How To Plan The Music For Your Next DJ Mixtape

Download the FREE lesson handout here: djtips.co/mix-handout
This is a FREE sample lesson from our "All-New Pro Mixtape Formula" course - find out more here: djtips.co/mixtape-sample
In this lesson, we'll talk you through the three steps you should take before hitting "record" on any mix. By carefully choosing your music, figuring out the play order, and then practising your transitions, you'll be sure you're showing the world your best skills, and make life much easier for yourself when it's time to hit "record" and perform your mix for real.
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#DJTips #DJMix #DJing #Gear #Tech #DigitalDJTips #DJ #PhilMorse #MusicIndustry

[@djquikdr]

13 years ago I performed at a DJ contest. I had to play a set of 1 hour and I had planned my set by making a playlist. Everything was good and the crowd loved it but one judge didn't because I planned my set. He didn't like it that I planned my set, unbelievable. Professionals do this and Phil is totally right here.

[@digitaldjtips]

Weird, planning is pretty normal at DJ contests but perhaps they were trying to differentiate their particular contest

[@petetrimby]

Funny because I played at a competition in 2007 in Liverpool and was advised of the same thing by the judge. He was an absolute advocate of playing straight from your box.

[@SherwinBajao]

All the DJ contests I have seen are all planned.

[@ChuckBosse]

I say it over and over again when I watch your video's. OMG, that is spot on. All your advise is so useful, no fluff and it just resonates. Thank you so much.

[@digitaldjtips]

you're more than welcome Chuck!

[@rossmoodie8202]

Your channel is amazing! Appreciate your work so much, 1000 thanks 👍

[@digitaldjtips]

No problem!

[@DocDadda]

New 'music player' 😄(DJ) here and I feel like mixtapes are where I want to focus. I thought about and had all intent to plan my mixes, but every time I've pressed record, it was usually well into my practice session and I was feeling a vibe so I just wanted to capture it.😎 Needless to say there were some hiccups along the way, but my general feel after listening to the mixes was that they would serve as authentic progress markers for where I'm at in my DJ journey so I posted them anyway. Great tips and advice in this video though, which make complete sense for more professional sounding mixtapes.

[@digitaldjtips]

There's room for your approach too!

[@digitaldjtips]

Download the FREE lesson handout here: djtips.co/mix-handout This is a FREE sample lesson from our "All-New Pro Mixtape Formula" course - find out more here: djtips.co/mixtapes-sample

[@mariomingione5213]

When it comes to recording, do we lower just the master or Master and channel gains all together?

[@digitaldjtips]

You need to get the gain correct at every point in the chain, there's no point turning the master down if all the individual channels are clipping for example

[@DJMARINKOx]

@@mariomingione5213 a great video about volumes or "gain structure" kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2jQpqCoZdVgh80 & when recording, always record conservatively, so that you don't clip and keep your volumes relatively even, then you can easily maximize the volume of your final mix in Audacity (or whatever you use)

[@cosmicpuma1409]

Thank You so very much for this Phil - Appreciated!!

[@digitaldjtips]

No problem!

[@Pieter2360]

Great tips Phil! Thanks.

[@digitaldjtips]

No problem 🙌

[@SherwinBajao]

I usually have a theme, genre, etc. I put them in key then in BPM. This usually gives me a good mix of energy levels. I like to group similar songs if possible. Anything over 5 mins, I either use break jump or hot cue to outro or mix out.

[@digitaldjtips]

Sounds good :)

[@kymphusmuhammad4356]

I really enjoy your product. This is a very good and informative site. Thanks for all that you do.

[@digitaldjtips]

No problem!

[@alexzanderking1556]

Thanks Phil very helpful.

[@digitaldjtips]

You're welcome!

[@Ronniezim]

This is great. I’m a spinning (indoor cycling) instructor and started to DJ to help differentiate my classes and keep the energy high when I teach (I HATE the silence between tracks). I make a new mix every week and have been learning a ton about how to DJ in the process. Your channel has been super helpful. Using the FLX6 outputting to irig stream - using audacity to record.

[@digitaldjtips]

Well done Ronnie, you are a great example of the leaps and bounds you make when you have a REASON to do this stuff... it's why we always recommend people BOOK GIGS - which in your case, is your classes. It focuses the mind.

[@user-tr2hi7gv8l]

Very helpful. Thanks

[@digitaldjtips]

No problem!

[@tyhollow]

You're Awesome.

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks Ty!

[@dj_9iron]

Always gaining knowledge

[@digitaldjtips]

Glad to hear that :)

[@Star-mag]

Sounds so simple, but such a great idea to write it out and plan it properly. I recorded my 1st mix last year and I always listen to it to see where I could improve/change things. Then when I go to re-record I'm trying to do the transitions from memory. It's fun doing it on the fly but at the same time I wanna make it perfect!!

[@digitaldjtips]

Nice one :)

[@CaptainFunkelicious]

"create a run sheet" - bloody genius, phil! i'm working on my 2nd mix right now and of course life gets in the way etc etc - i can't tell you how many times i've forgotten the details of a specific transition between tracks, and it always does my head in. but of course, making specific notes about each transition is a great idea and why didn't i think to do it earlier?!?!

[@digitaldjtips]

Sometimes the most obvious thing elude us Grant!

[@djtroyloren]

I usually start the same way but in my mind. listen to music when i'm driving and i hear two tracks that go together then let my creativity go wild according to beat, melody and and mood. then listen to it about 5-10 times if i need to switch track to sound better or give it a good mood. sometimes if i get stuck i just leave the mix for a few days then come back to it and find a better track. by the way, never had any programming lessons other than my ear and feeling vibe to bring people together 😉🫶

[@digitaldjtips]

Sounds like you're doing it all right!

[@DaveDoc1984]

Planning your Set is definitely Key. Sometimes you can surprise yourself by being spontaneous but a majority of the time you will find yourself in an awkward spot (too much percussion clashing or keys being too far apart). Plus I like to try and start with lower tempo and more laid back House Music and take it up from there.

[@digitaldjtips]

Especially when you're making a mixtape that you want to put out and have represent you as an artist

[@Crystallily73]

I just did an Afrobeat /Reggae mix and I think I used most of these tips for that mix. It took me a month to finish it. I'll definitely be coming back to these videos.

[@digitaldjtips]

Awesome!

[@madsoldierman1407]

What the name of your mix? I’m a Reggae/Dancehall guy myself.

[@GusSheridan]

Great video! I've used more or less this system for, uh... decades (oof) at this point. I used to plan and mixtapes this way before I ever touched a piece of DJ gear. to make them in real time. The only suggestion I would add is, *record* your dress rehearsal. Because, what if you get it right in rehearsal? You might surprise yourself.

[@digitaldjtips]

Nice one Sheridan :)

[@Traumadj]

I forgot what video it was but someone was saying they didn’t know you and why you didn’t become huge. I’m like you can travel the world and not reach as many people as you can if you just sit in your studio and make videos for us to learn from, get inspired by and you get to be with your family every night if you like.

[@digitaldjtips]

You can't be a great teacher and a great DJ AT THE SAME TIME! I had my "DJ days" and trust me, had a blast, met all my heroes, made my money. Then I wanted a family, and chose to settle down and teach. Since then, I've stayed very close to the DJ world, the current superstar DJs etc, and accumulated more than enough knowledge to teach anyone who values what I can offer. - Phil

[@peppecalvo]

great tip at 8:20 i never read anywhere a thing like this but i alwasy do in a similar way.

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks Peppe!

[@juanalvarezdeneyradegregor5829]

Hello ddjt team! I bought your book and it has helped me a lot!! Just wondering... this lesson is the opposite to freestlyle djing right?

[@digitaldjtips]

Yes it would be

[@DJSTOEK]

💘

[@JamesDeaconUK]

This video covers everything I have learnt over the past 10 years when it comes to recording mixtapes. However, still to this day, I’m struggling so much when it comes to linking different sections I am happy with together like a puzzle. Not only that, having to exclude tunes when the mix I’m working on is a definitive of a particular genre is a headache. Trying to put the puzzle together and fit it within the agreed time limit is causing me to go insane lol. Any further help would be appreciated.

[@digitaldjtips]

Hey Jay! Why not check out the full course this video comes from? You can find the info here: djtips.co/mixtape-course :)

[@ruk2023--]

I tend to plan tech house sets but everything else is much more freeform. I know the music I play so I am probably mentally prepared. I plan tech house because long and exciting build ups and transitions do need more thinking about. I'd guess that even DJ's like James Hype plan some of their live tech house sets, especially when they are doing loads of really big transitions. Interested to know if I'm wrong about that though.

[@digitaldjtips]

James organises his library in transitions so you're right

[@pheelz3259]

just wondering where the sheet is your were talking about that I can download and print? Thanks!!

[@digitaldjtips]

That's a good point - we'll see if we can find a way to add a link to it to the description.

[@RenatoHarripaul1217]

👍👍👍👍

[@digitaldjtips]

👌

[@craigparry282]

Can someone at @Digital DJ Tips create a video showing a dj approaching/preparing a new mixtape playlist with transitions and going through it from start to finish (up to the recording part). I think this would be helpful for some dj's (particularly those coming from mobile dj backgrounds who've had different song selection approaches) for seeing one being created. Even just a 30 minute mixtape. It would be nice to see the thought processes. I love the Mixtape Formula course that this video is taken from but I really feel that the putting a mixtape ideas and tracks together phase is missing.

[@digitaldjtips]

Thanks for the idea Craig.

[@SherwinBajao]

Link to Jakov's book?

[@sergejfilippov1968]

Hey, free sample lesson link doesn’t work. Can you please share a new one?

[@digitaldjtips]

Just tested it, it worked for me. It will download a PDF to your desktop.

[@DaveDoc1984]

Also I would like to apologize if my 1st post on one of your videos came across as too harsh on Steve Caneuto. A bit of context, I was a Ministry of Sound Fanboy back in the 90's. Loved the Annual's and always wondered what happened in 2001, if I had the chance, I would ask Steve (in a positive way) if something in MOS had changed or if it was contractual as to why we lost the big name DJ's mixing the Annual's and sub-Annual's.

[@digitaldjtips]

Yeah you certainly sounded like a fanboy ;) No harm done, I'm sure Steve would have no problem talking about that

[@stevecanueto6674]

Hey! Don't worry... firstly, I missed your previous post / comment, and secondly, you're not the only one for whom a particular "golden age" of MoS was lost when the big name DJs didn't mix them any more. It was partly contractual, but mainly due the the fact that MoS didn't need big DJs to sell albums in big numbers. The "superstar DJ" era had passed, things just moved on I guess. :)

[@DaveDoc1984]

@@stevecanueto6674 wow I didn’t think this would ever happen! Firstly I want to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you for reaching out. Also you have actually laid to rest a question I’ve had about MOS for years as I loved the Annual’s from 1995 to 2000 and the CG to 2001 and that something changed from 2001 onwards. Massive respect for this reply and hope you get to see this too.

[@stevecanueto6674]

@@DaveDoc1984 cool, thanks for supporting us back in the day! :)

[@tek00732882]

Insanely good video... why give us this info for free?

[@digitaldjtips]

Why not? :)

[@madsoldierman1407]

@@digitaldjtips love of the craft.

[@digitaldjtips]

That's the reason why we do so much free training.

[@halcyondaystunes]

Back in the day you just pulled music out of a box without no prep...and read the crowd....I find my best mixes are those that are spontaneous.. Yeah you always have those tracks you know 'fit' but there is nothing like it when a mix comes together that wasn't pre-planned. Just my opinion and know everyone is different and it is different these days.

[@DaveDoc1984]

To a point I agree with you but sometimes it can go badly wrong.

[@digitaldjtips]

You might have done, we certainly didn't all just pull tunes out of a box with no thought going into it (like what tunes to actually put in the box in the first place...), either way this is about recording mixtapes not playing sets

[@CosticaKristianDiVogli]

Intro - Key - Energy - Mixing - Variations - FX - Impact Mixing - Risk - Creativity - Surprise Factor

[@digitaldjtips]

I like it!