DJing at Pirate Studios is something my Other Half has done a few times, so I decided to join him for a session on the decks as one of my 52 new things for 2024!
Here’s what it’s all about, how my experience went, and how you can try it too.
What is Pirate Studios?
Pirate Studios is an uber cool set up.
It’s a space for creatives to create, using high quality kit.
Whether you’re a band wanting rehearsal space, a producer looking for somewhere to record, or a DJ looking to practice, Pirate Studios has got your back.
For DJ’s, It’s like a hidden treasure trove for anyone wanting to mix some music, and play it LOUD.
Pirate Studios In Leeds
Based on an industrial estate, the unassuming building looks a bit neglected.
Step inside, and you might be questioning the integrity of the set up.
The vacuous space has been split into individual studios which look like they’re made from chipboard.
However, open the door to your booked studio, and you’re transported to a professional set up.
The DJ studios are kitted out with club lighting, Pioneer decks, mixer, and some colossal speakers, it’s all plugged in and ready for you to work your musical magic.
My experience Of DJing At Pirate Studios
I am not a DJ. That said, I have played at an open decks night before as one of the new things I tried in 2022. It took a fair bit of practice to feel confident spinning the tunes. I also picked an early slot so there wouldn’t be too many people to witness my first attempt!
The Other Half, however, has been DJing for several years,
Having him in the studio with me was great for some reassuring little pointers as we got started.
I was very rusty finding my way around the mixer, and he patiently reminded me what I needed to do
I utterly loved playing some old tracks I’d not heard for ages, although my ears were ringing when we left!
Selecting The Tracks
I’d compiled a big list of tracks on a USB stick so I had plenty to choose from.
Whilst I have been known to just play two tracks together that I like, that doesn’t always make for the smoothest mixing.
To make more pleasing sounds, and to make it easier to mix one track into another, I searched through my USB for tracks in a similar tempo and the same key.
With a lot more practice I’d like to think I’d be able to manipulate the tracks a bit more, but I thought I’d start off keeping things simple.
Covering Up Mistakes - DJing At Pirate Studios
Whilst some of my transitions sounded really good, there were plenty that fell very wide of the mark.
Sometimes I could add a filter or an effect to hide anything that wasn’t mixing as well as I’d hoped.
Other times I changed the volume on the bass which was another way that helped to smooth out any less than seamless transitions.
Let’s just say I’m glad it was a soundproofed booth! However it was all practice, and it was such a cool new thing to try. I just reminded myself everyone was a beginner once.
Master Mixing
Listening in my headphones to the incoming track, I cued it up ready to come in on the beat. As the current tune thundered through the main speakers, it got to the point where I was ready to bring in the new beats.
Pressing play, and bringing up the volume, it was such an awesomely satisfying feeling as the two were in perfect synchronisation.
The 4 hours absolutely flew by, and I’d like to think my mixing improved over the time. The Other Half showed me how it was done though, with a fantastic last half hour set.
Do You Need To Be Skilled To Play At Pirate Studios?
Heck no! Everybody needs to start somewhere and this is a perfect space for newbies and more experienced DJs.
If you’ve never been behind the decks before, this is a great way to get hands on with the kit.
Whilst it may take a little getting used to how it all works, actually having a go will definitely help you to learn. You’ll soon be in the flow.
Booking Pirate Studios
Whatever type of studio you want to book, it’s a really slick operation and is all done online through the Pirate Studios Website.
Sign up and register
Firstly, you need to create an account and give them some form of ID. It took me less than 5 minutes to do it all and be verified.
Book your studio
There are currently 25 Pirate Studios across the UK, 1 in Ireland, 5 in the US, and 3 in Germany.
Each pirate studio has several studios within the building.
Select your date, and your time
The studios are open 24/7 and are bookable by the hour.
The pricing varies and is generally cheaper in the morning and more expensive on evenings and weekends. There are often discounts if you book for multiple hours.
Receive your access codes
Once you’ve paid, you’ll receive separate unique codes. These are basically your keys and will give you access to the main building, and into the specific studio that you’ve booked.
Don’t forget your music and your headphones
Take your own music with you. The studio we booked took USBs and CDs.
Remember to take your headphones too, as there aren’t any provided.
It’s that simple!
We didn’t see a single other person when we were there for our 4 hour booking.
Rest assured though, staff are on hand – if you need any help you can reach them on What’sApp, and there were plenty of signs around with contact details.
There’s also plenty of CCTV around the building and in every studio too.
Why You Should Try DJing At Pirate Studios
It’s the perfect place to practice. You don’t need to worry about what the audience want, it’s ok if a transition clashes or if any mixes sound more like galloping horses than a perfectly matched beat, and you won’t have anyone asking for a request.
If you’re lucky enough to have DJ kit at home, you may not be lucky enough to have no neighbours, so it’s also a great space to be able to spin some tunes and turn the volume UP.
If you like music, and if you’ve always wanted to have a go on the decks, you should definitely check out Pirate Studios.
Want To Try It Yourself?
- Take a look at the Pirate Studios website for the full details, locations, pricing, and to sign up.
- If you’re interested in playing Open Decks, check music venues near you to see if there are any events you can sign up to.
- 2 regular Open Deck nights in York happen at The Crescent and Polymath.
- You can often find Open Deck events on Social Media, so why not have a search and see what opportunities there might be near you.
- If you’re looking for some tutorials to help you get started with DJing, there’s a great library of easy to follow videos on YouTube from Club Ready DJ School.
Cost Of Experience
- Our 4 hour booking cost £41.20. This was 12noon until 4pm on a Tuesday.
- Once you sign up, you’ll receive various offers and discounts too.
Recommendations
- Keep it simple. The kit can be a bit intimidating with lots of faders and dials and buttons, but you don’t need to know what everything does to get started. Keep it simple and get comfortable with the basics.
- Ask a friend. If you know someone who has experience behind the decks, why not see if they might come along with you to Pirate Studios so they can show you the ropes.
- Check out the courses. Pirate Studios have various courses you can take to learn to DJ, both in person and online. Take a look at their current DJ courses.
- Don’t forget your headphones. These aren’t provided, and whilst they’re not essential, it does help with the mixing.
- Remember to take your music. Whether it’s on a USB or CDs, don’t forget to take them.
- Have fun! It’s a safe space where it really doesn’t matter if you fluff up any of the transitions, but you’ll learn lots.
Wow, what a cool experience! This sounds like so much fun and I’d love to find something like this in my city. Thank you for sharing and awesome photos!
This was so much fun! I know Pirate Studios are hoping to open up more venues, so maybe one will come near you?! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment, and thank you for the compliment on the pictures! :o)
I haven’t dabbled with DJing in about two decades, so I’d likely need to start from scratch again. It’s great that you shared some little DJing tricks along with your experience, as it adds an extra level to the post. I wonder if there’s one of these near me
That’s cool you’ve done some DJing before, I reckon there would still be some muscle memory there and you’d pick it up again. Surely it’s like riding a bike? Thank you so much for reading and commenting, and the feedback – I really appreciate it.
Sally :o)
This is so cool, and looks like so much fun! I have never done anything like this before and would be at a complete loss at how to do it at first, but I would so enjoy learning it. Fantastic!
I was very grateful to have the Other Half with me to get me started. It’s really good fun, I can definitely recommend it if you get the chance to give it a go.
Thanks as always for reading, and for the comment.
:o)