To learn how to mix tracks is crucial in DJing. It is an important part to learn how to mix that you understand what a mixer does first and foremost. So just what does a mixer do? A mixer enables you to input sound from your turntable, output that sound to your speakers, and allow you to control your tracks.

To learn how to mix gets easier with time and practice. But before you actually learn how to mix, it is important to know some of the basic terminologies you will encounter when learning how to mix.  Understanding these terminologies will make your experience in learning how to mix tracks a lot easier.

Intro - the beginning part or the introduction to a song/track

Conclusion – the opposite of intro or the conclusion to a piece of music

Pretty easy stuff just before trying to learn how to mix! Now let’s move on to the parts of a mixer that you will use before you learn how to mix.

Master volume control – the mixer’s main volume control

Cross fader – a type of volume control; horizontal slide control on the mixer that enables you to decrease the volume of a track whilst increasing the volume of another. This plays a huge role in mixing tracks successfully and smoothly.

Part of learning how to mix is to understand a few musical jargons. DJs are, after all, musicians in their own right.

Pitch control – The word “pitch” refers to the vibration of a sound. But before you learn how to mix, remember that in DJing, the pitch control in your mixer enables you to alter your track’s speed.

Beats per minute – or BPM pertains to the tempo which means the speed at which music is played.

In some mixers, the pitch control will help you alter the speed of your tracks, but there are other mixers that will allow you to alter tempo and pitch separately.

For those who already have a background in music, this might prove to be easy. For those who don’t and are still confused, do some researching or let professional DJs explain this to you.

Down beat – the first beat of a loop in music.

So those are the basic terminologies you need to understand before you learn how to mix. Without prior knowledge of the necessary terminologies, learning how to mix will be a huge difficulty.

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