22 episodes

DJdownload.com brings you exclusive access to a new series of video tutorials giving a comprehensive guide to DJing on Pioneer industry-standard CDJ turntables - from the very basics through to advanced techniques.

This hot new series features international DJs Sarah Main at home in Ibiza (Episode 1) followed by the Jedi DJs - Phil K (Episode 2) and James Zabiela (Episode 3).

DJdownload.com presents How to DJ DJdownload.com

    • Music
    • 4.9 • 14 Ratings

DJdownload.com brings you exclusive access to a new series of video tutorials giving a comprehensive guide to DJing on Pioneer industry-standard CDJ turntables - from the very basics through to advanced techniques.

This hot new series features international DJs Sarah Main at home in Ibiza (Episode 1) followed by the Jedi DJs - Phil K (Episode 2) and James Zabiela (Episode 3).

    • video
    How To DJ - Episode 3 - Mastering The Scene with James Zabiela (Part 8 of 8)

    How To DJ - Episode 3 - Mastering The Scene with James Zabiela (Part 8 of 8)

    In this final instalment of the How to DJ series, James Zabiela continues where he left off last time: exploring mad-sounding effects – like the transform scratch effect.

    Now if you’ve seen James jamming then you’ve probably heard him rinsing the EFX-1000’s transform effect, which is a way to reproduce a transform scratch digitally.

    To demonstrate, James sets about creating one of his sculptures by looping a scratch sample and then introducing the transform effect. He also shows how he improvises live by creating patterns using the EFX’s beat select buttons to move the sound in all kinds of weird and wonderful directions. So watch those hands/transformers in disguise…

    The tuneage is supplied by ALiVE, who are still giving away Tom Budden’s track ‘Willow’ as featured by James in these tutorials. (Simply go to the ALiVE Recordings Facebook fan page to grab yourself a download.)

    Well, that’s all for now, folks!

    You can now download your free MP3 via the ALiVE Facebook fan page here

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    • 4 min
    • video
    How To DJ - Episode 3 - Mastering The Scene with James Zabiela (Part 7 of 8)

    How To DJ - Episode 3 - Mastering The Scene with James Zabiela (Part 7 of 8)

    One of James Zabiela’s trademarks as a DJ is the way that he scratches and transforms sounds. When done at the right time and place, this always turns heads. So the penultimate part of this series focuses on how to scratch it up, JZ-style.

    Taking certain techniques from turntablism and giving them a digital twist, here the super-dexterous star runs us through a few of his favourite tips and tricks. These include how to create scratch patterns and how to cut them using the cross fader.

    The CDJ-1000 is James’ first weapon of choice, plus he’s also incorporating effects and a feedback loop of his scratching via the EFX-1000!

    Once again, all music is supplied by ALiVE Recordings. And to celebrate the label’s 10th release, ALiVE is offering up a FREE download of Tom Budden’s track ‘Willow’, which James uses in these tutorials.

    You can now download your free MP3 via the ALiVE Facebook fan page here

    Subscribe with iTunes
    RSS Feed

    • 5 min
    • video
    How To DJ - Episode 3 - Mastering The Scene with James Zabiela (Part 6 of 8)

    How To DJ - Episode 3 - Mastering The Scene with James Zabiela (Part 6 of 8)

    We’re back with more beats and bites from master blaster James Zabiela as he loops us something fresh in this latest instalment of the How to DJ series.

    Yes, after looking at various different facilities and looping functions on the EFX and DJM-800 mixer, JZ finally gets busy with the CDJ decks…
    Here, he demonstrates how to do all sorts of useful things with loops, and even shows how to use a CDJ like a drum machine. Check it out.

    Once again, all music is supplied by ALiVE Recordings. And to celebrate the label’s 10th release, ALiVE is offering up a FREE download of Tom Budden’s track ‘Willow’, which James uses in these tutorials.

    You can now download your free MP3 via the ALiVE Facebook fan page here

    How to DJ is produced by DJdownload.com and Ministry of Sound TV.

    Subscribe with iTunes
    RSS Feed

    • 9 min
    • video
    How To DJ - Episode 3 - Mastering The Scene with James Zabiela (Part 5 of 8)

    How To DJ - Episode 3 - Mastering The Scene with James Zabiela (Part 5 of 8)

    Technophile James Zabiela continues the series with a demonstration of the beat roll effect on the DJM-800 mixer, which is a favourite for a lot of DJs. One of the many beat effects on the DJM-800, the roll (and reverse roll) effect is particularly useful as it also acts as a sampler for creating non-destructive loops, as James reveals.

    He furthermore shows off a few of his signature JZ moves involving the roll and reverse roll. These DJ gymnastics include how to edit the roll live, and how to assign the effect to different channels.

    James finishes up this clip with even more manipulation and further improvisation as he illustrates how to combine the roll effect with the mixer’s colour effects (including crush, filter, harmonic and sweep).

    How to DJ is produced by DJdownload.com and Ministry of Sound TV.

    All music supplied by ALiVE Recordings.

    Subscribe with iTunes
    RSS Feed

    • 9 min
    • video
    How To DJ - Episode 3 - Mastering The Scene with James Zabiela (Part 4 of 8)

    How To DJ - Episode 3 - Mastering The Scene with James Zabiela (Part 4 of 8)

    If you have ever heard James Zabiela finish off one of his high-octane DJ sets with a mad mash up of ‘thank you’ vocals, then you may be interested to know how it’s done live. That’s right, we’re now halfway through Episode 3 as James returns to continue demonstrating yet more techy tricks involving the famous feedback loop!

    First up, James plugs his headphones into the microphone input of the mixer and shows how he records in live vocals by drawing on the sampling and looping facilities of the EFX-1000.

    He also shows how to play in, layer and even edit extra looptastic sounds, such as hi-hats from a Korg Kaossilator.

    So get stuck in and expect stacks more tips from the digital music-meister over the next few weeks as How to DJ endeavourers to help you become master of the scene too.

    How to DJ is produced by DJdownload.com and Ministry of Sound TV.

    All music supplied by ALiVE Recordings.

    Subscribe with iTunes
    RSS Feed

    • 3 min
    • video
    How To DJ - Episode 3 - Mastering The Scene with James Zabiela (Part 3 of 8)

    How To DJ - Episode 3 - Mastering The Scene with James Zabiela (Part 3 of 8)

    DJ wizard James Zabiela steps away from the decks and waxes lyrical about buying, acquiring and organising his tunes. Yes, it’s all about the music in this clip, filmed at London’s Ministry of Sound. So snuggle up to the speakers with James as he talks openly about working with music in the digital realm.

    Ever heard of ‘blind’ record shopping? If not here James explains one of his favourite secrets, a method of finding new music that is done online, entirely by ear…

    He also talks about organising music according to what he wants to do with it and what technology he’s using, plus, of course, where in the world he is playing at the time.

    If you want to find out more about James’ current playlists in the flesh then you may want to check out his tour of the US that starts this June – when he gets back from Australia that is!

    The How to DJ series is produced by DJdownload.com and Ministry of Sound TV.

    Subscribe with iTunes
    RSS Feed

    • 3 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
14 Ratings

14 Ratings

Eat.Sleep.Drink.Music ,

Awesome!

Thanks for doing this, Im am just starting out and these videos really helped. Please keep them coming!

amateuraddiction ,

DJdownload ROCKS!!!!

thank you SO much for making these! they are awesome!! i totaly love them. keep em coming!!
(from your biggest american fan!!)

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