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We humans have been listening to the piano for hundreds of years, and we’re quite attuned to its sound and tonality, especially when played by musicians. Modern music production allows us to replicate nearly any keyboard sound through samplers like Kontakt. However, there’s often an “uncanny valley” if producers don’t take the necessary steps to humanize their VST and sample-based pianos. Nobody knows this better than UOAK, the label boss of one of the leading melodic house labels, Sekora. He relies heavily on pianos that have shaped both his sound and that of his label. In this interview, we dive deep into MIDI versus sound design, essential tips for making VST-based pianos sound authentic, his favorite preset libraries like...

Rane have released firmware updates for their FOUR and PERFORMER Serato controllers which, along with the usual big fixes, brings along some new features which users have been asking for – plus one which was added specifically at Mojaxx’s request. He takes you through how it works, and why he wanted it, in this new episode of Beatsource Tech. Find the PERFORMER and FOUR updates here: https://www.rane.com/downloads Check out Mojaxx’s video on DJcity TV. The post Rane Made This Feature Just For Me! appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers.

Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) Ed Sheeran – Azizam Sexyy Red – Hoochie Coochie Skrillex – VOLTAGE Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline – Two Friends Remix Doechii – Anxiety – Alex Selas Remix * Jack Harlow (ft. Doja Cat) – Just Us – TRAYZE Swing My Way Edit * David Guetta (ft. Sia) – Titanium – DJ Smerk Don’t Wake Me Up Edit * Jennifer Lopez – On The Floor – Bryan Salu & JUDO Massive Remix Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey – The Middle – Rogerson Remix * Akon – Right Now (Na Na Na) – Kelland Remix DJcity’s weekly picks are selected by Sir Marcus. To receive them via email, click here. The post 🎧 Fresh Drops From Ed Sheeran, Sexyy Red, Skrillex...

Once you understand the basics of DJing in Traktor Pro, you can get creative in your sets with effects. DJs use effects to enhance their mixes by adding their own artistic flair and style. Traktor Pro offers over forty different effects that can be used to subtly tweak, or totally transform your music. In this blog, you’ll learn how to use five essential Traktor effects, including Delay, Reverb, Modulation effects, Delay T3 and Mixer FX. Traktor’s effects are a powerful way to add interesting sonic elements to your mix, advance your skills, and bring even more life into your DJ sets. Jump to these sections: Create rhythmic effects with delay Add space with reverb Change your sound over time with modulation effects Add depth with...

Flavor of the Month is your cheat code for new DJ edits, remixes and bootlegs handpicked by the ROAD Podcast. Every month, the crew shouts out their favorite remixes that you won’t find anywhere but DJcity. Don’t miss out on these must-have selections! Preview these tracks for free by creating an account. For full download access to these edits and much more, new users can subscribe to DJcity for only $10. Here are the #FOTM selections for April 2025: Doechii – Anxiety – Sir Marcus & MarkCutz Remix Soul II Soul – Back 2 Life – DJ Bizzon Update Edit The Bucketheads – The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind) – Les Bisous Remix Bad Bunny – DtMF – Rob DVS Remix Roy Ayers – Everybody Loves the Sunshine – Jay Bombay Remix Follow...

On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome hip hop DJ, turntablist and original member of the turntablist group The X-Ecutioners, Rob Swift (@brolicarm) with guest co-host @DJGoldfingerNYC. Rob discusses the inspiration behind his latest book ‘The City of Hip-Hop: New York City, The Bronx, and a Peace Meeting’ (02:28) and poses the question “what race started hip hop?” (23:20). He discusses the connection between reparations and hip hop (34:01) and the chain reaction that led up to hip hop forming in the Bronx (58:01). Finally, Rob speaks on how ethnicity solely doesn’t make you a part of hip hop (1:27:01). Follow the R.O.A.D. Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. The post R.O.A.D. Podcast – ROB...

A lot of music producers hold themselves to this lofty standard – thinking they need to design every sound from scratch. There’s this belief that the best artists, the ones they admire, are creating everything from an initialized preset, and if they’re not doing the same, then they’re somehow failing at self-expression. That mindset leads to the idea that relying on presets is “cheating.” But that couldn’t be further from the truth, and no one knows this better than Saad Ayub. As a melodic trance and techno producer, Saad has built a distinct sound and career, landing on massive stages, collaborating with top-tier artists like Paul van Dyke and Markus Schulz, and carving his own lane in the industry. His secret? He leans heavily on...

Serato have just anounced that they’ve been acquired by Canadian firm Tiny. In this emergency epsiode of Beatsource Tech, Mojaxx brings you his initial reactions to the news. Check out Mojaxx’s reactions to the sale of Serato on DJcity TV. The post 🚨 Serato Has Been SOLD – For Real This Time! appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers.

Sampling is somewhat like collage art in a musical format. By taking snippets of older recordings and rearranging them, producers can create something entirely new while paying homage to the past. Some samples are instantly recognizable, while others are warped, stretched, and chopped beyond recognition. Classic hip hop, epic pop, and electronic anthems alike have been built around carefully chosen samples. In this article, we’re exploring ten of the most iconic samples in music history, breaking down where they came from, and how they were processed. Jump to these sections: What is sampling in music? Who wrote the most sampled song of all time? Iconic samples in music Nas – “N.Y. State of Mind” Kendrick Lamar – “Money Trees”...

House music thrives on its groove, with that human swing adding energy in the studio and on the dance floor. But DAW-based drum programming can sometimes lack authenticity, resulting in robotic grooves that fall short of what a producer wants. That’s why producers like Saraga turn to tools like Maschine to inject creativity and authenticity. Saraga exemplifies the success achievable with standout drum grooves in house music. With the launch of his Stardust record label and debut single “God Is Good” in late January, it’s the perfect time to explore how he leverages Maschine to create infectious grooves. In this interview, we discuss his unique approach to drum programming, keeping drums fresh and alive, layering techniques, and much...

Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) Chris Lake & Ragie Ban – Toxic Feid & Ty Dolla $ign – DALLAX Caldwell & Sexyy Red – Beer And Baddies Fedde Le Grand – Rude Boy Janet Jackson – Someone To Call My Lover – Freejak Remix * Leon Thomas – MUTT – MarkCutz Remix * Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe – KidCutUp vs J Bruus Throwback Intro * NLE Choppa – Slut Me Out – Spryte It Clicked Edit * Estelle (ft. Kanye West) – American Boy – Aurelios Remix Spice Girls – Wannabe – Smochi Remix DJcity’s weekly picks are selected by Sir Marcus. To receive them via email, click here. The post 📢 New Heat From Chris Lake, Feid, Ty Dolla $ign, Sexyy Red, Fedde...

Creating a compelling soundscape is a fundamental part of being a great music producer. One way to enhance your tracks’ sound design is through modulation. With this technique, you can shape the tone of a synth, create movement with effects, and add depth to your music. Once you understand modulation, you’ll start noticing it throughout the music you’re listening to. Then you’ll want to try it out yourself. In this article, we’ll break down what modulation in music is, how it works, and how you can use it to make your tracks more dynamic. We’ll also demonstrate different modulation techniques using synths and effects so you can hear the difference modulation can make for yourself. Jump to these sections: What is modulation in music...

In the first episode of our new series, Beatsource Retro Tech, Mojaxx is revisiting the Dicers from Novation. These unique devices, conceived by Ean Golden of DJ Techtools, were pivotal in introducing Serato DVS users to the possibilities of MIDI controllers. Check out the video to see if these classic DJ tools have stood the test of time. Check out Mojaxx’s video on DJcity TV. The post 🎲 Novation Dicers: A Retro Classic Every DJ Should Know appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers.

On this week’s episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome producer, DJ, and creator of @BambaTuesdays, DJ Kash (@DJKashATL). Kash reflects on his journey from attending BeatStreet, where he was inspired by Goldfinger’s (@DJGoldfingerNYC) DJ skills (01:10), to adjusting to life in Atlanta and starting his own party, #BambaTuesdays (04:50). He discusses the importance of picking a genre (08:10) and notes the evolution of Atlanta’s nightlife (15:00). The crew discusses @DJCrooked’s theory of ‘USB Stick Delusion’ (38:12), “gentrified Afro-House” diluting cultures (49:01), and Kash’s top 5 Amapiano tracks (1:10:00). Finally, Kash shares the challenges of maintaining passion for music in Atlanta’s nightlife and the importance of catering...

Screenshot Dynamics are one of the defining features of a mix and something producers at every level are told to focus on if they want loud, punchy results. But with so much information out there – and so many different dynamics controllers, from compressors and limiters to transient shapers and maximizers – it’s hard to know which tool to use and how to get the most out of it. Even once you figure that out, dialing in settings for a professional-quality mix is a whole other challenge. Nobody knows this better than Miami-based duo Black V Neck. Their warm, swing-heavy productions have earned them releases on Dirtybird Records and slots at massive festivals like Insomniac’s EDC. Since first landing on Dirtybird’s Birdfeed in 2018...

These are DJcity’s most downloaded tracks of March 2025. Our monthly charts feature top downloads from around the world, plus regional charts for Latin, UK, Germany, Asia, and South Asia. Drake – NOKIA Doechii – Anxiety Sean Paul – Temperature – DJ Serg Sniper Remix Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive – FRASER Remix Mousse T. & Hot ‘N’ Juicy – Horny – Freejak Remix Burna Boy – Update Doechii – Anxiety – Sir Marcus & MarkCutz Remix Maroon 5 – Sugar – Colin Jay Remix Jason Derulo (ft. 2 Chainz) – Talk Dirty – Richastic Remix 310babii & James Brown – bad View the full list here. The post 🏆 DJcity’s Top Downloads for March 2025 – Don’t Miss These Hits appeared first on DJcity News - Music and news for DJs and producers.

Timeless sound in music production is a concept that often defies easy explanation but is that ephemeral gold standard that all music producers seem to chase. For St. Lucia, it’s about blending the foundational elements of past eras with subtle modern touches, crafting something that feels familiar yet distinct. Their latest album, Fata Morgana: Dawn, expands on this approach, drawing inspiration from 1960s and 1970s psychedelic pop, the pre-1980s NYC dance scene, and classic film scores. Mixed by Chris Zane (Jack Antonoff, Passion Pit, The Walkmen), the record balances organic band performances with orchestral elements, pushing their sound further than ever. In this interview, St. Lucia shares how tools like Native Instruments’...

What is the phaser effect Alongside chorus and flanger effects, phasers complete the trilogy of popular “modulation” effects. Modulation effects change the texture sound over time, and phasers are often used to give sounds a smooth textural movement. Unlike chorus and flanger effects, phasers don’t use delay lines to create their characteristic sounds, rather using a special type of filter, and give a slightly less dramatic result compared to flangers. Phasers can be used to add stereo width to sounds, thin them out in the mix, and give them an intriguing textural movement. In this guide we’ll show you how to use phaser effects both creatively and in a mixing context to help you make your best tracks yet. Jump to these sections...

Pluggnb music, a fusion of trap mixed with synthetic, jazzy elements is quickly becoming mainstream. Characterized by its hazy, atmospheric soundscapes, bouncy 808s, and often melancholic vocals, pluggnb captures a distinct mood. In this tutorial, we will define the core elements of pluggnb, exploring its key characteristics and providing a step-by-step guide to help you craft your own pluggnb tracks, from sound selection and drum programming to melody creation and arrangement. Jump to these sections: What is pluggnb music? How to make a pluggnb beat Compose a chord progression Program drums Add a heavy 808-style bass Make a guitar melody Create a counter-melody Add a touch of piano Arrange your beat Master your beat What is...

GRAMMY-nominated DJ and producer FISHER is kicking off 2025 with a bang, releasing his latest single, ‘Stay’, on March 21st via CATCH & RELEASE. The track delivers a dreamy, summer-infused drop with a catchy vocal sample from Exile’s ‘Kiss You All Over’, setting the tone for the festival season ahead. Beyond the music, FISHER is making waves across the globe with a stacked tour schedule. His OUT 2 LUNCH Festival returns to The Gold Coast this May, now expanded to two days. He’s also set to take over Ibiza this summer, launching a new UNVRS residency from June to September, ensuring his signature sound dominates dance floors all season. With headline slots at Tomorrowland, Space Miami, and a sold-out London event, FISHER’s 2025 is...