DJ SIMULATOR

Professional DJ Controller - Complete User Manual

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

Welcome to DJ Dashboard Pro, a professional-grade web-based DJ controller designed for both beginners and experienced DJs. This application provides all the essential tools you need to mix tracks, create seamless transitions, and perform live DJ sets directly in your browser.

Key Features

🎵 Dual Deck System

Two independent decks with complete control over tempo, pitch, volume, and EQ

Professional Mixer

Crossfader, master volume, and real-time level meters for perfect mixing

Hot Cues

4 assignable hot cue points per deck for instant navigation

Loop Controls

Beat-synced loops (1/2, 1, 2, 4 beats) for creative mixing

BPM Sync

Automatic BPM detection and synchronization between decks

Effects

Echo, Reverb, Filter, and Flanger effects for each deck

Interface Overview

Deck A (Cyan)
Deck B (Red)
Mixer (Purple)
Active/Playing (Green)

2. Getting Started

Loading Your First Track

  1. Click the "LOAD" button on either Deck A (cyan) or Deck B (red)

    The button is located in the top-right corner of each deck

  2. Select an audio file from your computer

    Supported formats: MP3, WAV, OGG, M4A, and most other audio formats

  3. Wait for the track to load

    The track name will appear in the track info section, and the waveform will be displayed

  4. Press the Play button (▶) to start playback

    The vinyl platter will start spinning, indicating the track is playing

Pro Tip: Loading Strategy

Load a track on Deck B while Deck A is playing. This allows you to prepare your next track and set cue points without interrupting the current playback.

Basic Playback Controls

▶ PLAY

Starts or resumes playback of the loaded track. The vinyl platter will animate to show the track is playing.

⏸ PAUSE

Pauses playback at the current position. Press Play to resume from the same point.

⏹ STOP

Stops playback and returns the track to the beginning (00:00).

SYNC

Automatically matches the BPM of this deck to the other deck. Essential for beatmatching.

3. Deck Controls

Tempo & Pitch Control

Tempo Slider (50% - 150%)

Controls the playback speed of the track without affecting pitch.

Use Case: Match the tempo of two tracks for seamless mixing. Adjust in small increments (1-2%) for precise beatmatching.

Pitch Shifter (-12 to +12 semitones)

Changes the key/pitch of the track without affecting tempo.

Use Case: Harmonic mixing - match the musical key of two tracks for better-sounding transitions.

Volume Control (0 - 100)

Controls the individual volume level of each deck before it reaches the mixer.

Recommended Setting: Keep at 70-80% for optimal headroom and use the crossfader for mixing.

3-Band EQ Controls

Each deck has three independent equalizer bands to shape the sound:

EQ Band Frequency Range Controls DJ Usage
LOW Bass (20-320 Hz) -20 dB to +20 dB Cut bass during transitions to avoid muddy mix; boost for drops
MID Midrange (320-3200 Hz) -20 dB to +20 dB Control vocals and melodic elements; cut to reduce clashing
HIGH Treble (3200+ Hz) -20 dB to +20 dB Adjust hi-hats and brightness; cut for smooth transitions

Classic EQ Mixing Technique

Incoming Track: Start with LOW at -20 dB, gradually increase as you fade in

Outgoing Track: Gradually reduce LOW to -20 dB as you fade out

Result: Clean transition without bass frequency buildup

Hot Cues (4 per deck)

Hot cues are instant navigation points within your track. Each deck has 4 assignable cue points.

Setting a Hot Cue:

  1. Play the track to the desired position
  2. Click an empty cue button (CUE 1, CUE 2, CUE 3, or CUE 4)
  3. The button will light up, and a colored marker appears on the waveform

Using a Hot Cue:

CUE 1 (Red)
CUE 2 (Green)
CUE 3 (Blue)
CUE 4 (Orange)

Hot Cue Strategy

Loop Controls

Create repeating sections of your track, perfect for extending mixes or creative performances.

Loop Button Duration Usage
1/2 Half beat Quick stutter effects
1 One beat Short loop for build-ups
2 Two beats Standard loop length
4 Four beats Extended loops, phrase loops

How to Use Loops:

  1. Play the track to the section you want to loop
  2. Click a loop button (1/2, 1, 2, or 4) - it will light up
  3. The track will now repeat that section continuously
  4. Click the same button again to cancel the loop
  5. Click a different loop button to change the loop length

Important: Loop Timing

Loops are based on the detected BPM of your track. For best results, trigger loops on the first beat of a bar (measure). This ensures the loop stays in time with the music.

Effects

Each deck has 4 effects that can be toggled on and off:

Echo

Creates repeating delays of the audio signal. Great for transitions and creating space in the mix.

Reverb

Adds ambience and depth to the sound. Simulates different room sizes and spaces.

Filter

Sweeping high-pass or low-pass filter. Classic DJ effect for dramatic transitions.

Flanger

Creates a sweeping, "jet plane" effect. Adds movement and texture to sounds.

Usage: Click any effect button to toggle it on (purple highlight) or off. Effects can be combined for unique sounds.

Waveform Display

The waveform visualization shows:

Vinyl Platter

Visual representation of a turntable:

4. Mixer Controls

Level Meters

Three vertical meters display real-time audio levels:

Optimal Levels

Green zone: Good levels (0-70%)

Yellow zone: Loud but safe (70-85%)

Red zone: Risk of clipping/distortion (85-100%)

Keep the master meter mostly in the green-to-yellow range for clean sound.

Crossfader

The most important control for DJ mixing. Smoothly transitions between Deck A and Deck B.

Position Result Usage
Full Left (← A) Only Deck A audible Playing track from Deck A
Center (50%) Both decks at equal volume Mixing/blending both tracks
Full Right (B →) Only Deck B audible Playing track from Deck B

Crossfader Techniques:

Smooth Transition

Slowly move the crossfader from one side to the other over 8-16 beats. Ideal for melodic tracks.

Quick Cut

Rapidly move the crossfader from one side to the other. Works well for high-energy tracks.

EQ Transition

Keep crossfader at center, use EQ controls to transition. Cut lows on incoming track, gradually restore while cutting lows on outgoing track.

Master Volume

Controls the overall output volume of the entire mix (both decks combined).

Record & Auto Mix

⏺ RECORD

Starts recording your mix. Click again to stop recording. The button will pulse red when actively recording.

🤖 AUTO MIX

Enables automatic crossfader movement. The crossfader will slowly move back and forth, automatically mixing between decks. Click again to disable.

Auto Mix is for Practice Only

Auto Mix moves the crossfader mechanically without considering beat structure, key, or energy levels. It's useful for testing equipment or practice, but real DJing requires manual control for quality mixes.

5. Advanced Features

BPM Detection & Sync

DJ Dashboard Pro automatically detects the BPM (Beats Per Minute) of loaded tracks.

Using BPM Sync:

  1. Load tracks on both Deck A and Deck B
  2. Play the first track (e.g., Deck A)
  3. On the second deck (Deck B), click the ⚡ SYNC button
  4. Deck B's tempo will automatically adjust to match Deck A's BPM
  5. The "SYNC STATUS" indicator at the bottom will show "SYNCED"

Manual Beatmatching

For the authentic DJ experience, try manual beatmatching:

  1. Listen to both tracks (use headphones if available)
  2. Adjust the tempo slider until the beats align
  3. Fine-tune by adjusting in 0.1-0.5% increments
  4. Watch the BPM displays to get close, then trust your ears

BPM Difference Monitor

Located in the footer, the "BPM DIFF" display shows the difference in BPM between the two decks.

Beat Indicators

Two pulsing circles in the footer visualize the beat of each deck:

Usage: Visual aid for beatmatching. Aim to align the flashes when mixing.

Key/Harmonic Display

Shows the musical key of the currently playing track (feature shows "--" when not detected).

Harmonic Mixing Basics:

6. DJ Tips & Techniques

Basic Mixing Workflow

  1. Load Track on Deck A

    Load your first track and start playing it. Adjust volume to 70-80%.

  2. Prepare Next Track on Deck B

    While Deck A plays, load a track on Deck B. Set hot cues at key points (intro, drop, outro).

  3. Sync BPM

    Click SYNC on Deck B, or manually adjust tempo to match Deck A's BPM.

  4. Start Deck B (Silent)

    With crossfader full left (Deck A only), press PLAY on Deck B. It plays silently in the background.

  5. Align Beats

    Watch the beat indicators. Pause/play Deck B to align the beats with Deck A.

  6. Transition

    Slowly move crossfader to center while adjusting EQ on both decks. Cut lows on incoming track initially.

  7. Complete Mix

    Once Deck B is fully mixed in, move crossfader to full right. Deck A is now silent.

  8. Repeat

    Load next track on Deck A and repeat the process in reverse.

Transition Types

1. Echo Out Transition

Activate Echo effect on outgoing track while fading it out. Creates a delay tail that smoothly disappears.

2. Filter Sweep

Use the Filter effect while transitioning. Gradually filter out highs or lows from outgoing track.

3. Loop Drop

Set a 4-beat loop on the drop of incoming track. Let it play a few times, then release the loop for impact.

4. EQ Swap

Crossfader at center. Incoming track: lows at -20, gradually raise. Outgoing track: gradually lower lows to -20.

5. Cut Transition

Quick cut on a downbeat. Works best when both tracks have the same BPM and strong kick drums.

Energy Management

Plan your set's energy progression:

Track Selection Tips

BPM Progression

±5 BPM between tracks works well. Larger jumps require more creative transitions.

Key Harmony

Mix tracks in compatible keys for smoother, more musical blends.

Genre Flow

Create smooth genre transitions. Don't jump abruptly between vastly different styles.

Track Energy

Consider energy levels. Don't follow a high-energy track with a very mellow one unless intentional.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Basic Beatmatching

Load two tracks with similar BPM (within 3-5 BPM). Without using SYNC, manually adjust tempo until beats align. Practice for 30 minutes daily.

Exercise 2: EQ Mixing

Practice transitioning using only EQ controls while keeping crossfader at center. Focus on bass frequency management.

Exercise 3: Hot Cue Navigation

Set 4 hot cues in a track. Practice jumping between them precisely on beat. Build a short routine.

Exercise 4: Loop Creativity

Experiment with different loop lengths. Try creating build-ups by looping 1-beat sections while raising volume and effects.

7. Troubleshooting

Audio Issues

Problem: No sound from one or both decks
Problem: Audio is distorted or clipping
Problem: Tracks sound off-beat or drifting

Loading Issues

Problem: Track won't load
Problem: Waveform not displaying

Control Issues

Problem: Hot cues not working
Problem: Loop not activating
Problem: Effects not audible

Performance Issues

Problem: Laggy or stuttering playback

Browser Compatibility

DJ Dashboard Pro uses modern Web Audio API features. For best performance:

General Tips

Final Pro Tip

The best way to learn is by doing. Experiment with all the controls, make mistakes, and develop your own style. Every professional DJ started exactly where you are now. Keep practicing, stay creative, and most importantly - have fun! 🎵

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