Here, I will try to explain in my own way how to mix dance records together. Whether it is house, garage, trance or whatever, the same simple rules apply, so read on and become the next generation Sasha, Paul Oakenfold, Jeremy Healy, or Ferry Corsten! Although it may seem difficult at first, believe me, perseverance pays. I remember when I first mixed two tunes together and it sounded good to me, I felt such a buzz. If you are passionate about what you do, there really is nothing quite like mixing two tunes together seamlessly. Just imagine what it's like after a few beers in a club...you mix it up perfectly, and as you drop the next tune, the roof lifts off and the place goes mental, unbelievable! I think the buzz is about being in control of creating a happy atmosphere, and knowing you are making people feel good. At least, that is what it is all about for me. So, read on, be inspired, and most of all, have fun with it! I wish you the best of luck.....

First, pick two tunes which have simple beats for the first 30 seconds or so. Start the first tune playing, so you can hear it through your speakers. Now, set your mixer so you can hear what is going on on the other channel through only your headphones (i.e. without your audience being able to hear it). This is technically known as "cueing". Start this tune playing, and find where the first beat drops in. On a turntable ("deck"), you can push the record along and drag it back with your hand to find it, on a CD player, you will have to scan back and forth and hit pause just before it drops in. When you find this first beat, hold it just before the beat. On a deck, hold the record so the slipmat underneath still spins round, but the record remains still. Now, turn your attention to the other tune. Listen to it and you will notice that every so often, a new instrument appears or disappears. This occurs at regular intervals, in multiples of 4 'bars'. From the beginning of the record you are playing, listen to the tune and count 4 beats, 4 more, 4 more, and 4 more. The next beat (the 16th) is the most important beat for good mixing. When you hear this first beat of this new period, let the tune you have "cued" play. Now, quickly listen in the headphones to this tune with one ear, and with your other ear listen to the one your audience can hear. Use the pitch control to either speed up or slow down the "cued" tune, to make it keep pace with the tune your audience are enjoying. Once you are happy that the two are playing in sync, take the "cueing" tune back to it's beginning (the 1st beat) and "cue" it up again. Now wait for the beginning of that 4 bar period in the tune currently playing, let the "cue" tune go at the right moment, check it is the right pace, and when you are sure, slowly move your crossfader across. You're mixing!