DJ Ragoza did a mashup masterclass earlier this year and three of his rules stuck with me. None of them need any skill you don't already have, so they're worth trying tonight.

1. Dig for forgotten, not obscure. The mashups that land are familiar, but unexpected. Not a track nobody knows: a track everybody knows and nobody has played in ten years. His method is to scroll the year-end Billboard chart for a decade you never play and wait for the "oh damn, I forgot about that one" moment. That's your vocal.

2. Scared of key clashes? Start with rap vocals. Rap acapellas have no melodic key, so there's nothing to clash with. That frees you up to practise the part that actually separates a good mashup from a messy one: timing and phrasing. Leave harmonic mixing until the basics are automatic. His starter list: Lip Gloss, London Bridge, Push It, It's Tricky and Hypnotize.

3. Fix the beatgrid before you cut a single vocal. If the grid is off, the acapella sits off-beat however clean the stem is. That's the mashup that sounds almost right and still feels wrong. Set the first downbeat, check the grid holds all the way through, and turn the metronome on before you build anything on top. Every DJ app has a grid editor for this.

What's your go-to forgotten track for a vocal? Mine right now is I Need You Now - Sinnamon

I just bought my first dj controller and i can work with it and listening from my pc speakers but when i put headphone i ear NOTHING. What I'm doing wrong? I have some sony ult wear connected with mp3 jack to console

Going on a trip to asot with my friends who all like to mix for fun. Also going to be hanging out in the city for over a a week. I definitely want to bring something with me as it will get lots of use. I just use an flx 4 when I'm at home. I don't actually have a laptop that would work for it (my main computers are a gaming PC and a workstation) I was considering buying a Macbook, but I've been kind of feeling like I want a bit more than an flx4 lately. Should I buy a standalone unit instead of a Macbook? I'm feeling a bit torn tbh as I don't travel a massive amount and I'm not convinced about burning money on a macbook and still having to upgrade my controller eventually, but I need to bring something

Vancouver college student here, friend and I are going to learn how to DJ together what should we buy? Goal is to learn to play because A. I love edm + the community, I'm kind of a nerd, I love finding new music and being creative etc. and B. Musically goal is to get confident enough to play house parties, eventually frats and clubs who knows where this could go. And of course making a bit of chump change would be lovely though thats not the goal.

Second hand everything is first where I'm looking as my budget is low but split between my friend and I. I see a lot of the same controllers on marketplace as they are beginner ones and people seem to out grow them pretty quick so I'm wondering is it better to buy an intermediate more expensive to surpass that stage and annoyance or... All the research I've done has pointed me to Pioneer FLX-4. Also with software etc. I have a mac and I'm leaning towards Rekordbox and Pioneer since that is industry Standard. Not sure what does and doesn't matter. Please lmk ;)))

I recently decided I wanted to get into DJing but I have no clue where to begin. I was thinking of buying some sort of equipment, but I don't even know what I should buy since I have zero skills right now. Does anyone have any good recommendations for beginner friendly tech? Also, any tips for how to learn? Should I just watch yt vids or should I buy a course? pls help im so lost </3 but I really want to learn

I am using my laptop plugged into my XDJ-AZ so I can stream soundcloud tracks at home without going through the hassle of downloading them. However, when I use the XDJ-AZ built in screen there is a large Track Information section that takes up half the screen. The other columns are just Track Title, BPM, and KEY, which you cannot sort from without doing it on the laptop.

Does anyone know how to remove the large Track Information section on the AZ screen? Or edit the view on the AZ screen itself while streaming from a laptop?

Hey guys, I just grabbed myself a DDJ-FLX4 after contemplating buying a controller for the last year and a half. I pulled it out and realized I have no idea what I’m doing and was wondering what FREE lessons you guys would recommend taking a look at for beginners to get somewhere where they can at least have a fun session at home! Let me know, and thank you for the help!

ALSO any tips and tricks would be wonderful! Thank you!

Would the setup be any different then prepping to play on an rx3?

Hey y’all. I need PA recommendations for a mid-sized house party. Yard is about an acre and have ~60 people attending. I’m eyeing the Harbinger VARI v1112 12” speaker currently. Thoughts?

I’ve been having issues with my set up all day starting with the darn speakers. I have technics m3ds and a xone 23. Anyways someone has suggested I switch the cartridges and I did and nothing happened speaker wise but now I’ve ran into another issue. My right channel keeps bleeding into my left, continuously. Once I got it back working but then I decided to take the cartridge out to clean it since I saw someone say cleaning the headshell and stylus could fix the speaker thing. Put it back together and the channel is bleeding still. I noticed the cartridge on the right side had been more difficult to push in. Anyways now I have this humming coming from the right turntable through the headphones and the channel is still bleeding. I’m so frustrated with this. I had to call out of work because I’m actually sick so I figured I’d get my speakers set up and dj for a little bit. It’s been ALL DAY and I just keep running into issues. I’ve dropped almost 1k on dj gear just in the past week so if I have to buy a new cartridge or replace a tonearm I might lose my mind. Someone please help me

Hi everyone!

I’m building an analog home setup inspired by "Audiophile Listening Bars." My main goal is a rich, warm sound without any ear fatigue.

Here are my components:

• Sources: 2x Technics SL-1200M7B
• Mixer/Pre: Ecler WARM2 (Pure Analog Rotary Mixer)
• Speakers: Altec Lansing 997R (Vintage-style 3-way with big woofers)

My Idea:

I want to connect the Ecler WARM2 directly into a Rotel RB-1582 MKII (200W, Class AB, Dual Mono) via RCA. A local dealer was skeptical about using a DJ mixer as a preamplifier, but I know this is common in the rotary world.

My Questions:

1. Is anyone running a similar chain (Analog Rotary Mixer -> RCA -> Pure Power Amp)? How is the noise floor?

2. For a relaxed, non-fatiguing sound, is a heavy Class AB amp (like the Rotel) the best choice, or should I consider modern Class D / Class AD?

3. What amp/power amp (and what class) are you currently using with your rotary mixer?

I can't afford a wedding DJ but I do have all of my songs chosen for the duration of the dancing portion of the night. I made a playlist that I will just play on the speakers. Need advice on how to organize these for the best transition/vibes.

background: I know I want to start with the first song being signed, sealed, delivered. Every other section (poorly grouped by me) are up for reorganizing. I am Bosnian so there will be a few Bosnian songs. I want to include all the music in the playlist and want to end the night with more edm/rap because I want the older people to have fun at the beginning of the night.

Playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/63GiNcn48A1LcXPGJRVhvk?si=86gKM3OJSLybbdHFa52mBQ&utm_source=copy-link&pi=Je5WT37bRdaJh

If anyone is down to help me, that would be great!

​

Ejemplo: TikTok.

So I have a Mac, Rekordbox and I'm ready to get some music downloaded. What are the best places you like, Spotify, ect? You you also use a external hard drive or USB? Thanks in advance.

If you want details (the hustle, cost, issues, process, etc.), reply in the comments and I'll do a new post and write something up. I don't want to spend the time writing something if it's not going to help or interest the community here.

EDIT - I just stopped by to see if anyone actually responded. I'll type something up with the details. I hope to have it in a couple of days. I really hope it'll help and motivate.

Has anyone successfully mapped out functions for decks 3 and 4 on the xp2?

I have technics m3d’s with an Allen and heath xone 23 and Adam a7 speakers. I have the speakers connected to my mixer with standard xlr cables. When I’m playing, whatever is playing on the left channel only plays through the left speaker and whatever is playing on the right channel only plays on the right speaker. My crossfader is in the middle. When I have both channels playing trying to mix, the sound from both tracks doesn’t come through both speakers. Is this supposed to be happening? What am I doing wrong?

I am playing for 2/3 hours at a house party with 30 people next weekend. It's gonna be my first time playing in front of others.

It's a daytime birthday party, we go to a bar after and then clubbing. Crowd will be mostly white and majority girls. I like techno but I am sure someone will request A thousand miles at some point lol

Any suggestions?

Hey, I just got my xone 92 and I'm looking for recommendations for some effects.

I found this one, because the price looks good, does anyone have some experience with it?

https://www.thomann.de/de/soran_go_rig_ii.htm

(Soran go rig 2)

Hi everyone,

Just had this question coming to my mind:

While layering techno, do you sometimes make the bass swap with the other eqs of the incoming track still decreased ? Or do you always get these at 12 before doing the bass swap ?

Just curious as it is something I do quite often but don't see many other techno djs do the same.

Thanks yall

Hello! I hope this is the right sub to ask questions about DJing. I don’t exactly know what a beatmatch is, or if it has to do with DJing. I freksinf LOVEEE house music and would love to start mixing some songs, as well as just have fun.

I was thinking of getting a flx2, ddj 400 or flx 4 recently to get started. I have no idea and no knowledge about any of the programs ljke rekordbox and Serato or whatever tho.

I am extremely sorry if this is an overasked question, but how do you learn to dj? I am kind of considering buying some course from DJ Carlo. But if I could learn it on my own, or if there were any tips for the flx 4 in specic I’d love to know.

Thanks!!!!

Here is what happened:

In September 2026, I signed up for the Yourshots DJ program. According to the program requirements, participants were expected to complete five weeks of DJ training and attend four mandatory meetings. Each meeting lasted two hours, from 7 to 9 p.m., and took place at a nightclub.

During my time in the program, I attended two classes and one meeting. After the meeting, there was a survey in the app asking us to evaluate the classes and give them a rating.

My feedback was that I really liked the instructors. I thought they were serious, responsible, and professional, and the atmosphere among the participants was also great. I made a lot of friends. However, I did not like the two-hour meeting. I felt it was a waste of my time. The content could have been covered in just 10 minutes, but instead, the meeting lasted two hours, with the same things being repeated over and over, almost like a constant motivational pep talk. I suggested shortening the meetings.

A few days after submitting my feedback, I received an email from the Yourshots team informing me that I would no longer be allowed to participate in the competition and that they would refund the relevant fee.

I exchanged emails with the organization running the competition. I cannot know all the reasons behind their internal decision-making. All I know is that after I openly expressed my dissatisfaction with the meeting arrangements in my feedback, I subsequently received a notice that I had been disqualified from the competition.

I have participated in many events and competitions, and I have seen quite a lot over the years. This is the first time I have ever encountered a situation like this. I find it ridiculous.

I don't want to say too much more about this competition. I simply want to share my experience of participating in it, exactly as it happened.

Thank you, everyone.

————————————————
Just to clarify: I didn't miss a single class or meeting. Right after the first meeting, I submitted my feedback, and they immediately emailed me to disqualify me. The next meeting was two weeks away—how was I even supposed to attend the rest?

The truth is, they just couldn’t handle me pointing out that the meeting was a waste of time, full of empty hype, and just two hours of standing there listening to them repeatedly brag about how great they are. A real world-class competition doesn’t need to constantly boast about being world-class. Plain and simple, they don't want any criticism of their meetings; they only want people to praise them.

I'm playing a set on Halloween at a 'club' (large bar that converts into a club for events). There are 5 other DJs on the lineup, I'm playing 11-12am.

My question is whether it's typical to play spooky music literally the whole night at these kinds of events or if people just wanna party with Halloween-y and spooky stuff sprinkled in throughout the night. I don't wanna play too many of the classics (thriller, ghostbusters, etc) because it's super likely someone else on the lineup will also play them.

I've never been out partying on Halloween before so idk what's typical. Just wanna be prepared, any guidance appreciated!

edit: thank you all sm for the advice! imma just play my normal shit with a few spooky tracks in there <3