We’ve all been there — standing at your DJ setup ready to record a mix, but for some reason the inspiration just won’t come. For times like these, it can be beneficial to take a break and have a listen to how other people have done it before you. And while you’re certainly welcome to turn to any number of high quality podcasts now on offer, we recommend that you look into the slowly dying medium of commercial mixes. Though they may seem antiquated, the process of recording something limited by actual physical constraints (namely time and licensing) often makes for a sharper distillation of the artist’s message and a more thought-out narrative.

Mixing in key is one of the best ways to create a smooth mix that resonates from track to track, increasing or decreasing energy in a way that makes sense to the ears of your audience. But did you know that you’re able to manually adjust the key of a track in some DJ software to match it to the playing track? Read on to learn when this is possible and how to make it work with key detected tracks.

Many DJs think they need to be a celebrity, have a label, or major backing to get their music onto iTunes. Not so! Even though some people find out how to get their music, mixes, songs, videos, into an iTunes listing, many of them have no idea how to maintain it. In this first tutorial on the basics of podcasting for DJs, we’ll show you how to create a podcast feed and be able to update it anytime you want, for free and with no coding necessary! It’s all after the jump.

We’re constantly being asked by Serato DJs who have recently discovered Traktor and want to give it a shot about the best way to easily move their library across without having to start all over with cue points, BPM information, and so on. The good news is that moving your library to Traktor is relatively simple. Watch today’s video inside and learn how to make it happen!

There are more DJs than ever before. Technology and the advent of the digital age has made it easier than ever before to begin a career as a DJ/producer. Unfortunately, it may not be enough to simply have hot tracks, the best DJing techniques in the world, exclusive (re)mixes to play in your sets, or an awesome website. If you want to stand out, take time to consider how to develop a memorable live show that complements your DJing prowess – keep reading for inspiration and ideas.

If you’re passionate enough about music to become a DJ, you likely love it enough to get your tracks legally. But what is a DJ to do when money is tight and they want legitimate music? Simple! Sign up for a record pool. We last reviewed online record pools over three years ago, so today we’re taking another look at the lay of the land with a comparison review of four popular online pools.

We’ve been studying your entries for the Midi Fighter X design competition all week, and with over 400 (!) entries from our community, we’ve had a very difficult time figuring out how to choose only 5. This contest was a massive success with the entire community sharing their visions of what a controller can be. It was very inspiring and humbling to see so many creative ideas from a wide range of people in every corner of the world.

Native Instruments is making a play for iOS dominance, which started with the launch of Traktor DJ for iPad over two months ago, and continues today with a second version of the app with a clever re-optimized interface for iPhone. After the jump, watch the overview of the new app and see how people who don’t have tiny fingers can still mix on a much smaller screen.