Episodes

  • Mobile DJ tips, gear gimmicks, the future of jogwheels
    Oct 24 2024

    Mobile DJing has changed in recent years, and so there are simple things any DJ can do to keep up with the times and do a great job. We kick off this episode with the five most popular tips as voted for by our students.

    Our second topic tackles whether we've reached "peak features" on DJ gear or not. With nearly every new DJ gear release, there seems to be some gimmicky new feature or other. But how important are these really? Or instead, how much should our DJ gear simply do a job and stay out of our way?

    With sync, AI beatgrids, and modern quick mixing techniques, do we even need jogwheels to DJ any more? After all, our very own Laidback Luke has moved away from this type of DJing. So for our final topic in this episode, we examine the arguments for and against.

    As ever, this pod is supported 100% by the students of Digital DJ Tips, and it was recorded in a live webinar with lots of student feedback. If you enjoy it and you can, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

    Mixing For Mobile & Wedding DJs: https://djtips.co/mixing-mobile

    TIMESTAMPS

    0:00 Intro

    0:15 Episode overview

    1:43 5 surprising tips for modern mobile DJs

    24:07 Have we reached "peak features" on DJ gear?

    33:52 The importance (and future) of jogwheels

    Want to get your question answered on an episode of this podcast? Digital DJ Tips course owners get to ask questions in their student-only group. Your first step to getting involved is to buy a DJ course, so come and join our community at https://www.digitaldjtips.com.

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    48 mins
  • New XDJ-AZ & stems, imposter syndrome, using FX in mixing
    Oct 10 2024

    With AlphaTheta having just launched the XDJ-AZ, it's not surprising that we had questions about that in this week's show.

    But we also had a wide range of questions from our students covering everything from how to transition with effects, to the height of DJ gear, to dealing with imposter syndrome.

    As ever, this pod is supported 100% by the students of Digital DJ Tips, and it was recorded in a live webinar with lots of student feedback. If you enjoy it and you can, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

    HELPFUL RESOURCES

    Transition videos: https://djtips.co/transitions

    Explanation of "cue drift" issues: https://youtu.be/7YUHXQO0TKs

    TIMESTAMPS

    0:00 Intro

    0:14 Episode overview

    1:09 Does the XDJ-AZ have stems?

    5:50 Best way to smooth out transitions with FX?

    11:33 Any advice for DJs with "imposter syndrome"?

    17:51 How can I delete an entire genre from my DJ library?

    20:28 What's needed to be a successful karaoke DJ?

    21:25 For beginner DJ mixes, should I play multiple genres or focus on just one?

    25:43 Easiest way to manage cue points across different set-ups?

    30:27 Best DJ desk for equipment?

    34:24 What advanced DJ skills do you recommend learning?

    Want to get your question answered on an episode of this podcast? Digital DJ Tips course owners get to ask questions in their student-only group. Your first step to getting involved is to buy a DJ course, so come and join our community at https://www.digitaldjtips.com.

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    43 mins
  • AlphaTheta criticism, 4-channel mixing, how to DJ livestream
    Sep 26 2024

    As Pioneer DJ slowly fades from view and AlphaTheta takes over, we start this episode highlighting what we see as the five big issues the brand has to address to continue its success.

    Most DJs opt for gear with four-channel mixing capability - but how important is this? We look at what those extra channels are for, and share the real numbers on how many DJs actually use them.

    It really does make sense to dabble with livestreaming in this day and age, and it needn't be difficult or expensive, so we finish off the episode discussing the three easiest ways to do it and what you'll need.

    As ever, this pod is supported 100% by the students of Digital DJ Tips, and it was recorded in a live webinar with lots of student feedback. If you enjoy it and you can, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

    TIMESTAMPS

    0:00 Intro

    0:15 Episode overview

    1:23 Five issues AlphaTheta needs to deal with

    20:10 DJing with four channels (demystified)

    30:38 Three simple ways to DJ livestream

    Want to get your question answered on an episode of this podcast? Digital DJ Tips course owners get to ask questions in their student-only group. Your first step to getting involved is to buy a DJ course, so come and join our community at https://www.digitaldjtips.com.

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    48 mins
  • DJ lighting tips, using headphones only, trance/techno mixing
    Sep 12 2024

    Welcome to our podcast answering another batch of questions asked by real students in our DJ school. This time around we started with a question about the best way to mix in just your headphones (out of the two most common methods), before moving on to talking about something that comes up again and again and doesn’t get any easier as our lives get busier – finding a way to fit DJing into your life!

    With the cost and capabilities of modern DJ lighting both moving in the right direction nowadays, it’s no surprise many DJs are dabbling. We talked through your options as a DJ when it comes to adding lights to your set-up, especially if you really feel you want to concentrate on the music when DJing. And finally, we talked about how to keep techno/trance sets exciting, with the added twist of performing online with no visible audience.

    As ever, this pod is supported 100% by the students of Digital DJ Tips, and it was recorded in a live webinar with lots of student feedback. If you enjoy it and you can, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts - it really does make a difference.

    WATCH ON YOUTUBE

    https://youtu.be/iGvQQmGl2Lg

    TIMESTAMPS

    0:00 Intro

    0:15 Episode overview

    1:21 What's the best way to mix in headphones?

    5:29 How can I start adding lights to my DJ set-up?

    12:37 Any advice on having more time for DJing?

    21:49 As a trance DJ, should I mix quickly or play the full track?

    Want to get your question answered on an episode of this podcast? Digital DJ Tips course owners get to ask questions in their student-only group. Your first step to getting involved is to buy a DJ course, so come and join our community at https://www.digitaldjtips.com.

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    30 mins
  • Your 5 Proven Steps To DJing Like a Pro, Part 5: Success
    Aug 15 2024

    So you want to be able to DJ like a pro, but it's hard to know where to start, it's hard to know what to practise, and it's hard to know if you're getting better.

    This proven five-step formula, first popularised in our book Rock The Dancefloor! (which has now reached its second edition and is a global bestseller), is your answer.

    Each of the five steps in this teaching method identifies an area to work on. When you work in all areas, it has a "multiplier effect". By approaching your DJing hobby this way, you’ll get noticeably better – fast – and you’ll have more fun doing so. You’ll find you’re never stuck for something to do, and your progress will be obvious, not least to you!

    Here we’re going to look at step five, which is success. We covered the previous four steps – gear, music, mixing, and performing – in earlier episodes.

    Success is all about where you go with your DJing skills. Once you’ve mastered the other four steps – you understand how DJ gear works and you’re comfortable on different types of gear, you have a functional music collection that you’re highly familiar with and happy to DJ with, you’ve got a well-chosen and practised selection of skills that you can use in front of any crowd, and you have enough experience of playing DJ sets like a pro – I promise you, you’re going to want more and more!

    But while this is an enviable position to find yourself in, it pays to make the most of it once you get there.

    This episode covers five tips that will help you master this area of DJing. Enjoy the show!

    As ever, this pod is supported 100% by the students of Digital DJ Tips. If you enjoy it and you can, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

    TIMESTAMPS

    0:00 Intro

    0:14 Episode overview

    2:12 Tip #1 - Make the time

    3:42 Tip #2 - Find your community

    5:05 Tip #3 - Celebrate your wins

    6:04 Tip #4 - Know your next steps

    8:33 Tip #5 - Don't wait to help others

    Want to get your question answered on an episode of this podcast? Digital DJ Tips course owners get to ask questions in their student-only group. Your first step to getting involved is to buy a DJ course, so come and join our community at https://www.digitaldjtips.com.

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    14 mins
  • Your 5 Proven Steps To DJing Like a Pro, Part 4: Performing
    Aug 8 2024

    So you want to be able to DJ like a pro, but it's hard to know where to start, it's hard to know what to practise, and it's hard to know if you're getting better.

    This proven five-step formula, first popularised in our book Rock The Dancefloor! (which has now reached its second edition and is a global bestseller), is your answer.

    Each of the five steps in this teaching method identifies an area to work on. When you work in all areas, it has a "multiplier effect". By approaching your DJing hobby this way, you’ll get noticeably better – fast – and you’ll have more fun doing so. You’ll find you’re never stuck for something to do, and your progress will be obvious, not least to you!

    Here we're going to look at step four, which is performing, before moving on to look at the final step, success - we've already covered steps one to three in previous episodes.

    Nowadays, we define performing in a very broad way. What we're talking about here is delivering the finished product of DJing. In other words, creating something that others can enjoy. It's one thing to have mastered one or two transitions that you do over and over again in private, but that's not really DJing - they're just tricks. Delivering the finished product is what makes you a DJ.

    This episode covers three ideas that will help you understand this area of DJing. Enjoy the show!

    As ever, this pod is supported 100% by the students of Digital DJ Tips. If you enjoy it and you can, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

    TIMESTAMPS

    0:00 Intro

    0:14 Episode overview

    2:44 Idea #1 - Livestreaming

    4:31 Idea #2 -Mixtapes

    6:32 Idea #3 - Just for fun

    9:49 Next steps..

    Want to get your question answered on an episode of this podcast? Digital DJ Tips course owners get to ask questions in their student-only group. Your first step to getting involved is to buy a DJ course, so come and join our community at https://www.digitaldjtips.com.

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    12 mins
  • Your 5 Proven Steps To DJing Like a Pro, Part 3: Mixing
    Aug 1 2024

    So you want to be able to DJ like a pro, but it's hard to know where to start, it's hard to know what to practise, and it's hard to know if you're getting better.

    This proven five-step formula, first popularised in our book Rock The Dancefloor! (which has now reached its second edition and is a global bestseller), is your answer.

    Each of the five steps in this teaching method identifies an area to work on. When you work in all areas, it has a "multiplier effect". By approaching your DJing hobby this way, you’ll get noticeably better – fast – and you’ll have more fun doing so. You’ll find you’re never stuck for something to do, and your progress will be obvious, not least to you!

    Here we’re going to look at step three, which is mixing, before moving on to look at the next two steps in order (the order is important). We’ve already covered the first two steps, gear and music.

    Mixing is what you do with the music you worked on in step two, using the gear we covered in step one.

    A big mistake beginner DJs make when they want to learn to DJ is try to start here, at step three. As we’ve already seen, without a solid grounding in the first two steps, you’re going to come unstuck quite quickly, because either you’ll get frustrated with the gear and it will hold you back unnecessarily, or you’ll find you haven’t got the music you want (or you can’t find the music you want quickly enough) to make the mixing part fruitful.

    However, if you understand and are also working on the first two steps, you’re ready for this one. And of course, it is this one that often ultimately draws DJs to the hobby, because we all see DJs doing a great job and want to emulate them.

    This episode covers three tips that will help you master this area of DJing. Enjoy the show!

    As ever, this pod is supported 100% by the students of Digital DJ Tips. If you enjoy it and you can, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

    TIMESTAMPS

    0:00 Intro

    0:15 Episode overview

    1:09 Where beginner DJs get stuck..

    2:41 Tip #1 - Get the volume right

    4:30 Tip #2 - Noticeable mixing is OK

    7:33 Tip #3 - There's no "correct" way to DJ

    11:09 Bonus tip - Record your sets

    Want to get your question answered on an episode of this podcast? Digital DJ Tips course owners get to ask questions in their student-only group. Your first step to getting involved is to buy a DJ course, so come and join our community at https://www.digitaldjtips.com.

    Show More Show Less
    13 mins
  • Your 5 Proven Steps To DJing Like a Pro, Part 2: Music
    Jul 25 2024

    So you want to be able to DJ like a pro, but it's hard to know where to start, it's hard to know what to practise, and it's hard to know if you're getting better.

    This proven five-step formula, first popularised in our book Rock The Dancefloor! (which has now reached its second edition and is a global bestseller), is your answer.

    Each of the five steps in this teaching method identifies an area to work on. When you work in all areas, it has a "multiplier effect". By approaching your DJing hobby this way, you’ll get noticeably better – fast – and you’ll have more fun doing so. You’ll find you’re never stuck for something to do, and your progress will be obvious, not least to you!

    Here we're going to look at step two, which is the music, before moving on to look at the next three steps in order (the order is important).

    Hopefully, this is why you got into this. Finding, choosing, buying, organising, and learning the tracks and songs you'll be dealing with is obviously an integral part of DJing. But that doesn't mean it's easy. And indeed, with today's abundance of digital music and the necessity to use computers to organise that music, this is a huge pain point for many DJs.

    This episode covers three big steps that will help you master this area of DJing. Enjoy the show!

    As ever, this pod is supported 100% by the students of Digital DJ Tips. If you enjoy it and you can, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

    TIMESTAMPS

    0:00 Intro

    0:14 Episode overview

    1:35 Tip #1 - Develop a weekly routine

    4:11 Tip #2 - Discover old gems

    6:25 Tip #3 - Learn about your music

    Want to get your question answered on an episode of this podcast? Digital DJ Tips course owners get to ask questions in their student-only group. Your first step to getting involved is to buy a DJ course, so come and join our community at https://www.digitaldjtips.com.

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    9 mins