I just got assigned to teach middle school “technology,” which at my school means I can basically have the kids do whatever I want. I have full access to the computer lab and can install whatever program I can afford, as I don’t have much of a budget.
I was wondering if anybody had ideas of free or cheap software that I could use to teach prospective dj’s things that could open up the world to them. At the same time they are probably not skilled enough with computers, or music, or attention spans to really use complex audio programs. Any ideas?
how long is the class for. You could always download a 30 day trial version of Virtual DJ. If not mixx is also free and has all the basic functions, loop, cue, etc. You could make this a fun class.
I have the class til June, but I have to get in the office suite and I want to squeeze in some graphic design and some music production. Mixxx is genius, I should do that right now.
I wanted to also give them some ideas about music production first so they could mix with their own songs. Any free easy to use music production software?
for music production, there is mulab 6 track free version, or do a search over at kvrforums for free daw there is a handful of them on pc/mac, otherwise if you can go linux there are more free options
you get the Real time kernal installed, and a good base of audio software, editors, converters, daws, and i believe they throw a couple of midi sequencers and some trackers.
Depending on the operating system, I would either get a lite version of FL Studio, or just Garage Band.
IMHO it would be more productive to teach them the basics of production and navigating around a DAW. It would also give them a better understanding of the music itself - stuff like the bars, the beats, the frequencies, the keys and etc, before throwing the concept of DJing at them.
I was about 14 when I started dicking around with FL, Reason and Adobe Audition (when it was still called CoolEdit). And even though I’m still relatively crap at both production and DJing, it helped me get into DJing - which in turn helped me get better at production.
as they’re 13, i’m guessing they’re getting the ‘sex ed’ class soon to? maybe you could do something on how to spot the ‘jockey sluts’ you should avoid to tie in with that…?
and now back to the topic…
as it’s a technology class, how about getting in a tt set, a cdj set and midi set to show the evolution of djing, and how it can be more tied in with production depending on which software you use? would work well with education versions of ableton. they could mix and produce while learning one program/way of working. then they can go which route best suits them off that for a final project, like a 6 min mini mix/track production?
I say virtual dj is probably the best way to go, It was the first program i bought, I learned how to use it in about 10 minutes its simple cheap and fun to play with and you can do pretty much everything you can do with traktor just simplified and there are certain parameters the program sticks to to make a good sound where as traktor is a bit more expressive.
Ableton is a more complicated software which gives the user more freedom of expression, and construction of digital compositions,
If you wanna impress them going the dj mashing up tunes and different styles of music
if you wanna insipre them go with production and digital composition.
If you want to enthuse your class, then above all the lessons should be fun. Shouldn’t be hard as music IS fun. Don’t bog them down with MIDI or technical stuff, this is a taster course yes?
Skills that can help the kids with a career in music can be taught later. What you need to do is to inspire them to pursue music.
+1
Being 14, I started with Virtual DJ two years a go and found it quite easy. But how will you have them all playing at the same time?? And you cant really have headphones to cue, because they’d all need soundcards.
I’m probably going to start out with the free version of the DAW from mutools.com, then get into some of the basics of djing with some for real equipment, and then show the kids mixxx. Aside from not wanting to drop $4000 for the licenses to outfit our computer lab with virtual dj and ableton, hopefully, the kids can use the open source programs at home if they really get into it.
