8 Ways To Mix Two Songs Together

Mixing two songs together (blending) is a technique at the core of DJing. There are basically an infinite number of ways to blend tracks as a DJ - and the more you know, the more exciting your DJing can be.

In this article, you will find a bunch of inspiration on how to mix two songs together in your DJ set.

From instant cuts, to more sophisticated, longer blends - this guide shows you a range of techniques for mixing.

TL;DR - How To Mix Two Songs Together#

• Understanding the foundations of DJing will expand your creative horizons as a DJ.

• Use beatmatching, harmonic mixing, and phrasing to set the foundations for mixing.

• Get creative with effects and DJ controls.

• Use tools like DJ.Studio to experiment with the possibilities of DJing.

Is This The Right Guide For You?#

The question "How can I mix two songs together?" has two meanings:

1. How can I create a mash-up of two songs, by blending them into one song?

2. What are some of the methods to mix two songs together in a DJ mix?

This article will focus on the second question - as DJ.Studio is a tool for making DJ sets, rather than creating mash-ups, which is something done by a music producer.

If you want to learn some of the different methods for mixing music together in a DJ set, keep reading this guide!

Using DJ.Studio to Create Mashups#

You can use DJ.Studio to make mashups of your favorite songs - this will be even easier when the stem separation tools are added (which is coming soon).

Simply import two songs, line them up, and start editing them together how you please. DJ.Studio has all the tools you need to make a mashup online with any music.

We'll make a full tutorial on this soon!

8 Techniques To Mix Two Songs Together#

Mixing two songs together, is one of the most important techniques in a DJ's tool kit. Having a bunch of different methods under your belt is sure to make you a dynamic and exciting DJ, so make sure you study the following techniques and develop your own unique voice as a DJ.

1) Understand The Foundations#

Before getting into specific techniques, you should consider the foundations of DJ mixing, as these can help open your eyes to the possibilities. Getting to grips with these principles will help you to understand the core mechanics and 'rules' for DJing - and when you learn the rules, you can break them creatively.

After learning these techniques, you will see that you can combine them in any way you see possible. Following these rules isn't constricting, and actually opens up options, as you understand how the DJ process works, and how you are free to express yourself in any way possible.

(They also help you sound more professional)

Beatmatching

This is the process of making music play at the same speed between tracks. For example, you want to make sure that two tracks are playing at the same BPM, and that their beats are in the same place. This allows you to mix them seamlessly without interrupting the groove.

Although, you can also use quick cuts to mix two songs at different speeds, which can create a high-impact and groovy transition.

Harmonic Mixing

Harmonic mixing is a relatively advanced DH technique where you take into account the keys and notes of music This way, you ensure that the tracks you play are in compatible keys, creating a smoother transition without any clashing melodies or chords. This small consideration can make a huge improvement to the professionalism of your mixes.

Phrasing

Phrasing is another advanced DJ technique that helps to improve the consistency and flow of your mixes. This technique involves analyzing the musical structure of tracks, and arranging the transitions so they are aligned well. For example, aligning the intros, verses, choruses, and outros well together.

It takes a bit of practice to understand, but also gives your mixes an edge over non-phrasing DJ sets.

Transitions

A transition or song merger is at the core of the mixing process. When you incorporate the above techniques, you have the foundations to make a smooth transition. Then it's just a matter of using the tools you have at your disposal to pull off the transition in a cool and exciting way.

There are endless ways to make DJ transitions - combining all the tools and techniques available. The best way to master transitions is by practicing and experimenting with your DJ gear. Some styles of music suit certain transition styles, for example, house and techno suit longer, slower transitions, while hip-hop, drum and bass, and pop suit quicker, more noticeable transitions.

Ultimately you should expand your transition vocabulary, and develop your own unique style.

2) The Basic Mixing Process#

The following steps explain the basic process of How to Create a DJ Set. After this, there are a bunch of other examples which demonstrate some other methods. Essentially there are infinite ways to mix songs together.

The exact underlying method varies depending on what gear or software you are using, but the core principles are the same.

1. Pick the two songs you want to mix together. You can pick as many songs as you want to create a full playlist.

2. Play the first song.

3. Beat-match the second song to the first one.

4. Start the transition.

   1. Use the EQ to set the tonal balance - typically remove the bass in the new song so it doesn't clash.

   2. Use the mixer controls to lower the volume of the first track while you bring up the volume of the second.

5. When the transition is finished, the second song will play on its own.

6. Pick a new song and repeat the process!

This outlines the basic procedure for mixing two songs together. Although there are countless other ways of doing it based on the tools and techniques available to DJs.

3) Fast Cuts and Long Fades#

When it comes to transitions, there are two main types - either long fades or fast cuts.

Long Fades involve playing two songs at the same time for a relatively long period, and slowly transitioning between the two. The key here is to pick two songs that complement each other and use EQ, filters, volume, and effects to smooth out the blend. This works well with repetitive tracks like house, techno, and trance.

Fast Cuts this punchier type of transition uses a fast or instant cut from one track to the other. This is a great trick to use when you mix two songs with different speeds, or when you want to start the drop of one track after the buildup of another.

4) Filtering and EQ#

Filters and EQs are core tools for mixing two songs together, and you should spend a lot of time working out how to use them effectively.

These tools essentially give you control over the tonal balance of songs - typically over the bass, midrange, and treble. To make your mix sound good, you want to make sure that you filter and EQ the tracks to complement each other. For example, you should make sure that there aren't clashing bass lines or cluttered percussion.

5) Build-Up and Drop#

Mastering the use of build-ups and drops is another valuable practice for DJs. Learning how to make build-ups on the fly using effects (or simply taking into account phrasing and timing) gives DJs new options for making exciting and high-impact mixes. Learning this skill is just a matter of practice, but I also recommend you study your favorite DJ performances and copy how they do it.

6) Looping#

Loops are another powerful tool for mixing two songs together. You can use loops to extend sections of songs and recontextualize the groove. These are also useful for transitioning between genres. For example, you could loop a 1 beat phrase of a drum and bass track to make a more repetitive techno-like beat. You can then slow this down and mix it with 4-to-the-floor genres like house, funk, and techno.

You can also create a loop, and gradually shorten it to create an exciting buildup, which you then use to drop into a new track.

7) Backspinning/Rewind#

Backspins and rewinds are a high-impact type of mix transition. The DJ simply spins one of the jog wheels back at the right time (on the song they want to stop), to create the 'wheel up' or 'rewind' sound. Then they drop in the new beat. This is similar to a vinyl break.

8) Other Effects#

Depending on the software and hardware you use, there is a huge range of other effects to use for mixing.

Some of the more useful effects include reverbs, delays, risers, stutters, and vinyl breaks. The key is to experiment with each effect you have available and work out how you can use it to make more exciting and seamless mixes.

Summary#

Now you know how to mix two songs together, it's time to put your theory into practice and get mixing! DJ.Studio is a great tool for making mixes, even if you have no previous DJ experience.

Thanks to smart tools like automixing, transition presets, and YouTube projects, you can create a professional and seamless mix in a matter of minutes. You don't even need to buy any music as you can make entire mixes from YouTube videos.

When mixing with downloaded files, you can export your mixes to basically any desired format, including MP3, WAV, video, or even as an Ableton Live project!

Start mixing for free today using DJ.Studio's free trial!