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 from your phone makes sense now that Serato has launched a phone app.

Inside Track is 100% funded by our students. Every Digital DJ Tips student can join the live recordings, ask questions and take part. Find out more at https://www.digitaldjtips.com

CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
01:21 Do you DJ, or are you a DJ?
07:36 Why we made How To DJ Fast
09:08 How to stay relevant as a DJ in the age of AI
12:23 1. Be creative
13:46 2. Make the human connection
15:36 3. Act on gut feel
17:09 4. AI doesn't care - you do
18:48 Your comments: DJing vs being a DJ
22:39 Your comments: AI and DJing
25:09 Is DJing from your phone practical?
27:08 The music library problem
29:42 Small screens and losing your phone
30:39 Where phone DJing does work
32:24 Why we need our own music cloud
33:09 Outro

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.

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 everything on, and the simple trick that stops DJing at a wall feeling weird.

I also answer more questions from our students, asked live in our studio audience: is it ever OK to play music made with AI in your DJ sets? Should you use vibe-coded hacks that add stems and gate cue to gear like the CDJ-3000 and XDJ-AZ? How does a new mobile DJ get their name out there? What's the best way to do karaoke and visuals? And if your controller comes with both Serato and Engine DJ, which should you use?

00:00 Intro
01:19 Is it OK to play AI-made music in your sets?
08:48 Mobile DJs: how to get your name out there
15:21 Using AI to help build playlists
18:01 DJ software crashing - should you update?
21:15 Karaoke and visuals: what to use
25:03 Vibe-coded hacks for your DJ gear - should you?
30:07 How to set up DJ gear in a tiny room
37:10 Serato or Engine DJ on the SC Live 4?
42:22 Outro

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.

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, the DDJ-1000 - and give five reasons the DDJ-FLX4 now sits where they used to.

Then, why bigger isn't always better. The Hercules T10 launches today with 10" platters, and it's got us talking about the DJ obsession with jog wheel size, full-size gear, and what actually matters when you have to carry, store and live with the thing.

And finally, three things AI can never replace in DJing - the unteachables - with plenty of input from the students watching live.

Timestamps:

06:29 - How the DDJ-FLX4 conquered the world

26:53 - Why bigger is not always better

37:55 - Three things AI can never replace in DJing

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.

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 student, live. 100% student-funded — no sponsors, no ads. Join us: https://www.digitaldjtips.com

0:00 The geekiest episode we've ever done
0:49 "Should I upgrade from my FLX4 for my degree course?"
1:48 Why James Hype DJs on entry-level gear at home
4:38 Why Pioneer DJ / AlphaTheta's range makes no sense
6:30 Why pro gear is always last to get new features
8:39 "I feel trapped in the Traktor ecosystem"
11:49 Too many software companies, only one hardware company
12:24 Amateurs worry about gear, professionals worry about the music
14:50 What is Stembox DJ?
16:46 The rise of vibe-coded DJ software
18:07 Prime Go to Prime 4, or switch to the XDJ-AZ for clubs?
20:09 Live chat: DeckShark, Sway and controller rabbit holes
21:55 Serato DJ 5.0's fluid beat grids: why two algorithms?
25:46 Why "Come On Eileen" is the ultimate beat grid test
26:52 How to fix a collection full of 128kbps MP3s, free
30:08 Mechanical vs capacitive jog wheels
31:23 How capacitive jog wheels know the difference between scratch and nudge
33:15 The bare wire in a drain: earthing a controller mid-gig
34:36 Wrap-up

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.

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 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.

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 once again by the police for making too much noise too late at night at an age when they really should have known better!

If you still got one foot in the good old days but you want to learn how to DJ on modern equipment, then this is the DJ school that's got your back. We've taught thousands of DJs in their 40s, 50s and even 60s, how it's done today with the music they love. Come and find out more for free by signing up on the website:

Go to: https://djtips.co/join

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.

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 tutors.

Were you there back then? Still can't get DJing out of your system? You don't have to! We teach thousands of people a year to DJ into their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond, just for fun! Join us for free here: djtips/co/join

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.

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 a playlist for any occasion at the tap of a button. So where does that leave the professional DJ?

In this episode we tackle the big questions head-on: Is AI and technology actually killing DJing, or just changing it? Why does the craft feel devalued - and is that perception or reality? And most importantly, how do we protect the craft and position DJs as skilled artists who create experiences, not people who press buttons?

We get into what's really driving the oversupply of DJs, why "free music" changed our identity as DJs, what still separates a great DJ from an algorithm, and the practical things you can do - as an individual and as an industry - to make the profession respected again.

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.

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. If you enjoy it and you can, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

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.

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 live webinar with lots of real-time 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.

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.

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 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, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

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.

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, and what changes when you're DJing at a sporting event rather than a regular gig.

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, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

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.

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 you enjoy it and you can, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

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.

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, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro

00:15 Episode overview

01:20 What is DJ.Studio and is it worth using?

11:00 Tips for organising and remembering cue points?

16:49 How one student saved a gig when his controller died...

20:36 How do gain controls work, and why should DJs use them?

25:01 Best way to fix an incomplete DJ set recording?

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.

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, and why the things that matter most for DJs haven't changed at all.

Next, we answer, "How do you create viral DJ moments in your sets without selling your soul?" We'll break down what those flashy transitions you see on TikTok and Instagram actually require, why you shouldn't feel intimidated by them, and how to prepare just two or three of them to drop into your sets for maximum effect.

And finally, we cover a question that comes up consistently: "Is it okay to copy other DJs?" The short answer is yes, and we explain exactly why here...

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, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro

00:14 Episode overview

02:20 Has tech actually made DJing harder?

14:49 How to create viral DJ set moments?

25:26 Is it really so bad to copy other DJs?

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.

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 questions from our wonderful community. I hope you enjoy what we've got for you this month!

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, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro

00:15 Episode overview

00:58 How do you start a DJ podcast on Spotify?

05:55 Why does my DJ software keep cutting out mid-set?

08:49 Why is my scratching better sitting down than standing up?

14:03 How do you get past the fear of DJing in public?

20:43 Should I buy a standalone unit or a laptop and controller?

24:30 Streaming vs. owning: Is buying DJ music in bulk a good idea?

30:33 How do you get booked when no one's calling you back?

35:20 What's the best set-up for quiz and karaoke DJing?

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.

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 and data. Emails, photos, documents - most of us store everything in the cloud these days. But what about DJ music libraries and performance data? We share the results of our recent community survey, which reveals some interesting thinking from our students and the wider DJ world.

Finally, we ask, "How necessary is beatgridding, really?" Preparing your tracks for DJing is something that only became a thing with digital music - after all, you can't beatgrid a vinyl record. But does every DJ need to do it, and what happens if you don't? We explore the arguments for and against beatgridding your tracks.

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, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro

00:15 Episode overview

02:23 How the best DJs use volume as a secret weapon

20:04 What DJs REALLY think about keeping their music online

32:47 How important are beatgrids for DJing?

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.

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-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro

00:14 Episode overview

00:58 Is there a major Engine DJ update coming?

05:14 I'm falling out of love with DJing - help?

10:04 Should I use MP3s or WAV files for stems?

13:56 Can you split tracks into 16 stems?

18:33 How do I create mix CDs with track markers?

24:40 How do you clean your DJ gear?

27:30 What Apple laptop should I buy for DJing?

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.

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 more powerful and attractive, manufacturers seem to love adding effects - standalone effects units, hardware effects, software effects, effects across different mixer sections, and so on. But are they actually essential, or just nice-to-have features?

Finally, we tackle the controversial topic of crossfader-less mixers. Every now and then, someone releases a mixer without a crossfader, and certain corners of the DJ world throw their hands up. But many DJ mixers over the years haven't had one. We'll look at where the crossfader is important and where it isn't, so you can form a better opinion on mixer designs that ditch it.

As ever, this was a really fun discussion, made more so by our wonderful live student audience here at Digital DJ Tips, who joined us for the recording. Thank you to them, thank you for listening, and we hope you enjoy the show.

If you enjoy this podcast and you can, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro

00:15 Episode overview

01:23 Can DJing really be taught?

20:52 How important are DJ effects?

35:51 They killed the crossfader!

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.

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, learning to repair your own gear, and why you should wait before upgrading your operating system. It's all here on this Your Questions edition of our 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, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro

00:14 Episode overview

01:21 What's Apple Music like on the CDJ-3000X?

04:47 How should I structure my DJ year to hit my goals?

17:39 How do I book live artists for my club night?

24:53 How much time do you spend fixing software errors?

39:04 How to deal with impostor syndrome and copycat DJs?

44:37 What speakers should I buy for home DJing?

49:15 How do I learn to repair my own DJ equipment?

55:01 When should I upgrade my operating system?

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.