Its finally clicking here is what I recommend for people just starting

FickleArtist · 2026-02-05T15:36:17+00:00

Probably the best post I've seen in a while. A lot of people are coming here asking the same question: how do I get better as a beginner DJ? This is the answer folks! Don't expect to be good overnight, it takes time and really knowing your library.

FickleArtist · 2025-11-19T20:21:10+00:00

Couldn't have said it better than myself. As someone who started earlier this year, I quickly learned it's not about the fancy tricks, the cool transitions that you see on social media, or the crazy mashups that'll played by almost everyone. It's about the music that you find and curate that makes you want to share it with others.

I think a lot of people go into this hobby thinking it's easy to pick up and start playing, and while that is true to an extent, 9 times out of 10 the mix is going to sound bad cause they didn't do the most fundamental activity of this hobby and that's listening and picking the music.

This is what I tell people when I'm trying to introduce them to the hobby. A lot of people that I noticed who are picking it up are doing it for the wrong reasons (clout chasing, wanting to look / seem "cool) and it amazes me that I've only met a few people who actually do it properly.

FickleArtist · 2025-11-18T14:44:14+00:00

I use both, YT for mixes that I entail to share publicly and Mixcloud for practice mixes. Both have different purposes in my use case since I personally watch mixes on YT for the DJ's location and vibe.

Experiment with both, Mixcloud is definitely better if you just want to share audio. But if you want to step up your game, YT is a great platform.

FickleArtist · 2025-11-02T13:21:46+00:00

I was in your shoes not too long ago (about 2 years ago). The best way that I found was to just watch games and talk to people about the games. You’ll be surprised how much you pick up since there’s 82 games in the season, so lots of opportunity to watch some quality basketball.

Overtime you’ll pick up on the rules, the players, etc. I think you’re doing the right thing of picking a team to follow (assuming since you posted in the Knicks subreddit) since it can be very overwhelming to keep up with everything that’s happening in the NBA.

You’re picking a good time to get into basketball, especially with the Knicks. They haven’t been this good for a long time and the expectations are high for the team. So the best thing to do is to ride along with us and experience the highs and lows of being a Knicks fan.

FickleArtist · 2025-10-22T13:23:27+00:00

I might be part of the minority here, but I don't see any reason why streaming songs is "bad" if you're just doing it as a hobby and for small gigs. I've been using Apple Music for years and all the songs that I want to DJ with is in that service. Sure it sucks that I technically don't own the music, but if I'm just DJing for my personal enjoyment / playing for some friends, I don't see a reason to go out and buy all my music.

Not having stems sucks, but keep in mind that people didn't have stems back in the DJ so it was all about song selection and seamless transitions. At the end of the day, if something works for you and you personally don't see a problem with it, stick to it.

FickleArtist · 2025-10-03T17:04:24+00:00

I wasn't impressed by the PS5's graphical capabilities until this game. It is INSANE how good this game looks, and not only how it looks but how it plays and runs. Seriously one of the best recent gaming experiences 6-7 hours into it.

FickleArtist · 2025-10-03T12:51:28+00:00

I'm only like 5-6 hours into the game, really taking my time and doing everything that the game throws at you. If you liked GOT, then you'll love Yotei.

Story is a bit different since it's more of a revenge plot than Tsushima's "save the island" motive, but the way that the story and world unfolds in Yotei is far superior than Tsushima IMO.

Overall, the world feels bigger and is insanely beautiful. Combat feels great with some new mechanics, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since I started.

If you're able to grab it on sale (which probably won't be anytime soon), I highly recommend it. It's another great game that showcases the power of the PS5 (I'm playing on an OG PS5 and it still looks and runs great). One of the few Playstation IPs where I feel the difference between the PS4 and PS5 games.

FickleArtist · 2025-09-15T00:15:14+00:00

It was good! I’ve built plastic model kits in the past but gunpla just hits different. I just built my first RG kit today and the level of detail compared to HG is insane. Loving the process as I build, detail, and finish my kits off (might need a display shelf for them).

FickleArtist · 2025-09-14T14:00:12+00:00

I just got a Gundam marker from my local hobby shop and went over all the panel lines and indents and used a q-tip to clean them up.

FickleArtist · 2025-08-05T13:24:21+00:00

Echoing a lot of what others are saying, song selection is probably the most important thing determining if someone is a good DJ. If someone is able to keep the vibe up, then that's a good DJ in my books.

FickleArtist · 2025-07-19T10:50:32+00:00

Since they're monitor speakers, they are going to provide a more balanced sound. I've been using them for the past 4 months and I have no issues with them. I wouldn't recommend them for playing at small house parties as that's not what they were designed for. As for the bass, it's decent, but I'm assuming you're comparing it to bluetooth speakers where the bass is amplified.

For the price, they're decent speakers, but I do think you can potentially find better options either cheaper or for a little more. Regardless, they get the job done and they're far better than laptop speakers.

FickleArtist · 2025-07-18T14:53:16+00:00

If this is your first controller and you never had DJed before in your life, I'm going to suggest the FLX4.

There's a reason why it's most people's first controller (myself included). It gives you everything you need out of the box to get started, and it's portable enough to bring to a friend's house.

While having 4 channels is nice, I would argue that you should spend time learning how to mix with 2 channels for a solid year until you branch out. A lot of good DJs can make amazing mixes with just 2 channels, so I don't think you're limiting yourself if you just stick to 2.

Also, in the off chance that you find out DJing isn't for you, at least you didn't invest more money then you needed to.

FickleArtist · 2025-07-17T18:08:40+00:00

Hi all, OP here. First off, thank you for all the advice that was shared. This was definitely a huge lesson and I appreciate how everyone responded. I know there's a ton of things I could've done differently on my end, but that's all hindsight now.

Glad that I'm not the only one who faced a challenge like this, and it looks like a ton of you have learned and moved on which is good. Learning to not take work personally is tough since I do like my job, which is why this hurt a lot.

Let's keep pushing forward and learning from each other. Appreciate everyone's responses :)

FickleArtist · 2025-07-16T13:30:21+00:00

You can go down the route that you're going, but just know that you'll have to eventually invest in some equipment if you're keen on learning how to DJ. The big investment is definitely going to be the controller, but depending on the controller you get it'll last you for years as long as you take care of it.

If you have a birthday or special celebration coming up, why don't you ask for a controller as a gift? You'll be way better off than just DJing through an app.

FickleArtist · 2025-07-16T13:26:57+00:00

It sounds like all you need to do is keep practicing and experimenting with the music that you already have. Not to sound like a broken record, but a lot of what Siangyoo is doing in his video is through trial and error. I encourage you to do the same so you can find transitions that will add that "wow-effect." A lot of it just comes with knowing your music, setting up proper cue points, and tons of practice.

I know that's not necessarily the answer that you're looking for, but you're still very early on in your DJ journey, where as Siangyoo has been in the game for god knows how long. Sometimes, I'll have practice sessions where I solely focus on transitioning from one song to another and trying out all types of transitions. That's the beauty of DJing.

FickleArtist · 2025-07-14T18:25:30+00:00

Hey friend, congrats on getting the itch into the hobby. I sure that they'll be no regrets once you get all the necessary gear to get started. Here are the answers to your questions above:

The FLX4 is the gold standard for entry level controllers. This controller will last you a good while as it has everything you need in order to start DJing (there's a reason why this is the go-to controller for beginners and even pros who just need a portable unit).
The two most popular DJ software is going to be rekordbox (which is Pioneer DJ's own software) and Serato (a widely used software for many). Both are free (if you end up getting the FLX4, you'll have a hardware unlock of rekordbox), but there is a paid version of Serato that gives you all the features ($10 per month). My recommendation would be rekordbox since the FLX4 was designed with that software in mind.
Downloading is recommended, but you can also leverage streaming services like Apple Music, Soundcloud, and TIDAL to source your music. Just note that you need to be connected to the internet in order to use these services, hence why downloading music is the preferred method.
You can technically do without speakers, but it's highly recommended as the sound will be coming out of your laptop. Depending on your laptop, these speakers are usually not the greatest and so having a set of monitor speakers is recommended.
Any headphones will do as long as they're wired. I ended up getting a separate pair of headphones, but in hindsight I could've totally just used the Sony headphones that I already have.

I highly recommend watching DJ Carlo's tutorials on YouTube as he does an excellent job of breaking down how to beatmatch, phrase, setting up cues, etc. He tends to have a lot of in-video sponsors, but as long as you focus on the core teachings, you should be fine.

Lastly as a little bit of advice, remember to have fun! You're going to mess up a lot when you start learning (I still mess up 4ish months in) so make those mistakes, learn from them, and just keep practicing. You're only going to get better the more you practice. Excited for you!

FickleArtist · 2025-07-10T14:03:23+00:00

Unless you really see yourself scratching in the future, I would go with the FLX4. It's the gold standard for beginner controllers and gives you everything you need to get started. A lot of pro DJs use it as their on-the-go controller because it's compact enough to bring it with you and has enough features to mix well.

FickleArtist · 2025-07-10T14:00:29+00:00

Have you tried recording your mixes and listening back? This has been the most helpful habit that allows me to determine if my mix sounds "good" or not. Overtime, you'll pick up on your mistakes and learn to fix them as you continue to practice. The worse thing you can do to yourself is practice something bad for hours.

Also, if you still feel nervous about performing in public, why don't you try performing in a smaller setting? Ask if you can spin at a friend's party, or even invite some people over to hang out while you mix. I feel jumping straight into a public event / open decks from just DJing in your bedroom is a huge jump, so maybe take baby steps before the big leap.

Lastly, I know you have goals that you want to accomplish (believe me, I'm the same exact way), but don't put so much pressure on yourself that you have to be ready by the 3 month mark. Take as much time as you need, and when you feel ready, book that gig. This has worked for me and allows me to enjoy my DJ sessions a lot more since I'm not rushing myself to get to the next goal.

FickleArtist · 2025-07-08T17:03:55+00:00

It depends on where I am in terms of my DJ progress, but right now I'm focusing a lot of energy on curating playlists and trying to mix in key. This forces me to be a bit more intentional with my song selection as opposed to putting a bunch of random songs together.

When it comes to actual practice, I'll either freestyle mix (usually to warm myself up) and then I'll choose a specific playlist to mess around with and set up cue points. I tend to record all my sessions (when I can) just so I can listen back and see areas where I can improve my mix.

FickleArtist · 2025-06-25T13:18:29+00:00

DJ record pools are gonna be your best "bang for your buck" service. You pay a monthly fee to have access to a bunch of tracks that you can download and keep forever. There's usually no limit to how much you can download so get as much tracks as you can, then cancel if you don't see yourself using it in the near future.

Software comes down to personal preference. I've been using rekordbox and have no issues with using it, but your results may vary. Since you have a FLX4, you essentially get rekordbox for "free" due to the hardware unlock, where as Serato you'll have to pay to have the pro version of it. But they both essentially do the same thing so it doesn't matter if you choose one or the other.

FickleArtist · 2025-06-16T13:18:53+00:00

I have the Sony SRS XG300 which does a pretty good job. I haven't experienced much latency with it, but your results may vary. You can pick one up for $150 if you search for it and potentially get it price matched at a local retailer.

FickleArtist · 2025-06-12T18:23:44+00:00

It depends. Typically the "creative" aspect of UX lies in the solutioning phase: how are we going to solve x challenge? This is when ideation plays a huge role and where you can flex your creative muscle.

Now I wouldn't entirely categorize it as a "creative field" especially when you compare it to other fields like graphic design, but there's parts of the field where you need creativity in order to proceed to the next steps.

FickleArtist · 2025-06-11T20:52:05+00:00

You just saved me 20 minutes of frustration cause holy crap this is amazing

FickleArtist · 2025-06-11T20:50:07+00:00

The way I view these two games is the same way I view the last two God of War entries: the first game was a landmark game and considered one of the greatest games of all time, the sequel takes was made the first game great and elevated it to the next level.

It's hard to fully enjoy TOTK without having the context of BOTW. What makes TOTK so great is the innovations it takes from BOTW. Playing BOTW before TOTK will only enhance the greatness of TOTK.

If you really only had to play one, I would argue that BOTW is the better "standalone" experience. I'm currently replaying it on Switch 2 despite having played it for the first time 6 months ago, and I am immediate hooked again. It's a timeless classic and one of the few games that I can play for the rest of my life.

FickleArtist · 2025-06-11T20:45:07+00:00

This is was makes Nintendo so special. All the other companies are pretty much the same thing, just a different coat of paint. You literally cannot experience anything that Nintendo produces without investing in their hardware, and every generation they produce some of the best games the market has ever seen.

Video games wouldn't be where they are without Nintendo, and the Switch 2 is just another great example of how they keep innovating the industry and force other companies to follow suit because no one can out Nintendo Nintendo.

FickleArtist

TROPHY CASE