Training | Digital DJ Tips

June 18th, 2013 Training

5 Money-Saving Tips For Buying Music Online

by D-Jam

Knock your bloated shopping cart into shape and make it lean and mean before hitting that ‘purchase’ button, with these priceless tips.

Shopping for music online can be a challenge if you’re trying to stay within a budget. You’ll spend your time seeking out new tunes, and often end up with a shopping cart loaded with way more than you wanted to spend.

Now I know some of DJs spend hours on end listening to hundreds of tunes and only find one worth buying. (If that’s you, you might want to check out our tips on beating the “saturation blues”.) – but for the rest of us, here’s my advice on how to get the most bang for your buck and still stay within your set budget.

44 Comments »

June 17th, 2013 Training

Video: How To Set Up The Pioneer DDJ-SX For Scratching

by Phil Morse

Pioneer’s DDJ-SX is a great-feeling controller, and is almost perfect if you want to learn to scratch, due to its tight integration with Serato DJ, its well-sized jogwheels, and a plethora of controls in the software and hardware to let you fine-tune things to suit your style.

In this short video, Steve Canueto – Digital DJ Tips scratch tutor, and the man behind our Scratching For Controller DJs course – explains how to set up a Pioneer DDJ-SX for scratching.

20 Comments »

June 16th, 2013 Training

Over To You: Too Hot For DJing!

by Phil Morse

Djing in the sunshine can be an awesome thing – until your gear fails due to the temperature, that is…

Digital DJ Tips reader Wookie writes: “I just had a gig last Friday, which ended pretty badly. I was playing outdoor in a shadowless spot and with the sun pretty much at it highest position. Middle of a day. My MacBook Pro started to have audio dropouts and sounded like the latency was too low. It turned out that it was too hot for my computer to work properly.

“Now, tomorrow I will have pretty much the same gig, with the same weather. How can I cool down my laptop? Is it possible that audio dropped out be cause of high air temperature?”

45 Comments »

June 15th, 2013 Training

Your Questions: Do I Need To Practise On Pioneer Gear To Use It In Clubs?

by Phil Morse

A full Pioneer pro-DJ set-up certainly is impressive, but our reader wants to know what practice he needs to do to be able to roll up at a club and use one.

Digital DJ Tips reader Andre writes: “I’ve been DJing on for over three years now just as a hobby. For all this time I’ve used external mixer and Midi controllers with no jogwheels, so I always use the sync function, which I’m fine with.

“But now I’ve decided to take DJ more seriously, and I want to learn beatmatching manually. Since CDJs are rather expensive I’ll probably buy a Pioneer DDJ-SX for home, hoping that I can learn on the so-called “industry standard”, but my idea is not to take it to the venues I play at; instead I want to go very light and just carry a USB stick with Rekordbox-analysed files.

54 Comments »

June 12th, 2013 Training

Switching To Digital DJing From CDJs Or Vinyl: Your Questions Answered

by Phil Morse

Have you been putting off switching from CD or vinyl DJing to digital for too long? Not sure where or how to start? Today we answer your questions.

Last week we gave away a free PDF guide entitled “Ten Essential Tips On How To Switch Confidently & Painlessly From CDJs Or Vinyl To Laptop DJing” (we love a short title here!). You can actually still get it if you missed it… It’s here.

Nearly 1,500 people have downloaded that guide already. Plus, as part of our research on this (we’ll be hosting a “switching to digital” seminar at the BPM Show 2013, plus there’s some special training coming very soon), we’ve been gathering case studies of DJs who’ve switched to digital – and even though we only put that request out yesterday, over 150 DJs have offered their names there too, which is awesome.

3 Comments »

June 10th, 2013 Training

4 Reasons DJs Make Great Producers

by Mike Monday

Nowadays, DJing and production are closer than ever before… but it pays to understand the differences to pay both their dues.

• Mike Monday is a veteran music producer and DJ who has produced at least 300 tracks and DJed in 20+ countries over a 17-year career, who now helps beginners to big names like Claude VonStroke to enjoy making more music in less time with better results. Click here now for his free video training series and “Seven Steps Every Music Producer Needs To Take” ebook on the most effective ways to get the music out of your head and into the world.

You’re stoked. One of your musical heroes is playing in your city. You count down the sleeps till D-Day. The day when you’ll be utterly blown away by their voodoo skills behind the decks. When you’ll be instantly transported to that special spine-tingling place only their tracks take you to. When you’ll finally feel that breathtaking rush when that wall of sound hits you full force in the stomach… only to find on the night they’re a terrible DJ.

6 Comments »

June 9th, 2013 Training

Over To You: What Do You Do In Your DJ Practice Sessions?

by Phil Morse

How do you spend your practice session? Please share your secrets below…

Digital DJ Tips reader Bryant writes: “My question is referring to DJ workflow. I was just wondering what your workflow or practice sessions are like when you sit down on your controller. Do you have a certain way of practising?

“Or maybe a even better question, do you have a list of excercises that helped you along your way? Maybe a list of excercises that helped you develop the basics/advanced techniques of DJing? Thanks so much for your time.”

63 Comments »

June 8th, 2013 Training

Controller Clinic #27: DJ Set-Up To Survive Gigs In The Desert?

by Phil Morse

This is what DJ Joe Andolina‘s controller looked like after a week in the desert at Burning Man.

Digital DJ Tips reader Alexandar writes: “I am prepping to go throw some parties at Burning Man coming up in August. Burning Man has a reputation of destroying equipment so as you can imagine I do not want to bring my Kontrol S4 or any CDJs and mixer I have. So I have been looking for a cheap all-in-one alternative that I can buy, bring and not be too worried about it coming back damaged. My requirements are as follows: No need for a computer. No need for a separate mixer. Some effects. USB or CD input. Can output directly to speakers.

So far with these I have only seen the Numark Mixdeck. This meets all the requirements but is somewhat pricey. Plus the readouts are tiny and I am wondering how possible it is mix without an external computer on it. My questions: Are there any more controllers like the Numark Mixdeck? With the Mixdeck can you mix without any computer hooked up to it?

15 Comments »

June 2nd, 2013 Training

Over To You: Which Is The Best DJ Controller For iPad & djay?

by Phil Morse

The Numark Mixdeck Quad works with iPad and djay software, but it’s only one of many choices nowadays.

Digital DJ Tips reader Paul writes: “Please can I have your take on iPad controllers and Algoriddim’s djay software?

“I have the iPad and an thinking of waiting for the Numark iDJ Flex to be launched, just don’t know what to go for. Just want it for house parties and BBQs.”

28 Comments »

June 1st, 2013 Training

Controller Clinic #26: Traktor Or Serato After Learning On An iPad?

by Phil Morse

Traktor or Serato – which is it to be for our reader who’s upgrading from iPad and wants nicer waveforms?

37-year-old Digital DJ Tips reader Edelso writes: “I’m upgrading from a cheap Numark iDJ unit that I use with an iPad and Algoriddim’s djay app (this set up has given me the most fun I’ve ever had with $120, by the way!). I’ve got up to $500 to get a new controller.

“My current laptop should be fine for Traktor etc, and all my music is in iTunes. I’m mostly looking for better song analysis, more effects, and a better beat graph to visually confirm beat sync as well as with headphones/ears.

28 Comments »

May 26th, 2013 Training

Over To You: MacBook Pro Or MacBook Air For DJing?

by Phil Morse

Which Mac laptop is best for DJing, the MacBook Pro or the MacBook Air? Or does it even matter?

Digital DJ Tips reader Justin writes: “I’m considering getting a MacBook. But I am now faced with a dilemma: MacBook Air or MacBook Pro?

“My current DJ set-up consists of my laptop, my Mixtrack Pro and my speakers. Please can you give me advice on which MacBook to get?”

47 Comments »

May 25th, 2013 Training

Digital DJ Webcast #1: May 2013

by Phil Morse

Welcome to the first Digital DJ Tips webcast, where we talk through some of the many hundreds of questions we’ve received over the last few weeks here at Digital DJ Tips. Digital DJ Tips founder Phil Morse is joined by veteran DJ/producer Mike Monday, and subjects this month include moving from producing to DJing, the best route from beginner to international DJ, and how young is too young to start DJing?

6 Comments »

May 21st, 2013 Training

Tools & Workflow Ideas For Organising Your Music Library

by Andre Shenoi

mp3Tag for Windows is a powerful utility to let you perform all kinds of bulk actions on your musics’ tags.

In An Essential Guide To Organising Your Music Library (which was part four of this occasional series looking at ways of better organising your DJ music collection), we considered how we might like to classify the tracks and tags. My last stage of music library organisation is choosing the right tools and workflow to go from “download to deck-load”, which is what we’re going to look at today.

Before we get going, I’d like to stress once again that these are guidelines and not rules: They’re here to help empower youself to make your own choices. Ultimately, the important thing is to do what works for you!

43 Comments »

May 19th, 2013 Training

Over To You: Should I Spend My Time DJing Or Producing?

by Phil Morse

What’s the best way to carve up your time if you’re a DJ who also produces (or a DJ/promoter, or a DJ with a full-time unconnected job)?

Digital DJ Tips reader Mathieu writes: “I actually produce house music (funky /disco house) as a ‘full-time job’. While it takes a lot of effort to do this alongside finding places to get gigs, things seems to be going well because I’ve managed to get some gigs in bars. But it’s still very hard and requires a lot of phone calls and/or unanswered emails and so on.

“So my problem is that I don’t really know on what I need to be focusing! Music production or DJ gigs? (I like both but promoting is really time-consuming.) Should I be looking to team up with a promoter to help?”

21 Comments »

May 18th, 2013 Training

Your Questions: How Much Should I Charge For My DJing?

by Phil Morse

How much to charge for your DJing services varies massively from place to place, but there are some basic rules…

Digital DJ Tips reader Eijah writes: “My plan in DJing is to reach the stage where I’ve made a name for myself in my region, and I’m working really hard towards that goal by reading and taking notes on everything I can find here and elsewhere.

“I plan to play my first gig in August. I will have my PA system in May and I plan on getting the Numark Mixtrack Pro 2 and a PA mixer over the early summer by working summer jobs. My question is, for my first few gigs, how much should I charge hourly? Thanks for all the help!”

36 Comments »

May 15th, 2013 Training

Beginner’s Guide To PA Systems, Part 4: Cables & Soundchecking

by Terry 42

A soundcheck before a public event in 1929: Now as then, this is an important part of preparing for any live event.

In this fourth and final part of our beginner’s guide to PA systems we cover setting up and soundchecking. You’ll learn about the different types of cables, and how to get all the levels right so everything sounds perfect on the night.

Don’t forget to go back if you’ve missed any of the others parts. The first of the four articles is here: Beginner’s Guide To PA Systems, Part 1.

23 Comments »

May 12th, 2013 Training

Over To You: How Do You Use The Genre Tag In iTunes?

by Phil Morse

The famous Ishkur’s Guide to Electronic Music – but be aware you can get lost in the rabbithole of genres outlined here!

Digital DJ Tips reader Dennis writes: “My iTunes database is a monster. I have many years’-worth of music in there and then some. I knew I needed to clean things up and so I’ve started to do just that.

“I’ve realised that trying to apply a ‘genre’ to songs is a futile act for me! Especially with EDM I find that there are so many little pigeonholes people want to stuff songs into that I am not sure about any of the genres I apply to music except when they are really, really, really broad.

32 Comments »

May 11th, 2013 Training

Controller Clinic #25: Syncing My Controller With An Ableton DJ

by Phil Morse

DJ Jason Buckham playing a set from Ableton Live. But what’s the best way of playing back to back between Ableton Live and other DJ software?

Digital DJ Tips reader Biachi writes: “I am going to DJ duet with another musician that runs on Ableton Live. I want to get a DJ controller to go with my MacBook Pro and then be able to sync with Ableton Live. Basically we want to alternate our songs back and forth at shows and have both of our systems go to the PA.

“Is this possible and if so how? What controller is better… the Numark NS6 or the Pioneer DDJ-S1 for this duet?”

13 Comments »

Digital DJ Tips1>

Learn How To DJ With Digital DJ Gear

5 Money-Saving Tips For Buying Music Online

by D-Jam

Video: How To Set Up The Pioneer DDJ-SX For Scratching

by Phil Morse

Over To You: Too Hot For DJing!

by Phil Morse

Your Questions: Do I Need To Practise On Pioneer Gear To Use It In Clubs?

by Phil Morse

Switching To Digital DJing From CDJs Or Vinyl: Your Questions Answered

by Phil Morse

4 Reasons DJs Make Great Producers

by Mike Monday

Over To You: What Do You Do In Your DJ Practice Sessions?

by Phil Morse

Controller Clinic #27: DJ Set-Up To Survive Gigs In The Desert?

by Phil Morse

Over To You: Which Is The Best DJ Controller For iPad & djay?

by Phil Morse

Controller Clinic #26: Traktor Or Serato After Learning On An iPad?

by Phil Morse

Over To You: MacBook Pro Or MacBook Air For DJing?

by Phil Morse

Digital DJ Webcast #1: May 2013

by Phil Morse

Tools & Workflow Ideas For Organising Your Music Library

by Andre Shenoi

Over To You: Should I Spend My Time DJing Or Producing?

by Phil Morse

Your Questions: How Much Should I Charge For My DJing?

by Phil Morse

Beginner’s Guide To PA Systems, Part 4: Cables & Soundchecking

by Terry 42

Over To You: How Do You Use The Genre Tag In iTunes?

by Phil Morse

Controller Clinic #25: Syncing My Controller With An Ableton DJ

by Phil Morse

GET SOCIAL

Recent Comments