How to do a hard cut on the phrase
Snap from A to B exactly on a new phrase.
- Essential
- easy
- About 4 bars
When to use it
- Use it when the next song brings more energy, when both songs sit at a similar energy and when you're bringing the energy down.
- A natural fit for pop/open-format, hip-hop/R&B and EDM/big room.
- DJs rarely use it in house/techno.
- A strong choice when you're switching genres.
- Works at any tempo gap, and it's the go-to move when the songs are more than 8% apart, because there's no beatmatched overlap.
Step by step
- 1Cue B at a strong first beat: the drop or the first chorus.
- 2Count A's bars and wait for the end of a 16- or 32-bar phrase.
- 3On the very first beat of the next phrase, press play on B.
- 4In the same moment, slam the crossfader to B.
See it on a controller, and hear it with your own songs
Cueball picks the right technique for every pair of songs in your set and animates the knobs and faders in time with the music.
Build a set for freeGenres this works for
- How to mix Bollywood songs
- How to mix hip-hop and rap
- How to mix EDM
- How to mix pop and throwback songs
New to DJing? Start with how to DJ for beginners and the 6 basic transitions.
Similar techniques
- Filter handoffWash A out with the filter while B comes in.
- Short blend on the downbeatA quick overlap so the keys never get time to clash.
- Quick cutStop A, start B. Bold and clean.
- Echo outLet A ring out on an echo, then drop B.
- Tempo ramp, then blendGlide the tempo over, then do a short blend.
- SpinbackRewind A like a vinyl spin, then slam B in.