Turntable Techniques

Many DJs use symmetrical loops to loop melodies or drum patterns in continuous cycles. Asymmetrical loops, however, have distinct beginnings and endings. They can be used to change rhythms and create patterns on the fly.

Watch the Beat Refinery‘s Obeyah explain how to use them on this episode of Turntable Techniques.

Related: Using Loop Techniques to Mimic the Echo Effect

Popular mixers such as the Rane Sixty-Two and Pioneer DJM-S9 have a built-in echo effect, but a lot of mixers don’t. On this episode of Turntable Techniques, the Beat Refinery‘s As-One demonstrates a couple of ways to mimic the feature with your DJ software.

“It’s great to have these new fancy mixers with tons of onboard effects. But at the end of the day, the best trick in your bag is to master your software, so you’re not relying on any particular piece of DJ gear.”

Watch the tutorial above.

Related: How to Use Custom Cue Points in Serato DJ

Customizing the cue points in your DJ performance software can streamline and open up new options for your sets. On this episode of Turntable Techniques, the Beat Refinery‘s DJ As-One discusses how to use them in Serato DJ.

Related: How to Use ‘Transition Stingers’

DJcityTV and Beat Refinery are back with a new episode of the tutorial series, Turntable Techniques. This time, DJ As-One demonstrates how to use “transition stingers” in DJ sets.

Transition stingers are exclusive performance tools that start at one tempo and end with a sample. They enable DJs to drop a song of any tempo immediately after the current track. By being able to jump around different BPM ranges, DJs can add creativity to their sets.

Watch As-One break down how to use stingers above and download them only on DJcity.

Related: How to DJ House Music Like a Dancehall DJ

Reggae and dancehall DJs, known in Jamaica as “selectors,” are known for mixing multiple “versions” of the same instrumental with different vocalists. The technique can also be used outside of those genres, and is a great way to add creativity to your set.

On this episode of DJcity and Beat Refinery‘s Turntable Techniques, Washington, D.C. DJ/producer Obeyah explains how to mix

Related: How to Perform the ‘Rockit’ Scratch

DJcity and Beat Refinery have released a new episode of the tutorial series, Turntable Techniques. In the video, DJ As-One explains how to do the “Rockit” scratch, which Grandmixer D.ST performed on Herbie Hancock’s 1983 hit of the same name.

The song was the lead single off Hancock’s landmark album, Future Shock, which saw him venture into the worlds of electro-funk and instrumental hip-hop. “Rockit” is recognized as the first popular single to feature scratching and has been cited by DJ QBert and Mix Master Mike as a pivotal influence on them.

“You can gauge a DJ’s skills by when they use [the ‘Rockit’ scratch],” QBert said in the documentary Scratch.

Watch As-One break it down below.

Related: How to Make Acapella Edits for Your DJ Sets Using Ableton Live

The first two episodes of DJcityTV and Beat Refinery‘s Turntable Techniques series focused on using acapella-in and acapella-out edits in your DJ sets. Now, DJcityTV and Beat Refinery have returned with a tutorial that explains how to make the edits using Ableton Live. Watch above to see Trayze, a Red Bull Thre3style USA Finalist, take you through the process.

Related: Using Acapella Edits to Enhance Your DJ Sets, Part 2

DJcityTV and Beat Refinery have returned with a new episode of Turntable Techniques, this time focusing on the “silent cue point start” in Serato DJ. The technique enables DJs to keep their crossfaders and upfaders open while mixing in new tracks. It is essential for certain kinds of routines, especially those that require DJs to have both hands on one deck. Watch above to see instructor DJ Trayze, a former Red Bull Thre3style USA finalist, demonstrate the technique with two examples.

Related: Using Acapella Edits to Enhance Your DJ Sets, Part 2