The Path To Producer: Why DJs Should Make Music (& How To Start)

As a DJ, there’s nothing quite like dropping a track that you’ve created into your set and watching the crowd’s reaction. It’s a powerful feeling, and the great news is it’s easier than you might think to get there.

At Digital DJ Tips, we help DJs start their production journeys every day – and in this video, I’m here to show you why you’re already well on your way to making great music that you can drop into your DJ sets.

⚡ TIMESTAMPS ⚡
00:00 Intro
01:03 Why it's easier for DJs to get started
04:38 The biggest music production myths
06:20 Excuse #1 “I don’t know where to start”
09:44 Excuse #2 “I feel like I need to make a perfect track every time”
11:23 Excuse #3 “I feel like an imposter”
12:29 Excuse #4 “I feel like I’m cheating by using certain tools”
13:59 Excuse #5 “I feel lonely producing music”
16:17 How to get started making music

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[digitaldjtips]

⚡ TIMESTAMPS ⚡
00:00 Intro
01:03 Why it's easier for DJs to get started
04:38 The biggest music production myths
06:20 Excuse #1 “I don’t know where to start”
09:44 Excuse #2 “I feel like I need to make a perfect track every time”
11:23 Excuse #3 “I feel like an imposter”
12:29 Excuse #4 “I feel like I’m cheating by using certain tools”
13:59 Excuse #5 “I feel lonely producing music”
16:17 How to get started making music

[RobotClinic]

I played my first festival gig with all my own songs this year, was so epic to play the tracks on a LOUD sound system. What a feeling!

[BoomDocsK]

I agree and approve this message! I started spinning around 1984 and by '88 I was bored playing the same versions the radio played on heavy rotation. I wanted to be different and have custom versions. I started buying track recorders, samplers/sequencers, and drum machines. It was pricey then and the only way to play special versions was a cassette deck. Technology these days including STEMS and digital playback, is what I was dreaming of years ago! Today's DJs have no excuse for not exploring the endless possibilities.

[tombyrnerocks]

Incredible video Phil. Succinct, motivational and very apathetic! Inspirational stuff!

[beans]

I made one of my first remixes on Ableton and shared it on DJ Pool sites. That summer I went to a party where the artist was there the DJ actually played my remix with the artist standing right next to him behind the booth. This was years ago and I'm finally getting back into messing around with production again this week. Funny enough this video pops up right after.

[mixit]

I’ve always wanted to make music, but always had all of the mental barriers you mentioned in this video. I started DJing in 1985 in Detroit, right at the onset of the Detroit birth of Techno. As a kid I shopped at the legendary Buyrite records and purchased all the first runs of the legendary records made on the Transmat, KMS, Metroplex, Incognito, and Express label as well as the stuff being imported from Chicago on the Trax, DJ International, and Underground labels. I feel that if I had made music, I’d have been a lot further in this craft. This video has motivated me get in the studio and start making tracks. I wish I had seen a video like this a long time ago. I’m going to take some of your courses and get started…like you said, ”why not, I’m kind of already doing it by DJing”. Thank you for the fresh perspective..looking forward to taking the production courses in the next few weeks.

[phdjharmacist]

This video confirmed i made the right choice to produce - had a difficult night trying to get an idea out and ended up organizing my library and finishing a basic loop for a new song.

[djbaldrin]

great video phil. couple of months ago i started playing my own original music and had good reactions. even though i dj other artist songs i enjoy playing my own original songs.

[smiley_thehousemusicenthus-qb]

I have been producing in my head for ever. As a dancer I always was tuned with the beats and vocals. I have a nat for ity an dI am also going to take the course for Abelton.

[DummyISaid]

A really good thing that got me started as a DJ that I wish was available for music production was great tutorials. Because of Dj TLM tutorials on YouTube I’m in Dj today. I feel like I need a series of tutorials that start me off with the very basics to get me started.

[Handlinmybusiness]

if you've ever considered taking an online DJ course, you MUST do it! I've taken 4 courses through Digital DJ Tips and they are all outstanding! Phil is an excellent teacher and responds to all questions in the courses. I wish I would have started this years ago. don't make the same mistake I did by waiting, do it today!

[djashley]

I've been cutting up tracks making them me for 3 years never made my own track yet thank you Phil for inspiration I will give it a go later today can't wait to open the daw and get going I use Abelton

[SenorMarron]

I'm a Producer, just about my buy first controller. Doing it the other way around!

[justino]

6:20 i think the biggest excuse will always be that producing just like DJ can be an expensive hobby or Job you have to upgrade your computer and buy stuff to create music. You need first the cash to make it happend.

[danieldistinkt]

I've only ever done one full 1-hour set playing tracks that I have produced and released on various labels over the last 18 months and it was EASILY the best iv ever done. Wont pretent the place was packed or anything but those who where there loved it and I had a ball! Being able to mix is cool, but when you can jam with your own productions, you can beat it, even if its just dropping your own cheeky original here and there

[djtonypavia]

Thank you for this timely and encouraging message. This applies to newbies and veterans. I would consider myself a novice producer and I am still learning alot. 2023-2024 has been an awesome for me having been signed to my DJ hero's label Made In Miami Oscar G then to The Warrior Recordings, Miami 305, Kult Records. Oscar G himself has played my original tracks in his sets as well as my personal edits/remixes that I give him. Looking forward to more signed tracks and great music in 2025 and beyond. Cheers to you and all the people behind Digital DJ Tips.

[dimitarsabev]

I made few tracks in the last 6 months it's actually a lot of fun making them and sometimes a lot of headbanging too :D

[timsmith]

I’m grabbing bootlegs mashups and re-edits with the Black Friday sale and grabbing the middle level of Ableton live with the DDJT discount for that software!!

[smily_pham]

Thank you for this timely video and helpful guidance! Music production is one of my many pending projects. I wrote full lyrics and a melody 2 years ago and have several remixes in my head. How do we navigate copyright permission when remixing tracks?

[djellisdee]

A lot of people are saying the new Mac M4 mini base model for $599 is "the best deal in music", so combine that with an entry level MIDI controller keyboard with bundled DAW software, some VST synths, a pair of decent headphones, and you're pretty much off to the races for less than about $1, 000. The modern music software "in the box" is so good now. Also, there are so many music producer tutorials on Youtube now, you can learn a lot for free just by watching videos and tutorials, and finally putting in the time to practice your craft.