The DJ software problem, DJing success 2.0, DJing with 45s // Podcast

Join Phil Morse and the students of the Digital DJ Tips school, as they look at three burning topics in the world of DJing.
EPISODE NOTES
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; the centre cannot hold" said poet WB Yeats (over a far more important subject), but that's how it feels with DJ software nowadays, as the market matures, takeovers loom, and DJs get perhaps understandably more and more confused. We shared what we think the problem is and where it all might lead.
Finally, I talked about things I've learned returning to DJing (with 7" singles!). As a fun side hobby, I've been building a collection of 7" records to DJ with on cheap, portable, battery-powered record decks. What I'm learning has lessons for any DJ who feels trapped rather than freed by technology.
Here's a link to the equipment mentioned in the show:
www.stokyoworld.com/collectio...
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.
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 www.digitaldjtips.com
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro
0:15 Episode overview
1:38 Redefining DJ "success"
23:52 The strange world of DJ software
41:22 Key takeaways from DJing with 45s
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Music courtesy of our friends at mastermixdj.com/
#Podcast #InsideTrack #DJSchool #DJTips #DigitalDJTips #MusicIndustry #DJing

[@riddimchef1]

45 format has never been equalled. It’s the boss 🔥🔥

[@digitaldjtips]

It's definitely "the great leveller"

[@DjNikGnashers]

Good content, the 5 things you need to do as a DJ, although relevant, did not include the most important thing : to enjoy it ie FUN. I was always a vinyl purist, but the day I bought Serato Scratch Live in 2004, and some timecodes, was the day I realised anyone could now be a DJ. There was no travelling 50 miles to obscure record shops to crate dig, no ear beatmatching skills, no platter feeling skills, it was all just too easy. I do still DJ even now, on a controller, but I never try and kid myself I am using even a tenth of the skill I used to need, to mix and loop on two turntables with real vinyl.

[@digitaldjtips]

Good point! We assume you’re doing it for fun but people can forget that of course

[@djstuc]

I’ve been collecting 45s for a few yrs now Phil… I have some that are 50yrs old now and still sound utterly fantastic.

[@digitaldjtips]

Great to hear DJ Stuc!

[@djstorre1]

Pioneer all the way. Reliable, constant updates and good equipment.

[@digitaldjtips]

These are the boring truths, but they matter a lot to many DJs

[@ABearHolhut]

I was one of those first gen djs starting on 45s, lps and some 12 inch singles and also never thought it would become a real job/career. I was so wrong. 5 nights a week and 6 hour shifts for 20 years. No carrying gear or schlepping records to gigs, and certainly never any private jets… just full time employment in 5,000 to 10,000 sq foot clubs in major markets in the USA. And YES, the personal partying is NOT sustainable. Nearly killed me by 2001. It feels weird learning controllers and being all digital but I’m satisfied w an old Traktor controller and my pc set up. Now you got me thinking about actually taking it more seriously and what I might do creatively along with audio-reactive video…. On Twitch when they launch their DJ Category. Been catching your advice to folks for about a year now and I have to say, I’ve never had a quarrel with any of your advice. Glad to see you out there being the real deal. Cheers!

[@DaveCeeRocker]

i totally relate to your post. that was me too right upto about 2012 for me though (from 1989). i was a commercial DJ in the UK but sidelined with House/UKG during the 90s. 👊

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks and good luck with your v2.0 🤞

[@A1exThomas]

A really great framework for success. Thanks Phil for gathering all this up and creating clarity and insight around it.

[@digitaldjtips]

You're welcome!

[@heironb5090]

amazing Podcast Phil... amazing thought. Big thanks for your reflections there. you are a real talented teacher. thanks for the inspiration. im vinyl only DJ. best regards from Germany. Aaron

[@digitaldjtips]

Hello Aaron!

[@DaveCeeRocker]

my entry to DJing was all about the 7 & 12" records. there were no CD's back in the late 1800's (lol) i have about 1000 7" from the 50's to the late 80's. literally throwing a 7" on the decks during a manic 1 hour party set was the business, 20 or 30 seconds of each tune, mash them together, cant beat that feeling Phil :) They're just sitting in my old bedroom gathering dust in the old 7" flight box. Maybe we should talk?! :) My first ever 'record box' was a Fila trainers shoe box with all my mums Motown, Beatles tracks etc. some proper rare 7ns in my collection. shame they dont get aired anymore. I never threw away their proper covers either but i did use 7" white covers for them as the paper covers were ripping and getting too abused. My 1st ever bought 7" was Michael Jackson - Beat it (for that guitar solo). I think the rarest ive got is The Pink Floyd - See Emily Play (OG cover too) and my fave 12" was a red vinyl picture disc of the Ghostbusters theme tune and the ghost on the vinyl glows in the dark !! haha awesome podcast this was Phil. ;)

[@digitaldjtips]

Lovely to relive these memories!

[@jackmercer4244]

Yeah, love the All gone Pete Tong film reference! Tops on my fave dance scene films! Longevity...

[@saintsteve]

I totally get the historic element you describe about collecting 7 inch singles. I love finding old promo sheets when buying second hand records.

[@digitaldjtips]

Forgot that - yes, that's an amazing find!

[@b.franklinpierce6187]

Love your video's ! Thank you😊

[@digitaldjtips]

Glad you like them!

[@enthusiast1]

I enjoyed this video, you are positive and inspire, thank you!

[@digitaldjtips]

I'm so glad!

[@anderss1293]

Why the lack of respect to VDJ? Great steams, wont crash, supports alot (all?) hardware, fast updates, can do video, karaoke and lots of effects.

[@digitaldjtips]

Lack of respect from whom?

[@DJPowerPaul]

Aa always a great episode!

[@digitaldjtips]

Glad you enjoyed it DJPowerPaul!

[@BlueHawk80]

I prefer to stick with 33 LPs only. I dont get confused, quality is sufficient and I usually get 2 tracks per side!

[@digitaldjtips]

As long as you're happy!

[@jackmercer4244]

The first record I owned was the disco version of the Star Wars theme, my mom bought it from Woolworths or some drug store ha ha. I played the sht out of it. My punk and ska music were mostly on cassettes, recorded from my sister's boyfriend's records. First record I ever bought was either Devo's Freedom of Choice album... or was it Bowie's Scary Monsters album? I do remember arguing with my cholo buddy because he wanted me to get Prince's Dirty Mind album so he could copy it. About an hour of arguing in the shopping mall... Bowie IT IS lol.

[@jackmercer4244]

Ok, it was Devo, because Freedom of Choice was released in 1980 and I was a freshman in high school, and I cut classes with the cholo. That dude saved me from getting jumped by his posse lol Napoleon Dynamite, anyone?

[@digitaldjtips]

This is fantastic!

[@jackmercer4244]

45:20 The Specials, hell ya.. I was into punk and ska in 78 to 80, half-hawk and all. I looked like Skrillex FFS lol...just before I got into DJing synth pop, rap, electro and HiNRG disco. I've been dropping The English Beat lately. I caught their concert with The Clash! I'm also revisiting Boy George's early hits❤❤❤no home , very tropical and ska but much slower than English Beat. Vinyl Dad 🤣🤣last year, I reassembled my 1200's and mixer, bought fresh needles. My house and synth pop records, Pet Shop Boys especially, sounds BRILLIANT with fresh needles. I told my teens they're welcome to have a go anytime, but they were meh about it. My son is a hopeless gamer. But my daughter got into rock guitar just like I did in my punk days. She took my electric guitar and practiced every chance she got! And now she's playing and singing in a band with her school mates. I'm so proud to know that she's inherited my musical traits! She'll come around to DJing sooner or later, I'm sure of it.

[@digitaldjtips]

Well done for passing this on, my son is more gamer than music fan too - although he loves music when used in games 🤣

[@jackmercer4244]

@@digitaldjtips happy days!😃 we can only hope that gaming would lead to awakening our kids' dormant musical genes. Or lead to something even better. Who knows.. I'm actually influencing my daughter to be more vocal because she comes home from school and has caught me many times singing on the mic while practicing my retro sets. Chicks dig my singing at the park, too. Well, more like screaming, the punk side comes out when I'm pssed. LOL

[@jackmercer4244]

I'm not a try-hard. I'm very happy with VDJ

[@RatamisPrimeBROGamerNZ]

phil, whats your thoughts on spotify not entering the streaming service, on serato, VDJ etc, i feel at the moment, tidal has the monoply in the market with the Dj extenstion for stems, ( exception downloaded music)

[@digitaldjtips]

As long as one of them is there, they are commodity products ultimately. Spotify deliberately withdrew.

[@VoyageOne1]

A more important reason why DJ’s should have a vinyl collection is that not every classic anthem has been released digitally 😉🪩🎧

[@digitaldjtips]

That is true!

[@Jay-od3fh]

Sthuffferin' Sthuccothash!

[@digitaldjtips]

What on earth are you talking about?

[@Bryan-mn5to]

This conversation hits deep for me. Is there any way to talk privately with Phil for a few questions? Willing to pay

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks Bryan! Phil isn't offering consulting right now but that may change. He does help students personally within The Complete DJ Course.

[@jackmercer4244]

The Stokyo decks idea sounds really good! I could use it show the power of programming and non-midi music. As well as to show-up the vinyl purists in Tokyo. Their motto here is "F CK PC REAL DJs PLAY VINYL" But I'm not a try-hard so I'll consider getting a set only when possible. I just happened to watch DJ Garth's (Wicked Crew) recent all-vinyl set the other night. A San Francisco LEGEND! Not always clinically perfect but he has a powerful sense of rhythm and his house programming is mind blowing. "DJ Garth Live at V HOUSE BBQ Park Jam 07-01-2018". Definitely a DJ to study.

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks for this!

[@orangeismedia]

I have a DJ controller, but I am not sure where to start? Which course on your website do you recommend?

[@RatamisPrimeBROGamerNZ]

see what brand the controller and what software its campatible with, serato, rekordbox virtual dj etc

[@digitaldjtips]

The same answer always - The Complete DJ Course.

[@stuartmillsom3509]

Can I class my self as a (semi) pro DJ as I get paid for what I do? I am confident in using vinyl, CDs and mp3's. I think I am pretty good at reading the crowd . BUT I don't do all the fancy mixing(don't have the confidence) , I can beat match by ear , know how/where to mix intro/outro. But DO I have to use effects to mix And be a professional ?

[@digitaldjtips]

You can 100%

[@DJLyncho]

1:31 the video dj transition 😏

[@digitaldjtips]

Glad you like it!

[@geraldfer]

Good Day All... from Southern America...

[@DJLyncho]

Goodnight from Ireland 😁

[@DJPowerPaul]

Greetings back from Paraguay! 🎉🎉🎉

[@digitaldjtips]

Hello Ireland, Paraguay, & the rest of Southern America!

[@danielgibbs9362]

I think InMusic should purchase Traktor. Traktor was the first software to offer STEMs if I'm not mistaken, which would help Denon DJ.

[@DJPowerPaul]

I hope InMusic doesn't buy more companies and stuff. I think a monopol harms competition and a wide variety and lastly innovation of stuff. And finally: you had positive experience with their customer support or the support for hardware drivers on their bought companies? I don't. Why is a mechanical Synthesizer in perfect condition more or less useless when they don't provide actual computer drivers? "M-Audio". Other case: why they don't repair guarantee stuff properly but act like they did? "Numark". I don't like their doings. I really mean they should leave us instead of forcing or hindering us... I say "InMusic is s### for us."

[@digitaldjtips]

Traktor's stems wasn't the stems we are all using now, it required special files. just FYI. And while you're right (in my view) that monopoly is usually bad, hardware becoming obsolete because of lack of software support is everyone, not just inMusic

[@DJPowerPaul]

@@digitaldjtips It may be that it is not just InMusic. But does this mean I / we have to accept planned (or at least approved) obselecence? (No answer needed - we all don't should accept this. I think we all agree.) And this is nothing else. Planned obselecence. I will avoid brands from InMusic in future as far as possible. I understand that time comes where things maybe aren't compatible. Okay. Maybe I can't judge this in every case... Can be. Maybe my view or knowledge is not far enough. But in my view it's more the "I give a foo about you, dear customer". I avoid this company culture. Or should I ask the company "Okay, I will buy this product for XXXX USD, how long you will allow me to use it correctly?" You see... I am totally not fine with this behavior. And why they have it? Because they don't love what they do - in my opinion. If they would, they would care about their stuff. In my view it's just a soulless big tech company. And we as clients should suffer from this? No... Sadly we have such a little choice sometimes... I would love to aim for a Rane controller. Can I use it 2 years? 3? Or can/should I be happy with as little as 5? Do I have to maintain a further old computer for it to use it? You see, I could write and write and write... They don't care about their customers I mean. I try to be in good vibes and love, at least acceptance, for all things, but I don't like to be fooled. And - my feeling is - they foo around with us. I understand when we talk about a 50 USD equipment - I understand that you can't support it until nowhere because of costs. But premium products? Okay... I never will buy there any (premium) product again. "Thank you for the enriching experience, In Music." Hard topic... Have a nice day beside that! P.S.: Thank you for the feedback that it is like this with every brand. I will do my research later where to find the best as soon as I need to buy new stuff.

[@jayjayokocha38]

djaypro is the best now best beat grid best stem best backup more and more ...djaypro is future !

[@digitaldjtips]

It is certainly the most advanced in our view - the closest to best-of-class software in other sectors. But hardware integration is really important, and they are poor there, they do not put the effort in that, say, VirtualDJ does.

[@rdenir]

It appears to be the simplest software to use with Denon Prime being the most complex in my experience,, I picked up a Denon Go last week and although it’s not officially supported by Algoriddim yet, I was able to map that thing to my exact liking,, really nice little kit paired with my iPad Air. With a power bank and some battery speakers, this would make an ideal portable set up..

[@riddimchef1]

Trust me you won’t have much time for talking if you using 45s 😂

[@digitaldjtips]

That is true!

[@djstuc]

hahaha i wish i had a quid for every time the track has ran out, usually after alcohol was involved too.

[@MadelnMachines]

I'm just annoyed rekordbox is so rubbish for beatgridding and stems compared to the competition yet there's no real alternative for club DJs.

[@digitaldjtips]

It certainly isn't the worst for beatgridding, and I guess they'll switch their stems to Demucs like everyone else at some point, can't come soon enough though because as you say, they are not good right now.