The Stage Principle for DJs - Building A Story With Music

Read why and how applying stage techniques to DJ mixes works in the full article here: bit.ly/1ekxY8y Watch the full mix here: • Ean Golden - Mixing Fo...

[@TrNdke]

I came for the mixing tips, but stayed for Ean's funky disco moves.

[@JoseLara-nz1yq]

I'm embarrassed to admit that I've enjoyed reviewing this technique video for 2 years now and only just now realized I'd not "Liked" it on KZbin. Thanks for such an inspiring tutorial, Ean!

[@randyrankin682]

DJTT videos never get old mate

[@muayche]

Thanks for sharing all these ideas and for all the tutorials, DJ tech tools and ellaskins are the best tutorial makers

[@alphapyro360]

you sooooo rock dude! I absolutely love when a DJ hints at a song well before its played. its really fun for the people paying attention!

[@charleslwanga1380]

best ever tutorial. ive been to many festivals working backstage and listening to the dj's. and this tutorial kinda brings it all together. whats so funky is that these concepts u are talking about ive been working them into my mixes. kinda gives me hope that im on the right track to playing proppa :) thnks so much :)

[@Eugguy190722]

Great article. Great DJs have always known how to build sets. Building a set in a song is fun, but in no ways practical. The way music is created today makes the "Stage Principle" more or less obsolete. Most DJ's have ENOUGH trouble building good flowing sets that peak, dip and flow...nevermind creating another set in a song. (When in reality, I and other dj's have been 3-4 deck mixing for years. A good DJ will pick out elements of each song regardless and try to create a "themed-set sound". The trouble with mixing in this fashion is that you really have to pre-plan your sets in advance. If done on the fly, you are taking away from the overall set experience. Think looking under a microscope vs. a wide field of view. Both are important. You the ability to see the overall picture and see where you want to take your set, vs microscopically focusing on just a few elements of each song you are creating. If you are bedroom dj with an interest in production, this is right up your alley. For everyone else who plays out, this is like trying to take apart a sandwich and put it back together and then feeling like you have discovered something, when in reality, it sounds worse. With so many people trying out modular systems such as Ean, I can see why more and more people are trying to mix in this style.

[@cassiusjb]

Try as we must to do a little something different. It's too easy to just pop up at a gig with a Rekordbox key and a pair of headphones these days. YAWWWWNNN.... zzzzzz....

[@fakshen1973]

I'd like to see a tutorial on auditioning music. What are different DJs thought processes on adding material to use creatively? What is the thought process on the selection process? Selection of material is often overlooked. Like almost any process, if you start with great ingredients, the end results are usually much better. Be sure to include any processes for playback that might influence decisions: such as auditioning through effects, etc.

[@MisterPidworth]

Can you do make a tutorial of the booty shaking at around 6.11 thanks

[@ACKEBRACKE]

hahahahahahahahhaha thought of it to!!! XD

[@comasmoke]

This gave me a new perspective on what it means to mix. Thank you!

[@AdamCinemre]

Love it, so good, Ean! Especially the dancy grooves. Would love to see an updated version of this with some updated tech and new tunes :)

[@savvyjunglegem822]

So sick the way the traktor screens are displayed. Thanks!

[@YakAttack915]

absolutely love it. would like more "academic" tutorials. love perfecting my craft, and apprciate you putting these out. thank you

[@KevinLydonblog]

Jason Lee! You are just loving that mix. Love your energy and easy to follow instruction!

[@green5leaf]

thanks Ian - thank you for being a teacher, encourager, and innovator!

[@hansh2527]

Thanks Ean. I am a big fan of you since Iearn so much in one year. All because of watching your tutorials and excercise Hope you come one time to the Netherlands and organize a workshop for guys like me.

[@hiddekrijnen2882]

listen to the sets of maceo plex he uses this technique beautifully

[@DanielleKingdjdinosaur]

my hour long shows usually have a theme .Sometimes its a loose theme sometimes its very specific then at the end of four shows i edit together a four hour special.Theres a KZbin version which is usually blocked .Theres a Twitch version which after the broadcast is done will to varying degrees be muted and both the KZbin and Twitch versions include video and then there is a Mixcloud version which is audio only but does not get blocked or muted.The easiest themes are Valentines ,Christmas,Halloween and New Year I really enjoy doing the Halloween shows because there is a lot of good tunes for that period.

[@Balisong669]

Awesome tutorial Ean. Gonna try this with my S2 and F1 setup. Not gonna be easy but I think it's doable. Keep those tutorials coming. Absolutely love it.

[@randyrankin682]

+1 for Ean and DJTT, +5 for that absolute beast of an A+H... DB2 lookin' mighty fine...

[@voroshkin]

Love this guy!

[@inthydreams911]

Hey my brother is Ian Goldin, and your Ean Golden, and Im Eric Goldin. Thats pretty craaaay! ...Nice tutorial btw.

[@aurora2319]

Very creative and inspiring using 4 decks

[@JoshuaHeru]

i really enjoying thanks for the lesson

[@zhangtrain]

truly inspirational video!

[@djaamon]

Amazing video...just what I was looking for...I've been playing with traktor synced with ableton using ableton for kind of creating the overal energy of the mix using some atmospheric signature sounds and effects and in combination with this story telling style of djing which this video explained very well I can finally take my sets to a whole new level...thanx dj techtools

[@camiloandrespava1262]

Perfect Tutorial of how to Layer! Thanks a lot

[@attackrobotmonkey]

Brilliant video, Dj-ing = music story telling!!!!!

[@d4njou]

He's so happy doing what he likes! :) I'll participate in that contest for sure!

[@giga8847]

Dude i'm so impressed by your tips. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@itzSpoke]

Awesome tutorial! I'll give it a try for sure...

[@moonlitdreamsrc]

i haven't always liked this channel but fairplay that was really good 😀

[@bigskidot]

very nicely done!

[@djtechtools]

So they did! Post a link to your video on the article (listed in the description) instead.

[@omcasanova]

Thanks Mr Golden , as always awesome instructor skills

[@MichaelMiller-by8io]

This is an informative and well put together video! I really enjoyed it DJ TechTools , even though the mixing is beyond my comfort level. I am a newbie to djing. Anyways, awesome concept.

[@gus2321ly]

Very cool technique

[@ThePhanatik116]

Ppl really underestimate the art of DJing. Ppl say "oh it's just some guy pressing the play button." Please. This video shows DJing as what it really is. Art.

[@OfficialRelicMusic]

You guys should do a tour video of the new djtechtools headquarters

[@UnderGreyPreassure]

its like luciano and richie hawtin play but they play use ableton and traktor. so they use more ''characters''. But I think that the most difficult part is how to find these characters. I mean I listen a lot of house music everyday but when I am trying to mix these tracks the don't sound very properly. When I listen a playlist from luciano I like it a lot but I barely recognize that there are 4 tracks playing and by this way he makes you dance. It's like these tracks was meant to be played this way. But when I listen these tracks separately I relax a lot and I find that a lot of them are pure melody. How can he make so perfect choice of tracks to play them this way?

[@zCausper]

Best video ever. So inspirational and Educational. Keep it up!

[@musicstories9451]

Brilliant Stuff !!! Thank you. Very much appreciated.

[@DJAnointed]

Great video and love the concept. I think this video just made me keep my S4 and stay with traktor a bit longer :)

[@madlogik]

Forget about the keys and all.. back to basics.. trust your ears and guts :P I love your vids Ean. Thanks a million.

[@badfatherjames]

huh, I could see how F1 would be very useful when mixing this way. Finally found a use for it! Thanks for the video Ean :D

[@JohnPrefix]

He is referring to Harmonic Mixing, check out Mixed in Key

[@djiamshaneomac1781]

Ean Golden you're a mixing genius! Awesome stuff bro ;)

[@MODE_RED]

you are correct good sir

[@5oupFTW]

This is a really interesting approach, cheers!

[@cheefDJ]

People who vote down videos that are bringing new creativity to the table, really need their heads testing.

[@florianstephan5745]

AWESOME TUTORIAL!!!!!

[@j-rave9726]

Awesome mix sorta understand a bit more the concept of mixing with 4 decks :)

[@agustinamaria6774]

You are a genius! Where do you live, I would just travel to get classes with you!

[@charleslwanga1380]

ps, instead of 4 chanels, i will try 2 channels, sample deck and a live input. and that moment at 4:20 when you say sweet, yep.. was feelin that :)

[@bassedandguitarpilled]

You have inspired me so much, thank you so much for this video! This is amazing ^.^

[@atubaman1]

love the sitar outro

[@ricksanchez4344]

Well thats art

[@Jharries1971]

Great video, great vibe

[@claramb73]

Love it! Plus you are really cute dancing!!! thanks for your lessons they are great!! :)

[@chainsawkarate]

great job.. love your videos!

[@Styxxxxxxx]

So after the theme has resolved after one track, do you take the next theme from a few bars of the next track? You said the theme is the musical backbone of the whole mix. Does that mean the whole mix as the whole set or just 1 mix of two songs?

[@djkrazythug]

this was great

[@toomuchsugar5051]

Haha he sounds like my drama teacher. Good stuff man.

[@bboymac84]

Love the dancin gotta come to your studio break out my windmills. Lol

[@josephhewitt5173]

This is really interesting this has completely opened my eyes to a new way of DJing besides the constant beatmaching/ mixing in-out of tracks. So theoretically, would you have a background and a theme for every individual song in your set or would you keep the background and theme for every song ?

[@ArtiimusPlays]

You're SO helpful man.

[@dmart2311]

Ean what tips would you have for someone who only has access to 2 channels to incorporate some of techniques?

[@fraqqq]

Oh! So sweet!

[@djtechtools]

Full mix video is now in the description!

[@SpeoMusic]

Ean's a legend.

[@pepedlux]

Fantastic video! Love the concept, but I couldn't help but notice the audio sounds a little muddy in comparison to your other vids. Different microphone? Sore throat?

[@felixus_minimax]

where are the responses?

[@chaz-e]

6:11 This is why I love Ean.

[@SnackerPower]

Where is the video with the full mix?

[@smashcorefilms]

Passion!

[@DJcromestyle]

Nice.

[@lineofnotes]

You make it look easy :)

[@NumptyButtkick]

Excuse the probably noobish question (only got Traktor yesterday and im furiously watching as many tutorials about it on here as i can), but could you essentially do this using the sample decks/remix decks if you only have say the S2? Very impressive video btw Ean, inspired here :)

[@DavidSanchez-dj6rs]

like the X1 mapping with VU meter!!! is it in the forum of DJTT?

[@diegorosafio2605]

well done! after play the 4 character, what is the next step?

[@RaquelFoster]

I like to play with layering loops, but sometimes I have two things that I think would be great together, but they don't really work because it's a mess unless I cut the mids on one of them. And cutting the mids might take out the character I liked about the track. Sometimes I wanna get a sidechain compressor to see if I can get around that problem. I'd love to see a more technical discussion about how you EQ all this together, but I assume you're just planning tracks that get out of the way of each other easily. It looks like you've got the bass cut on every channel except #1, but then the highs are actually cranked up on EVERY channel? Interesting :)

[@ozgur8734]

db2 mixer has channel filter mode. thats why knobs positions are different than usual eq

[@prodj.mixapeofficial6431]

if it's not in stems, u can usally layer it but picking just a part of it. you can pick the iconic riff or instrumental on the 1st song and drum and bassline on the 2nd one. EQ and effects like reverb can make distances between two tracks.

[@f.k.a.soffers1669]

Professor Golden

[@jorgemartin3057]

YOU ARE A FUCKING GENIUS you should make videos more often

[@Godes_Music]

got a cool video for the challenge but youtube blocked video responses you need to fimd another way to make this work

[@GJLCreativeStudios]

6:24 get your shimmy on brotha!

[@Zaknafein8]

What if you want to change main theme and change songs? which "character" do you change first?

[@XaserII]

also, where is the full mix?! i wanna hear it!

[@MrdNutri]

Hi i want to know what you think about the numark v7 and the numark mixer x5 beacuse i have two v7 but i dont know how to scratch and i dont know if i can only mix with this equipment

[@acquacow]

I've done similar but mainly on tracks with really short 4-8 beat intros that then immediately drop into a vocal phrase... never tried juggling around random loops on longer tracks. My only question is... how do you manage to keep track of phrasing/etc? Do you just beat jump your loops around to try and line things up again later on if you wanted?

[@konpadelic]

nice, I like your set up too, how you get these two controllers mapped, as a deck or??? You are using Traktor pro?

[@EasyRecipes24-7]

amazing,,,, thanks a lot I wish I could do that hahaha

[@t2d0]

u can loop a drum line even if the key isint the same or even close...

[@DJRickyJay]

Those knobs must be real hot to have such pop action :)

[@congarou]

5:57 Ean get into the groove!

[@NumptyButtkick]

Oh and a second question, when you bring in the 2nd main character (Alive - Jakob Liedholm) what is the effect/filter your using to bring it in? Sounds pretty epic.

[@deathsta83]

I only respect people that know how to spell vinyl

[@Kubante]

hey ean, one question: are any more contests planned in the future?

[@Toma_Stoichkov]

naaah, it might've sounded like this but I'm pretty sure he realizes your point. Let's assume this statement was there for the purpose of the exercise and in the context of the tutorial :)

[@Oscarjair95]

Perfect

[@claw9414]

I thought youtube got rid of video responses?

[@brianmccloskey8575]

Ean I was wondering if you could possibly link 2 laptops to one dj mixer for a b2b set using traktor pro 3?

[@joneswemms4060]

Yes its possible, just look at the Xone:96 vids with traktor, those were sinced through midi I think