Decks, controllers, and the art of the live set.
AlphaTheta's XDJ-AN is a $1,199 two-channel standalone with a 7-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi streaming, SonicLink wireless monitoring and USB-C-only storage.
The best DJ controllers in 2026, compared. Honest picks for beginners, gigging DJs, and laptop-free standalone sets across AlphaTheta, Denon DJ, Hercules, and Numark.
12 practical techniques working DJs use to improve live sets — from set construction and cueing to crowd reading, EQ mixing, and the soft skills that separate good DJs from great ones.
We keyed 200 tracks by ear, then ran them through Mixed In Key, Beatport, Rekordbox, and KeyFinder. Mixed In Key won 178 to 121. The full results.
We tested Mixed In Key 12's accuracy across 200 tracks spanning dance, pop, hip-hop, jazz, and ambient. Here's where the algorithm gets it right, where it doesn't, and what to do about the misses.
Harmonic mixing in 2026: how the Camelot wheel works, why some key changes feel right and others jar, and the practical workflow for using key info in Rekordbox, Traktor, and Serato.
Step-by-step guide to syncing Native Instruments Traktor with Maschine — Ableton Link, MIDI clock, audio routing through one or two interfaces, and the live workflows that actually work.
A 2026 producer's guide to tuning Windows for low-latency music production and DJing. Power plans, audio drivers, background services, ASIO, and the BIOS settings that actually matter.
Vinyl outsold CDs again in 2025 for the third year running. A look at how the format came back, what producers should know about pressing in 2026, and why independent record stores are quietly thriving.
What working pros teach about opening DJ sets — energy management, restraint, BPM ranges, the warm-up arc, and how doing this well leads to repeat bookings and bigger slots.
Pioneer's CDJ-3000 remains the top choice for pro DJs in 2025, offering unmatched reliability, performance, and value amidst evolving technologies and competitive gear.
Discover how DJing in 2025 combines technology, creativity, and accessibility, making it the perfect time for beginners to start their journey in the dynamic world of music mixing.
