartridge stylus with?

[@timmteller871]

I just tested at which weight I can reliably que without the stylus jumping out of the groove

[@FoxRivers778]

"Put the needle on the record, put the needle on the record when the drum beats go like this". Also to slow a record down you can pinch the spindle. Now if you cue the second record on the beat of the first, wouldn't adjusting the pitch control be enough to get in sync or would you steel need to manipulate the record or platter additionally? If I understand correctly, manipulating the record or platter allows you to make more radical temporary movements while the pitch control is to make more permanent minute movements? My problem was I could again only afford belt driven turntables and of course their speed is not as accurate because you need a powerful direct drive motor to keep in time?

[@imsmaug]

some people call that "riding the slider" because you do all your adjustments with the pitch slider. Imagine you cue your new track on beat but it starts to slowly lag behind..you'd bump up the pitch significantly for a short time then bring the slider down to a position slightly ahead of where you started.

[@PeterShaw-lb9lt]

If you keep holding the platter and letting the belt slip it will get hot and stretch the belts and the turntable will run slow personally I would not learn from him that is my opinion

[@jonathanmccoy2616]

thats what i started with as dj jazzy j so you up and comeing dj's whatch this 🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@mollymurphy999]

Nobody mention all those wires? I couldn’t concentrate on a mix with that lot hanging about I’d want to tidy

[@drewlsy]

The question is: would you apply this bpm adjustment for regular songs versus instrumentals based in techno? By slowing or speeding up the tempo to match the next song in cue, it throws off the original tempo of that song. Does this happen more than I think it does? For example you have the typical "wedding" DJ who likely doesn't match the beat tempos, but just plays the songs in their regular speed. From song to song.

[@zanos.8861]

yes don’t make drastic changes to a song’s intended bpm, ideally in the +-3 range

[@robertschnobert9090]

The reason why a DJ adjusts the BPM is to make beat matching possible. Beat matching is popular for techno, house, and many electronic music genres. It's very rare to hear beat matching for pop music or rock. Most wedding DJs focus on pop music and they typically won't beat match or adjust the BPM. 🌈

[@drewlsy]

@@robertschnobert9090 I guess it's subjective, b/c I 've seen on other Dj channels where the Dj is slowing down the next song in cue to match the tempo and it was strictly a soul / R & B set. So imagine listening to a well-known soul song (for example, Midnight Hour by Wilson Pickett) at a slower speed than it's intended tempo, Then with no logic or reasoning on the next song he would play normal speed, so it was like he was selectively choosing to slow and speed up a certain songs, to change the flow of the se, allowing some to play at regular speed. To define what is a pop song vs house music or some techno, they're all songs recorded at a certain speed. However what is determinate of how you manipulate your set, is the nature of the event imo. If you're catering to a wedding audience, then you Dj accordingly, but if it's a late night party or even underground event, you're free to experiment I suppose.

[@robertrezek]

Thanks a LOT!

[@daverdal1]

Awesome!

[@Jjayy.2.0]

We’re to Get these equipment

[@lol69_52]

jay harris online on eBay or check craigslist. You can also get different turntables that aren’t the technics but will get the job done, rp-7000 mk2, at lp 1240, ntx 1000, st-150. You can find those at online music shops, Amazon, stuff like that. You can also find dj mixers there.

[@juanluna6620]

Are the vinyl all the same ?

[@FoxRivers778]

In another video do you go into matching musical keys? Obviously if you blend where their is only percussion it's easier than trying to blend with musical instrument or voice in harmony. Also, what about cueing the second record only with the headphones because you don't want to broadcast the second record while trying to sync with the first?

[@dilliboirubirosa9638]

« Control arm”? Tone arm, I guess you mean...

[@rickerthermanos6083]

Why not just use the fader/pitch at the beginning then ?

[@Ollie-s7x]

You have to listen to the speed of the tracks together first

[@botz77]

Are you left handed? I've never seen anyone scratch on the right side turntable with their left hand like you do. In fact, I use my left hand for the left side turntable even though I'm right handed. I wouldn't jump over there and us my right hand, so it just looks really weird to me how you hold your record. Sorry to be critical, what ever works for you is golden.

[@djescandalozonyc]

dj lesson 1.1 cable management

[@sergiopalomera3574]

B BOY...BEAST!!!!!

[@Traivss]

Every DJ has an empty box of Bounce fabric softener on hand. Helps with sound quality.

[@samgarrod4781]

It's Technics not Techneeks. Also Mark 2 not M K 2 mk'?

[@robertschnobert9090]

Try harder next time, honey. Technics is pronounced Tekunikusu. It's Japanese! 🌈

[@ayadesign3316]

All those cables need some better management IMHO

[@leewightman8619]

Dam what's all the cables about

[@vinceolsen9126]

Never seen so many cables, get them sorted out ha ha

[@Djnellthespinerbwry]

cool

[@samgarrod4781]

Why not set them up as they were designed?

[@joshuaespinoza534]

Talk about fire hazard.lol nice video though. Great information.

[@jeremylabrousse965]

hi can someone please update french subtiles. Peace

[@Paul-zu1iv]

Cable management 😂👍

[@SkyeVintorez]

Ok im just here coz im curious....

[@TheDjtricks]

🎵!

[@Paidonthedaily]

You need to tighten up yourdrops. Yourusingtechnics, you do not need to push the record. You can literally let it go onthe beat when its cued and beat matched. Practice your drops. Sometimes you may wanna drop it in with volume so, just a pro tip from an old school dj.

[@Dave0071]

That is one of the worst!! Dj Mixers Anyone Can use as a DJ to Mix SERIOUS!! LOL😆🤣 The Up & Down Faders Are So!!!!! Long!!!!🎚Lol.. & The Cross Fader Is Horible!!!🤣

[@earfortrance3776]

lesson 1. turn your decks the correct way around if your mixing trance, battle mode is for scratching lesson 2. get some proper turntables those pile of shit mk3d's are fucking useless for beat matching, mk2's or mk5's are analog pitch control, those things he is using are digital pitch control which isn't good at all for beat matching lesson 3. count in 32's not in 4's like he is doing, this guy is saying you can just drop it in at any bar but you cant coz it will make life hard for ya and unexpected things are gonna happen when you eventually go to mix the track in lesson 4. don't be guessing like this guy if its slow or fast all the time, try make sure it's too fast to begin with so you don't have to guess, then just keep slowing it down till your nearly perfect, then you have to listen good to find out if it's slow or fast, but always even when your gonna mix the track try make sure the 1 your gonna mix in is always a tiny bit too fast, and i do mean tiny, so when your actually mixing it in you can just dab it, the last thing you wanna do is have to speed it up, slowing it down slightly is easy by just dabbing the platter slightly with your finger, and when you do dab it try do it when there is a crash to mask the fact that you had to dab it, within about 20 seconds you should have your track nearly perfectly beat matched, the rest of the time which will be like 3-4 minutes will be spent on getting it absolutely perfectly where you want it, this is where the skill is lesson 5. forget nearly everything this guy has said and find a video of somebody that knows what they are doing, by following what this guy does you are only gonna learn how to mix badly

[@SuperNamedude]

you need to take a chill pill buddy

[@earfortrance3776]

@@SuperNamedude its facts mate, just saying it how it is, anybody with basic mixing skills can see this guy is doing it all wrong, he is more interested in trying to look cool than show people how to actually do it right, hence the stupid orientation of them decks

[@andrewmcmillan6159]

@@earfortrance3776 It's not facts, you're wrong- the m3d is *not* digital pitch. I literally just took one apart

[@PeterShaw-lb9lt]

I agree not a good tutorial to learn from

[@robertschnobert9090]

Haha I knew you were fake when you recommended people to look for a different video. Real DJs don't learn through KZbin videos. You have to figure that stuff out yourself, just like the people in the 80s did. ​Also learning to mix with records takes years of practice and the crowd doesn't give a shit if you use records. Mixing with records is a nice hobby for bedroom DJs. No club or festival will provide turntables for you hahha 🌈@@earfortrance3776

[@soulobliss]

Your cable management failed you. It’s an eye sore. Video immediately looks unprofessional

[@robertschnobert9090]

He's mixing with records of course it's unprofessional! Professional DJs use CDJs hahaha so many toxic morons here 🌈

[@ARSZLB]

work on your speech when you’re trying to teach people something, too many “um”s, “ah”s and “i should say”s. otherwise, great video!

[@ks506soton]

If the lesson work, what does it matter about speech... try talking and doing something practically, at the same time. It's harder to do when your doing two things at once.. If you think you can do better, do a video yourself!!

[@brockwilson5485]

Spastic hand movements

[@djman1st891]

Terrible

[@tobiCS_]

??

[@xdg-a]

no reason given, so not true

[@ks506soton]

Explain apart from everyone shouting off about cables.. he was just teaching beat match and phasing up. It was totally basic video.. think you can do better hot shot. Do a video yourself!

[@Fathom324]

Have the same decks but Black 😅