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Mashups were insanely popular when I first got into electronic music, DJing, and music production well over a decade ago. Soundcloud was an absolute sandbox of bootlegs, mashups, flips, and reworks. It seemed like everyone at the time knew how to make a good mashup and top-quality flips of every song imaginable could be found on Soundcloud.
But those days are behind us, though hopefully, Soundcloud is on track to have a second wind. Most people are consuming all their music on Spotify, which has a notoriously stricter policy regarding the legality of mashup culture (the TLDR version of which is that they don’t allow it to stop).
But DJ mashups and mashup songs are still super valuable for DJs and can be super fun for consumers and fans of the genre. Luckily, a ton of new software and tech allows DJs and just consumers to make these mashups, and in this modern golden era of DJing it’s easier than ever to make these types of songs yourself. You don’t even have to have an ounce of music production knowledge, which is a game-changer compared to when I first started flipping and bootlegging tracks a decade ago.
In this article, we’ll discuss why you want to make mashups, why DJs still make them, which genres thrive on mashup culture, and finally, how you can make mashup songs entirely for free. So, let’s dive into it.
Why Do DJs Make Mashups?
Unique Content
Making mashups also requires less production knowledge than creating an original tune from scratch. So, it’s also a way for DJs to create content for their fanbases and have unique material to play in their sets without spending years perfecting their skills in Ableton, Logic, or Fruity Loops in the studio.
Having this type of unique content to share with your fans and to have for your DJ sets is incredibly important and is arguably one of the main reasons why I am writing this article in the first place. Because so many DJs that I see here in my local home city and I know across the world want to need one-of-a-kind music to make their sets stand out but, at the same time, aren’t at a place in the studio where their production chops are making music that’s club-ready.
Mashups are the perfect way to be dipping your toes into the production world without having to dive into the deep end or while you’re diving into the deep end behind the scenes.
The real X-Factor with mashups is that, from an SEO perspective (humor me and my content-writer brain here), potential fans are more likely to stumble on your music from a mashup or bootleg you’ve done than your original music. No offense, of course; it’s just that people are much more likely to be actively searching for remixes and mashups of famous artists or popular songs they know about. For example, it’s no wonder why Darley Jefferson, a YouTube DJ with popular themed mixes, most popular videos by miles is his “Best Mashups Of Popular Songs” mixes (the video below has almost 7 million views…..yikes).
[embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=SNRtmwWsgHA&si=gI8_-lxj4U12ERP-[/embed]Grow A Following
Mashups can be a quick and easy way to grow your fanbase using free download gates.
You can create awesome mashups and require someone who wants to download that song to follow you on Spotify, follow you on Instagram, and repost the bootleg so that the word spreads even more about your music.
It’s a great way to continue building your fan base, growing your audience, and more. While this was wildly successful a decade ago, back when SoundCloud was in its heyday, and you can’t expect as impactful results these days, it still is an effective way to grow a fan base and get the word about your music and yourself as a DJ out to the masses.
They’re Fun!
People make mashups primarily because they are fun, especially with recent software advancements and AI integration in music production. Now, making mashups is easier than ever. You don’t need music production knowledge or complex programs like Ableton to create mashups immediately. You can start making mashups now with just a few clicks, enjoying the process and benefits it brings.
Some purists may criticize AI in music production, and I admit I’m skeptical about AI generating original music. However, mashups have always been the easiest form of music creation and self-expression. Let’s embrace mashups’ fun and lighthearted nature and save the debate on artistic expression and AI authenticity for another time.
What App Do People Use To Make Mashups?
Digital Audio Workstations
To make the highest-quality mashups, you’ll likely need an industry-standard digital audio workstation like Logic, Ableton Live, or Fruity Loops. These come with premium price tags but provide tools that offer greater creative flexibility. You’ll have access to effects like delays and EQs, allowing for detailed edits. However, these platforms have a learning curve, making them less accessible for those who want to start making mashups for free.
While these tools offer the most functionality and power for creating amazing mashups, they require learning time.
Free DAWs
Next, consider using GarageBand, which is free software available to almost anyone with a MacBook. GarageBand is essentially a lighter version of Logic but still allows you to cut, paste, and splice audio to create mashups.
While it requires some learning like the DAWs mentioned above, it’s not as intensive as industry-standard digital audio workstations. Designed to be user-friendly, GarageBand serves as a gateway to music production, providing all the necessary tools and customizable effects to create impressive mashups.
DJ.Studio
DJ.Studio has become a favorite software of mine over the past few years, offering numerous functionalities. Designed as a DAW for DJs, it’s great for creating DJ mixes for SoundCloud or Spotify playlists, which you can download and listen to offline. DJ Studio provides a suite of tools for making professional-quality mashups without requiring music production knowledge.
Additionally, it includes DJ-focused tools to analyze tracks, helping you identify suitable songs for mashups based on musical and tempo compatibility. It’s free for the first few weeks, making it an excellent choice for DJs looking to create mashups or build their careers. DJ Studio is the best option for this purpose, and I will explain why as we go through the mashup creation process.
Try DJ.Studio Out Completely Free Right Here ️🔥 ️🔥 ️🔥
How To Make A Good Mashup For Free
Find The Right Songs
The first thing you’re going to want to do is start thinking about what songs you want to create your mashup in. You don’t need to be a musical genius to match a vibe of one song and assume that it might be a good vibe with another song.
If you have any DJ experience, you likely have a library of instrumental tracks to pair with vocals that you want to mash up. The vocals are the most key-dependent layer, so choose a vocal track first and then find compatible instrumentals. For example, I’ve been revisiting some of my favorite remixes of London Grammar’s “Hey Now,” which I bought on iTunes years ago. I’ll use this vocal track to find a perfect instrumental match from my collection.
Start by analyzing the key and tempo of “Hey Now” and then go through your library to find tracks with compatible tempos and keys. This method ensures your mashup will sound musically cohesive and enjoyable.
I uploaded my old MP3 of “Hey Now” by London Grammar into DJ Studio. The software analyzed it, labeling the key as 5A and identifying the BPM. This information helps in finding the right songs to pair with during the mashup process. Now, I’ll search Rekordbox for songs in the same key.
You’ll see that my library in Rekordbox is not short on songs in the same key (there are many more; this is just all that could fit into the screenshot).
So, I’ve imported them all into the playlist and had DJ Studio reanalyze them. Now, I will start cycling through, figuring out which songs share a similar vibe, syncopation, drum groove, etc. This way, I can quickly and easily find the perfect pairing between the instrumental tracks in my Rekordbox and the vocals of “Hey Now.”
Isolate The Parts
Back in the old days of making mashups and bootlegs, you had to use EQs and filters to isolate the vocals by filtering out the extra layers of the song.
But DJ Studio has vocal isolation built right into the software!
Now, to remove all the extra drums, guitars, and everything else from “Hey Now” and just leave the vocal, it only takes one simple click of a button to split the acapella and instrument.
Once you’ve selected the songs, open the Stems functionality in DJ Studio. This feature lets you switch between the main layers of each song, focusing on vocals from one track and the instrumental from another. For example, you could use the guitars or drums from “Hey Now,” but here, I’m using just the vocals while keeping the groove, drums, bass, and other elements from the instrumental track.
This process takes only a few minutes and offers high-quality stem isolation, allowing for precise placement and manipulation of the vocals. Additionally, DJ-friendly effects like reverb and delays are available to blend these vocals seamlessly into the track you are mashing them with.
Export!
That’s pretty much all you need to do. Once your mashup is complete, hit Export. DJ Studio offers numerous export options. You can upload your mashup to YouTube, set up a download gate to collect emails, or use other methods to maximize its reach.
This entire process took me about 20 to 30 minutes to create an original mashup. I can use it in my DJ sets, share it with friends, or whatever I choose. DJ Studio’s software ensures a professional-level mashup with maximum creativity, far beyond what was possible even 10 years ago. It’s impressive to see how far mashup culture has come, especially with AI-driven tech like DJ Studio.
Only Scratching The Surface…
I’ve only scratched the surface with this quick and easy walkthrough. In my research and involvement in the music production and DJ community, I found a video of the CEO of DJ Studio demonstrating a similar workflow. He maximized the software’s functionality, creating impressive transitions from a Donna Summer vocal and finding creative ways to incorporate it into the instrumental track.
Seeing the software’s full potential was overwhelming, especially since I thought I was already utilizing it. Watching someone who has mastered DJ Studio made me realize there’s much more to explore and utilize. This software is powerful, and there’s always more to learn and incorporate into your mashups.
Try DJ.Studio Out Completely Free Right Here ️🔥 ️🔥 ️🔥
[embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=N3hskbkk4AM&si=FndaWU1SK3HnFg5B[/embed]The post How To Make A Good Mashup: Mashing Up Two Songs Without Any Production Knowledge appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.