Most tracks you’ll be mixing end-to-intro (outro/intro overlap), but even then the timing of your release is critical. Timing is critical, particularly if you’re excerpting a segment of a longer track into your set. When you think about it, the single most important part of a successful mix is not to do with how you do it, but when you do it.
![cross dj how to use cross dj how to use](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Qq8qSWoNSqs/maxresdefault.jpg)
Mixing this way is much more difficult than using the crossfader, because you need to keep the overall level of the music more or less constant through the transition – this is done automatically when you use a specialised crossfading slider. You don’t have to bring the cued record up all the way, but make sure that you can hear it through the PA before you start reducing or killing the live channel. That is, bring your cued record level up before you start bringing the live level down. There is one golden rule when mixing like this: When you get to the showing-off stage, then you can try it one-handed… This will give you greater control and is certainly much easier. Depending on the distance between the channel faders, you might be able to move them both with one hand – but it’s probably a good idea to use both hands, and have one hand on each.
![cross dj how to use cross dj how to use](http://cdn.digitaldjtips.com/app/uploads/2013/12/09145543/cross-dj-android-main.png)
However, you can also mix by keeping the crossfader in the middle and using the two channel faders to change the levels directly. The previous mixing technique (that is, using the crossfader) presumes that you have both channel faders at the same level, and you’re just transitioning between the two. Of course, as you become more confident, you’ll start breaking these basic guidelines on purpose – and so you should, if you feel it suits the mood of both the music and the crowd. Generally speaking, your crossfades shouldn’t be too abrupt – there should be a discernable overlap, where you can hear elements of both tracks playing at once. This is more likely if you’re playing very long dance/trance tracks, but part of being a DJ is knowing when to transition and how long your crossfade should be. How quickly you move the fader across is important too – you’ll often want to bring in the cued record very slowly, and sometimes the overlap might be measured in minutes rather than just seconds.
![cross dj how to use cross dj how to use](https://img.audiofanzine.com/images/u/product/normal/mixvibes-cross-dj-for-ipad-148632.jpg)
The trick to this is timing and smoothness – you’ve got to start the transition at the right time, and move the crossfader smoothly from deck one to deck two (or vice versa). This is fairly straightforward, and you’ll probably get the hang of it very quickly – all you have to do is bring the crossfader from one side to the other.