Why I Wanted to Learn DJing
I spent more than ten years casually thinking about DJing without taking any steps toward it. The idea kept coming back: “Maybe I should just buy a controller and start?” But it stayed an idea. There were too many choices, too many unknowns, and none of my close friends shared the interest.
That changed after one weekend that finally pushed me past the hesitation and into actually learning how to start DJing.
The Moment That Got Me Started
A former co-worker hosted a weekend-long party with a full psytrance setup and people mixing all night. It was the first time I’d really paid attention to what DJs were doing behind the decks, and it clicked immediately.
I spent most of the weekend asking questions:
- How does this gear work?
- Which software makes sense for a beginner?
- What should you buy first when starting DJing?
By Sunday, the decision was made. I didn’t want the idea to sit for another decade.
How I Picked My Beginner DJ Setup
I originally thought I would buy the Pioneer DDJ-FLX4, since it’s the standard beginner controller everyone recommends. But after comparing prices and watching reviews, I ended up choosing the Numark Party Mix 2 instead.
Why it made sense:
- About 100 euros, much cheaper than most beginner options
- Light and portable, easy to carry around
- Has everything I needed to learn the basics
- Plenty of tutorials available online
If I ever upgrade later, this one still works as a backup or a small travel controller.
When you’re learning how to start DJing, the specific controller matters less than simply having one you’re comfortable experimenting with.
The Software I Ended Up Using
The controller is only half the setup. DJ software is its own world, and everyone has their preferences. I tried a few:
- Traktor — good, but the workflow didn’t feel natural to me
- Serato (demo) — polished and easy to understand
- Mixxx — I like open-source tools, but the mappings for my controller weren’t great
Mixxx was almost perfect, but scratching and pad resets didn’t work correctly with the best mapping I found. That ruled it out.
Eventually I landed on Serato Pro. I meant to use just the free month, but it fit me well enough that I’ve stuck with it.
Learning DJing at Home
I only DJ at home for now. No gigs, no clubs — just headphones, my controller, and a playlist of songs I want to practice mixing.
And honestly, that’s enough. Mixing at home is relaxing and gets me into flow better than most hobbies. It’s one of those activities where time disappears without you noticing.
I made myself a DJ name too: DJ Viivakoodi — and even created a tiny website for it at viivis.com. I wrote a separate post about how I built that site if you’re curious about the static setup.
What DJing Has Added to My Life
A few things surprised me once I started practicing regularly:
- Flow — mixing for an hour feels like five minutes
- New music — I’m always looking for tracks that fit together
- A creative outlet — styles shift based on mood, and that’s part of the fun
My sets bounce between Finnish rap, old American hip-hop, barbershop-style beats, psytrance, and EDM. It depends on the day and what I feel like experimenting with.
What’s Next for Me as a Beginner DJ
Right now, the “career” part is a stretch — it’s just something I do at home. Maybe someday I’ll play in front of people, but that isn’t my goal at the moment.
For now, I just plan to:
- keep practicing
- keep experimenting with genres
- grow the library of tracks I mix with
Learning how to start DJing turned out to be a simple decision that took way too long to make. But once I made it, the whole thing became a surprisingly rewarding part of my weekly routine.
