The Digital DJ Tips Podcast
The Digital DJ Tips Podcast offers practical advice and industry insights for DJs, covering topics like gear, music, mixing, and performing. It is the official podcast of Digital DJ Tips, the online DJ school founded by Phil Morse, who also hosts the show. The episodes are produced without ads or sponsorship, funded by the school's students.
Episodes
"We thought we were too old to be closed down by the police!"
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
"I secretly re-recorded all of Boy George's transitions!"
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
The end of DJing?
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
How To DJ Sports Events
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
"I can't get used to spinning platters!"
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
Why DJs can no longer ignore Spotify, Apple Music etc.
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
Do DJs still need websites in 2026?
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
DJs, don't update your computer!
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
Swiss Army DJ app, gig catastrophe + more
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
Is tech making DJing HARDER?
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
Tips for starting a DJ music show
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
Every DJ's Secret Weapon (It's Not What You Think)
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
"Help! I've fallen OUT OF LOVE with DJing!"
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-sta
Why do some DJs HAMMER their effects?
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
How to structure your 2026 DJ goals (and actually hit them!)
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
How to protect your hearing as a DJ
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 absor
How to DJ Christmas parties
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 coo
Why are Pioneer DJ playlists disappearing?
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 D
Are Beatport & Beatsource about to merge?
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
Escaping Spotify, Halloween DJ tips, hospital bed livestreaming!
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, p
Biggest excuses for NOT DJing...debunked!
We've heard them all, and in this special "excuses" edition of our Inside Track podcast, we show you why the things you're telling yourself about what's holding you back in your DJing are nothing more than you getting in your own way.From equipment to social media to nerves and performing, this is a thorough debunk of all the whoppers DJs tell themselves (and yes, that includes you...) and what to
Why has DJing gone so wrong in 2025?
Why is DJing all about TikTok, 5-second transitions, and kids dancing on vertical video nowadays? We tackle this conception head-on in the first of a new series on the podcast. We also cover a whole host of other questions from our students about all things DJing - from music to mixing, performing to just-released DJ gear, and more. As ever, this pod is supported 100% by the students of Digital DJ
DJing on 7" vinyl with special guest Mojaxx
For this episode, we asked show favourite Mojaxx to return and to talk about a subject that might surprise some listeners: DJing with 45s. It's something that a surprising number of DJs still like to do, especially those who remember the 7" single the first time around.It's a subculture within a subculture that might be a bit geeky, but it's undeniably cool. As DJing on 7" vinyl is something we b
Ferry Corsten's secrets for a long music career
Ahead of his course on how to DJ trance with Digital DJ Tips, Dutch superstar DJ/producer Ferry Corsten shares his secrets for having a long, fruitful career in the music industry and looks back on what's changed over the decades that he's been right at the top of his game. We talked music, tech, culture, and life philosophy in a wide-ranging and fun chat.If you enjoy this podcast and you can, ple
Real skills vs technology with Laidback Luke
In this episode, Laidback Luke joins us to talk about his 30-year career and how he's stayed at the forefront of DJ technology throughout this time, championing new features and systems when no-one else believed in them and always looking for ways to push the culture forward. He talks about more than gear, though, covering music, mental health, how the scene has changed, and what the future holds.
DJ Gear: Then & Now with special guest Mojaxx
In this episode, DJ reviewer extraordinaire Mojaxx (whose gear reviews have informed generations of DJs) joins us to chat about all the changes in DJ gear since vinyl was replaced by CDs, and to reminisce about long-forgotten kit that still has a place in our hearts, while also looking to the future.If you enjoy this podcast and you can, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It r
DJ Jazzy Jeff On The Timelessness Of DJing
If you've been wondering whether you're too old to start DJing, DJ Jazzy Jeff has news for you: mature music lovers are driving the biggest DJ renaissance in decades, and it's the young crowd that's missing out.Fresh from a European tour that saw him playing everything from Wembley Stadium to intimate beach parties in Portugal, Jeff observed something remarkable happening in dance music...and we c
DJs: Fix those messed up music libraries!
In this edition of our Inside Track podcast, we help you fix your messed-up music libraries, explain why yes, it is still important to use headphones as a DJ despite what some "young cats" might tell you, and help a new DJ who is feeling completely overwhelmed by all the possibilities that modern DJing presents. As ever, this was a really fun discussion, made more so by our wonderful live student
Can I "James Hype" At A Wedding?!
In this edition of our Your Questions podcast, we have a mobile DJ asking if it's even possible to play like James Hype for 5-6 hours...and whether he should...We then tackle the classic gain staging issue of not going "into the red" before discussing harmonic mixing and whether DJ gear should always be horizontal! (Yep, you heard me right.) It’s the usual mixed bag of absorbing questions from our
Calvin's Chicanery + What makes a REAL DJ?
In this edition of our Inside Track podcast, we explored whether Calvin Harris ripped off Chicane for his latest single, diving into the ongoing debate around the derivative nature of pop music sampling versus simply copying the feel or essence of a track. Next, we discussed the importance of DJs learning to use all different types of DJ gear. With so many formats and technologies out there, versa
Tricky requests, playing festivals, DJ challenges
From how to deal with inappropriate music requests to the biggest challenges facing DJs in 2025, we answered a whole range of student questions here at Digital DJ Tips this week. Enjoy!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 App
DJ behaviour, dissing VirtualDJ, recording sets
In this edition of our Inside Track podcast, we kick things off with the question, "Why are DJs always expected to be doing something? Is looking busy really that important?" We also dive into why popular software platform VirtualDJ sometimes gets a bad rep among the wider DJing community. And finally, we look at the importance of recording DJ sets, alongside some of the challenges that come with
My First Vinyl Gig In 22 Years!
By combining the best of the old way of DJing with modern technology, Phil feels he has an opportunity to entertain and educate a new generation of DJs about some of the most important fundamentals - and as you'll hear, he's taking it to a massive stage this summer. All is revealed in this special episode...Read the full article here: https://www.digitaldjtips.com/first-gig-on-vinyl-in-22-years/As
When's the "right time" for DJs to hang up their headphones?
We get all philosophical right at the beginning this week, with a question about when (if ever) DJs should finally hang their headphones up. We also talk about music curation vs. creativity, what to do when the gear in venues is unreliable, and we try to answer the question, "Why does no one make separates in the DJ world anymore?"These and other queries asked by our wonderful DJ community are all
Apple for DJs, essential software, standalone vs laptop
The big news this week, of course, was the arrival of Apple Music as a streaming platform on all major DJ hardware and software. We then looked at the absolutely essential software that all DJs need before finishing up with a discussion on using laptop-free gear in 2025. 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 valua
Mobile DJ growth, mixtape tips, volume levels...
In this show, recorded live to an audience of Digital DJ Tips students, we tackle some of the big questions our community has asked our tutors in the last few weeks.We cover how to record great mixtapes effortlessly, what to do when you've established a mobile DJ business but want to grow further, how to set all the different volume controls on DJ gear (so that your mixes sound loud and clear), an
Real cost of DJing, lossy vs compressed music, Rekordbox woes
On the Digital DJ Tips DJ school Inside Track podcast this month, we're looking at three topics that the DJ community is talking about at the moment. This month we've got:1. The real price of DJing - What does it really cost to take up DJing as a hobby? Not only getting the equipment but keeping up with subscriptions and so on. We do the numbers for you.2. Lossy versus compressed music - What's th
Are DJs artists, DJing on phones, hobby vs pro DJs
An unusually busy podcast today with lots of questions so varied that I had to scattergun through them to a certain extent, but that made it more vibrant, and there was an awful lot of feedback from the community as well.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
Should DJs scratch?, have you got G.A.S.?, marketing for DJs
Should DJs scratch? - Some love it, some hate it, some can do it, some think they'll never be able to - but at the end of the day, how important is scratching for DJs?Have you got G.A.S.? - Gear Acquisition Syndrome is a trait that for some reason particularly affects hobby DJs. What is it? Is it a problem? And if so, how should you deal with it?The 3 ways to market yourself as a DJ - None of thes
Laptops for DJing, playing for charities, record pools
In this first edition of our Your Questions podcast for 2025, Digital DJ Tips students ask questions ranging from how to play charity events, to what laptop is right for DJing, to whether record pools are a good way of building a music collection, and many more. If you would like your question to be featured in one of these shows, become a Digital DJ Tips student - just head to the website and pic
2024 wrapped - all the big changes from the world of DJing
In this final Inside Track podcast of 2024, we're looking back at the year. All the big stories, the culture changes, the software, the hardware, shifts in how DJing is done, AI of course, and some trends that we think will carry forward into 2025. It's all covered in this final end-of-year wrap. Let us just take this opportunity to thank everyone for being part of this podcast, whether you're a s
5 killer XDJ-AZ features, mono vs stereo, imposter syndrome
In the final Your Questions podcast of 2024 from the Digital DJ Tips DJ school, our students asked a whole range of questions, making it - as ever - a great listen for those learning to DJ.Tune in to find out why learning to DJ sometimes feels so difficult when modern gear is designed to make it feel so easy. We also cover how to improve the sound quality of DJ gear when DJing in clubs, and whethe
The 3 types of DJ, lessons from DJ Jazzy Jeff, the problem with USB drives
We kick off this episode discussing the three main types of DJ, because when you boil it down, DJs usually fall into these categories - and one of these types often makes a big mistake. We reveal what that mistake is (and why it happens) here.Next we cover the five big things I learned working with DJ Jazzy Jeff for a week. Jeff is one of the world's most respected DJs, and I got to work and stay
"All the gear, no idea?", residencies & dealing with requests
We start our podcast this time around with a question from a student who's bought an awful lot of gear but is stuck knowing what to do next! We move on to talk about licences, insurance, dealing with requests, four channels versus two channels, whether it's wise to play five times a week, and many other topics all chosen by our fantastic students. As ever, this pod is supported 100% by the student
Mobile DJ tips, gear gimmicks, the future of jogwheels
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 ho
New XDJ-AZ & stems, imposter syndrome, using FX in mixing
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
AlphaTheta criticism, 4-channel mixing, how to DJ livestream
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 sen
DJ lighting tips, using headphones only, trance/techno mixing
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 lif
Your 5 Proven Steps To DJing Like a Pro, Part 5: Success
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 w
Your 5 Proven Steps To DJing Like a Pro, Part 4: Performing
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 w
Your 5 Proven Steps To DJing Like a Pro, Part 3: Mixing
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 w
Your 5 Proven Steps To DJing Like a Pro, Part 2: Music
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 w
Your 5 Proven Steps To DJing Like a Pro, Part 1: Gear
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 w
Parties & DJ speakers, "tune up" gigs, how to promote right
This one was recorded on 4 July, but despite the date, we still had a busy show answering questions from students about a wide range of topics.We covered the fallout from Pioneer DJ deciding not to support older controllers in the latest version of Rekordbox.We talked about the right way to promote events and why, despite loads of advertising and hard work, most of the people at one student's even
The DJ software problem, DJing success 2.0, DJing with 45s
Is it time to redefine DJ success? Drugs, groupies, private jets, insomnia, amnesia, hearing loss, mental breakdown: Say you're a DJ without saying you're a DJ, right? Well, we say no! It's time for a grown-up definition of DJing success - and I had one to propose to start the three topics we covered in this month's Inside Track.We moved on to "The strange world of DJ software". "Things fall apart
Why no new DJ gear, back after 40 years, too shy to promote!
We started with a question that a lot of people resonated with, which is the lack of exciting new DJ gear recently, and we looked into some of the reasons why new equipment might have slowed down. Also this week, we had lots of DJs working on their first gigs, but one in particular who's returning to DJing after 40 years wanting to know what might have changed.And we had a reticent British guy who
Death of beatgrids, audio engineering for DJs, motorised jogs
Beatgridding your music has been a necessary evil for digital DJs who want to use features like sync, loop, beat-tied effects, accurate hotcues, and so on, for many years. However, while beatgridding 2.0 improved on beatgridding 1.0 by handling songs with slightly varying BPMs a little bit better, not much has changed over the years – until now, that is – because new software is now able to use AI
Quick mixing, getting gigs, why old songs sound bad
A really busy Your Questions show this month with hundreds of questions from our students, the best of which feature here.We talk in some depth about quick mixing, what it is, when to do it, and - more importantly - how to do it. We talk to a head teacher who's started to get the DJ bug and land himself some gigs, but now wants to know how to get more and more. And a student wants to know why olde
Recovering from DJ fails, best place to livestream, turntable love
Following the epic DJ fail at Coachella by Grimes, rather than piling in and criticising her, we thought we would use that as a springboard to talk about ways that DJs can avoid the inevitable errors that happen in any DJ set. The conversation on this podcast quickly underlined the fact that these things do happen, but that there are things that you can do to make it less likely, and to recover qu
Kids & DJing, DJing with disabilities, USB controllers
In this month's show we tackled a wide range of questions. We spoke about producing music when half deaf, worries about DJing when visually impaired, keeping children interested in DJing, why the hell your software needs to have a database (and whether that database looks after itself), and lots of other questions across our big areas of DJing, gear, music, mixing, performing, and success.As ever,
Bluetooth for DJs, rotary mixers, cheap DJ controllers
A very tech-oriented edition of the show this time. We're looking at new Bluetooth features that have been added to DJ equipment and asking when DJs should be using these, and when they should not.We're also looking at the whole subject of rotary mixers because AlphaTheta, formerly Pioneer DJ, has just launched a mixer called the Euphonia, which is an extremely high-end (and very expensive mixer),
Sync button, DJ mix genres, duplicate files, DJ lighting...
1:57 Why do some DJs judge others for using the sync button? 8:49 Does the Engine DJ 3.4 update include the Denon DJ Prime 4? 14:10 What's the best way to clean up a messy DJ library? 21:00 How many genres should DJs include in a mixtape? 27:37 Tips for improving EQ blending between tracks? 38:22 Any advice for upgrading DJ lights? 42:25 How our DJ training worksIn this month's show, we start by l
Rekordbox 7 news, music streaming '24, DJ studio set-up
In this month's three DJ topics, we start by looking at Recordbox 7 software which has just entered public beta. Does it deserve the jump from Recordbox 6? What new features are there? What has the community been wishing for in Recordbox and does it deliver this time? We take a deep dive under the hood with an exhaustive look at everything we found in this pre-release version of this major DJ pack
