DJ Forum

Creating a killer DJ setlist is not just about mixing tracks together; it’s about understanding your audience, maintaining the energy flow, and crafting an experience that resonates with the crowd. Whether you’re spinning at a club, a wedding, or a festival, your DJ setlist should be designed with purpose, intuition, and creativity. This guide will help you not only create a smooth setlist but also manage energy flow, pick the right tracks, and adjust your set on the fly. The post How to Create a Killer DJ Setlist: Strategies for Any Event or Genre appeared first on GlobalDJsGuide. View the full article

A great DJ isn’t just someone who plays music; they’re an artist who can read the crowd and adapt the set to keep the dancefloor alive. Understanding your audience’s energy, body language, and responses to different tracks is key to creating a successful DJ set. Every crowd is different, and the ability to adjust your performance to keep people engaged and dancing is what separates great DJs from good ones. In this article, we will explore effective techniques for reading your crowd, adapting your DJ set on the fly, and understanding how to tailor your music to maximize the audience’s enjoyment and energy. Whether you’re playing a small intimate party or a massive festiva…

“Traktor has already done an outstanding job of both detecting and maintaining a consistent tempo; flexible beatgrids just extend its intelligence and utility.” It’s hard for me to contemplate, honestly, but I first started DJing nearly 20 years ago. In the spur of the moment (and for reasons I can’t recall), I somehow landed at [...] The post Solid Upgrade: Native Instruments Traktor Pro 4 [Review] appeared first on DJ Life Magazine. View the full article

The AlphaTheta DDJ-GRV6 DJ Controller is a cutting-edge, professional-grade controller designed to meet the demands of both beginner and professional DJs. Offering seamless integration with Serato DJ Pro, customizable performance pads, responsive jog wheels, and a suite of powerful effects, the DDJ-GRV6 gives you the tools you need for creative live performances. Whether you’re mixing in a club, hosting a private event, or streaming online, this controller provides an intuitive yet professional experience. This guide will walk you through the key features, performance, pros and cons, and provide a thorough comparison with other popular DJ controllers to help you decide if…

The music industry, particularly the live events and DJing sectors, has long been associated with large-scale consumption of resources, energy, and materials. From the electricity powering sound systems to the transportation of equipment and the plastic waste generated at festivals, the environmental impact of music events is significant. However, as the world becomes more environmentally conscious, DJs, event organizers, and other professionals in the music industry are beginning to embrace more sustainable practices. This movement toward eco-friendly solutions and sustainable DJing is not only helping reduce the carbon footprint of live music events but also inspir…

Retirement may not be on the cards for Fatboy Slim just yet, but you’d be hard pressed to find the 61-year-old DJ and producer putting on his music-making hat ever again. The musician, real name Norman Cook, recently told The Sun’s Bizarre column that he’ll much rather focus his energies on DJing than release new music because “you can’t make music unless you’re absolutely passionate about it”... The post “I’m hoping that one day the passion will come back” Fatboy Slim says he “just don’t seem to feel like” making music anymore appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, the DJ industry stands on the brink of a transformation unlike any we’ve seen before. While we’ve witnessed the rise of digital DJing, software automation, and immersive experiences in the last few years, the next few decades could see a complete reimagining of the DJ role, the way live performances are experienced, and the tools DJs use to create their art. Here, we’ll dive into futuristic possibilities, imagining how emerging technologies like quantum computing, neural interfaces, full-body haptic suits, and hyper-realistic virtual worlds could redefine the future of DJing in the years to come... The post The …

Scratching is one of the most distinctive aspects of DJing. It’s a way to express creativity, manipulate sounds, and enhance a DJ’s live performance. Whether you’re using vinyl or digital controllers, mastering the art of scratching opens up endless possibilities for your mixes. From the baby scratch to advanced techniques like the crab scratch, each technique adds a unique element to your set. This guide will take you through step-by-step tutorials on the most important scratching techniques, from beginner to advanced, with helpful video examples and tips to help you improve your skill. Before attempting to scratch, it’s crucial to have a solid understanding of beatmatch…

DJing is undoubtedly evolving at a rapid pace, but based on the influx of both young and seasoned DJs joining our school at Digital DJ Tips, interest in the art of DJing remains robust and vibrant. So here’s our look back on the past 12 months in DJing, including changes in how DJing is being … Continued The post DJing Is Dead, Long Live DJing! The Digital DJ Tips 2024 Roundup appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

If you’ve nabbed some new DJ gear this festive season – be it a compact controller, a full-fledged standalone unit, or something small to dabble with the family – here are seven things you may want to dig out, buy or put on your want list to help you get off on the right foot … Continued The post Kickstart Your DJ Journey: A Quick Guide for New DJ Gear Owners appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

As a DJ, the ability to manipulate your tracks creatively is key to providing a dynamic and seamless performance. Hot cues and loops are two powerful tools that can elevate your transitions, help you create unique mixes, and engage your audience. Whether you’re in a club, at a festival, or performing at a private event, mastering these features will give you more control and flexibility, enabling you to deliver a polished and professional performance. In this guide, we’ll explore how to use hot cues and loops, how they work, and practical techniques for integrating them into your DJ sets... The post How to Use Hot Cues and Loops to Enhance Your DJ Performance appeared fir…

Beatmatching is one of the core skills every DJ needs to master. It’s the process of synchronizing the tempos of two tracks so that they play in perfect harmony. Whether you’re using traditional vinyl, CDJs, or DJ software, learning how to beatmatch manually will give you a deeper understanding of DJing and make you a more versatile performer. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll cover the essentials of manual beatmatching, providing you with the tools you need to transition smoothly between tracks and deliver a seamless performance. We’ll dive into controllers, CDJs, turntables, and software, and explore how each piece of equipment can affect the beatmatching process and ho…

DJing has become a cultural phenomenon, combining technology, music, and creativity into a dynamic career or thrilling hobby. Many eager club goers see and feel the excitement of spinning house and techno and think… I really want to learn how to start DJing! If you’ve ever imagined yourself behind the decks, shaping the energy of a crowd, this guide is for you! Whether you’re curious about how to start DJing or eager to learn the skills and equipment needed, we’ll guide you through every step... View the full article

The transition from DJing to music production can be smoother than expected, especially if you’ve spent time behind the decks. As a DJ, you’ve already developed essential skills like rhythm, song structure, and musical timing, which form a solid foundation for music production. Your experience with mixing tracks, reading the crowd, and understanding how different elements come together live gives you an edge when creating music in the studio. These skills will serve you well when you start crafting your own original tracks. While music production introduces new tools and techniques, many aspects of DJing—like familiarity with tempo, key changes, and arrangement—are direct…

The DJ world offers just as much variety as the studio when it comes to controllers large and small, simple or advanced. While there’s still a wealth of big hardware systems for those playing packed-out sets in clubs, performing on a smaller scale has got easier than ever too. This year, compact controllers from companies like Native Instruments and the explosion of stem separation tools in software for remixing have made possible performances that were previously near-impossible, using just a laptop. Those looking to record their sets got some love too with the release of the ultimate ‘DAW for DJs’. We loved the breadth of DJ gear released in 2024, and the ease with whic…

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The XDJ-AZ is a significant launch for AlphaTheta (formerly Pioneer DJ), because it is an update to the hugely popular Pioneer DJ XDJ-XZ, an all-in-one, standalone DJ system that looks and feels very similar to using much more expensive pro Pioneer DJ gear. The XDJ-AZ updates the previous model in many ways, not least adding … Continued The post Free AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ Training Tutorial & Video Manual appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

If you want to create a DJ mix to upload to the internet, that generally means having to sit in front of your decks and record it live. Mess up a transition? Time to start it over again. That is unless you’re preparing your set in some kind of software. This idea has been around […]View the full article

Looking to curate the perfect party playlist for the upcoming holidays? Well, grab your headphones and prepare to channel your inner DJ because we’ve got some sage advice from British producer and DJ Norman Cook AKA Fatboy Slim – the man who knows a thing or two about getting a crowd moving. A true master of the dance floor, Cook tells The Guardian that it’s not so much about getting people dancing as much as it is about “unifying people”. If you’re stepping behind the decks instead of letting a playlist run on autopilot, Cook advises starting by “narrow[ing] it down to 60 or 70 tunes that you think are going to be needed.” And if the dancefloor starts losing st…

Reloop has just announced the release of the Stand Hub Pro, a radically redesigned laptop stand/power hub for digital DJs. This innovative product combines a practical laptop stand with a built-in hub featuring multiple USB ports and power delivery. The Stand Hub Pro offers an ergonomic design that allows users to position their laptops at … Continued The post Reloop Launches Stand Hub Pro: A Versatile Power & USB Hub For DJs appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

2024 saw a slew of excellent headphones and earphones of all shapes and sizes, and happily, the trend among the models we reviewed tended towards them remaining pretty affordable. With wireless earbuds now a common sight, it was refreshing to see companies pushing the envelope in terms of battery life, personalisation and audio quality. At the other end of the scale, bespoke developers are making premium wired models that are pricey but possess a fidelity that has to be heard to be believed... The post These are the best new headphones and earbuds of 2024, according to MusicTech appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

This article and video were sponsored by Mixed In Key, but the thoughts and opinions expressed are our own. As DJs, we all know that mixing in key can make or break a transition. Having two tracks blend harmoniously can be the difference between a smooth blend and a janky mess. Many of us just […] View the full article

Mixed In Key software is trusted by some of the world’s best-known DJs. Famous names such as David Guetta, Diplo, and Armin Van Buuren rely on it in the studio and on the stage. You can share their experiences by checking out the Mixed In Key holiday sale, where you can get up to 80% off [...] View post: Mixed In Key Holiday Sale: get up to 80% OFF all software View the full article

The Pioneer DJ DJM-A9 represents the next level of professional DJ mixers. As the successor to the highly successful DJM-900NXS2, the DJM-A9 brings new features, enhanced sound quality, and advanced connectivity options to meet the demands of modern DJs. Whether you’re mixing in a club, performing live, or streaming to a global audience, this 4-channel club mixer offers everything you need to elevate your performance. In this comprehensive review, we will cover everything from design and build quality to sound performance, effects, and more. Let’s explore why the DJM-A9 stands out as one of the best mixers for DJs in 2025... The post Unveiling the Pioneer DJ DJM-A9: A Com…

Traktor Z1 MK2 can be quickly customized to suit your DJing style and personal preferences. Customizing this portable controller is easier than ever using Traktor’s Preferences. In just a few minutes, you’ll be able to change the functions of the buttons on the controller to meet your specific needs. Each of the buttons on the Z1 MK2 can be customized to a variety of Traktor Pro 4 functions. The Z1 MK2 features unique LEDs on the bottom that can be customized, and you can color code each button or button group on the controller to identify different functions. The customization options on the Z1 MK2 make this controller a perfect choice for DJs…

Which digital streaming platform values DJ the most right now? Among the major players, you’d likely think of Apple Music as the champion of DJs, with its Boiler Room partnership, new Club radio station, and a regular flow of DJ mixes from acclaimed artists. Spotify, meanwhile, rolled out its AI DJ feature in 2023, which has been less well-received. But Tidal — now owned by Twitter founder and Block Inc chairman Jack Dorsey, who acquired it from Jay-Z in 2021 for $297 million — believes it’s the frontrunner in supporting the careers and artistry of DJs... The post Why Jack Dorsey’s Tidal is focusing on building new DJ tools and content in 2025 appeared first on Music…

You might have heard that modular setups are a flexible, creative, and portable option for DJs, but what exactly does modular mean and how do you know if it’s right for you? Unlike all-in-one controllers which are generally a single unit housing a sound card, mixer, and deck controls, modular setups are a combination of controllers. In a nutshell modular DJs bring together their own setups to suit their needs. And while every DJ is different, the modular route offers a lot of room to grow and there’s always more to explore... The post What is modular DJing? first appeared on Native Instruments Blog. View the full article

Serato has launched a new multi-FX plugin, Hex FX, which features a range of exclusive, signature presets from revered music producers. The New Zealand brand, known better for its DJ gear and software, describes Hex as a “plugin that magically bends, morphs and hexes any sound with a full suite of chainable FX”. You can experiment with presets from Guy Lawrence of Disclosure, Lord Finesse, Jake One, Amber Navran, and DECAP, with over 100 presets available within Hex-FX, and more than 45 unique effects... The post Serato’s new Hex FX plugin packs presets from Disclosure, Lord Finesse, and more appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

As a DJ, whether you’re spinning tracks at a local venue, performing at a massive festival, or sharing your mixes online, it’s important to understand the ins and outs of music licensing. Licensing protects the rights of the artists who create the music you play and ensures that you, as a DJ, are legally covered. In 2025, with increasing digital streaming, online content, and a rising awareness of copyright laws, DJs need to be more diligent than ever in understanding licensing requirements. In this guide, we’ll break down the key components of music licensing for DJs, covering both live performances and online mixes, and providing insight into how you can stay compl…

As technology evolves at a rapid pace, so does the landscape of DJ equipment. In 2025, DJ gear is no longer just about simple controllers and mixers; it’s about intelligent systems, portability, sustainability, and immersive experiences. From innovative controllers and mixers to software updates, the tools available to DJs are becoming smarter, more adaptable, and more interactive, all while maintaining the high-quality sound that defines DJ culture. This article explores the cutting-edge DJ hardware that will define the future of the art form... The post The Evolution of DJ Equipment: What’s New in 2025 appeared first on GlobalDJsGuide. View the full artic…