DJ & Live Performance

/ 323 Articles

Scratching for DJs: Clover Tears & the 'Joe Cooley'

Chirp, chirp, swirl, swirl... No, we haven't lost the plot. We're practicing the scratching techniques DJ Sara Simms shows below. Keen to improve your scratching techniques? Read this now.

Using a Combinator for Live Performance in Reason

If you think Propellerhead Reason should be left in the studio when you play live... think again! In this enlightening tutorial, G. W. Childs shows how to get performing using the Combinator.

5 Essential Tips for Aspiring DJs

So you want to be a DJ? Here's 5 excellent tips from producer, DJ and Ableton Live trainer, Noah Pred.

What 2014 Might Bring for the World of Music and Technology

With 2014 almost upon us, Hollin Jones looks ahead into the mists of time to see what may be lurking there for musicians and producers.

Harnessing Session Automation In Live 9

Session Automation is one of the big features in Ableton Live 9 and as Noah Pred demonstrates is something you should be using both in the studio and during live performance.

Building Macro Racks for DJ Sets in Ableton Live

So you're performing live using Ableton? You're not using Racks? Really? Gary Hiebner has a treat for you with this tutorial on building Macro Racks when DJing in Ableton.

Controlling DJ Paramaters with TouchAble's XY Pad

Got an iPad? Got Ableton? Got TouchAble? (You really should have the later, too!) Tadhg Leonard shows you how TouchAble will fast become your app of choice for controlling Ableton Live from your iPad.

Serato DJ from the Point of View of a Twitch User

The roll out of Serato DJ for mixers other than Pioneer DDJ-SX has been slow and steady. In this article Tadhg Leonard explores its integration with the Novation Twitch.

Harmonic Mixing Tips for DJs

Creating a smooth transition between songs isn't just about beat matching. Sara Simms shows how to approach harmonic mixing (where two tracks are in related keys) to create a super smooth DJ mix.

Traktor Sync and Beat Gridding

Native Instruments Traktor can take care of beat-matching for you by locking the tempos of two or more tracks to allow you to concentrate on the creative side of DJing. Sara Simms shows you how.

Randomizing Effects and Devices with the Max For Live Device Randomizer

There's something so satisfying about randomly stumbling upon sounds and fx you'd never have consciously created. Gary Hiebner shows how to use the Randomizer Max for Live device to good effect.

How Sound Affects You: Protecting your Hearing

What is a musician's most important body part? Voice? Fingers? Arms? Feet?? Nope! Your ears! And, these vital tools need protecting even more than our precious studio gear. Lynda Arnold explains.

9 Essential Travel Tips for DJs

DJs live very transitory lives. Make no mistake, being a DJ can involve lots of waiting at airports, waiting in hotels, waiting everywhere! Noah Pred offers 9 tips to take the chore out of traveling.

Understanding Performance Mode in FL Studio

You've been toiling away in the studio creating excellent tracks in FL Studio. But your journey is not over... it's time to perform live. Gary Hiebner uncovers the joys of Performance mode.

Extending the use of your Akai APC40 in Ableton Live, Part 2 of 2

Akai's APC40 is an awesome bit of kit for DJs & producers. Rory Dow, master synthesist and Ableton Live user, explores how to make it even better using Max for Live. (Part 2/2)