Novice Help Virtual Dj

Rik, there’s nothing wrong with Virtual DJ 8 or any other DJ software one would use…and yes the time signature for the music is 4/4 (as is the case with 99.9 percent of Dance, RnB, Soul/Funk, and Pop music). However, the structure of music has–as you noted–8 bars and then a change happens. Albeit, there are breaks (or bridges) which could be as short or long (in terms of bars) as the artist or producer likes or is needed to give the singer a break (a chance the vocalist to catch his or her breath). That’s why Phil of Digital DJ Tips and DJ TLM of DJTLMtv.com always stress that you or we as DJs must always know our music–and definitely, the structure of the songs we spin or plan to play.

I use Virtual DJ (exclusively) and while as a beginner one relies on Virtual DJs Computer Beat Grid (CBG), waveform, or sync button (function) to beat match…Phil and DJ TLM strongly suggest one learn how to beat match by ear. Rik, …respecting that you’re a novice just starting out, I humbly suggest you continue to use whatever method that keeps you enjoying DJing. However, as you musicality increases along with you DJ skills, which they will the more you practice, I strong suggest you take to heart Phil’s and DJ TLM’s advice and learn to DJ (beat match) by ear. And most important, continue to listen to the structure and (musical “phrase” changes in the songs you want to mix, which is what your question was about).

Rik, what I find very helpful is to set cue points in Virtual DJ where I want to start and end my mix of a musical “phrase” mostly likely an “8-bar count” or (14-bars in your case). But, most important, make sure the length of the musical phrases lines up! And that you’ve completed the mix before the vocals start in the new track you’re mixing in (or the one you’re mixing out of) …usually at the end of “the hook” or breakdown/bridge of the song, or instrumental intro and outro—I hope this helps.

Welcome to the wonderful and enriching club of digital (or vinyl) DJing.

Respectfully,

DJ Nivekone a.k.a DJ Nivek1

P.S. DJ TLM at djtlmtv.com has some very informative video tutorials on counting bars, phrases, song structure, and beat matching…I strongly suggest you check them out–I found them very useful.

Rik, as a fellow VDJ user, I wouldn’t waste my time use VDJs beat editor, I would find the first beat (computer beat grid it) and then trust my ears to mentally count the 8-bar phrases, actually, you can dance to them for practice and hit the Cue Point(s) to see if you got them right. After a couple of times, you will get the hang of correctly counting 8-bar phrases. Then match the BPM by pressing VDJs sync button then off you go. At this stage don’t worthy too much about lyrics clashing or any thing else you main goal is to line up the down beat (the kick drum) and the (snare, or handclap, etc.) … Like this, remember the kick drum happens on beats one (1) and three (3) and the snare or handclap, etc. happens on beats two (2) and four (4) and then it repeats. Try this, tap you foot on the down beats (one and three) and snap your fingers on the upbeats (two and four) as you’re bobbing you head to the music…start with songs that have a BPM between 96 BPMs and a 100 BPMs and slowly work your way up or down until it becomes second nature. Which it already is because you can dance to the music without thinking about…and instinctly know when the musical phrase (8-bars) change will happen! Just do over think things Rik. Most important, have fun and dance while you’re mixing and you will be amazed at how fast you start beat matching songs.

Most important…don’t worry about beat matching solely by ear…just use VDJs sync button to get the BPMs the same, and use VDJs computer beat grid (CBG) to align the downbeat (one) of each song. Remember the thick square of the CBG must be under the downbeat of one {1} (preferably) of the 8-bar phrases but at this time it’s not necessary for you to practice what I described above. Start your mix on the “one” (of 1-2-3-4) in time with the “one” on the song playing then concentrate making sure you match the upbeats of two {2} and four {4} if it will help turndown the “Low” (knob) on the track you’re mixing (bringing) in so that you can concentrate on matching beats two and four…. Do this through the speakers without the headphones.

Peace out

DJ Nivekone a.k.a DJ Nivek1ast you start beat matching songs.