The Digital DJ Tips Podcast

AI can already choose the music, mix it shockingly well and keep a party going. So what's left for you as a DJ? In this month's Inside Track, recorded live in front of students from our DJ school, I share the four things I think AI can't do - and why they're the skills you should be working on now. Also in this episode: the difference between DJing and being a DJ (there is one), and whether DJing...

Got nowhere to DJ but a corner of a small bedroom, facing a wall? In this Your Questions edition of the Digital DJ Tips Podcast I show you how to set up a DJ space when you're short on room - the right height for your controller, why a wall shelf beats a deep desk, where to put small speakers so you don't have to crank them (and annoy the neighbours), how to tidy the cables so one switch turns eve...

Three big DJ topics, recorded in front of our live student audience straight off the back of a few days talking shop with industry people in Munich. First, how a £300 plastic box became the default DJ controller for pretty much everyone who isn't a working pro. We go back through the gear that conquered the world before it - Technics 1210s, the CDJ-1000, the Vestax VCI-100, the Numark Mixtrack Pro...

This is probably the geekiest podcast episode we've done: Why the FLX4 is a winner among cheap controllers, why Pioneer DJ / AlphaTheta's range feels so inconsistent overall, whether to leave Denon for clubs you might never play, Serato DJ 5.0's new fluid beatgrids, mechanical vs capacitive jogwheels, and how to replace a collection of poor 128kbps MP3s. Every question came from a Digital DJ Tips...

In this Inside Track edition of the Digital DJ Tips podcast, Phil lists the things he wants the DJ industry to get right sooner rather than later. Also, we discuss why boutique companies and indie developers are the lifeblood of DJing, and whether owning a PA system is ever a good idea.  Want to get your question answered on an episode of this podcast? Digital DJ Tips course owners get to ask...

When Phil Morse and Steve Canueto from Digital DJ Tips got together to reminisce about the last 16 years running the DJ school, the stories flowed, including how they kept themselves saying livestreaming to the world through lockdown, the difficulties of teaching the value of music to students who can get their hands on anything instantly... and how they were secretly thrilled to be closed down on...

When Phil Morse and Steve Canueto from Digital DJ Tips sat down to reminisce on their 16 years of professional DJing and life in the music industry before their teaching careers, the stories flowed thick and fast!  So if you're interested in how things used to be (and some hilarious episodes from 90s and 00s clubland), we hope you enjoy this rare peak behind the curtain into the past lives of our...

Is DJing over? A listener wrote in with a question so good it became this entire episode: DJing feels like it's lost its value. The barrier to entry has collapsed, new DJs appear daily willing to work for nothing (some venues even expect DJs to pay to play), music is essentially free, a pocket-sized controller now outperforms a club setup that once cost thousands, and streaming apps will auto-mix...

In this month's Inside Track podcast, we look at how to DJ sports events and parties, whether the days of just playing one song after another are well and truly dead for DJs, and finally, whether digital music download stores are in danger of extinction.  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 real-time feedback. I...

It's Your Questions time again. From how to prepare for an open decks night, to how and when if ever DJs should be using AI, to the best way to get used to spinning platters when you've previously used static jogwheels, we've got a whole range of questions from our students as they learn to DJ with us. As ever, this pod is supported 100% by the students of Digital DJ Tips, and it was recorded in a...

In this month's Inside Track podcast we look at why DJs can really no longer ignore streaming services in their DJing. We look at mistakes that DJs returning to the game make over and over again and how to avoid them. And we take a deep dive into the world of audio interfaces: what they are, why DJs need them, and what you should spend on one.  As ever, this pod is supported 100% by the students o...

It's Your Questions time again. Four from the DDJT community this week, led by the one that gave the episode its name: do DJs still need a website in 2026, or has Instagram plus a Linktree made the whole thing pointless? From there we get into portable DJ controllers and what's worth looking for if you're shopping for one, how loud you should actually be playing across clubs, bars and weddings, an...

In this month's Inside Track podcast, we look at why DJs should be wary of updating their computers, what a DJ should be looking for in a perfect DJ laptop and how to make digital music feel at least a little bit like owning a record or CD collection. 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 real-time feedback. If yo...

From a "Swiss Army Knife" DJ app to a student who saved a high-profile gig when his controller died mid-event - we've got questions, stories, and answers from the world of DJing in this Your Questions edition of the podcast.  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 real-time feedback. If you enjoy it and you can, pl...

In this edition of our Inside Track podcast, we answer three questions that have been coming up among our students this month. First up: "Is technology actually making DJing harder, not easier?" Recently, some high-profile DJ software failures have left DJs unable to play gigs, but is that the whole picture? We look at how far DJing has really come, what is and isn't more technically complex today...

In this edition of our Your Questions podcast, we tackle how to start a DJ podcast, figure out whether to stream music or buy it, and get to the bottom of how DJs really get booked. We also cover the controller vs. standalone debate, how relaxation is the secret to better scratching, and the best set-up for DJs who also run quizzes and karaoke nights. It's the usual mixed bag of absorbing question...

In this edition of our Inside Track podcast, we explore how the best DJs use volume as a secret weapon. Among all the advanced techniques of modern DJing, it's easy for newer DJs to overlook just how fundamental volume control is to a great performance. We'll look at why it matters so much and share some simple ways to improve your use of it. Next, we dig into where DJs actually keep their music a...

In this Your Questions edition of the podcast, we help a poor soul with DJ burnout, discuss the best standalone DJ software, dive deep into stems DJing, and even talk about how to keep your gear clean.  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-st...

In this edition of our Inside Track podcast, we explore whether DJing can actually be taught, or if you either have "it" or you don't. Some argue that if you need training to be a DJ, you'll never make it because "real DJ skills" simply can't be taught. We'll dig into this debate and what it means for aspiring DJs. Next, we discuss how important effects really are for DJs. In the rush to make gear...

From breaking down the brand-new Apple Music integration on CDJ-3000X players, to helping a student structure their entire DJ year using 90-day goals, to tackling impostor syndrome when other DJs copy what you do - it's a bumper first edition of 2026 with an hour of questions from real DJs.  We also cover booking live artists for your club night, choosing the right speakers for home DJing, learnin...

In this edition of our Your Questions podcast, we tackle hearing protection for DJs and whether in-ear monitors are the answer. We also cover building flexible DJ sets that don't lock you into rigid playlists, the right microphone for streaming, how to upload your mixes to Mixcloud (properly), and the debate over whether 90s hip-hop still works for today's crowds.  It's the usual mixed bag of abso...

In this edition of our Inside Track podcast, we first discuss five tips for DJing Christmas parties. For DJs, it's one of the busiest times of year but also one of the most challenging. Whether you're just playing music at home or booked for the office party (or something bigger), here is how to survive and thrive behind the decks this Christmas. Next, we explore why 1990s Eurodance is suddenly co...

From a quick explanation of why Pioneer DJ has got a storm on its hands with disappearing playlists, to helping a student who is dealing with a severe case of imposter syndrome, to keeping tidy cables at the back of your DJ gear, we've got a varied and fun mailbag this week. It's all here on this Your Questions edition of our podcast. As ever, this pod is supported 100% by the students of Digital...

In this edition of our Inside Track podcast, we tackled the big question: is there finally one true DJ library coming that works across all DJ software and hardware? With AlphaTheta's recent OneLibrary launch, we're getting closer, but there's still some way to go before the dream becomes reality. Next, we explored whether headphones and speakers are no longer enough on their own. With new digital...

From Spotify music streaming alternatives for DJs to livestreaming from your hospital bed...we've got answers to all types of questions to help you become a better DJ or DJ/producer in this edition of our Your Questions podcast.  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,...