You’ve been looking for ways to get out there and get more exposure as a DJ, to make more money as a DJ…but you don’t know how. Do you need better equipment? Do you need a more mainstream sound? Is it simply that you need to be able to do whatever the venue calls for?

Unfortunately you are not alone in your quest for DJ greatness. Many DJs just starting out find out what many of us learn the hard way: you don’t know what you don’t know, until someone tells you that you don’t know it. Complicated, right?

Don’t worry because recently Virtual DJ released the 7.4 version of its software which isn’t the Virtual DJ 8 we’ve all been eagerly anticipating, but it does have some pretty cool features that can help you get those gigs you may not want, but need. Continue reading “Maximizing DJ Gigs With Virtual DJ 7.4” »

In this age of digital DJing, there are things to consider other than where you buy your CDs or vinyl and how you’re going to transport crates full of music. In this new digital era software becomes a big part of the equation, leaving many new DJs to wonder what software they need.

As the DJ world becomes more immersed in its digital-ness there are more factors to consider than simple operating systems and cost. Now the savvy DJ needs to know how many decks he or she requires, controller compatibility, sampling & looping and software that will work with mobile devices like the iPad.

With all this to consider, where is a DJ to start? Here of course we outline some of the best DJ software to fit your needs. Continue reading “What Software Should New DJs Use?” »

Plenty of DJs just starting out write me asking what are the best headphones to buy and what makes a good set of headphones. Of course there are certain objectives all DJs should consider when it’s time to replace or upgrade, but honestly headphones are so personal that it comes down to what you want and need.

Style and color are factors to take into account, but comfort and sound isolation are more important if your goal is to be a great DJ. Those of you who have gone through a few pairs of headphones know that there are plenty of other things to consider such as ear cup size and flexibility, sound quality, cables and connection capabilities.

To help you out, I’ve put together some of the best headphones out this year to help you get a solid pair. Continue reading “What Are The Best Headphones Of 2013?” »

So there’s been plenty of talk over the last year about the feasibility and legitimacy of those who DJ using iOS devices. Like most things in the DJ world, there are people on both sides of the argument. There are those who think it isn’t really DJing and those who learn how to DJ on an iOS are taking shortcuts when they had to learn it the hard way. Then there are those who say why not make my life a little easier?

The truth is you can be as effective on an iOS device as on a traditional DJ controller…if you know what you’re doing. If you want to travel light to your DJ gigs, keep reading to figure out how to start as an iOS DJ. Continue reading “How To DJ Fast: iOS Edition!” »

Have you been looking for a way to make your DJ style stand out without adding totally avant garde underground tracks to your sets? If so you’ve probably already looked into how to scratch on your controller, but you should also be considering live remixes. You might need software and you’ll definitely need some gear, but you have to know what gear you need before you get started.

Whether you want to add loops, fired samples or other tricks to your DJ sets, you’ll need the proper gear to get it done. Continue reading “DJ Gear For Live DJ Remixes” »

It’s no secret that the original Mixtrack models allowed digital DJs on a budget to get into the game. Now that the Numark Mixtrack Pro 2 has hit the shelves, it’s time to find out if the folks at Numark have made any significant changes to entice DJs to upgrade.

Many DJs, myself included, were hoping the latest Mixtrack would look like what one expects a DJ controller in 2013 to look like. The Mixtrack Pro didn’t have the slender and sleek feel common to digital controllers. The software to hardware compatibility issues left a lot to be desires and now that DJing has changed even more since the Numark Mixtrack first hit the scene, let’s see what changes they’ve made. Continue reading “Numark Mixtrack Pro 2 Review” »

When we think of DJ equipment we often think in terms of basic needs rather than performance needs. We need headphones so we go out and find the best headphones we can afford instead of thinking about high performance headphones that improve our work as DJs. This is especially true when most DJs are in the market for new DJ controllers. We know we need one so we look for a controller that has the most features and software compatibility and is in our budget.

But what about finding a DJ controller that actually does exactly what we need it to do? This should be your number one goal when purchasing a new controller, but of course there will be other factors to consider. Continue reading “What Are The Best DJ Controllers For You?” »

The next time you’re at a second hand record store and you think there’s no point of getting that cool vinyl you’ve had your eye on because you can’t use it, think again. If you know how to rip vinyl to MP3, then you can easily add your favorite old school tracks to your digital music library.

Keep in mind that ripping vinyl to digital formats like mp3 can be time consuming so you have to decide if this is something you really want to do. Of course if you’re a vinyl DJ returning to the digital world then ripping is the cheapest—if not most efficient—method. But if it’s just a few tracks, it’s no more time consuming than looking for new music online.

Let’s see what ripping vinyl to mp3 entails so you can decide whether or not it’s worth it. Continue reading “Is It Worth It To Rip Vinyl To MP3?” »

It seems that whenever a computer (or laptop) starts to make something easier, it inevitably gets vilified. This was true when it came to typing, smartphones and even for DJs. I’ve had to break up more than a few heated discussions among DJs about the viability of the laptop as a valid piece of DJ equipment and whether or not laptop DJs are real DJs.

Laptops have done a lot of good for DJs, in my opinion. But they do put up a barrier between the DJ and the crowd and they add in a bunch of variables that could lead to disaster. But let’s face it, no one is going back to the days of vinyl, cassette tapes or CDs. Are they? Continue reading “Are Laptop DJs REAL DJs?” »

If 2013 finds you needing to update or replace some of your DJ equipment you’re in luck because the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) starts soon, which gives us the scoop on the latest products to hit the market. Whether it’s a DJ controller you need, new software so you can DJ from your iOS device or you simply want to know who’s working on what for the new year, NAMM is your source for it all.

Just ahead of NAMM 2013 we’re learning that Gemini is out with a compact DJ controller that just may be what the digital DJ needs for easy gig set up. Continue reading “Compact DJ Controller To Look Out For: Gemini GMX Pro” »