How to Listen to a Song on Headphones While DJing

Using headphones can help you mix two tracks together.

Using a good pair of headphones while DJing is important for hearing every detail of the tracks you are mixing, which will help you to mix better. However, the main reason for using headphones is so that you can listen to the track you are about to mix into the next one without it coming out of the main speakers. This will help you to determine the ideal moment to blend the two tracks.

Things You'll Need

• Records
• Turntable
• Mixer

Instructions

1. Put two records on the turntable. Set the crossfader on the mixer so that Record One is playing through the speakers.

2. Set the cue controls so that Record One is playing through your headphones.

3. Switch the cue controls so that Record Two is playing through your headphones before you fade out Record One.

4. Hold your headphones so that they are only covering one ear. Listen to the two records at once and try to separate them in your head. Adjust the headphone volume levels if necessary.

5. Fade out Record One and bring in Record Two at a point when the beats match well.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure headphones feel comfortable on your head before you buy them.

• Buy headphones that are good quality so that not only will you get better sound but also they’ll be able to withstand wear and tear from frequent use. It is also important to get good headphones as cheaper ones have a tendency to emit higher frequencies, something that can damage your hearing after prolonged use.

• It might feel more natural to listen with one ear rather than the other while there is music playing through the speakers at the same time. Practice until you find out which is more comfortable.

References

• Beginner DJ: How To DJ: DJ Headphones
• "How To DJ Properly"; Frank Broughton, et al.; 2002