In this final instalment of the How to DJ series, James Zabiela continues where he left off last time: exploring mad-sounding effects – like the transform scratch effect.

Now if you’ve seen James jamming then you’ve probably heard him rinsing the EFX-1000’s transform effect, which is a way to reproduce a transform scratch digitally.

To demonstrate, James sets about creating one of his sculptures by looping a scratch sample and then introducing the transform effect. He also shows how he improvises live by creating patterns using the EFX’s beat select buttons to move the sound in all kinds of weird and wonderful directions. So watch those hands/transformers in disguise…

The tuneage is supplied by ALiVE, who are still giving away Tom Budden’s track ‘Willow’ as featured by James in these tutorials. (Simply go to the ALiVE Recordings Facebook fan page to grab yourself a download.)

Well, that’s all for now, folks!

You can now download your free MP3 via the ALiVE Facebook fan page here

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One of James Zabiela’s trademarks as a DJ is the way that he scratches and transforms sounds. When done at the right time and place, this always turns heads. So the penultimate part of this series focuses on how to scratch it up, JZ-style.

Taking certain techniques from turntablism and giving them a digital twist, here the super-dexterous star runs us through a few of his favourite tips and tricks. These include how to create scratch patterns and how to cut them using the cross fader.

The CDJ-1000 is James’ first weapon of choice, plus he’s also incorporating effects and a feedback loop of his scratching via the EFX-1000!

Once again, all music is supplied by ALiVE Recordings. And to celebrate the label’s 10th release, ALiVE is offering up a FREE download of Tom Budden’s track ‘Willow’, which James uses in these tutorials.

You can now download your free MP3 via the ALiVE Facebook fan page here

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We’re back with more beats and bites from master blaster James Zabiela as he loops us something fresh in this latest instalment of the How to DJ series.

Yes, after looking at various different facilities and looping functions on the EFX and DJM-800 mixer, JZ finally gets busy with the CDJ decks…

Here, he demonstrates how to do all sorts of useful things with loops, and even shows how to use a CDJ like a drum machine. Check it out.

Once again, all music is supplied by ALiVE Recordings. And to celebrate the label’s 10th release, ALiVE is offering up a FREE download of Tom Budden’s track ‘Willow’, which James uses in these tutorials.

You can now download your free MP3 via the ALiVE Facebook fan page here

How to DJ is produced by DJdownload.com and Ministry of Sound TV.

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Technophile James Zabiela continues the series with a demonstration of the beat roll effect on the DJM-800 mixer, which is a favourite for a lot of DJs. One of the many beat effects on the DJM-800, the roll (and reverse roll) effect is particularly useful as it also acts as a sampler for creating non-destructive loops, as James reveals.

He furthermore shows off a few of his signature JZ moves involving the roll and reverse roll. These DJ gymnastics include how to edit the roll live, and how to assign the effect to different channels.

James finishes up this clip with even more manipulation and further improvisation as he illustrates how to combine the roll effect with the mixer’s colour effects (including crush, filter, harmonic and sweep).

How to DJ is produced by DJdownload.com and Ministry of Sound TV.

All music supplied by ALiVE Recordings.

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If you have ever heard James Zabiela finish off one of his high-octane DJ sets with a mad mash up of ‘thank you’ vocals, then you may be interested to know how it’s done live. That’s right, we’re now halfway through Episode 3 as James returns to continue demonstrating yet more techy tricks involving the famous feedback loop!

First up, James plugs his headphones into the microphone input of the mixer and shows how he records in live vocals by drawing on the sampling and looping facilities of the EFX-1000.

He also shows how to play in, layer and even edit extra looptastic sounds, such as hi-hats from a Korg Kaossilator.

So get stuck in and expect stacks more tips from the digital music-meister over the next few weeks as How to DJ endeavourers to help you become master of the scene too.

How to DJ is produced by DJdownload.com and Ministry of Sound TV.

All music supplied by ALiVE Recordings.

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DJ wizard James Zabiela steps away from the decks and waxes lyrical about buying, acquiring and organising his tunes. Yes, it’s all about the music in this clip, filmed at London’s Ministry of Sound. So snuggle up to the speakers with James as he talks openly about working with music in the digital realm.

Ever heard of ‘blind’ record shopping? If not here James explains one of his favourite secrets, a method of finding new music that is done online, entirely by ear…

He also talks about organising music according to what he wants to do with it and what technology he’s using, plus, of course, where in the world he is playing at the time.

If you want to find out more about James’ current playlists in the flesh then you may want to check out his tour of the US that starts this June – when he gets back from Australia that is!

The How to DJ series is produced by DJdownload.com and Ministry of Sound TV.

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James Zabiela continues flexing his skills and revealing some of his signature Jedi moves in part two of this new eight-part feature on How to DJ for more advanced artists.

In the first clip, James looked at several effects and showed how to set up a feedback loop. Now he’s back to carry on where he left off, and to demonstrate what else you can do with a feedback loop...

Here the Southampton destroyer shows how to do useful things like editing feedback loops, halving the BPM to change the length of a feedback loop, and creating small fills in the loop using spinbacks. He also introduces the idea of recording samples into the EFX from the CDJ. To be continued...

The How to DJ series is produced by DJdownload.com and Ministry of Sound TV.

For this episode all music is supplied by ALiVE Recordings.

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Top music manipulator James Zabiela introduces Episode 3 in the How to DJ series as we kick off with some hot EFX trickery from the grandmaster…

In this clip, recorded at London’s Ministry of Sound, James looks at how to add and use effects to enhance your DJ set.

Hands-on demonstrations include using the echo (one of James’ favourite effects) and the EFX-1000 as a sampler/editor. He also shows some of the various ways in which you can create and tweak a feedback loop. So click on to get your geek on!

Here to help you become a master of the mix, the How to DJ series is produced by DJdownload.com and Ministry of Sound TV.

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Episode 2 in the How to DJ series concludes with Phil K running through a few essential aspects of DJing. These include how to read the crowd, how to programme your mixes and how to inject your own personality into your sets, which Phil believes is the real key to becoming successful and breaking the scene.

So that’s all for now from Phil, folks. Next up is Episode 3 in the How to DJ series, starring manipulator maximus – James Zabiela.

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The penultimate part of Episode 2 sees master K on the master tempo tip. In this clip Phil shows how to speed a track up or down by using the CDJ’s tempo slider and master tempo button.

Master tempo basically locks the pitch of a track, allowing you to make changes to its tempo. So no more Darth Fader or Minnie Mouse vox – unless that’s your desired effect!

This technique is especially useful, as Phil explains, to keep things in key when mixing vocals or strings.

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