DJ Forum

When you’re building your DJ set-up, one question often comes up: should you use hardware or software effects? The answer depends on how you DJ, what gear you’re using, and what you want to achieve. Let’s break down the differences and help you work out what’s right for you. However, before we get into it…what … Continued The post Hardware vs Software Effects in DJing: What’s The Difference? appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

Legendary electronic music innovator Richie Hawtin sat down with Native Instruments’ Michael Koczynksi (Lead Product Manager for Traktor) and Sylwia Kopys (Senior Marketing Manager for Traktor and hardware) at ADE 2025 to discuss a long history of collaboration, the evolution of his live setup, and his vision for the future of performance technology. Watch the conversation in full below or read about some of the highlights in the blog... The post Richie Hawtin on the evolution of DJing and his quest for the perfect setup first appeared on Native Instruments Blog. View the full article

Getting booked to play a festival is one of the biggest dreams for loads of up-and-coming DJs, but it doesn’t just come down to luck. To get these sorts of opportunities, you’ve got to do the groundwork, building up a reputation that shows that you’re able to handle these types of sets and crowds. Crossfader […]View the full article

When most people start DJing, they think the hard part is the technical stuff. Things like beat-matching and knowing a few transitions are, of course, crucial, but just getting those skills nailed is only half of what makes a great DJ. To really level up to a more natural level of mixing, you’ve got to […]View the full article

Native Instruments has launched Traktor Play, a streamlined two-deck DJ software priced at £39/€49/$49 that opens the Traktor ecosystem to third-party hardware for the first time in a long time – including plug-and-play compatibility with AlphaTheta’s DDJ-FLX2 and DDJ-FLX4 controllers. The software is built on the same engine as Traktor Pro 4, with features deliberately … Continued The post NI Launches Entry Level Traktor Play & Opens Up To Other Gear appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

In 1999, Trance Nation exploded into the world. Mixed by a then-rising Dutch producer named Ferry Corsten, it went on to become one of the most iconic dance compilation series of all time – selling millions of copies, introducing whole generations to clubbing, and shaping the sound of a generation. What most people don’t know … Continued The post Trance Nation: How Ferry Corsten & Ministry of Sound Changed Dance Music Forever appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

Ferry Corsten has just launched his Trance Mixing Masterclass course with us, sharing decades of knowledge from the genre’s evolution. To celebrate, we’re looking back at the career moments that didn’t just define one DJ’s journey…but shaped trance music itself. From bedroom productions to packed festival stages, these are the moments that made Ferry a … Continued The post Ferry Corsten’s 10 Most Euphoric DJ Moments appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

AlphaTheta has withdrawn the latest Pioneer DJ CDJ-3000 firmware update after multiple professional DJs reported arriving at gigs to find their playlists apparently wiped. The company pulled version 3.30 on 4 November, just two weeks after its release, and is recommending users downgrade to version 3.20. High-profile DJs including BBC Radio 1’s Jaguar, VTSS, Samurai … Continued The post AlphaTheta Pulls CDJ-3000 Firmware After Playlist Issues appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

If you’re a complete beginner looking to take your very first steps into the world of DJing, you’ve got more options than ever of where to start. Most of the industry leaders have free or stripped-back versions that let you get a flavour of what DJing’s all about without having to spend a load of […]View the full article

“Should I go with Pioneer DJ (or lately, AlphaTheta) equipment? Other stuff seems better value and way cooler. But then again, wouldn’t I be safer going with the ‘industry standard’?” Students here at the Digital DJ Tips school ask us this all the time. And like Mac vs PC, it’s hard to get to the … Continued The post Why Pioneer DJ & AlphaTheta Gear Is The Industry Standard (Whether You Like It Or Not) appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

The DJ 300 PRO X & DJ 300 PRO X CLUB mark a long-awaited comeback, blending premium sound, modular design, and personalization for DJs. After more than a decade away from the DJ scene, beyerdynamic is making a gallant return with the launch of the DJ 300 PRO X and DJ 300 PRO X CLUB [...] The post DJ-Market Return: beyerdynamic Reveals New Customizable Headphones appeared first on DJ Life Magazine. View the full article

The post We uncover the mixing techniques behind every major genre appeared first on Pioneer DJ. View the full article

Trance legend Ferry Corsten is launching his first-ever comprehensive mixing course with us here at Digital DJ Tips, and you’ll soon get the chance to learn from the master himself. As this is such a big launch and is bound to be hugely popular, we wanted to give you some vital information ahead of time. … Continued The post New Ferry Corsten Course: What You Need To Know appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

What did you achieve by 30? Your own place? Steady job? Vaguely acceptable dress sense? If you’re Native Instruments, you built an empire of pro audio tools, pioneered software DJing, and now — just before hitting the big three-o in 2026 — dropped your best-looking and most ambitious controller to date… The post Native Instruments’ Traktor MX2 sets a new benchmark for affordable DJ controllers appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

AlphaTheta, Algoriddim, and Native Instruments collaborate to make music libraries compatible across platforms and hardware. The DJ world is becoming more connected than ever – and that includes the worlds of hardware and software. AlphaTheta has teamed up with Algoriddim and Native Instruments to launch OneLibrary: a unified music library format designed to make DJing [...] The post DJ Brands Unite to Launch OneLibrary: A New Era of Open DJ Ecosystems appeared first on DJ Life Magazine. View the full article

AlphaTheta’s controllers support Native Instruments’ new Traktor Play software, offering DJs more creative freedom and accessibility. Two of AlphaTheta’s most popular DJ controllers, the DDJ-FLX2 and DDJ-FLX4, are now fully compatible with Traktor Play, the latest DJ software from Native Instruments. This new support allows users to connect and perform with Traktor Play at no [...] The post DDJ-FLX2 & DDJ-FLX4 Now Compatible with Native Instruments’ Traktor Play appeared first on DJ Life Magazine. View the full article

Dangling the idea of one library in front of DJs is a bit like dangling the idea of one word processor file format in front of office workers 20 years ago. Imagine not being able to open a Word file on Google Docs, Apple Pages, or OpenOffice without using a converter program. Madness, right? Yet … Continued The post AlphaTheta’s OneLibrary: 5 Things You Really Need To Know appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

Learning to produce in Ableton isn’t about knowing all the hundreds of different keyboard shortcuts or super nerdy in-depth features. It’s all about being comfortable and efficient enough that you can get the ideas down out of your head quickly and simply enough, and actually turn them into real music. If you’re a DJ, you […]View the full article

AlphaTheta has collaborated with numerous players in the world of DJ gear to launch OneLibrary, a new unified music library format which enhances cross-compatibility between software and hardware from different brands. Aiming to foster a “more open industry environment”, with OneLibrary, AlphaTheta has partnered with brands Algoriddim and Native Instruments to standardise essential DJ performance data – including playlists, cue points and beatgrids – offering greater flexibility and the option to play music across a wider range of equipment... The post OneLibrary: AlphaTheta partners with Algoriddim and Native Instruments to make CDJs, djay Pro and Traktor work in unison …

AlphaTheta has announced OneLibrary, a shared music library format developed in partnership with Algoriddim and Native Instruments. It’s designed to fix one of the biggest problems in modern DJing, which is that, usually, you’re pretty much tied to a single software ecosystem. Until now, switching between platforms like rekordbox, Traktor, or djay meant rebuilding your […]View the full article

AlphaTheta, Algoriddim and Native Instruments have launched OneLibrary, a new unified music library format that lets DJs export their personal music libraries from Djay Pro, Traktor and Rekordbox to USB drives for use on professional DJ hardware – no laptop needed. The OneLibrary format, which is essentially a rebrand of Rekordbox’s Device Library Plus, standardises … Continued The post Djay & Traktor Users Can Now Export Libraries To CDJs Via USB With OneLibrary appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

When Robb McDaniels, Beatport Chairman & CEO, announced in September that the Beatport platform would expand into open-format genres – hip-hop, R&B, pop, Latin, Caribbean, and African – our immediate question wasn’t “why?” but “what happens to Beatsource?” After all, that’s what Beatsource does – and of course, both brands are owned by the same … Continued The post Are Beatport & Beatsource About To Merge? appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

Everything you need to DJ with none of the complexity but with intuitive creative tools built for the next generation of DJs. Native Instruments has unveiled Traktor Play, a streamlined and intuitive new version of its iconic DJ software, arriving on November 3, 2025. Designed for newcomers and seasoned selectors alike, Traktor Play delivers professional [...] The post Introducing Traktor Play: DJ Software Made Simple appeared first on DJ Life Magazine. View the full article

This week’s DJ LIFE Mobile Monday DJ spotlight, presented by QSC, shines on DJ Romin Zandi of Zandi Entertainment, based out of Virginia. DJ Romin Zandi is this week’s DJ LIFE Mobile Monday spotlight. Presented by QSC, Romin of Zandi Entertainment is based out of Virginia. For Romin Zandi, being a mobile DJ is all about versatility, creativity, and [...] The post DJ Romin Zandi [Mobile Monday Spotlight] appeared first on DJ Life Magazine. View the full article

The late 1990s and early 2000s represent trance music at its absolute peak. This was when the genre moved from underground raves into mainstream consciousness, creating anthems that still pack dancefloors decades later. These tracks didn’t just define a generation of clubbers – they established one of the sonic blueprints that continues to influence electronic … Continued The post The Greatest Trance Anthems Of All Time – The Ultimate List appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

Remixing has always been one of the most important creative tools a DJ’s got. It’s how you move from simply mixing other people’s music to really building your own signature sound and making something that feels like your own. A remix uses a track you already know and love, takes some elements like the vocals […]View the full article

There comes a point for most DJs where just mixing other people’s songs starts to feel limiting. You begin to notice how a track could work better or maybe you want to really put your own identity on your music and define a more signature sound. That’s when a lot of DJs start experimenting with […]View the full article

If you’ve ever thought you might want to learn how to DJ trance music but don’t know enough about it to feel confident – whether that’s choosing your music, understanding the mixing style, or knowing which DJs to listen to for inspiration – this guide is for you. Where did trance come from? In the … Continued The post Everything You Wanted To Know About Trance (But Were Too Afraid To Ask) appeared first on Digital DJ Tips. View the full article

The new Sublim8 delivers deep bass, crystal-clear sound, and pro-level performance in a sleek column design focuses on power and precision. BASSBOSS has announced the Sublim8, a next-generation three-way powered column loudspeaker that combines the company’s signature output and accuracy with elegant portability. Designed for mobile DJs, live bands, houses of worship, and event venues, [...] The post BASSBOSS Unveils Sublim8: A Three-Way Column Loudspeaker appeared first on DJ Life Magazine. View the full article

The new Xone:24 and 24C DJ mixers blend classic analog sound with modern hybrid performance tools, built for purists, performers, and producers alike. Allen & Heath has introduced the Xone:24 and Xone:24C, two new additions to its acclaimed Xone series designed to satisfy both analog enthusiasts and modern hybrid DJs. Sharing a fully analogue signal [...] The post Allen & Heath Unveils Xone:24 & Xone:24C appeared first on DJ Life Magazine. View the full article