Word: djing
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Beatmatching, one of the fundamental pillars of DJing, is the process of matching the beats per minute of a given track to that of the song that is currently playing to eliminate dissonance in the transition from one track to another. VanMiddlesworth and nearly all other DJs also ensure that their transitions include cross-fading, which is the practice of preventing gaps between tracks by gradually fazing out of one song and simultaneously introducing another...
Above and beyond these basics, VanMiddlesworth employs more difficult forms of DJing: looping, for example, is the practice of taking a short sample from a song and continuously repeating it. This craft enables DJs to build up slowly to a long-awaited chorus or, in VanMiddlesworth’s case, create an entirely new beat or transition altogether. A dedicated DJ will also work hard in advance of a gig to place a series of good cue points for all of his songs—that is, find and mark a set of perfect moments to launch into a track...
...keep people happy at a party all you need is a few hours of software.” Though Hsieh hesitates to call himself a DJ, he also says that he has no desire to learn the art form’s more complicated techniques and plans to continue DJing parties whenever the opportunity arises...
Effectively, DJs like VanMiddlesworth and Zisiadis are specialty acts; the more an artist knows about DJing techniques and music, the less inclined they are to do the basic stuff that the vast majority of a crowd wants to hear. “You have to be at a place where people are expecting a DJ to do DJ things,” said VanMiddlesworth...
Ultimately, DJing is about striking a balance between the narrow register of pop jingles and an endless catalogue of the music DJs love—what for VanMiddlesworth includes “European techno minimalist house,” but for other DJs comprises a range electronica and hip-hop. John R. Regan ’11, who was the heavenly coefficient to Thorn’s Hell at the aforementioned party, has found a way to reconcile his approach with the demands of his audience. “I’m a remix DJ,” said...