6 Tips for Quick Mixing Every DJ Should Know

[@NickSpinelli]

What's your opinion on quick mixing?

[@salvadorvillanueva148]

Always doing it unless I’m playing background music

[@cooperbrown4510]

When I started quick mixing a few years ago the energy on the dance floor completely changed in a GOOD way. I try to only play 2-2.5 minutes of each song. I do not play just 45 seconds of a song though

[@colinfonolleras9918]

It blows my mind that it still isn’t industry standard yet 🙄🙄

[@blakestrother5122]

For sure you should! I'd only add a few things. I think a plan is particularly important if you're quick mixing and hard shifting tempos. Phrasing is important but in the case of tempo changes I also think a fire song selection plan here cancels out the need for transition tempo records. I also have turned away from edits more and more over the years. One reason is because I find that modern records are already 2 minutes long to begin with and artists like Billie Eilish or Travis Scott already have songs that are structured like edits. The other things about modern edits I strongly dislike is they tend to pair two songs that I find audiences think are irrelevant. It's usually a nerdy wordplay edit but it assumes audiences make connections like their in their daily listening. They totally used to but not anymore. Edits and redrums that address structural issues of a song are fine though. just my 2 cents.

[@hectorcalderon1829]

I absolutely love quick mixing, It keeps me engaged and the crowd hype. !!!

[@davidalexander4724]

bro your channel is by far becoming the best dj resource ever, you've been making content nobody else does and its so needed. much respect and jerzey love

[@NickSpinelli]

I appreciate that thanks man!!

[@originalnixflix]

For real. It could be a Master Class

[@SamVecchio]

Agreed!

[@djkanoya]

Last 15 minutes of the wedding is all about quick mixing. Get in all that stuff you forgot from earlier or couldn't work in, and build up to that last dance!

[@NickSpinelli]

hit em with ll the fire the last 15!

[@djceelos5427]

One verse and Chorus and on to the next one!
I usually play songs around 1:30 to 1:50 minutes before I eventually mix in the next one. Usually when it’s the very beginning or end of the evening I may play two verses or more to kill time 😃

[@NickSpinelli]

I hear you ceelos!!

[@ReturnIILoveEntertainmentFtDjG]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Nick the saved by the Bell clip got me! You're made to do this dude 💯

[@DJ_Osiris]

I live for the Ooos too. But even more so I live for the bump. If the dance floor is busy and bumping, I'm a happy camper.

[@DJGaryP]

This dude should have a a few hundred thousand subs in his near future 👍🏻

[@DJMichaelKhoury]

Seriously!!! 👍

[@NickSpinelli]

Thanks bro that means alot!

[@NickSpinelli]

🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@djairalert422]

Definitely

[@timsmith8506]

Not gonna lie cutting off half of “oh, we’re half way there” is kind of hilarious. Not sure I wanna be the one to try it, but it love to see the video of someone doing it!

[@mox-eimprovement7466]

Not only does he quick mix, but he quick talks lols love you Nick

[@jasong.3985]

You got it bro! Peoples attention span is super short. They get bored fast and can't wait for the next song.

[@NickSpinelli]

yes!

[@poziebooths4027]

Very good video.. I will start quick mixing more at weddings.

[@NickSpinelli]

Go for it!

[@gt4033133]

Excellent..Thanks for those tips

[@NickSpinelli]

My pleasure!

[@clarkfrazier3826]

I take an in the middle approach that works well in North Carolina. People here get tired of songs when they’ve heard or sung the chorus twice. I typically play the best 2 verses and 2 choruses of each song. The only exceptions are songs that aren’t working and the few songs that people want to hear the whole thing. My dance floors stay packed and I don’t get those dirty looks from people when I cut the song too early and I don’t lose energy by playing the whole song.

[@dannysvinylrainbow4852]

100% DJ!
I like to make quick mixes. And thanks to the dj pools, they make 2 min versions of popular remixes. Theres no better time than now to do short edits in a set. Well said, gr8 post

[@davesbfan]

What Nick does with quick mixing is an absolute artform and 100% a performance rather than just playing songs, but as a bog standard UK pub DJ just starting out and playing to crowds of ten to thirty people it's really a big risk for me to quick mix out of a song that half the room is bopping to and maybe send all the dancing ladies outside for a cigarette break instead. Even from tonight's gig I resisted the urge to quick mix out early after one chorus and they were still drunkenly singing along to the third chorus and loving it, with more people dancing than at the first chorus.

[@LucvanVliet]

Well quick mixing is one of styles and very useful in some events. Not the only style and your opinion about other styles is, in my opinion, a little short sighted.

[@paulwillhite6730]

Ok have to give some credit. I was strictly long play format, and mixed a bit quicker the other night and it went over well. That said due to the nature of where I DJ there are still several tracks I will still have to long play *(the crowd WILL riot if I don't ) but mixing a bit quicker does help keep the energy up.

[@jcarter1742]

Club/party vinyl DJ back in the late 90's & early 2000's I did this & I had no complaints.

[@wolfgangjr74]

Im sad that are started late in my life to learnt to DJ but it has been a fun short journey so far and you have provided some awesome tips. I am so happy that I have accidentally learned a lot of your tips. This topic has been something I have been fighting with and it seems that I do need to learn this as well. Thanks for these awesome pro tips and videos.

[@djmads5661]

You are so right. I have watched many of your videos. And you are SO right. Even here in Denmark , you will be right 👍😍

[@j.domusic]

I’m challenging myself to be able to DJ for a party within 10 days and your videos are helping me so much 💪

[@imeuanlawrence]

Preach!!

[@rickyventolajr2174]

Quick mixing is must! This is why I have/use short edits mostly or like you said cue points setup. I find it keeps the energy up better!

[@NickSpinelli]

Totally agree!

[@playadeldiablo]

Paradise by the dashboard light!!!! Love that song...

[@djmhaffa]

I'm so interested to know what other song you play after "Im so excited"? You be killing me bro with ideas! Keep up the good work

[@MarlonAce]

Nick you're f*ckin hilarious. But extremely knowledgeable. Absolutely right tho, mix quickly or get lost. We're here to provide a dope experience.

[@allandenola5968]

Great great tips and video . I grew up beat matching everything back in the day . The weddings I do now you have to quick mix most of the time. And people love it.
I spend a lot of time setting those cue points and sometimes even jump forward at certain boring parts 16 beats or so.
Gonna look at more short edits like you suggested in bpm supreme now 👍😎

[@NickSpinelli]

I love it Allan!!

[@djkvnjmz]

I appreciate someone else using my same analogy and same sample and bon Jovi. Your channel is great nick. Worth the subscribe 👍👌👏🙏

[@djindo6513]

Dope video!

[@timpatoine284]

Awesome Video Nick!!! LOVE Quick Mixing!!!

[@NickSpinelli]

The best!

[@donnycollins1797]

I didn't even know this was a thing and did it by accident for the last 15 minutes of a really big wedding and had gotten a barrage of requests. It was fantastic!

[@DanielleKingdjdinosaur]

verse chorus and then mixing during the instrumental or over some beats or cue to some beats where you can go in many directions.

[@grandstan9448]

I agree Nick. I would add when playing older hit songs for an older crowd you may want to play a little longer depending on the song.

[@darioguberman]

Excellent! Even if people doesn’t get bored of the song it’s good to move quickly to the next one leaving the audience with the desire for more. If they end up completely satisfied with one great song they might be less eager to dance the next. One thing I loved to do one or two times per night wast to make everybody shout one chorus and surprise them changing to another song instead of coming back to the same one.

[@luukipuuk3537]

I’d absolutely HATE if I were singing along and then you’d mix out right before the catchy chorus lmao

[@DJ_Duvall]

right there with you son the ooohs

[@BennyBNYC]

When I DJed in clubs I’d play one verse and chorus then mix out. At weddings I play two verses and choruses then mix out. Besides line dances and sportscaster voice, quick mixing is the number one thing my couples say they dislike in our initial meeting. They don’t say “quick mixing,” they say something like “playing a song for one minute and then changing it.” I love quick mixing but I don’t think my wedding crowds do. That being said, the average age of my couples is 28 to 35. So maybe older than average. Also they are mostly Brooklyn hipsters. Also, maybe two choruses counts as quick mixing to some DJs? Regardless, great video as always. Thanks for making it.

[@NickSpinelli]

I get that request every once in a while but not too often. But I can definitely see Brooklyn hipsters saying that haha

[@djstevenferreri9557]

You have a good point I had the same issue. I also had the same problem with my remixes because they did not recognize them. Then I was trained to bring my song in Properly .For an example like the House of Pain Bring it in when the horn is there as long as they recognized it when you bring it in they will go with it 100% and won't mind it. Give it a try. Good luck.

[@djfingersflores]

I've had clients tell me many times "don't cut the song so quick". It really just depends on the crowd, sometimes i do it sometimes i don't. I saw a young DJ get punched in the face and get his nose broke from quick mixing way too much. 20 songs in 10 minutes, yeah he definitely had it comin'. LOL

[@djFreshVince]

Another tip ... Read the crowd & the moment, because occasionally we have to let certain songs breathe a lil' longer. Especially when ur crowd grows more while they sing along & shouting their "oohs" and you're about switch it in a few seconds.

[@NickSpinelli]

yes!!

[@ToussaintProductions]

This ^

[@RazSadde]

man you are the best !! i love the way you explain so in details thanks man.

[@DJTeddyJetts]

I totally worry about mixing too quickly. But what you said makes sense. Every song that doesn't get a reaction...quick mix it out...when you land on a reaction, let it breathe...try to play a song of similar vibe, rinse, repeat.

[@DJMichaelKhoury]

Hit the nail on the head Nick! Thanks for the great content! Definitely going to make crates of just short edits for speed mixing giving way more opportunities to wow the crowd!

[@NickSpinelli]

You got it bro!

[@Ozma86]

I am so happy I found you channel! You are amazing!

[@lperez123]

100% Correct

[@charbelyahchouchi2183]

awesome!

[@NickSpinelli]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@kellyc7711]

Good info. Great points. Another reason why folks only know 1 part, or a hook, is because the songs aren't as good as they used to be.

[@moore2music]

Nick your vids are FIRE brother! I look fwd to them all.

[@allandenola5968]

Love the short edits suggestions - oohs and aahs is right on

[@djmadmatt74]

Nailed this 100%!

[@NickSpinelli]

thanks!

[@billykatsoulakis8258]

Nick your videos are the best

[@originalnixflix]

This is why Girl Talk is one of my favorites. All the catchy parts over the course of 2 hours or so

[@eli-shulga]

oh man, you are becoming my wedding dj guro/god.. this is very useful thanks

[@scitch34]

Good stuff! Quick mixing keeps the party moving!

[@NickSpinelli]

Always!

[@onelove9877]

Thank you that was a really nice video

[@larrylindsay6708]

great video, thanks!

[@ToussaintProductions]

Quick mixing gives energy

[@molina6711]

Best mixing video ever!

[@djstevenferreri9557]

Great information! I recently changed my mixing Style 2 power mixing. And yes I do get people here and there that want to hear the full versions especially at a skating rink.The old-school shufflers like to hear the full versions. LOL. I have gotten a hold of some short edits and it helps a lot. I have some Beats that are looped and recorded. I will play the loop Beats on one channel and then on my other two channels just feed other songs over top of them. This will give you a power mixing sound as well.

[@superdad8274]

Are you using sync to get this done?

[@bigjoker6892]

On point man great video!!!

[@djsparkyy]

You can also use que points within a song to chop out slower parts or skip over sections

[@MrDJMikieMike]

I do the Quick mix, but there are times especially in NEPA the Bride and Groom specifically say and put in writing NO QUICK Edits or Scratching!! So I make sure it doesn’t happen at their event, but I love the Couple that gives me free reign on how to do the Dance Music after the Meal!!

[@NickSpinelli]

amen!

[@DJ_Duvall]

sectional mixing fire

[@djchinodmv6573]

Well said🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@NickSpinelli]

thanks!

[@djchinodmv6573]

@@NickSpinelli Thank you🙏for your time and effort

[@satualaleaupepe1458]

YOU'RE 100% RIGHT ABOUT WHEN YOU GET THE "OOHS", I LOW-KEY LOVE IT LOL!! ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET THE HI-FIVES FROM THE CROWD HEHEHE

[@JamesSmith-gk8sz]

I would say (in my experience) the only time you can getaway with playing an entire song is at the end of the wedding, night, party. Should be a song everyone knows and can sing along with and *wants* to hear all of.......usually works well. But again, should really be the last song of the evening if ever.

[@wmjonesjr70]

Nick, great video and a teachable moment. I quick mix all the time. Like you said, playing songs the full length is obsolete unless it’s one of your classic songs that everyone loves and enjoys singing to it. But other than that bro, I’m in and out. 😂😂

[@djsound-nice7637]

Short Edits are life savers

[@cooperbrown4510]

Short edits are KEY!

[@ScojoDak]

Always good advice. Thanks Nick 👍

[@NickSpinelli]

My pleasure!

[@137damek]

For me the best way to lern quik mix is get the 45s! Try mix 45s, your ears will be sharp, you'll lern using all the drumrolls beforee the one and overall work quik. Then go back to serato and set que points!

[@Pieter2360]

Oowh’s is what we do it for 😎

[@Diamondblend]

short edits/quick hitters ftw!

[@NickSpinelli]

yes!!

[@DJAUDIO1]

Really great advice. Blessings Nick.

[@NickSpinelli]

Thank you bro 🙏🏼

[@djyungwill]

Not to shit on ur video Nick but I got two more, no actually 3. Tip 7: Learn to mix without intro edits.
Tip 8: If your controller or mixer has beat jump, use it!
Tip 9: Learn to just drop shit on the 1!
follow this video combine with my tips and you’ll be a master in no time!

[@coreyrock3022]

Short Edits. Where can I buy them? I need to change or just add another tool to my bag of tools. Thank you!

[@judekraft8104]

Dude we been quick mixing ever since day one since I’ve been djn hiphop and club

[@P4boot]

4:31 where's the donkey??? 😂 good video, if somebody doesn't advise a novice DJ on this, they're gonna eventually figure it out. You really have to mix fast otherwise you'll lose your dancers. Thanks to tiktok and social media for putting this stress on DJs! Lol

[@KENAXION88]

I only mix EDM, and quick mixing/speed mixing/power mixing is something I've worked particularly hard on. Build up, drop, build up, drop, build up, drop. But with EDM though song choice is incredibly important. The rhythms have to be if not the same, then very similar. Otherwise it sounds messy and you look like a fool.
I particularly play from the hard dance genre. So your "hard psy" sub-genre and reverse bass kicks go the best together. Regardless of the genre though, if you're mixing EDM and want to quick mix/speed mix/power mix, the rhythms must be closely aligned, or the same. The bouncy-er/more upbeat, the better. It's even better if they're in the same key signature or harmonic signature.
Most recently I did a full 35 minute recording of only quick mixing. Went through I think 80 something songs.

[@superdad8274]

How do you come in with just a chorus? How do you get out of the other song to bring in “i’m so excited? Thank you

[@wes_wunder]

ALL ABOUT THE OOOOHZ!!!

[@theogee02]

Why don’t you give us a demonstration of how you quick mix. Would be interesting to see and also maybe learn something from you

[@NickSpinelli]

I really will soon, just been a struggle with copyrighted music on youtube. Trying to work around it

[@louguzzo4977]

Always on point! WWWOOOOHHHH!

[@NickSpinelli]

haha thanks Lou

[@AaronStrawn]

Short and hook first edits for the win! Great vid Nick. Pour Some Sugar On Me is 5 goddam minutes long lol

[@NickSpinelli]

lmao i know that's right!!

[@djchazzimmerman]

Can you make a mixing video showing how to do this

[@evilsohn]

Tip #1: Not only do Chromebooks boot up fast, they stay as fast as if you booted them up
on day one - wtf youtube ads 🤣🤣🤣
Love these videos - while most don’t apply to me because I only DJ stream, there is a big YET behind that sentence, because you never know 💜

[@DanielleKingdjdinosaur]

I use cue points to cut down a tune from three to four minutes to two to three minutes .Sometimes i make edits because it works better than cue points sometimes i mix the same song to get to the good stuff.There are exceptions to this approach and also there are edits which might need to be longer but as a rule thats how i do it

[@bobschwall1970]

Back in that day we called this hot mixing or playing “hot mixes” about a minute and a half to three minutes per song.

[@NickSpinelli]

haha true true I forgot about that

[@alanmodimages]

Yes! Chicago style House Music was all about the Hot Mix. Look up WBMX or WGCI radio here on UA-cam. Best days of House :) But we did it with Vinyl :)

[@rickquesada925]

Oh yeah, Hot Mixing 🔥

[@zendygarrido6177]

Whaaaat? You are telling me in 2021, people still cant beatmatch or phase correctly? Those are given even if we are not playing the entire song. But we do need to hold the rookies hands nowadays. I remember being thrown into a dj booth and simply was told "make them dance". I am an old man tho.

[@NickSpinelli]

lol there's always people who are learning and always people who just "never learned"

[@bboymac84]

Make sure to put the quick edit songs in a different folder. DONT MIX THEM IN THE SAME REGULAR VERSIONS!! Trust me!!

[@NickSpinelli]

true!!

[@superdad8274]

Why is that? Why not mix them together? Thank you

[@bboymac84]

@@superdad8274 helps you mix faster. You want to keep that transition swift and smooth

[@superdad8274]

@@bboymac84 thank you Mac!!

[@soundssecure6238]

Nick, please do a quick video on Short edits .. please 🥺

[@cloony1]

That's why I'm only play the intro for Bohemian rhapsody 😂

[@Dyerdrummer]

Killer channel bro! I'm guilty of playing the whole song 😭😭 or I will fade out and just fade in to a different song that's not even the same BPM or vibe. Your channel is helping me a lot.
What is your opinion on fading actual line dance songs out? Like Cupid Shuffle sometimes people are still dancing but I feel like some of those line dance songs are really long

[@techusmaximus7102]

Hey brother your videos are dope I enjoy them they make me laugh. I’ve got a pro tip for ya. People don’t “take” shits they “leave” them….I hope people aren’t taking shits that’s disgusting 😂 so it’s “bro I gotta find a bathroom so I can leave a shit somewhere” not “bro I gotta find a bathroom so I can take a shit” that implies one is gonna take that shit outta the toilet and bring it to the mall or something 😂

[@djazpremier]

I quick mix only like my last hour or last 45min. One verse. I normally let two verse go through each song unless the song is a extreme banger then maybe I'll let the whole song play.

[@NystromProductions]

Generally speaking......this is a great video!

[@NickSpinelli]

LMAO this is the downfall of not using a teleprompter or script 🤦🏻‍♂️😂

[@jasonthornbrugh9474]

What do you do in those rural areas. I have only been DJing a few years. I play for crowds less than 200 people and typically 150 or less always. All night long requests for songs to be played. Dedicating songs, etc. Almost all country folk. lol Would love to do more of what I love and that is creating and showcasing those mixes but man....do you stop requests tactfully early on?

[@art.isempowerment]

Im starting to use quik edits but I wanna do mash ups with acapellas and instrumentals but live doing that and scratching and effects are messy when not tight. Can you do a video on mashup mixing live? Thanks
Your tips are helping me prepare for my 1st Wedding Gig in June

[@johnborja6409]

What they mean by "people get mad when you don't play the whole song" is that there is ONE aunt of the bride who complained

[@briandjtex5475]

Ooooohhhs!!!!!!

[@NickSpinelli]

NEW OOHHHHHHS

[@Jonathan_Knight]

new sub

[@bronwyn6704]

Beginner question what is quick mixing editing software

[@djmarkymarks.f.4153]

How's it going Brother Nick.. A little trivia question for you, what DJ was the first to do Quick Mixing?? There's alot of Dj's out there but this one is from San Francisco and was the only DJ to be Live on the Radio while he was actually DJing at the Club. He has hundreds of mixes pressed on vinyl and CDs. Can you Guess?