Tempo Control

BEATCAMP Mission

Deck A • Tempo

Mission: Tempo Control (Speed Up + Slow Down)

Tempo is the song’s speed. Junior DJs learn tempo by making tiny moves on purpose and listening closely. You’re not trying to be perfect, you’re training your ears and hands.

🎧 Headphones on if people are around you. Tempo changes can feel louder or softer, so keep volume safe.

MISSION COMPLETED ✅

Nice work, Junior DJ. Tempo control is real DJ muscle.

Mixer Notice

Mobile Device

The Mixer is optimized for tablet + desktop

You can still level up on mobile using BEATCAMP Games. Tap below to open the Game Library.

Go to BEATCAMP Games

Want the Mixer? Open BEATCAMP on a tablet (best) or a computer.

Live BEATCAMP Mixer

Practice

Before You Start

Safety

• Put on headphones if people are around you.
• Start with low volume, then bring it up slowly.

Tempo practice is about control. Tiny moves win.

Setup

Get Ready

• Load a track onto Deck A.
• Press PLAY and bring volume up slowly (headphones on!).

Step 1

Find Tempo

The Tempo slider is the control that changes speed.

• Locate the Tempo slider on Deck A.

DJ secret: the smaller the move, the more pro you look.

Step 2

Speed Up

• Move the tempo slider slightly up.
• Listen: does the song feel faster?
• Move it back to where you started.

If it jumps too much, you moved too far. Totally normal. Try again smaller.

Step 3

Slow Down

• Move the tempo slider slightly down.
• Listen: does the song feel slower?
• Move it back to where you started.

Tempo practice = DJ control. You’re training your “steady hands.”

Step 4

10-Second Game

Try this quick game while the track is playing:

• Speed up a little for 5 seconds.
• Then slow down a little for 5 seconds.
• Return to your starting tempo.

Goal: smooth moves, not big moves.

Ready to wrap it up?

Press COMPLETE MISSION when you’re done practicing. We’ll tidy the page and celebrate you.

COMPLETE MISSION

Loading & Playing Songs

BEATCAMP Mission

Deck A • Basics

Mission: Load & Play Your First Track

Junior DJs start by learning how to load a song, press play, and control sound safely. Use the BEATCAMP Mixer below (tablet/desktop), then follow the steps.

🎧 Headphones on if people are around you. Volume starts low on purpose, then slowly up.

Before You Start

Safety

• Put on headphones if people are around you.
• Start with volume all the way down, then bring it up slowly.

Junior DJ rule: protect your ears so you can DJ forever.

Mixer Notice

Mobile Device

The Mixer is optimized for tablet + desktop

You can still learn DJ skills on mobile using BEATCAMP Games. Tap below to open the Game Library.

Go to BEATCAMP Games

Want the Mixer? Open BEATCAMP on a tablet (best) or a computer.

Live BEATCAMP Mixer

Practice

Step 1

Load a Track

You can load songs in two ways. Try both!

• Click a song in the Studio Dashboard & Library.
• Press the LOAD button to put it on Deck A.

Nothing plays yet. DJs always load first.

Step 2

Press Play

• Make sure your headphones are on.
• Press PLAY on Deck A.

If you don’t hear anything yet, that’s okay. Volume is still down.

Step 3

Volume

• Slowly move the Deck Volumeknob up.
• Stop when it sounds clear and comfortable.

If it’s too loud, slide it back down. Real DJs do this constantly.

Step 4

EQ

EQ changes how the music feels. Try small turns and listen.

• Turn LOW down, then back to the middle.
• Try MID down, then back to the middle.
• Try HI down, then back to the middle.

There’s no wrong answer. EQ is about listening on purpose.

🎉 Mission Complete!
You loaded a track, pressed play, controlled volume, and explored EQ on Deck A. You’re officially a Junior DJ in training.

Intro to Beatcamp Mixer

BEATCAMP App Guide

Mixer • Features

Meet BEATCAMP Mixer: Your Junior DJ Software

Before we learn anything, let's play around with BEATCAMP Mixer first, then we can open the sections below to learn what each feature does and why DJs use it.

Go slow, be curious, push button — just have fun and see what happens!

Junior DJ rule: Put on headphones if people are around you. Start with volume all the way down, then slowly up.

Live BEATCAMP Mixer Click • Tap • Experiment

Start Here A 60-second warmup

• Load a track on Deck A (Library or LOAD button).
• Press PLAY.
• Bring volume up slowly in headphones.
• Turn one EQ knob a little and listen, then put it back to the middle.

Tip: DJs learn by listening. Your ears are the coach.

Reset Checkmarks

Features & What They Do Open one at a time

Song Library Where your tracks live

What it is: A list of songs you can choose from and load onto a deck.

Why DJs use it: DJs organize and pick songs on purpose. A good library helps you choose the next track fast without guessing.

Try this: Click 3 different songs and notice their BPM/Key (if shown). Which two feel like they belong together?

LOAD / UNLOAD Put a song on the deck

What it is: LOAD places a selected song onto the deck. UNLOAD removes it.

Why DJs use it: A deck is like a “player.” DJs load the next song so it’s ready before the moment they need it.

Try this: Load a track, press play for 5 seconds, pause, then unload and load a different track.

PLAY / PAUSE Start and stop sound

What it is: PLAY starts the track. PAUSE stops it.

Why DJs use it: DJs cue up a track, test it, and time it. Play/pause is the simplest control, and it’s how you stay in charge.

Try this: Press play, listen for a “good beat,” then pause. Press play again and see if you can find it quickly.

Volume (Deck Volume) How loud this deck is

What it is: The deck’s loudness control. In BEATCAMP, volume starts down by default.

Why DJs use it: DJs protect ears and keep the room comfortable. Smooth volume control helps your mixes sound professional.

Try this: Start at zero, then raise volume to “comfortable headphone level.” Now lower it again without fully stopping the song.

EQ (HI / MID / LOW) Shape the sound

What it is: EQ changes parts of the sound: LOW = bass (boom), MID = vocals/body, HI = sparkle/cymbals.

Why DJs use it: When mixing two songs, the bass can “fight.” DJs use EQ to make space so both tracks can exist without sounding messy.

Try this: While a song plays, turn LOW down a little. Hear how the bass disappears? Put it back to the middle.

Tempo Slider Faster or slower

What it is: Changes the track speed without changing which song it is.

Why DJs use it: DJs match the speed of two songs so their beats line up. This is the foundation of beatmatching.

Try this: Move tempo a tiny bit up, listen, then a tiny bit down. Notice: small moves matter.

SYNC Match tempo automatically

What it is: A helper button that matches BPM so songs run at the same speed.

Why DJs use it: DJs use SYNC to save time and focus on other skills: song choice, EQ, phrasing, and crowd energy.

Try this: Load two tracks with different BPMs on A and B, then press SYNC and watch how BPM aligns.

KEY / KEY SYNC Keep melodies friendly

What it is: Key shows the musical note “home” of a song. KEY SYNC helps align keys.

Why DJs use it: When mixing vocals/melodies, keys that clash can sound “off.” DJs use key info to pick better pairs or use key tools.

Try this: Mix two songs. If it sounds like the melodies argue, try KEY SYNC (or pick a different song).

Crossfader Switch between decks

What it is: A slider that chooses what you hear: left = Deck A, right = Deck B, middle = both.

Why DJs use it: The crossfader is how DJs transition from one song to the next. Smooth crossfader moves = smooth mixes.

Try this: Play Deck A, then slowly move the crossfader toward B. Pause, go back. Practice “slow and smooth.”

Performance Pad Mode (Dropdown) Choose what pads do

What it is: A selector that changes the pad “job,” like Hot Cues, Loops, or Samples.

Why DJs use it: Pads are multi-tools. DJs switch modes depending on what they need: jump to moments, repeat sections, or add sound effects.

Try this: Pick “Hot Cues,” press a pad, then switch to “Loops” and press the same pad. Notice: same button, new power.

Hot Cues Bookmarks in a song

What it is: Saved jump points so you can instantly return to a moment (like a chorus or drop).

Why DJs use it: DJs use hot cues to be precise: start at the best beat, repeat a favorite part, or recover quickly if timing slips.

Try this: Set HOT 1 on the first beat, HOT 2 on the chorus, HOT 3 on the drop. Jump between them.

Loops Repeat a section

What it is: A repeatable slice of the song (often 1, 2, 4, or 8 beats).

Why DJs use it: Loops give you extra time. DJs loop an outro or intro so they can transition smoothly without rushing.

Try this: Turn on a short loop and count the beats. Can you keep it looping while you adjust the crossfader?

Samples Extra sounds

What it is: Short sound clips (like a shout, drum hit, or silly effect) that you can trigger with pads.

Why DJs use it: DJs use samples for hype, texture, and fun: filling space, signaling a moment, or adding personality.

Try this: Play a track and tap a sample on every 4th beat. Keep it light, like seasoning, not soup.

Jogwheel Nudge or search

What it is: A wheel DJs use to move through audio or nudge timing.

Why DJs use it: In many setups, jogwheels help you fine-tune alignment, cue accurately, and recover if the beat drifts.

Try this: If jogwheel features are limited right now, skip it. We’ll return when it’s fully supported.

What is DJ Software?

BEATCAMP Lesson

Basics • Software

What Is DJ Software?

DJ software is the “brain” of a DJ setup. It helps you load songs, play them on two decks, line up the beats, and mix between them like a real DJ.

LOAD MUSIC PLAY / PAUSE MATCH BEATS MIX / TRANSITION LOOPS & FX

What DJ Software Does The “control room”

Think of DJ software like a control room for music. It gives you two “decks” (Deck A and Deck B), and you control what each deck is doing.

DJ software helps you:

• Load songs onto Deck A and Deck B

• Play songs and control volume

• Match beats so songs line up

• Mix using the crossfader (slide between decks)

• Add loops, effects, and performance tricks

Software vs. DJ Gear Who does what?

DJs usually use two things together:

Software: the app on your computer/tablet that plays and mixes music.
Gear (controller): the buttons and knobs you touch with your hands.

The gear is like a video game controller. The software is like the game. They work best together.

Why It Matters DJ superpowers

Once you understand DJ software, you can learn almost any DJ setup. Different apps look different, but the basics are the same: two decks, volume, beats, and mixing.

When you learn DJ software, you learn:

• How songs are built (beats, bars, drops)

• How to control energy (calm → hype)

• How to mix smoothly (no trainwrecks 🚂💥)

Nice work!

You now know what DJ software is and what it does. Next up: learning specific tools inside the software like EQ knobs, loops, and the crossfader.

Mission 001