How To Set Your Volumes Like A Pro When DJing

Learning to properly set the volume, also called gain structure, of the DJ equipment you are using can be the difference between sounding incredible and sounding like a complete novice.

With so many different places to set your volume – your PA speakers, master output on your controller, channel gain, volume fader – it is worth taking the time to learn the right settings for each so you can sound your best.

Here's how to set volume levels the right way.

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[djrobuck]

Yo I just did this and holy smoke!!! What a difference! I have been disrespecting the power of my speakers!! Wow! Thank you for this very important lesson!

[Nutzo]

It's surprising when so many DJ's get this wrong... Thanks for the tip 👍🏿

[DJActionVasquez]

One of the things I like about traktor is the extremely precise gain staging it has. Volume can be adjusted by as low as .1 db increments. When combined with the onboard limiters and autogain engaged, the sound is very level, yet sonically pure.

Now when it comes to gain staging, dj's need to gain stage INSIDE the software first. This prevents sending an already hot signal to your hardware. Inside traktor, with all mixer controls set to zero, i adjust track gains to just above zero. The master output I adjust to just below 0 db. Next I adjust the levels on my controller to zero. Now I have software and hardware both calibrated to just below zero

[GjerrusAllMighty]

I notice a lot of ppl asking about adjusting the volume in the DJ software. I use Serato DJ Pro. Setting the volume is part of my import process. I set volume, cue points, & color tags for every song, when I DL into Serato. Those features will then be permanently imbedded into the song file until you change them. It is important to program the output of each song, because depending on the file source, genre, and era of music recording volumes & quality often times are different. When you cue your next song in the headphones, watch the meter on that channel. If it matches the song currently playing, your golden! 🤘

[FilamAmericans]

As A DJ back in 1983 to Present this the hard way !!!! :)
Dj Kimosabi

[simonturner]

This is one of the most important tip vids I have seen. For a beginner dj like me it is priceless. Needs to be pinned high up on the website. Thank you 🙏

[TryppiDnB]

Thank you! This was like the last thing I couldn't figure out on my recordings was getting my volumes right. Only recently started mixing but I'm actually surprised at what I've accomplished so far. Cheers

[djswivells]

I think this video will help so many DJ's ! I appreciated the information and being shown the correct ways to set volume on controller!

[djovercut]

Using the information from this video seemed to solve the volume level issues I was having on my XDJ-XZ. Thanks.

[eabr]

0 db is called the unity reference. The level at which your channel or outputs from the mixer outputs at 100% signal. Anything in the red will be over 100% exponentially, so 3db is 200%, 6 db is 400% 12db is 800% etc... Your ear will not hear this as a doubling of output level, but your equipment accepting this signal be amplifying this signal to attain the acoustic output equivalent to unity reference, above or below, so if you had to attach an oscilloscope to the outputs of say a 200w per channel output amplifier at unity gain into the amplifier, you would theoretically see a doubling of amplifier output at every 3db, 400w at +3db, 800w at 6 db, 1600w at 12db, etc... The orange indicators in the plus db range are your crest output to your. All amplifiers have crest power (max) values or what is called the clipping level, your the amplifier or other equipment is incapable of outputting any more power/signal due to its design limitations.

The output leds give an indication of your sound system output in terms of acoustic levels and headroom available at your amplifiers. The red led indicators give an indication of clipping of the output stage of that channel.

[illustrationmaking]

I agree all the way up to the amplifier setting. I run really powerful speakers, but don’t always need that power. So turn the master gain to 75%, leaving a little headroom. speakers to the max volume needed.

[chevyado]

from what i got from this, if I were to add an external audio multi-channel mixer I should have it a 0DB correct? any other tips on adding a mixer volume-wise?

[MrInternationalSound]

This is excellent.... I wanted to make sure that my sound was always crisp when DJing

[d-man]

thanks for the breakdown...quick and to the point 👉

[theow-b]

this was incredibly helpful thanks so much!!

[clarkcheasley]

Just found your channel ..great tips and well explained sir ..very helpful mate 👍🏻

[chillumvillain]

The tutorial I didn’t know I needed. Nice.

[DjGlyden]

Setting levels could be a challenge. Thanks for your tips. Gotta have clean Audio..

[robertthabassist]

Thank you for this. This is going to help me massively :)

[toni_hitman]

Thank you for the explanation. It helped me a lot, because I've been dealing with it all these days and didn't know how to adjust my controller! But if I set the volume of my KRK's to zero, my neighbours will definitely kill me 😅. Got it at -22.5 dB current 😅